Came across this thread while studying in Melbourne for my Low-level aerobatics approval and couldn't help throwing in my .5c.
I've tried just about every school on the strip so can give you my thoughts:
RACWA (I did ab-initio through to PPL with them)
Pros:
Largest organisation on the strip
Heaps of aircraft and instructors
Has a bar and cafe upstairs
Runs club functions, competitions, etc
Tigermoths and Chipmunks, if you're into that kind of thing
If you're an Air Force Cadet or Instructor you can get uber cheap flying through them
They "Own" Murrayfield so you can get free landings
Cons:
HOWEVER The VDO time it takes to fly to Murrayfield and back cancels that advantage out, unless you drive to YMUL and fly out of there.
Requires membership fee, which only just makes their prices comparable to everyone else on the strip
They constantly change aircraft and instructors when you book
Heaps of extra rules for you above and beyond what CASA require
Heaps of young instructors who have gone straight through their training and into instructing, with little or no commercial experience
Old aircraft fleet, with no sign of new toys and technology on the horizon
They did have a mega complicated pricing structure, not sure what its like now
Can be an impersonal atmoshere...theres too many instructors to get to know well, and they all hang out out back in the instructors area
Their aerobatics endorsement was not fully CAO compliant, which I discovered when starting my low-level training. EVERYONE WHOS INTO AEROS CHECK THIS! They didn't cover slow rolls and rolls off the top.
Air Australia
Pros:
Cool paint jobs on their 152s and Robin
Has the Robin 2160...a relatively decent aerobatic aircraft
Good prices
Large open American-FBO style building, with posters and all sorts of flying paraphenalia around the place.
Smaller organisation so you get to know everyone there
Cons:
Smaller organisation and not as many aircraft
The Robin is very popular so need to book well in advance for weekends
Jandakot Flight Centre
I've only flown with them once to get some time up in a 210, and that was years ago. But it sounds like the business has had a lot more downs than ups in the last few years. The main advantage I saw way back then was if you wanted to further your training past CPL they had some large charter aircraft you could train in to get 210/twin/pressurisation ratings etc. I think they're using the Aussie designed, foreign built Eagle 150 for ab-initio - I wouldnt mind giving it a go but apparently its not cleared for aeros or spinning.
The Aeroplane Company (who I'm currently doing CPL training with)
Pros:
Smaller company, easier to get to know all their instructors
Flashy new Diamond Aircraft (both 2 and 4 seat)
They're modern, composite aircraft with joysticks, fuel injection, GPS, etc
DA40's have full G1000 glass cockpit. Amazing stuff!
The maintenence hangar is right next to classrooms. You can take 2 steps out of a classroom and see whats going on.
They have a CAP10 - which is a superb aerobatic and tailwheel aircraft
Cons
If you're into aeros they only have the 152 and a 150.
The CAP10 has been without an engine for almost a year and a half
Care must be taken when flying the CAP to not Over-G. There's an AD out that limits G because of some wings being snapped overseas.
While the DA20s are fun and cheap to fly, the DA40s are now rather expensive
The company has had some major issues with Jandakot Airport Holdings. It has unfortunately cost them business
ACFT/Attitude Aerobatics
Pros:
Smaller organisation so more personable, etc
Have Super Decathlons, which are a good aerobatic and tailwheel trainer
Decathlons get charged by Airswitch but not sure about their other aircraft
Have access to ECUs newish DA20 and 172 I think it is? 177 as well?
The only organisation that take their aerobatics seriously, and can take you further than a loop and a roll
Cool motion simulator
Cons:
Brand new company, still working on building up their base and profile
The Super Decathlon also has structural issues with high-G (especially rolling G). Even though its cleared for them in the manual, repeated high-G and snap rolls will bust fuel tanks and wing internals - Snap Rolls are thus banned at ACFT and at most other operators in the world. Thus at the moment, if you're into aerobatics you won't be able to get past Sportsman level. Fine for 90% of aero pilots, but if you want to go further you'll need to wait until they buy a Pitts 2 seater or let you fly that Extra 300.
Minovation:
I've never flown with them - even though I've heard relatively good things about their training, their entire fleet from memory are Pipers. Personally I see that as a con - I'm not the biggest fan of either Piper aircaft or the Piper corporation.
I think thats about it. Every company has its pro's and con's - it all depends on personal preference. You have to work out for yourself:
- What kind of aircraft you want to fly (Cessnas, Pipers, Diamonds, Old or New, tailwheel, aerobatic,etc)
- How often you want to fly
- If you want to go through to CPL
- If you want to get keen on aerobatics
- Whether you're in it for fun, private hire, or career.
Oh in terms of hours required, it all depends on how you yourself go.
There are CASA minimums but you don't stand a chance of reaching them. I did a cadet course at Cunderdin and soloed after 7.8hrs because there was no-one else in the sky and you didnt have to transit to a training area. When I got to YPJT I was overwhelmed with traffic and procedures, and spent another 6 hours or so in circuits.
Study hard. Read everything you can on the subject. "Chair Fly" (sit in a chair and visualise what you'll do for every stage of the flight - checks, manouevers, emergency procedures). Fly flight-simulators at home. Prepare your maps and charts and plans well for your navigation exercices. The more preparation and time you put in on the ground, the less dollars you'll spend in the air. Even if you think you're a natural pilot, don't become blaze and slack off. I got a couple of rude shocks during my training, and wasted money because I didn't put in 101%.
The first 40 odd hours of hard flying training and all the study and exams that go with it may not be a lot of fun, but its more than made up for when you can finally take passengers out to the training area and scare the bejeezus out of them more than makes up for it. Oh and being able to tell your mates that you flew into Rotto or Margaret River for lunch is pretty awesome too!
Hope that helps!