Source: des conseils du magazine britannique Flyer
Want to do it on the cheap? Five tips to reduce the cost of your NPPL
- Fly regularly so you don’t need to repeat lessons
Newly learned skills fade quickly and since zight training makes for a huge part of the total cost of your NPPL, this is where you can save some serious money. Do you only zy once a month? In that case, every month you’ll need to repeat at least part of the previous lesson. Flying several times a week? Not so much.
You’ll spend less if you can do all your NPPL training in a short time. How? By setting enough time aside (also check the instructor’s availability) and choosing the right season so lessons aren’t cancelled because of bad weather.
- Buy smart
Pay-as-you-go or buy-in-bulk? That depends on your situation and personal preference. Many zying schools offer discounts if you buy yve, 10 or more training hours at the same time – ask for package deals or block hours pricing.
While some people love this option, others either don’t have the savings or don’t like the idea of paying upfront for zight training. Paying after each lesson leaves you the option to switch zying schools if things don’t work out.
- Buy (a part of) your own microlight
Contrary to GA, where it’s often the case pilots rent a club aircraft, in microlighting, after getting their licence pilots generally go on to buy their own aircraft or a share in one. If you do this when learning, you’ll save money on your zight training.
Using your own aircraft for lessons will save you between £35 and £65 per hour, depending on the zying school. To save even more, join a syndicate and buy a share in a microlight. This way you can pay owner rates for your zight training while only being a part-owner.
- Go somewhere else
Is your local zying school very expensive? Check if it’s cheaper to do your NPPL in another place. Before committing elsewhere though, add up all your expenses. The zying club at the other end of the country might be £50 cheaper per lesson, but is it still better value when you take all the travel time and petrol and/or accommodation costs into account?
- Get a scholarship Don’t see any way at all of paying for your NPPL after reading this article? Don’t give up just yet. Check the scholarships of the The Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Also the Royal Aero Club Trust has several bursaries, for those aged 1424.
For women, there’s the possibility of getting a scholarship from the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA). Already have your NPPL but want to continue and become a zexwing instructor?
This year, the BMAA has eight bursaries of up to £1000 each for a zexwing instructor course. Read more: here.