What is Hour-Building and Why Do I Need It?

(Spoiler: Airlines aren’t impressed by your flight sim scores)

So, you've got your shiny new PPL in hand, a head full of dreams, and you’re ready to take on the skies. But wait—your logbook still looks a bit... underwhelming. Maybe it reads like a short story when it needs to be an epic novel. That’s where hour building comes in.

If you’re training to become a commercial pilot in the UK or Europe, hour building is the crucial next step after your Private Pilot Licence (PPL). And while it may sound like a boring admin task, it’s actually your passport to a much more exciting future.

Let’s break it down.

✈️ What Is Hour Building?

Hour building is exactly what it sounds like: you rent a plane, fly it, and log those hours to work toward the requirements for your CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence) or ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence).

You’ll need to meet specific hour requirements before you can move on to advanced training. Think of it like the driving experience you need before you’re allowed on a motorway—with a jet.

In the UK and across EASA states, you typically need:

• 150–200 total flight hours (depending on your path)

• 100 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC)

• 20+ cross-country hours

• Night flying and solo nav tasks

  
  

So, unless you’ve got a wealthy friend with a private aircraft and a lot of free time, you’re going to need to rent a plane and start building.

🛩️ Why Do I Need Hour Building?

Because Ryanair doesn’t care how many hours you spent on Microsoft Flight Simulator with your cat sitting next to you as co-pilot.

To move on to your CPL, you need real flying time—logged, official, certified, and ideally varied. That means different airports, weather conditions, cross-country flights, and yes, even the occasional wobbly landing (we’ve all had them).

Hour building isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s where you go from being a beginner to becoming a confident, competent, and hireable pilot. This is where you develop good habits, learn from your mistakes, and maybe even discover your favourite lunch stop airfield.

🧳 Can I Make It Fun?

Absolutely. Hour building doesn’t have to mean flying circles around your local airfield until you know every tree and sheep by name.

With hour-building.com, you can:

• Fly across Europe — Spain, France, the UK and beyond

• Rent affordable G-Reg or EASA aircraft (ideal for CAA and EASA licence holders)

• Take on 3-day mini adventures — plan cross-country trips with a friend or Safety Pilot

• Tour scenic coastlines, mountain ranges, and vineyards (yes, we said vineyards—just don't drink and fly)

• Get support if you're new to flying in Europe — we offer Safety Pilots too

  
  
  
  
  
  

💡 Why Fly with Us?

We keep things simple:

• No joining fees

• Pay-as-you-go

• Top reviews from real pilots

• Flexible locations: Granada, Cannes, Bordeaux, and North Weald

• Both G-Reg and EASA-reg aircraft to suit your licence

• Friendly, experienced support to help you plan your routes, paperwork, and best gelato stops

Whether you’re building 10 hours or 100, we help you make the most of your time—and your money.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Hour Building is like the training montage of your aviation journey. You’re not just adding numbers to your logbook — you’re gaining confidence, experience, and stories you’ll still be telling at 35,000 feet.

So why not build hours the fun way? Fly, tour, explore — and log hours with hour-building.com.

📧 Ready to get started? Email Clifford at clifford@hour-building.comor visit www.hour-building.com