Full time PPL in Oz
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Full time PPL in Oz
Flyers,
I have managed to get 10 weeks off to focus on doing a PPL from scratch.
Whilst I have a place to stay in Sydney, I am prepared to go anywhere in Oz (cost permitting) that has good instructors, offers full time training and is fairly priced. I would prefer to avoid Bankstown.
Would appreciate your recomm. for flight schools. I am looking at Curtis in Tamworth and Johnston's in Port Macquarie as options. Would consider Adelaide or Perth if on-site accom is affordable.
Many thanks in advance,
AP
I have managed to get 10 weeks off to focus on doing a PPL from scratch.
Whilst I have a place to stay in Sydney, I am prepared to go anywhere in Oz (cost permitting) that has good instructors, offers full time training and is fairly priced. I would prefer to avoid Bankstown.
Would appreciate your recomm. for flight schools. I am looking at Curtis in Tamworth and Johnston's in Port Macquarie as options. Would consider Adelaide or Perth if on-site accom is affordable.
Many thanks in advance,
AP
Join Date: May 2007
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...and then if you don't need to drive, and are happy to hang around, try some country schools like ATLASS in Scone, amongst others. You'll find places like this can be a great learning experience as you really do get focussed attention and tuition. It is also more economical as you tend to learn faster. PM me if you would like more details.
sc
sc
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A few thoughts:
- 10 weeks, in my experience, is quite a short time to get a PPL. You will need to really work hard - flying daily, hitting the text books, etc.
- Given your short time frame, you do not want to be held up by inclement weather. Depending on what time of year you have off for this, you may wish to consider where you go. For instance, Sydney for the past few weeks has been decidedly poor for ab initio training, and this is likely to be the case until September or October, and even then there is a fair chance of having significant periods of time washed or blown out. You may want to enquire about weather patterns as part of your looking around.
- Also given the short time frame, you may come across operators who ask you to pay for the full cost of your training up front (or you may be tempted to do so yourself). You should be VERY weary of doing this. In aviation, it is not usually a wise idea to part with all your money up front...
Good luck with the training - make sure you take enough time to take it all in!
TT
- 10 weeks, in my experience, is quite a short time to get a PPL. You will need to really work hard - flying daily, hitting the text books, etc.
- Given your short time frame, you do not want to be held up by inclement weather. Depending on what time of year you have off for this, you may wish to consider where you go. For instance, Sydney for the past few weeks has been decidedly poor for ab initio training, and this is likely to be the case until September or October, and even then there is a fair chance of having significant periods of time washed or blown out. You may want to enquire about weather patterns as part of your looking around.
- Also given the short time frame, you may come across operators who ask you to pay for the full cost of your training up front (or you may be tempted to do so yourself). You should be VERY weary of doing this. In aviation, it is not usually a wise idea to part with all your money up front...
Good luck with the training - make sure you take enough time to take it all in!
TT
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Hi, I just got my PPL in 7 weeks training at Camden. I was there from March-April. Sure it was tough. Almost every moment is spent on "flying. Fly in the day, study at night. Hardly have any free time. You have to decide if its really suitable for you and if you can get it done within that short time.
Another thing is that its awfully stressful with the sort deadline that I had. Made many stupid mistakes.
Another thing is that its awfully stressful with the sort deadline that I had. Made many stupid mistakes.
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I used to instruct at a school where 3 weeks to PPL was not uncommon, so 10 weeks is very do-able with time to have some fun along the way. I'm not instructing any more, but, if you're looking for a near to Sydney location, with experienced and friendly instructors and pretty good flying weather all year round, have a look at Wardair at Bathurst.
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I would highly recommend Curtis at Camden. Ontop of training for PPL you get a tail dragger endorsement (equals much more fun!!!) and the chance to fly glass cockpit C182 on you get more advanced.
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Something I forgot to mention in my previous post - make sure you get your medical done, and applications in for ARN, Student Pilot Licence and ASIC as soon as you can - waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn holds people back all the time...
3 weeks to PPL? Does that include the theory, or is that assumed to have been done beforehand?
I guess if you can knock over the theory before your 10 week stint, that is helpful and will certainly make it a heck of a lot easier. But a big caveat emptor here - if you later plan to go on and do a CPL, there are requirements as to when you may sit the various theory exams to be considered as doing your training as part of an integrated course (i.e. 150 hour course) as opposed to non-integrated training (i.e. 200 hour CPL). These are detailed in section 2.8 of the Day VFR Syllabus.
Obviously if you don't intend to do the 150-hour course, then it is not an issue for you, and I'd strongly recommend diving into the theory as soon as you can. As for doing it in 3 weeks, I think that is extraordinarily optimistic in my (albeit somewhat limited) experience.
TT
3 weeks to PPL? Does that include the theory, or is that assumed to have been done beforehand?
I guess if you can knock over the theory before your 10 week stint, that is helpful and will certainly make it a heck of a lot easier. But a big caveat emptor here - if you later plan to go on and do a CPL, there are requirements as to when you may sit the various theory exams to be considered as doing your training as part of an integrated course (i.e. 150 hour course) as opposed to non-integrated training (i.e. 200 hour CPL). These are detailed in section 2.8 of the Day VFR Syllabus.
(a) A student pilot must have accumulated at least 5 hours dual flying training before he/she may be credited
with a pass in the BAK examination.
(b) A student pilot must have commenced cross-country training and passed the BAK examination before
he/she may be credited with a pass in CASA PPLA theory examination (where applicable).
(c) A student pilot must have accumulated at least 5 hours PIC cross country flight time before he/she may be
credited with a pass in the CASA CPLA written examination. Additionally he/she must have passed the
BAK examination before attempting the CPLA written examination.
(d) Alternatively, the CPLA subject examination may be attempted after the following phases of training have
been achieved:
(i) after passing the General Flying Progress Test (GFPT), or achieving the competencies for the GFPT
(as specified in the GFPT Achievement Record):
• Aerodynamics
• Human Factors
• Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK)
• Meteorology
(ii) after accumulating 5 hours pilot in command cross country time, or achieving the competencies of the
PPL (as specified in the PPL Achievement Record)
• Navigation
• Aircraft Operation, Performance and Flight Planning
• Flight Rules and Air Law.
with a pass in the BAK examination.
(b) A student pilot must have commenced cross-country training and passed the BAK examination before
he/she may be credited with a pass in CASA PPLA theory examination (where applicable).
(c) A student pilot must have accumulated at least 5 hours PIC cross country flight time before he/she may be
credited with a pass in the CASA CPLA written examination. Additionally he/she must have passed the
BAK examination before attempting the CPLA written examination.
(d) Alternatively, the CPLA subject examination may be attempted after the following phases of training have
been achieved:
(i) after passing the General Flying Progress Test (GFPT), or achieving the competencies for the GFPT
(as specified in the GFPT Achievement Record):
• Aerodynamics
• Human Factors
• Aircraft General Knowledge (AGK)
• Meteorology
(ii) after accumulating 5 hours pilot in command cross country time, or achieving the competencies of the
PPL (as specified in the PPL Achievement Record)
• Navigation
• Aircraft Operation, Performance and Flight Planning
• Flight Rules and Air Law.
TT
