Reviews of this book by the aviation press

"Three years ago we reviewed Clive Hughes' first edition of Guide to Getting a Commercial Pilot Licence. It was a good attempt at guiding potential pilots through what can be a minefield of legislation and experience requirements for obtaining private through to commercial licences. Now more professionally packaged, cut down in size from the original A4 to a conventional A5 paperback and running to some 170 pages, the guide covers more ground than ever and for anyone considering commercial flying as a career, it is an excellent read".

"There are many sources of information about all aspects of flying, but seldom do they come together in one publication in a clear and readable format. Hughes has obviously had a long association with flying training and it shows in his work. The subject headings are diverse and cover such things as organisations, licence descriptions, the PPL and its associated ratings, getting started, time building (including using your own or leased aircraft) as well as descriptions of the harmonisation proposals for Europe". "There is as section dealing with the conversion of foreign licences including, funding, training, costs, choosing flying schools, and pitfalls. There are comprehensive details of the types of flight tests required for Commercial Pilot Licences and Instrument Ratings. If you are still interested in flying as a career after reading all this there is advice on getting a job and also a commentary by Hughes himself on what he feels the future should hold for Pilot Training. This, combined with a summary of charges, useful addresses, and specimen forms combines to make an essential read in a better-presented format. It really is going to save you time and money" Product News, Flyer Magazine

"Anyone aiming to obtain a British Commercial Pilot Licence should know that the first step is to qualify for a PPL (preferably having fist checked that he or she can pass the commercial standard medical, not just the PPL). It is after that stage that things begin to get complicated. How does one build the necessary hours? Is it better to do it all in the UK or to head for the States or elsewhere, chasing cheaper flying hours? What about flying your own aeroplane, or a part-owned one? How tricky is it to convert a foreign license (or licence) into a UK one?" There are pros and cons to all of these points (and to many other relevant questions). Ask one CPL or ATPL for an opinion and you'll get an answer, based probably on just that person's own experience. So you pays your money (up front if you are conned into it) and you takes your choice, for better or worse. But now you have another source of information.
Having found no suitable publication to answer all the questions regularly posed by potential CPLs, Hughes decided to tackle the task himself. It has turned out to be a comprehensive, logically laid-out and easily read book that could easily save any candidate for a CPL a great deal of stress, frustration and, perhaps most important, hard cash. This book is not a disguised advert for any particular flying training organisation. It is an unbiased evaluation of what is available and how to best make use of it.
The chapters move logically along from getting your PPL, through the various ways of hour- building, conversion of foreign licences, via the effects the European Harmonisation and JAA licences are likely to have on pilot training, to the ultimate problem of finding yourself a job once you have achieved your goal of a Commercial Licence.
All in all this is a publication that will amply repay almost any candidate who decides to fork pout the purchase price. It usefully fills a yawning gap in the literature available in this country to embryo commercial pilots. Essential reading, one could almost call it, for anyone about to embark on CPL training - and probably also very useful reading for many who are already some way along the line towards their coveted commercial licence". James Allan, Pilot Magazine

Subscribers to the Professional Pilots Rumour Network (www.pprune.org. see forums, wannabes) have made the following unsolicited remarks over the last two years:
"The book will save ya (sic) a fortune""
"...is really worth the money"
...required reading for ALL wannabes"
"A very good read"
"Best twenty quid I ever spent"
"The book is excellent"
"This book is the business and is regularly referred to as the Bible"
"...is worth every penny" "CH's book is BRILLIANT"
"Is it worth buying?...........is Salman Rushdie ex-directory?"
"The book is a must and well worth the money"
"...worth its weight in gold"
"Yes, Clive Hughes' book is brilliant"
"...really gives you the low down on all the options"
"...money well spent and the bible of many wannabes"
"....but Clive Hughes' book is better"(and less £££s!)
"It's been an invaluable aid to me in this, can't recommend it enough"

To the best of my knowledge, all the above remarks have been made by REAL and different individuals. NONE have been posted by myself, friends, relatives or paid accomplices! I have also on file many complimentary letters from previous purchasers which I shall not bother to quote here.

This book is also recommended by:  The Aircraft Owners and Pilot’s Association (AOPA), The Guild of Air Pilots & Navigators (GAPAN), The Independent Pilot’s Association (IPA), The Commercial Pilot Register,  Flight Training News and can be found in the CAA library at Gatwick.