So now you've got your PPL, what can you do?
The first thing is to remember that we are still here to help. Plan your trips away in advance & run them past any of our instructors when they have a quiet day. Or, if this timing is too vague,  book one of them for 30 minutes or so to help you plan your trip or to go through your planning with you.
If you don't want to fly off by yourself, there is a list of PPLs on the notice board in the clubhouse who are all happy to fly with others so remember that they are in the same situation as you & would value your company & expertise in a trip to another airfield. It also cuts the costs when you can share!

When you are comfortable with your new qualification & the freedom it gives you, perhaps you would like to convert onto a different type of aircraft. Or, perhaps you would like to learn other skills on the aircraft that you are familiar with .......... the choice is yours!

A New Aircraft ?
The fleet at Conington is designed to give the pilot a structured run from Cessna 152 all the way to a multi engine rating if that is what you would like to do! The first two steps up do not require a further rating but you need to acquire experience on the aircraft type & more skills if you want to solo in the aeroplane of your choice.
Don't forget that you can " have a go" in any of these aircraft to see if they would suit your flying needs without committing yourself to converting onto them. (One of our PPLs treats himself to a ride in the Seneca G-BORH each year for his Birthday & learns a little more each time!) Some people just like to fly a different aeroplane every so often. You can book a flight in your choice of aircraft  with one of our instructors, enjoy it & log it in your log book as you have all of your other training flights.If you decide you want to go further....................

Do You Want More Space ?
The first challenge, particularly if you would like to carry more than one passenger, is to convert onto our PA-28 Warrior G-BOZI - a course is available covering all of the differences between the 152 & the Warrior. You will learn the handling, take off & landing characteristics of the aeroplane as well as fuel management. This will provide you with all the skills that you need for your first solo on type. You will then do your weight & balance calculations & all up weight checks so that you will be able to fly your passengers & be confident that you are not exceeding the capabilities of the aeroplane. 3 of our newly qualified PPLs have converted onto BOZI in the last few months as well as 3 of our long standing PPLs.

Do You Want More Speed?
The second step up is to learn how to handle the constant speed propeller & the retractable undercarriage of the PA-28R G-BGKU. This requires "difference training" & it will be signed off in your log book as such. Two of our more experienced PPLs have converted to Kilo Uniform this year. The procedure is much the same as it was with BOZI but adding the knowledge to deal with a complex single engine aircraft. As always when training on a more complex type, there is a need for discipline & concentration but the resulting ability to fly a faster & more challenging aircraft is well worth the effort. Kilo Uniform has a faithful following among the PPLs especially for those who want to go further afield.

Do You Want More of Everything!?
The only aircraft at Conington that you can't fly now are those with more than one engine! If you decide to go ahead, you can obtain your multi engine rating at Conington. Some are flown on the Duchess G-GCCL & others on the Seneca G-BORH. This course would be a new rating for your licence & whilst it is often undertaken as a career move on the way to (or in conjunction with) a professional licence, there are plenty of PPLs who obtain & enjoy them. There is a minimum flying hours requirement (P1) & the course is taught to a syllabus laid down by the CAA. Come & talk to us if you would like details or book a flight with Graeme to see if you like it! Seven multi engine courses have been successfully completed in the last year with another underway at the moment in Romeo Hotel.
 

Now to the other sort of new skills!
Some of our PPLs are quite content with the aircraft that they are currently flying but would like to keep developing their skills. If you are one of these, there are a number of options depending on your interests.

Is Radio Nav Your Interest ?
The JAR PPL course gives each PPL a taste of radio navigation & instrument flying. If you want to develop your Radio Navigation skills we teach a course to do just this. It doesn't allow you to fly in IMC conditions but it does teach you to use all of the navigation kit available to aid with your VFR navigation.The course that we normally run is for 5 hours & includes tracking to & from Nav aids, position fixing & using en route nav aids (both on & off track) If you want less than 5 hours or more than 5 hours the choice is yours. This is not a rating, it is a course that you can tailor to suit your needs & there is no test to pass. Two of our PPLs are finding this course fun at the moment - come & have a go yourself with Graeme, Francis, Graham or  Gavin who all teach this course.

When The Clouds Close In...................
If you want to fly in conditions that are less than VMC, you will need an IMC rating. This is not just for those people who want to set out in poor weather, it is also an insurance policy for those who would like to be able to fly in less than perfect conditions with the confidence that they could cope (& stay legal!) if conditions became worse en route. Francis can teach this course during the week & both Francis & Graeme at week ends so whatever your availability, we should be able to match it. We presently have a record 6 PPLs doing IMC courses with a further 2 who want to start in the New Year - Must be something to do with the weather!

The IMC Rating is one of the most satisfying courses to complete & is an achievement to be proud of. As the name suggests, this course involves a new rating for your licence. It is taught to a syllabus  laid down by the CAA & requires a minimum of 15 hours flying training & a fair amount of concentration! There is a flight test & a written exam to consider. Come & talk to us about it. Graeme & Francis both teach the IMC course.

Not Enough Hours In The Day To Fly?
Why not activate that unused column in your log book labeled " Night"?  Come along on Thursday evenings & learn to fly at Night.The sight of the lights sparkling all the way to the horizon on a cold, crisp winter night when you are snug in your aeroplane is really not to be missed. One of our PPLs has completed his night qualification this year already & there are two more underway with another to start in the new year. If you would like to book the course, the flying involves night familiarisation, the circuit at night, dual night navigation, solo circuits, departure & rejoin. This is in a minimum of 5 hours training. Again, if you would to fly at night before you decide, just book Graeme or Francis & the aeroplane of your choice for a Thursday evening & come & fly. If you would like to experience night flying but not necessarily to do the whole course

Loopy?
Perhaps aerobatics will be your choice? The course is not just about the aerobatic manouvres & how to achieve them but when you do achieve them there is nothing quite like it! The course starts very gently with some graceful flying & then .... it's your turn!!! There is a great deal in the course that will build your confidence in your own ability & the ability of your aircraft to handle unusual attitudes & to recover from them. The course culminates in a short aerobatic sequence which you fly solo.  Gavin is teaching 3 PPLs the AOPA aerobatic course at the moment. It requires a minimum of 8 hours training. Come & have a flight with Gavin before you decide to rule out aerobatics - it is a great experience & there is no obligation to continue with the course if you are not completely hooked!