So you've reached the finish line. Having long dreamed of conquering the skies, you’ve successfully completed the Flight School course and are now a proud owner of a private pilot license (PPL). Now let's talk about the new opportunities that are opening up for you. In fact, besides the most obvious and expensive option of buying a private airplane, there are several other options for you to use the new knowledge and skills.
In the previous article, we talked about where you can undergo pilot training to obtain a PPL license, and how much it will cost. So, if you are just thinking about starting your journey into private aviation or can't decide whether to start training, read the previous article first.
A little spoiler: it's easier and more affordable than you think.
A little spoiler: it's easier and more affordable than you think.
Самолет Aeroprakt A-32
When considering enrolling in Flight School, you'll likely first evaluate the time and financial costs required to obtain your future license, and whether the possible returns are worth your investments. Those who are truly passionate about the sky will confidently say: “Yes, without a doubt!”, because in fact, the range of possibilities for an amateur pilot holding a PPL is much wider than it seems at first glance. So, let’s talk about it.
Whether you're planning to fly for fun, take your friends and family to the skies, or simply cover longer distances faster, you have several options to make it happen.
1. Buying a personal light aircraft is the first and most obvious option, but not the easiest one by far. This option requires thoughtful action and a large investment, but is quite feasible: the price of a used single-engine aircraft can be comparable to some cars. As for the “parking place” for your plane, you can rent it out to a flying club or flying school, and then its maintenance and servicing will cost you less (or even be free), since all these matters will be handled by professionals, who’ll actually make money from this.
2. Buying an airplane in joint ownership with a group of friends or just sky lovers is a similar and, perhaps, even more practical option. This way, you can split the purchase and maintenance costs and take turns flying.
3. Renting an aircraft is yet another and least expensive option. You can fly alone or take friends and family on board while flying on a non-commercial basis. Renting an airplane in Belarus for 1 hour costs just over €100, regardless of the number of people on board. At the SkyFly Flight School you can also rent a plane with an instructor to maintain and improve your flying skills.
But whichever of these options you choose, keep in mind that you will only be able to fly the type of aircraft you've been trained for. But even this moment won’t be a serious obstacle on your way to the skies, because learning the “next step” on any other type of aircraft will be shorter than the initial training, since it will require much fewer hours of both theory and practice. Accordingly, you will spend less money and time on mastering each new type of aircraft than during the initial stage of training.
If you want to fly abroad, you’ll need to fulfill two conditions. First, you rent a plane registered in Belarus or fly your own locally registered aircraft. With a SkyFly pilot license issued in Belarus, you will be able to fly the skies all over the world. Some pilots opt to rent planes abroad, but you will need to validate your license in that country first. And one way or another, it will be cheaper than training for a license directly abroad, since training for a PPL in Belarus costs just from €6,000, and this is also available to non-citizens of Belarus if they can speak and understand Russian language.
And secondly, you need to learn Aviation English and pass the exam, so that your score can be stated in your PPL. Given the low cost of this course and provided you have a basic knowledge of English, it won’t take you long, but it will open up many new opportunities.
In addition to flying abroad in your own plane, with an Aviation English score you will be able to fly over many countries even without owning an aircraft. Most PPL holders, having their own aircraft, usually intend to fly not just within their own country, but also abroad.
But not everyone is skilled in Aviation English, and therefore they are not legally permitted to conduct radio communications while flying in the airspace of the countries where air traffic controllers communicate in English. Frequently, pilots bring aboard a flight communicator - a person with the necessary license score to handle radio communications in English. If their PPL is issued for a different type of aircraft, they won’t be permitted to fly that specific aircraft, but they can still manage radio communications on behalf of the pilot.
Moreover, if their PPL is issued for the same type of aircraft you’ll be flying, the aircraft owner gains the benefit of having a co-pilot. This is a significant advantage during long-distance flights in foreign countries. This way, you’ll have the opportunity to explore numerous countries, collaborating with fellow pilots as a flight communicator. This will give both of you new experiences and useful acquaintances in your field.
To engage in passenger transportation or other commercial aviation activities, you have to complete level 2 training and receive a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). It can be a difficult and expensive path, but luckily, in the world of small aviation, you don't need to get a new type of license for commercial flying. Thus, having a Belarusian PPL, in many countries of Europe, the USA, and Russia, you can perform various types of aerial work with the appropriate permit.
At the same time, you’ll build up your flight time and improve your skills, which is a very important aspect in aviation. It’s noteworthy that during this period, you won’t even have to pay for those hours of flying. Instead, you’ll be paid for your work. By exploring these employment opportunities, you can quickly amass 200 or more flight hours, paving the way for getting your CPL. This represents the next milestone in your professional aviation career, offering exciting prospects, for example, becoming an instructor and training others. But that would be a completely different story.
So, even with a PPL, you can acquire new skills and scores, accumulate flight hours, enhance the value of your license, explore other countries, learn new professions, and even earn money along the way, while pursuing your passion. Surprisingly, achieving all this isn’t as daunting as it may seem. The key lies in taking this initial step. Embark on your small aviation journey with SkyFly Flight School!
Please share your thoughts in the comments about which options appear to be of higher priority to you. Additionally, feel free to ask any questions, and we’ll be delighted to provide answers and create new content!