Private Pilot Certification

[Micaoct]

I just found a good flight school nearby, it would cost about $3000 for the PPL. Would it be better to just take the whole thing at UND or to pay 3k and get it local and just take the test course at UND?

Lesson wise you would have to do half (14 or so lessons instead of 30), and just do the ground school, is that practical? Price wise, etc.

[StrangerDejaVu]

I highly recommend doing it all at UND. Unless for some reason you have to get your PPL NOW, then just save the money and do it the "UND way." Honestly, I've seen some people come in with their PPL that had a hard time getting over the old habits and conforming to UND standards. So, if you've waited this long, why not wait a little longer to get it here?

Also - $3000 for the PPL? That seems pretty optimistic. Assuming you are doing this part 61, you will need 40 hours of flight time. 20 needs to be with a flight instructor (and it almost always takes more). If you are somehow able to get a plane + instructor for $100 and hour, that's already $2000 you're talkin. Can you do another 20 hours of solo (best case scenario) for $1000 or less? Just seems unlikely to me, but perhaps the planes they're flying are very old and very cheap.

That's just my 2 cents. Since you've waited this long, might as well wait a bit longer and do the UND system.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by StrangerDejaVu

I highly recommend doing it all at UND. Unless for some reason you have to get your PPL NOW, then just save the money and do it the "UND way." Honestly, I've seen some people come in with their PPL that had a hard time getting over the old habits and conforming to UND standards. So, if you've waited this long, why not wait a little longer to get it here?

The UND way isn't necessarily better than the Part 61 local FBO way.

[Micaoct]

Thanks for the reply, your right, I just wanted another opinion, which just reinforces mine. I wanted to start now (get a head start), but I can wait a few more months. At least it will help me in the long run if I wait.

Also would bringing my car over with me be a good idea? Is everything really close or would a car be good? Im thinking to bring it with me but I haven't visited UND so Im not too sure what to expect.

@JaceTheAce: You replied right before my post, but I think it would be better to just get used to UND "standards" since that's the way I'm probaly going to be operating for the next 4 or 5 years.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by Micaoct

Thanks for the reply, your right, I just wanted another opinion, which just reinforces mine. I wanted to start now (get a head start), but I can wait a few more months. At least it will help me in the long run if I wait.

Also would bringing my car over with me be a good idea? Is everything really close or would a car be good? Im thinking to bring it with me but I haven't visited UND so Im not too sure what to expect.

You should take a look at the expenses - it's often cheaper to do it at UND since you'd have to take the test course anyway. There's a long thread about the stupid test course you can search - people are both in favor and against it.

There is a shuttle that goes out to the airport along with a bus system on campus. You really only need a bike since everything is so close, but during the winter it's impossible to ride safely to the grocery stores (assuming you live off campus).

If you live on campus and have a meal plan, you may find that the additional expense of having a car is not worth it. I brought my car because I need a car - I live off campus. Plus I love driving.

BTW, I see you like the E46 the last of the real BMWs.

[the_dmn8tr]

I don't have a car and I can cope fine. The shuttle to the airport works fine and the $1 cab fare to Target for supplies comes in handy. If you do decide to bring a car, hopefully you have at least some winter driving experience.

[StrangerDejaVu]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

The UND way isn't necessarily better than the Part 61 local FBO way.

Never said anything about it being better, but UND does have it's own way of doing things that may or not be like the FBO's way of doing business.

[StrangerDejaVu]

In response to the car thing - you can also pick up a bus pass at the student union that allows you to ride any city bus for free. Having a car is a nice, though, and will be handy for getting out to the airport when YOU want to be there, not whenever the shuttle ends up there.

[JaceTheAce]

Originally Posted by StrangerDejaVu

In response to the car thing - you can also pick up a bus pass at the student union that allows you to ride any city bus for free. Having a car is a nice, though, and will be handy for getting out to the airport when YOU want to be there, not whenever the shuttle ends up there.

...and if you don't mind waiting every 30-40 minutes for the city bus route times.

[TXaviator]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

...and if you don't mind waiting every 30-40 minutes for the city bus route times.

yeah the city bus is feasible to and from campus if you are off campus, but only from 7am - 5pm

for some reason bus service in this town stops at 6????

when my car is INOP i have to city bus to school, then airport shuttle to the airport... and hitch a ride home with my instructor :-\

[CAFFEINE]

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

The UND way isn't necessarily better than the Part 61 local FBO way.

While not necessarily better or necessarily worse it is a different training environment here.

[AngelFuree]

While a car here isn't essential, I must say that it IS almost a necessity. Fortunately, I have friends to give me rides, etc...but life here would be better with a car. The $1 taxis take forever to arrive, so it's a waste of time waiting for them. The city bus system is also a joke 'cause it only passes every half hour. When it's warmer, I prefer biking to Walmart/Target (5 miles from campus) than waiting for the stupid taxis to arrive. Public transportation here isn't very reliable.