Flying Schools Excluding South Africa - North of the Limpopo
 

Does anyone have any useful thoughts, ideas or suggestions on Flying Schools outside of SA ?

Only looking to do my PPL licence and am on a budget, yes, I know .. budget. ( I would love to say money unlimited, but its not - US$10/12K For everything including living expenses for up to 4/6 months )

Really do not want to do it here in the UK, Asia I have discounted due to cost and America is off the books as well.

So looking North of the Limpopo ....

I would think the more you move away from the major areas where flying schools are concentrated like joburg, the more the cost..... do some research first... but a lot of flying schools within Joburg area, grand central for example have competitive rates....

No one ... No Gems or Thoughts to Impart ?

I've looked at flight training in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya in the past few years. Obviously it depends where you live, but it sounds as though you can't do your PPL from home, so you will have to factor in travel, accommodation and cost of living.

Definitely, in Africa, SA is the cheapest, most reliable and easiest place to get qualified. It would be JUST possible to do it on your budget, if you work hard and don't play at all.

I don't know what the options are in Namibia or Botswana, which are two other alternatives you might want to check out.

In Zim, you could talk to Guthries at Harare Charles Prince (FVCP), or in Kenya Pegasus at Nairobi Wilson, both good and respected flying schools, to get an idea of prices for yourself. But when you factor in aircraft and instructor availability, per hour costs, living costs and rent, bureaucratic hassle (and the time wasted for exams to be set and marked, medical confirmed, log books validated, license issued, etc etc), you will definitely find that SA is your best bet.

US - Florida - is still the cheapest, globally. But you say that's not an option.

Bear in mind that your budget needs to include the cost of converting whatever license you get to one appropriate for wherever you intend to fly.

Best of luck, buddy. Hope it works out for you.

Hello Mr Mouse, terroriser of the elephants.
I should have thought that Wilson Field in Nairobi would have been your best bet.
If you're down in Zululand, you can drive there and keep your transport there, for a while at least.

But Ihlosi, Igundwane says he's in Mud Island, not Zululand. A slightly more complicated drive. And seriously, Wilson is not a good place to do ab initio to PPL these days. It's so busy, ATC is worse than ever, KCAA is a bureaucratic nightmare, and the flying schools are more expensive than SA. If you're a Kenyan intending to fly commercially in Kenya it makes sense. I don't think Igundwane is any of those. Maybe he will tell us...

Gentlemen, many thanks indeed for all the words of advice and wisdom.

Indeed, I am happy to enlighten you all as to why my route is taking many twists and turns, no problem at all.

Basically, Ex Zim's been living in Mud Island for Wayyyyyy to many years now and have got to the point where I am not only fed up with life here, but working in IT is slowly driving me insane. Time to add another options to my life and getting my PPL licence is the first step in that. I have already been putting in a few hours on CCM ( which honestly is my first love ) ... yes yes I hear you groan, but man, its magic

I have looked at doing here in the UK however, trying to do it in-between a 60hr working week and everything else it really ends up disjointed + distractions, weather etc are just a pain in the arse, doing it this way means a lot of work and No Play, but I think it will pay off.

I have been in contact with West Rift Aviation @ Wilson Airport in Nairobi and so far, they have been extremely helpful in all the information I need, would need and could need and come in on budget, I did look at Uganda, and again, as helpful as they were the price knocked them for a six sadly.

You have all pointed out, and rightly so, cost of doing it here in the UK vs somewhere back in Africa and when added up there is not a lot of difference for what I am needing. Call me a Penga Makiwa, but hey, in for a penny, in for a pound and honestly, I would rather spend a little more, put up with the hassle and do it where it is warm and sunny, rather than freezing my butt off at the Cranfield Aerodrome in Bedfordshire with a 0c wind for company.

Hope that gives you all a little background as to why, how and where ...

Ps, It was more a case of the Igundwane Scaring the Tourists many many moons ago ( Ex Guide From Hwange Nat Park Area )

For somewhere off the beaten path. Pangea Aviation Academy in Kajjansi, Uganda.

[email protected]

https://web.facebook.com/Pangeaaviationacademy/

There's always sunny Spain, at a price.

FTEJerez | Flight Training Europe

Some years ago they were looking for instructors, well, not just canon fodder teachers but four bar and star guys, so I applied. Took a trip to Jerez, which I used to know well, I speak Spanish and bumbled out to the school.
The front gates of the school were littered with empty booze bottles. There'd been a party there the night before i guess but this was 12.00 the following morning. So, I sent the school an email telling them that I thought this was slack practice and that if they employed me, overt drinking outside or inside the premises would not be tolerated and nor would such lazy cleaning staff should the drink sometimes succeed.
I didn't get the job. Now, that tells you masses about me and about the school then. I haven't changed, perfection on a plank.

Well talk to Craig at Charles Prince, if I were you after this last week Zim could be a fun place to be, and Craig and his team are proper pros. If you're an ex-Zim I guess you may have mates/family still there who can give you a place to stay and maybe lend you a truck to get around. If you start in May, after the rains, you'll have five months of relatively stable weather to learn in.

I did my PPL at FVCP many years ago (at Pegasus, now relocated to Lanseria). It's a quiet field, not too much traffic in the pattern, helpful local fixers who can run paperwork over to Harare main etc etc

Just an update for all those who offered suggestions, am now in Nairobi and yes, am flying out of Wilson with a small outfit, who actually are very good. Interesting selection of trainers to boot, but they are very genuine and are happy to give you as much extra time, info and knowledge as you need, rather than running large classes and pushing you out the door.

I now appreciate just how busy this airport is, but, nothing like getting thrown in the deep end ...