Did you do your PPL in South Africa?
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Did you do your PPL in South Africa?
Where in SA did you train?
I posted the following question on "wannabees" on 12 July but have only had one real response so thought I would try here.
"Over some time I have seen a number of aspirant pilots asking for advice on where to go to train in SA. None of those who said they were going there seem to report back on how their course went, we only hear the bad cases. Anyone prepared to recommend the school they chose?"
I posted the following question on "wannabees" on 12 July but have only had one real response so thought I would try here.
"Over some time I have seen a number of aspirant pilots asking for advice on where to go to train in SA. None of those who said they were going there seem to report back on how their course went, we only hear the bad cases. Anyone prepared to recommend the school they chose?"
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Hi Wannadoo, have you considered 43 Air School in Port Alfred?
A highly professional setup which has an excellent reputation in the industry. The PPL course is structured and very enjoyable, and the training environment fantastic. Not many places where you get to spot whales and dolphins during your cross-country flights along the coast!
Good luck and enjoy
JD
A highly professional setup which has an excellent reputation in the industry. The PPL course is structured and very enjoyable, and the training environment fantastic. Not many places where you get to spot whales and dolphins during your cross-country flights along the coast!
Good luck and enjoy
JD
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Lots going!
Did mine at Blue Chip Aviation in Pretoria, out of Wonderboom airport. Good area to learn as you close to all the big airports and get to learn and fly in the special rules areas. But the airport itself is quiet enough so that you dont waste to much time at the holding point. Had no problems with the school all were very professional and friendly. Another school in the area is a fairly new Central Flying Academy at Grand Central airport, they seem to be a very competent setup, becoming very popular. These and alot of other schools are all inland. 43 air school at the coast is also a very professional setup. A few good schools Ive heard of in Port Elizabeth which is near 43, also on the coast. And of course a few in the beautiful city of Cape town.
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Busy with my PPL at Delta200 in Cape Town, very nice instructors and friendly staff and professional, can provide you with all your needs and ratings, lots of planes to do conversions and a C150 for IF training
. Very affordable price range, no bull.... and extra hidden costs. Great coast cross countries and ofcourse the lovely city of Ape Town with international airport and a lekka local unmanned airstrip to practice at, a close general aviation area, Stellenbosch is also closeby for quick flips.
The other airschools in Cape Town is Cape Aero Club, Good Hope Flying Club and then Stellenbosch flying club just on the outside of Cape Town.
. Very affordable price range, no bull.... and extra hidden costs. Great coast cross countries and ofcourse the lovely city of Ape Town with international airport and a lekka local unmanned airstrip to practice at, a close general aviation area, Stellenbosch is also closeby for quick flips. The other airschools in Cape Town is Cape Aero Club, Good Hope Flying Club and then Stellenbosch flying club just on the outside of Cape Town.
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The best place to do your flight training is at 43 Air School. They are a highly professional school. The area you fly in is also very beautiful. Their courses are very well structured and the training is the best! If you are considering to maybe do your CPL at a later date, then you can not go to any other place.
Did my CPL there and I had the best time of my life. Yu are out of the big rush of things, but not to far from big cities. The Genral Flying areas are right arround the airfield. There is no need to do a long flight to get to the training areas. In most of the schools in Johannesburg you have to fly to the nearest training area that will take you about 10 - 15 min of flying. So in an hours flight, you will only have 30 min of actual flight training where at 43 in an hour you will have at least 50 min of actual training. For more information on 43 airschool: http://www.43airschool.com . Really hope you choose the best
Did my CPL there and I had the best time of my life. Yu are out of the big rush of things, but not to far from big cities. The Genral Flying areas are right arround the airfield. There is no need to do a long flight to get to the training areas. In most of the schools in Johannesburg you have to fly to the nearest training area that will take you about 10 - 15 min of flying. So in an hours flight, you will only have 30 min of actual flight training where at 43 in an hour you will have at least 50 min of actual training. For more information on 43 airschool: http://www.43airschool.com . Really hope you choose the best
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Wannado: If 'home' is UK or Eire based, there is a 'support' group for when you return with your licence, (we just had an excellent fly-in to RAF Cosford). See UKSA Flyer Community - the participants often say where they learned in SA so you can ask the ex-students. Also there's info like SA medicals in the UK, UK law for SA PPLs, and there will be some more news fairly soon on flying to France., I hope.
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Still looking
Thank you for the replies so far. I have looked into a few places but have not yet made up my mind. 43 looks good but is not quite what I am looking for, has a waiting list and is a bit too expensive for me.
I am considering Algoa Flight Centre in Port Elizabeth. Does anyone have first hand information?
I am considering Algoa Flight Centre in Port Elizabeth. Does anyone have first hand information?
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Algoa Flying Club
If you are thinking about going to Algoa Flying Club, you are already on the right track. I cannot recommend them enough.
I did my PPL there in fantastic Port Elizabeth in Apri this year.
Taxing out behind a 737 is just great.
The school is professional but retains a casual atmoshere, which I found suits the learning cycle very well, not stressed out.
Yeah, other schools do offer whale watching etc, who cares? You want to learn to fly, and with the best, go to Algoa my man, you will be so pleased you did.
(The birds are great too.)
I did my PPL there in fantastic Port Elizabeth in Apri this year.
Taxing out behind a 737 is just great.
The school is professional but retains a casual atmoshere, which I found suits the learning cycle very well, not stressed out.
Yeah, other schools do offer whale watching etc, who cares? You want to learn to fly, and with the best, go to Algoa my man, you will be so pleased you did.
(The birds are great too.)
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My Two penny-worth
Hi there
Ok I'm biased towards SA as I did my PPL here. The majority of my flying has been in Cape Town and at George. I have no concerns at all. At the major schools/flying clubs you will be treated fairly and have a great time learning to fly to a high standard.
Port Elizabeth seems to be a very popular destination and having flown there several times I can see why - it's just the right mix for a student in so far as it's not rediculously busy but at the same time there's enough traffic for you to need to keep your wits about you. I personally love flying out of Cape Town but I suppose that as student pilot you don't want your hard earned cash being eaten up sat on the ground for the best part of half an hour.
My only advice is don't part with any cash up front and beware of people selling you packages in the UK. You can search this forum and find out the pitfalls that can occur. Allow yourself about 6 weeks may be more for your PPL. How quickly you finsih obvioulsy depends on a variety of factors but the weather although generally good in SA can of course be frustrating - if you do finish earlier then use the time to explore the cape by air, believe me it's something you wont regret.
Good luck!
Ok I'm biased towards SA as I did my PPL here. The majority of my flying has been in Cape Town and at George. I have no concerns at all. At the major schools/flying clubs you will be treated fairly and have a great time learning to fly to a high standard.
Port Elizabeth seems to be a very popular destination and having flown there several times I can see why - it's just the right mix for a student in so far as it's not rediculously busy but at the same time there's enough traffic for you to need to keep your wits about you. I personally love flying out of Cape Town but I suppose that as student pilot you don't want your hard earned cash being eaten up sat on the ground for the best part of half an hour.
My only advice is don't part with any cash up front and beware of people selling you packages in the UK. You can search this forum and find out the pitfalls that can occur. Allow yourself about 6 weeks may be more for your PPL. How quickly you finsih obvioulsy depends on a variety of factors but the weather although generally good in SA can of course be frustrating - if you do finish earlier then use the time to explore the cape by air, believe me it's something you wont regret.
Good luck!
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Another two penny worth
I agree fully with George Tower comments.
I recently attempted to do the same in April this year and was bitterly dissapointed and wasted about £5000.00. Be very careful in accepting packages from UK based agents like Naunton Pugh in Cambridge for flying schools in SA, see my thread of Cape Flying Services and still more very interesting comments to be posted soon!
Uk Caa only recognized JAA flying school in South Africa is Flight Training College based in Johannesburg it is apparently very proffessional and as I understand it the SA PPL does have some problems on the UK return of the student, particularly, if you do not complete the ppl in SA and return with a student ppl, the medical needs to be re taken in the UK as most medicals carried out in SA are not JAA approved allbeit Class 2.
My strony advice would be to go to a SA flying school for hour building to solo status and gain the experience return to the UK join a flying school rewrite all the 6 exams (£20 each) complete the JAA medical at about £120 and finish the leasons and course with about 12- 15 hours at £100 each.
This may sound strange, but think about it as it does make some sense. You will have a full JAA licence and have completed it a lot sooner than if you had done fully within UK as your flying hours is transferrable upon your return. Don't under any circumstances pay up front, only, pay as you fly, you will enjoy the good exchange rate at about between R500 - R 700 per hour dual and solo, that around £45- £50 per hour. Don't expect extensive ground school training , expect to teach yourself as this ground school in all probability will be non existent
South Africa is a great country for all sorts of activities including aviation but I suspect there are companies not fully up to date with good customer relations policies ! Discuss, negotiate and confirm every detail with them prior to starting your training.
If you need further advice please email me, remember Ive been there and fell into the pitfalls !
Good Luck
Sandy
I recently attempted to do the same in April this year and was bitterly dissapointed and wasted about £5000.00. Be very careful in accepting packages from UK based agents like Naunton Pugh in Cambridge for flying schools in SA, see my thread of Cape Flying Services and still more very interesting comments to be posted soon!
Uk Caa only recognized JAA flying school in South Africa is Flight Training College based in Johannesburg it is apparently very proffessional and as I understand it the SA PPL does have some problems on the UK return of the student, particularly, if you do not complete the ppl in SA and return with a student ppl, the medical needs to be re taken in the UK as most medicals carried out in SA are not JAA approved allbeit Class 2.
My strony advice would be to go to a SA flying school for hour building to solo status and gain the experience return to the UK join a flying school rewrite all the 6 exams (£20 each) complete the JAA medical at about £120 and finish the leasons and course with about 12- 15 hours at £100 each.
This may sound strange, but think about it as it does make some sense. You will have a full JAA licence and have completed it a lot sooner than if you had done fully within UK as your flying hours is transferrable upon your return. Don't under any circumstances pay up front, only, pay as you fly, you will enjoy the good exchange rate at about between R500 - R 700 per hour dual and solo, that around £45- £50 per hour. Don't expect extensive ground school training , expect to teach yourself as this ground school in all probability will be non existent
South Africa is a great country for all sorts of activities including aviation but I suspect there are companies not fully up to date with good customer relations policies ! Discuss, negotiate and confirm every detail with them prior to starting your training.
If you need further advice please email me, remember Ive been there and fell into the pitfalls !
Good Luck
Sandy
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Sanjo69
I agree SA is great but look at the threads for FTC (Africa & Wannabes), they are similar to what you experienced. UK CAA accreditation means nothing when it comes to customer service.
Wannado
Do a search there is hours of reading about all SA schools.
Good Luck in your training.
FB
I agree SA is great but look at the threads for FTC (Africa & Wannabes), they are similar to what you experienced. UK CAA accreditation means nothing when it comes to customer service.
Wannado
Do a search there is hours of reading about all SA schools.
Good Luck in your training.
FB
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Replying to a previous post...
...regarding distances to GFs. The GF at Wonderboom is around two minutes flying time from the circuit so no probs there. Wonderboom at Pretoria is a quiet field where you'll get no untoward delays and as they're controlled you'll get good radio experience as well.
Schools here are Pretoria Flying School, Blue Chip and Rapid Air.
Whatever your choice, hope you enjoy your time in SA and y'all come see us again, hear......
Schools here are Pretoria Flying School, Blue Chip and Rapid Air.
Whatever your choice, hope you enjoy your time in SA and y'all come see us again, hear......
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Hi,
I went to Progress Flight Academy (Port Elizabeth) in April last year,
I did 150 hours a night rating, C150, warrior and Rockwell commander conversions and went on a week long trip to Botswana and back.
The airfield is next to PE airport (actually within their controlled airspace) and a stones throw away from the local GF area. The instructors were first class and the whole setup very relaxed and freindly and providing your flexible you'll have a great time!
There's a great social life, as well as training atmosphere and you get equal opportunities to work hard and play hard!
I spent just under 4 months, 150 hours, 3 type ratings, Night rating, full room and board, maid service, 10 day safari holiday and all for less than 7000 pounds! In fact their complex single was so cheap I ended up doing most of my hours on that! (50 pounds an hour)
They do a JAA Module 1 course aimed purely at guys looking to do the PPL and hour building before starting the ATPL groundschool in the UK.
You don't have to spend the extra to go to 43 and we had two guys flying with us that had tried 43 and didn't like it! They complained about the lack of attention given to non sponsored pilots. ( A little like the complaints about Oxford) However I never flew into 43, just over it!
I flew into FTC in Joburg and was not at all impressed by them but perhaps they weren't impressed by my Progress uniform?!?
I would take with a big pinch of salt anything claimed about JAA aproved training in SA! and look very closely at the fine print!
Finally I think wherever you go you will have a great time, but remember DONT PAY UPFRONT...remember the old saying a fool/student pilot and his money are easily parted.
Pay in stages with perhaps a small amount in advance to show good faith (like 2/3 hours more) and any school that won't except those terms are not worth trusting!
Best of luck and feel free to email if you want to ask anything,
regards Rodders.
I went to Progress Flight Academy (Port Elizabeth) in April last year,
I did 150 hours a night rating, C150, warrior and Rockwell commander conversions and went on a week long trip to Botswana and back.
The airfield is next to PE airport (actually within their controlled airspace) and a stones throw away from the local GF area. The instructors were first class and the whole setup very relaxed and freindly and providing your flexible you'll have a great time!
There's a great social life, as well as training atmosphere and you get equal opportunities to work hard and play hard!
I spent just under 4 months, 150 hours, 3 type ratings, Night rating, full room and board, maid service, 10 day safari holiday and all for less than 7000 pounds! In fact their complex single was so cheap I ended up doing most of my hours on that! (50 pounds an hour)
They do a JAA Module 1 course aimed purely at guys looking to do the PPL and hour building before starting the ATPL groundschool in the UK.
You don't have to spend the extra to go to 43 and we had two guys flying with us that had tried 43 and didn't like it! They complained about the lack of attention given to non sponsored pilots. ( A little like the complaints about Oxford) However I never flew into 43, just over it!
I flew into FTC in Joburg and was not at all impressed by them but perhaps they weren't impressed by my Progress uniform?!?
I would take with a big pinch of salt anything claimed about JAA aproved training in SA! and look very closely at the fine print!
Finally I think wherever you go you will have a great time, but remember DONT PAY UPFRONT...remember the old saying a fool/student pilot and his money are easily parted.
Pay in stages with perhaps a small amount in advance to show good faith (like 2/3 hours more) and any school that won't except those terms are not worth trusting!
Best of luck and feel free to email if you want to ask anything,
regards Rodders.
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You can fly in the UK on a SA PPL
Hi Guys
If you want to fly in the UK on a SA PPL it is possible without very much hassle provided your SA PPL is current and same goes for your medical as well.
Most schools/clubs will usually want to give you a check ride before signing you out solo. I know as I have done it.
There is a cracking site already plugged but for the avoidance of doubt its: www.uksa.flyer.co.uk It certainly answers most questions on this subject
Having spent ages researching the subject I would only convert to a JAA PPL if you intended to start adding ratings to your licence in the UK i.e. Night Qualification & IMC Rating which is something they don't have in SA.
If your ultimate aim is a JAR CPL/IR (Frozen ATPL) and you're doing the modular route then all you need is an ICAO PPL to start your CPL/ATPL course.
Finally on all these threads someone will have had a bad experience with a particular school and yet there will be others that had a great time. Success isn't just about the school but about you.
If you want to fly in the UK on a SA PPL it is possible without very much hassle provided your SA PPL is current and same goes for your medical as well.
Most schools/clubs will usually want to give you a check ride before signing you out solo. I know as I have done it.
There is a cracking site already plugged but for the avoidance of doubt its: www.uksa.flyer.co.uk It certainly answers most questions on this subject
Having spent ages researching the subject I would only convert to a JAA PPL if you intended to start adding ratings to your licence in the UK i.e. Night Qualification & IMC Rating which is something they don't have in SA.
If your ultimate aim is a JAR CPL/IR (Frozen ATPL) and you're doing the modular route then all you need is an ICAO PPL to start your CPL/ATPL course.
Finally on all these threads someone will have had a bad experience with a particular school and yet there will be others that had a great time. Success isn't just about the school but about you.
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UK agents
sanjo69:
That's a very sweeping statement. Do you have any experience of any other agents apart from the one you mention?
You also say that the best way to use training in South Africa towards a JAA PPL is to train to solo standard under SA rules then come back and complete in the UK. Unfortunately that's not possible. To obtain a JAA PPL you must complete a minimum of 25hrs dual and 10hrs solo in the JAA state which will issue your licence. So only 10hrs flown in SA will count towards the minimum 45 for the licence. When you take the air fare into account it's not worth going to SA just to fly 10hrs.
Be very careful in accepting packages from UK based agents
You also say that the best way to use training in South Africa towards a JAA PPL is to train to solo standard under SA rules then come back and complete in the UK. Unfortunately that's not possible. To obtain a JAA PPL you must complete a minimum of 25hrs dual and 10hrs solo in the JAA state which will issue your licence. So only 10hrs flown in SA will count towards the minimum 45 for the licence. When you take the air fare into account it's not worth going to SA just to fly 10hrs.
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Algoa Flying Club
You have lots of flight schools around the PE area - Algoa is small, professional and gets you through the course quickly - I did my com there in 1995 and still keep in touch. Can't recomend them enough. They also have an excellent bar where you can of course learns loads - good luck.
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It is very simple to convert an SA ppl to JAA.
Get Sa PPL
Build up to 100 hrs TT
Come home
Sit law and met(i think)
get JAA medical
Send off to CAA
Bingo!
It is simple, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
CFA are very good.
Do a search on FTC.
SK
Get Sa PPL
Build up to 100 hrs TT
Come home
Sit law and met(i think)
get JAA medical
Send off to CAA
Bingo!
It is simple, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
CFA are very good.
Do a search on FTC.
SK
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oh-o.... lots of:
(a) accurate information that is being misunderstood
and
(b) inaccurate information that sounds believable
NorthSouth is quite correct that if you go and take lessons but do not get a licence (ie: you do some proportion of the foreign licence course but not finish and actually get the licence) and then arrive back in the UK, you can only claim max 10 hours credit towards a JAA PPL course. This is unfortunately being misread or misunderstood by some, but NorthSouth is correct and accurate as wha tis written concerns someone just taking training abroad and not getting a foreign licence.
On the other hand, if you come back with a SA PPL, it is automatically validated for private use in this country without formality. You will therefore be legal to fly here, but hopefully you will take a few lessons on navigation around the UK or team up with local flyers to become accustomed to it. Rental checkouts will be required just like for everyone else. You NEED never convert to a JAA PPL. (Many don't, and others just fly here for a year or two on the SA PPL until they finally end up doing a JAA CPL course and never actually convert at PPL level)
If you WANT to convert to a JAA PPL from a valid SA PPL, you always need a JAA medical and you always need to pass the full initial PPL Skills Test (the big one, 2.25 hours approx including nav and general handling), no matter how many hours you have. The only difference your hours make is to decide whether you have to do ALL JAA ground exams (under 100 hours experience) or only two of them (Air Law and Human performance). Only those 2 are required in the ground exam department if you have 100 hours total or more, but you STILL need the flying test, medical etc. Your foreign PPL needs to be current at the time of conversion to JAA too whenever you apply.
(a) accurate information that is being misunderstood
and
(b) inaccurate information that sounds believable
NorthSouth is quite correct that if you go and take lessons but do not get a licence (ie: you do some proportion of the foreign licence course but not finish and actually get the licence) and then arrive back in the UK, you can only claim max 10 hours credit towards a JAA PPL course. This is unfortunately being misread or misunderstood by some, but NorthSouth is correct and accurate as wha tis written concerns someone just taking training abroad and not getting a foreign licence.
On the other hand, if you come back with a SA PPL, it is automatically validated for private use in this country without formality. You will therefore be legal to fly here, but hopefully you will take a few lessons on navigation around the UK or team up with local flyers to become accustomed to it. Rental checkouts will be required just like for everyone else. You NEED never convert to a JAA PPL. (Many don't, and others just fly here for a year or two on the SA PPL until they finally end up doing a JAA CPL course and never actually convert at PPL level)
If you WANT to convert to a JAA PPL from a valid SA PPL, you always need a JAA medical and you always need to pass the full initial PPL Skills Test (the big one, 2.25 hours approx including nav and general handling), no matter how many hours you have. The only difference your hours make is to decide whether you have to do ALL JAA ground exams (under 100 hours experience) or only two of them (Air Law and Human performance). Only those 2 are required in the ground exam department if you have 100 hours total or more, but you STILL need the flying test, medical etc. Your foreign PPL needs to be current at the time of conversion to JAA too whenever you apply.
