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Training
OverviewThe following, adapted from CASA, provides an overview of what to expect from flight training in Australia:
Duration | Cost | Pre-Requisite | Progression
Duration
How
long will flight training be?
The time
it takes to obtain a licence mainly depends
on whether you are
doing full-time training, aircraft
availability and weather.An average student usually qualifies for a Private Pilot Licence after about 55-60 hours. For a Commercial Pilot Licence, the full-time 150-hour course will usually take about 12 months.
Cost
How much will flight training cost?Cost is often regarded as a significant consideration in flight training. However, the quality of training is the first priority.
Your most important achievement is to attain a licence with all the necessary skills and theoretical knowledge required to fly safely and confidently.
Costs will vary according to the type of aircraft which you will fly, how often you fly, and your actual rate of learning.
Prices often do not include the cost of study material, licensing fees and medical examinations.
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Pre-Requisite
What educational qualifications must I have?CASA does not require any person undertaking an Australian pilot's licence to possess formal educational qualifications.
The education level required to pass the Private Pilot's licence exams is generally within the ability of the average person.
However, if you are training for the Commercial or higher Flight Crew Licence, you may have an advantage in the examinations if you possess a strong background knowledge of Physics, Mathematics and English.
A reputable theory training centre or theory provider can help you overcome any absence of such background knowledge.
Please note that airlines generally require passes at High School Certificate level in Physics and Mathematics. This may sometimes vary between companies.
Contact employers in the area of aviation where you are interested in a career, and enquire about specific job requirements and application criteria.
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Progression
DetailsWhat are the phases of flight training?
1. Initial Phase - Private Pilot Licence
Introduction to Flight Training
During the initial stages of flight instruction, you will always be with a flight instructor. You will learn the basics of flight in preparation for your First Solo flight in the circuit area (rectangular pattern flown around an aerodrome). You will also be familiarised with the local training area, usually a ten-mile area around the airport. During this time you consolidate your training and build flying experience.
Before you can fly solo, you must pass the required medical checks, an examination in Air Law and be issued with a Student Pilot Licence (SPL). To be issued the SPL, you must be at least 16 years of age and be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. You will also need to obtain an Aviation Reference Number (ARN) from CASA, supply photographs and identification documentation, and complete a security check.
2. First Solo
Your First Solo flight will involve practising take-offs and landings, and general flying within the airport circuit. This is basically a consolidation of everything that you have learned to date, such as operation and Effect of Controls, Straight and Level flying, Climbing and Descending, Turning and Stalling, for which your instructor found you competent to do on your own.
From this point on, you will focus on preparing for your First Area Solo where you will demonstrate your ability to fly solo outside the airport circuit but still within the training area used by the school.
Before you can do so, you must pass an examination on the flight procedures relating to that training area.
3. First Area Solo
Your First Solo in the training area will involve practising simulated engine failure during which you will exercise your own judgement, simulate radio calls and trouble checks as well as passenger briefs. It will also include a short navigation exercise to and from the local training area to enable you to demonstrate some chart reading skills.
As you progress, you will learn to fly the aircraft in all situations in preparation for your General Flying Progress Test (GFPT). Before you can undertake this test you first need to pass the Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) theory examination.
4. General Flying Progress Test (GFPT)
During this test, you will demonstrate to an approved testing officer that you can competently manage the aircraft in all basic phases of flight. If you pass the test, you will be able to carry passengers in private operations (ie. not for hire or reward) within the confines of the student pilot area limit. Your solo or Pilot-in-Command flights must still be approved by your instructor.
After the GFPT, you will be able to commence navigation training. The navigation exercises teach the practical skills and airmanship required for flying safely to distant locations plus management of fuel and flight logs, radio communication and transition through different airspace, control zones, unplanned diversions due to weather etc., and circuits at distant locations with landings on different types of surfaces. These skills will then be reinforced and consolidated in preparation for the Private Pilot Licence flight test.
Prior to undertaking the PPL test, you must have acquired at least 40 hours of flight time as a pilot that includes:
5
hours of general flight time as
Pilot-in-Command;
and
5 hours of cross country flight time as Pilot-in-Command; and
2 hours of Instrument Flight time.
5 hours of cross country flight time as Pilot-in-Command; and
2 hours of Instrument Flight time.
You must also pass a theory examination which covers Flight Rules and Air Law, Navigation, Performance and Flight Planning, Meteorology and Principles of Flight.
You can undertake the PPL flight test while still 16 years of age, however, you cannot be issued with the licence until your 17th birthday.
5. Private Pilot Licence (PPL) test
You will demonstrate your skill to an approved testing officer by departing for a round trip with two or more landings/turning points enroute. You will be able to show that you can divert to an alternative location and overall, demonstrate competent planning and management of the flight, observing all procedures and rules, navigation, radio work and airmanship before successfully completing the flight.
After passing the PPL Test, you will be issued with the licence which enables you to fly anywhere within Australia, solo or with private passengers in daytime Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). You will no longer require your instructor's permission to undertake a flight as Pilot-in-Command.
6. Professional Phase - Commercial Pilot Licence
After receiving your PPL, you may decide to train for various aircraft endorsements and/or ratings.
If you wish to continue onto a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), you will need at least 200 hours of flying experience with specified time as Pilot-in-Command, cross country and Instrument Flight time. If you enrolled in an integrated CPL course of aviation training with this flying school, this time would be reduced to 150 hours. The difference in hours reflects the different approach to training. With the 150 hours course, the theory and flying training are coordinated, whereas for the 200 hour option, they are often arranged separately.
Before you can attempt the CPL flight test you must pass a theory examination, covering similar subject areas as for the PPL but this time to Commercial standard and do a Recommendation Flight with the Chief Flying Instructor. While you may undertake the flight test for the CPL at 17 years of age, the licence cannot be issued until your 18th birthday.
7. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) test
You will be flying with an approved testing officer and will be tested on similar issues as the PPL except that the knowledge and skill areas will be covered more comprehensively. Passing the CPL test and being issued with the licence entitles you to carry passengers for hire or reward, in association with a licensed air service operator. This licence is needed to operate as a light aircraft charter pilot. You will now be able to fly as Pilot-in-Command of single pilot aircraft or as co-pilot in multi-crew aircraft.
Before exercising the privileges of the licence, you must pass more stringent medical examinations in order to obtain a Class 1 Medical Certificate.
Notes:
1. The above
requirements relate to
aeroplane pilot
licences. Similar requirements
apply for helicopter pilot licences.
2. Although flying training is a building block process it is not a compulsory step-by-step process. For example, if you had decided from the beginning that you wanted to be a commercial pilot, you could skip the Private Pilot Licence if you wish.
2. Although flying training is a building block process it is not a compulsory step-by-step process. For example, if you had decided from the beginning that you wanted to be a commercial pilot, you could skip the Private Pilot Licence if you wish.
8. Endorsement and Ratings
Once you have your Private Pilot Licence, you have the option of adding endorsements and ratings to your licence.
Endorsements can be either for a particular type of aircraft or for a class (ie. where a number of aircraft with similar handling capabilities are grouped for endorsement purposes). An initial endorsement on a light twin-engine aeroplane can take 5 to 7 hours to gain.
The four types of ratings are:
| (i) Agricultural Rating - | for crop spraying, for pest control and fertiliser spreading (commercial licence or higher required) |
| (ii) Instrument Rating - | for flying in cloud, day/night, in non Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). |
| (iii) Instructor Rating - | for training other pilots. (commercial licence or higher required). |
| (iv) Night (VFR) Rating - | for flying at night (including dusk) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). |
To obtain a rating or an endorsement, you will need to complete appropriate training after which a CASA delegate, usually an industry pilot, assesses your competence. Some ratings also involve a theory exam.
For latest information, visit CASA
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