Learning to Fly in Australia

[Sarl]

It has been suggested by Aussie Andy that I place this post on the Dunnunda and Godzone Forum.

Please can anyone else help with additional information?

Thanks in anticipation


Please could someone out there help?
My son has arranged a 12 month sabbatical in 2005 and will be heading for Australia.
He wants to gain his PPL while he is there and I wondered if anybody can provide details of a flying school and an indication of potential cost if he were to do it full time.
Also what might be the complications in returning to the UK and converting his qualification to UK requirements?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[deltafoxtrot]

Hi Sarl,

is your son wanting to come to any particular part of oz? There are many schools, and choice perhaps would depend on where you want to be, and what planes you want to learn in.

I am a beginner, but have done a bit of research when looking for a school, so I might be able to help.

DF

[Sarl]

Hi Deltafoxtrot

His plans are to be based around the Sydney area so that is where he would learn to fly.

He has saved a considerable amount of money already for his year down under and any indication on the total cost of gaining your PPL would be appreciated.

Regards

Sarl

[deltafoxtrot]

Hi Sarl,

It is about $14000 for the ppl, though that of course depends on time taken and where you fly.

Pm me if you want more info


df

[Kaptin M]

Sydney (urban) area is pretty congested and I feel that he would probably get more air time (vs time spent sitting on the ground waiting for a break in the traffic...and paying for it!!) by looking at flying schools based on the coast north and south of Steak and Kidney eg. Taree, Forster-Tuncurry and Port Macquarie, to the north, and Wollongong and Merimbula to the south.
He might even want to have a go at hang gliding down around Wollongong.

[AerocatS2A]

$14000? are you sure? My PPL cost me about $6000, I realise that training is more expensive here than NZ where I did mine, but $14000?!

[Sarl]

Thanks for the responses although now I am a little confused on how much it might cost my son to learn.

There is a considerable difference between $14,000 and $6,000!

Please could you provide some clarification on cost?

Many thanks

Sarl

[On Track]

Aerocat:

How long since you did your PPL?

The prices have risen substantially since I did mine more than 10 years ago, even if the money paid to instructors hasn't.

[Aussierotor]

about $10,000 i believe

[Di_Vosh]

Most flying schools quote around $9,000.00 or thereabouts. These quotes are based on the legal minimum hours. It is normal to do more than the legal minimum hours to get your PPL.

The $9,000.00 may only be a quote for your flying training, and not all the other costs. Add on costs like Text books, charts, plotters, folders, medical, log book, stickers, (the list is pretty extensive) and you wont get much change from $14,000.00

[AerocatS2A]

Yeah it's been about 10 years since my PPL ($105 NZ/hour in C152). If you pay say $150 Aus/hour for a C152 now and you add an extra 10 hours onto the licence that's around $9000 + a bit for medical and books etc $10000 should do it. Still, the one thing you don't want to do is run out of money at the end of your training, so it wouldn't hurt to have another couple of thousand up your sleave.

[DirectAnywhere]

Realistically, min. 9k in a 150/152
min. 10k in a PA28/C172
up to 12k possibly for an average student - not below average - who may need a little extra time.

[Parablues]

Learn true bush piloting skills from Reggie and true IFR knowledge from da' MAN - Spike 007... They will take all of your money and then you can listen to TJ's rambling stories... I'm up the road at the Ultralight Club and we love the entertainment!

[R4+Z]

Sarl

If done properly your son can obtain a student visa by saying he will be doing a cpl but then flunking out after getting his ppl. That way he is allowed to earn money whilst here. However the cost of conversion on return would probably be quite high and make it not worthwhile.

[McIce]

R4+Z
Nail on head there with the cost of a conversion.
When he returns to a JAA area having obtained an ICAO licence he will be able to fly here after a check flight with whatever organisation.
The choices he then has is
1. do a very expensive conversion course all the exams and flying.
or
2. return to OZ for his bi annual flight check and medical.

Either way very expensive.

I am living poof of the above and always skint as a result.

Cheers Ice :)

[poteroo]

Sarl,

UK CAA should be able to give you list of flight schools in Aus which have UK Examiner on staff. My understanding is that you can avoid this problem of requalifying back in UK by doing the training at these schools.??

Why go all the way to Sydney? Jandakot/Perth, (WA), is closer to home and has a huge expat population of Poms - so you'll never even notice the language barrier!

happy days

[A.H.]

Sarl,
Contact Schofields Flying Club or Sydney Flying School, they are VTAB approved so you can save 10% no GST.
He can train in a C150, C152 or a Warrior, your call.
Check out their web site www.schofields-flying-club.com.au
I think you will be impressed.
Good Luck.
A.H.

[Chieftain]

I heard that Basair is a good school in the sydney area. Start with them and then do your homework on the others.

[aerocom]

Forget Basair they are very average. The best schools at Bankstown are either Whitworth aviation or Clamback and Hennessey. Both these places supervise there instructors to make sure they deliver a constant high standard. If you do a google search for bankstown airport it will come up with a list of operators at bk , cn, and hox. all the best with your flying.:cool:

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

There are no JAA courses or examiners in Australia.

Best way is to do the PPL and 175 hours here, then do the CPL modular course and writtens on return to the UK. Don't bother with the Aus CPL especially not an integrated course with IR etc here (not enough command time) unless you plan to and have the visa to work here. Cheaper hours, better weather (in WA anyway!) and no conversions.