Sean_Smith11

Robbo expressed my thoughts upon reading this post well.I hate dampening enthusiasm, but if done incorrectly, aircraft washing can do heaps of damage. I'd hate to see you owing someone lots of money, when the aim was to earn some.

All too easy to even break off something like an antenna, which say it is a transponder, could easily cost a few hundred by the time it is replaced and a new AD/RAD/47 inspection is done to confirm ops.

 

Scratch someone's windscreen and it could be $$$thousands to replace.

 

Do your homework, I'd also think insurance is wise if you were offering commercial cleaning services.

Thanks for that, Sorry if it came off Imature or not that well thought through. I will also not be doing this commercially, As I have school most of the day.

Thanks,

Sean

First off let me commend you on what you are planning to do and I hope you reach your aviation dreams.Now I hope you do not take this the wrong way but you must be aware that you have to use "specialised aviation cleaning chemicals" and they do not come cheap. Using the wrong chemical could cause corrosion in the airframe and even strip paint or damage/scratch the windows.

 

I remember a young bloke around your age (14 as per your profile) who really loved planes and he used to hang around the airport offering his help to anyone who needed it, one day he had this idea he would wash some planes for the owners (without them knowing) I am not sure on what he used but there were two planes that had paint peeling off them after the next days rain.

 

So please don't let me put you off the idea completely but I would hate to see you damage a plane and have to pay for it to be repaired.

 

Here is a sample cost of a cleaning chemical http://www.tensens.com.au/TBSKYLIGHT25/Aircraft-Cleaner-Chemical-Skylight-25LT/pd.php

 

This is a few things not to use http://www.universalweather.com/blog/2013/07/top-5-cleaning-chemicals-you-should-never-use-on-an-aircraft/

 

Good Luck :)

Thanks for providing me with that info. I'm now thinking it will all be to expensive. But just a quick question, Is there anything else I could do to help Aircraft owners...Etc? I don't mind if I'm not getting payed as this would be a great experience!

Thanks Sean,

Hello all,

To pay for my ongoing flight training I am offering to wash and polish planes, For 20-30 dollars depending on what size Aircraft. I will be only be able to do this on weekends or the odd weekday(Because of extra-Curicular sports) Pm me if you would be interested!

Thanks,

Sean

Welcome, Garry:wave:

Gday! Great work on starting.I guess if you are super keen:

 

- buy the ground training manual and read that.

 

- ask the school for a copy of their checklist they use for the aircraft (if it varies from the pilots operating handbook version)

 

-ask the school for their standard radio calls and practise a few

 

- learn the phonetic alphabet (if you don't know it already)

 

-watch youtube videos of people flying the type you are going to fly (noting your school procedures taught may be different)

 

-talk to previous students from your school who have trained with the same instructor and get lessons learnt from them.

 

- read the syllabus and be prepared for every lesson

 

Someone once said that the aircraft is a terrible classroom so practice everything you can on the ground first.

 

Most of all enjoy your flying!

Thanks Narrabeen rick,I was 55 when I started flight instruction , for 12 months before I practiced on MSFX flight sim. It has a whole set of tutorials on how to fly a Cessna 172 starting from take-off through to landing.

I was instructed in a Tecnam but all the basic principles of flying a 172 helped me to focus on the hands on part of flying as I was familiar with what makes this machine fly and only had to adapt to the Tecnam layout.

 

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but still managed to solo in under 8 hrs.

 

As you pointed out its not about flying the real aircraft its about getting your head around all the procedures and feeling comfortable when you cant always afford to be doing instruction with a CFI in the right seat,

 

cheers Butch

Thanks,

Sean

Welcome Sean, it's great to see some young people! Why is your first lesson in a month and not, for example, this weekend?

Hello All,

My name is Sean and I will be beginning my flight training in a month or so, Is there anyway I can possibly prepare ahead of time for flight lessons?

Thanks again,

Sean :-)

Hi! Im Sean,

I'm about to start flight training in the next months or so, and thought I'd drop by and see what everyone else is talking about this wonderful forum,Already have learnt so much just browsing,I'll will be doing my training at Go fly Aviation, On the beautiful Sunshine Coast , in there (The aircraft factory) Sling.

Anyway, Hi, and nice to meet you all! :-)