Structured Commercial Pilot hours building

Don’t just ‘punch holes in the sky’…..get your flying right up to speed with BAT!

If you are preparing to undertake commercial flight training you will be familiar with the P1 hours requirement before you can begin an approved course. In the past it has been quite common for hours building to be conducted in the USA for reasons of economy, indeed many of our instructors have done exactly that, but on later reflection admit that the experience might actually have been of little real value - even perhaps a hindrance. Today, the economic situation is quite different and a journey to the USA is no longer such a viable option, even allowing for the added difficulties of ‘homeland security’ requirements.

In our experience the simple act of building hours is insufficient to really prepare a candidate for the transition to Commercial Pilot. Feedback from a senior CAA examiner has quite clearly identified common areas of weakness and these areas are also acknowledged by current commercial flight instructors who are under serious pressure to maintain throughput by the flight schools. We know of people who have failed a commercial skills test and have been unable to obtain a course of re-training as might be required by the examiner, because of such pressures. The course of training for the issue of a CPL is intensive and demands a large step change in attitude and pilot performance. If a candidate proceeds to CPL training without careful preparation the overall cost of the course can very easily spiral bearing in mind that hourly rates are significantly higher than PPL training in similar aeroplanes. The areas of weakness frequently result in candidates failing at least one section of the flying skills test with the very substantial financial implications that follow adding to the obvious stress. You can do a huge amount to avoid this situation.

Border Air Training instructors are highly experienced professionals who are not chasing hours themselves and are therefore able and happy to fly with you as ‘flying mentors’. We will create a ‘commercial’ environment to lift your pre-flight skills to that expected of a commercial pilot with command decision making becoming second nature both on the ground and in the air. You will be encouraged at all times to achieve higher standards of accuracy in the flying that you do during hours building and time will be taken to address any areas of weakness. We will provide clear and practical guidance on what you can expect to be confronted with as you train to be a commercial pilot, based upon our own experiences and those of our examiner contacts.

You pay for the private hire of your chosen aeroplane and a mentor fee allowing you to have access to instructors without the need to pay an additional instructor hourly rate. ALL of the flying that you do is claimable as P1 time in your log book as long as you are legally current on the class of aeroplane that you are flying. If there are currency issues or differences such as retractable undercarriage and variable pitch, this can be provided at normal instructional rates. We will not insist on a minute more than you need to be safe in such circumstances.