Archerfield flying schools
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Somewhere that looks a lot better when I close my eyes
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YBAF. One of the last of a dying breed. Ladies and gentlemen, I feel the GAAP aerodrome will soon be a thing of the past. Despite the attraction of a CTA environment and a control tower; the inability of Airservices to attract enough ATC to staff the damn things, the insensitivity of private owners to the needs of struggling GA operators and the endearing tendency for pilots to come charging in without the foggiest idea of GAAP procedures and regrettably occasionally suffer the ultimate in consequences has spelt doom for these little suburban oases of the ultimate freedom.
I ask you though, why even consider Archerfield at all? The reasons I gave at the outset should surely be enough to discourage anyone who knows what they are doing from considering any one of the eight (?) GAAPs around the country, but YBAF in particular, along with its cousins Jandakot, Moorabbin and Bankstown, appears to be in its death throes. The criminally exorbitant fees charged by Mr Campbell and his AAC cronies are forcing many business to shut up shop for good, or at best relocate to more aviation friendly parts of the South East - which are few and far between for the perpetual battlers of GA.
YBAF is one of those places that drains the soul. That feeling of wonder we no doubt all feel when we look up and see a jet pass overhead, or the joy of nothing but air supporting our weight when we are taken aloft, are feelings all but destroyed when looking out across the vast expanse of mission brown desolation that is this once great aerodrome. A piece of history slowly being whittled away into nothing but the blank, subtly undulating greyness of industrial building projects.
I am not completely disenchanted by YBAF however, nor should anyone be. There are still some things to be seen and done that cannot be experienced anywhere else. A 6am departure into the rising sun, out over the bay for some stomach churning fun, annoying the neighbours in the southern training area with FLWOP practice at all hours, the thundering departure of the Rolph-Smith Trojan and Yaks and low-level circuits in a Duchess just a few hundred feet over Canossa hill are things that can be replicated elsewhere, but never duplicated.
I trained there, so I will always love Archerfield in a strange way. There will always be a little piece of my heart that leaps for joy passing overhead on the Brisbane 01 ILS, or hearing the voices of the long-suffering but always professional controllers on duty, just as there will always be that subtle sinking feeling as I cross the threshold into what feels like the final wheezing gasp of recreational but professional flying in the area.
Archerfield, I love and hate you all at once.
I ask you though, why even consider Archerfield at all? The reasons I gave at the outset should surely be enough to discourage anyone who knows what they are doing from considering any one of the eight (?) GAAPs around the country, but YBAF in particular, along with its cousins Jandakot, Moorabbin and Bankstown, appears to be in its death throes. The criminally exorbitant fees charged by Mr Campbell and his AAC cronies are forcing many business to shut up shop for good, or at best relocate to more aviation friendly parts of the South East - which are few and far between for the perpetual battlers of GA.
YBAF is one of those places that drains the soul. That feeling of wonder we no doubt all feel when we look up and see a jet pass overhead, or the joy of nothing but air supporting our weight when we are taken aloft, are feelings all but destroyed when looking out across the vast expanse of mission brown desolation that is this once great aerodrome. A piece of history slowly being whittled away into nothing but the blank, subtly undulating greyness of industrial building projects.
I am not completely disenchanted by YBAF however, nor should anyone be. There are still some things to be seen and done that cannot be experienced anywhere else. A 6am departure into the rising sun, out over the bay for some stomach churning fun, annoying the neighbours in the southern training area with FLWOP practice at all hours, the thundering departure of the Rolph-Smith Trojan and Yaks and low-level circuits in a Duchess just a few hundred feet over Canossa hill are things that can be replicated elsewhere, but never duplicated.
I trained there, so I will always love Archerfield in a strange way. There will always be a little piece of my heart that leaps for joy passing overhead on the Brisbane 01 ILS, or hearing the voices of the long-suffering but always professional controllers on duty, just as there will always be that subtle sinking feeling as I cross the threshold into what feels like the final wheezing gasp of recreational but professional flying in the area.
Archerfield, I love and hate you all at once.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austria
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Looking for a flight school near Brisbane
I am from Austria (Central Europe) and I want take flighing lessons in Australia.
My uncle is living next to the Forestdale Park 10 Nm south of Archerfield.
I have allrady a sailplane rating with approximately 150 flight hour.
The next step would be the PPL possibly with IFR.
What flight school can you recommend?
I think about:
1) Royal Queenland Aero Club
2) AV8 Brisbane
3) Sunland Aviation
4) Flight training Australia
Do you have any other ideas?
Thanks for helping!!
greets
Fritz
My uncle is living next to the Forestdale Park 10 Nm south of Archerfield.
I have allrady a sailplane rating with approximately 150 flight hour.
The next step would be the PPL possibly with IFR.
What flight school can you recommend?
I think about:
1) Royal Queenland Aero Club
2) AV8 Brisbane
3) Sunland Aviation
4) Flight training Australia
Do you have any other ideas?
Thanks for helping!!
greets
Fritz
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Aerohooligan, I'm with you. Love the aerodrome but it's sad to say Redcliffe aero club would have to be the pick of the flying schools now. RQAC comes a close second because it is a good vibe and you can actually get a lesson. The cost of it makes it come second in my view.
This came straight from the AAC CEO's mouth (and please don't shoot the messenger). When they do their next master plan they are going to look at the option of trying to extend the runway to fit a small passenger jet in there. I know it would take a lot of work but if they could put Beatty road under the runway it could happen along with the co-operation of a lot of people. The moral of the story is that the airport still wants to be an airport but the commercial reality is that it needs to have some industrial tennants.
Enough from me,
Cheers all
This came straight from the AAC CEO's mouth (and please don't shoot the messenger). When they do their next master plan they are going to look at the option of trying to extend the runway to fit a small passenger jet in there. I know it would take a lot of work but if they could put Beatty road under the runway it could happen along with the co-operation of a lot of people. The moral of the story is that the airport still wants to be an airport but the commercial reality is that it needs to have some industrial tennants.
Enough from me,
Cheers all
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Australia
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(nothing but air supporting our weight)
Aerohooligan,
Meatbombs fall through the air and require parachutes to avert a certain fate. I think also a plane would fall through the air for the same reasons. On the ground the earth supports our weight, in the air we require LIFT.
Just an important correction, although I agree with some of your gripes with AAC.
Aerohooligan,
Meatbombs fall through the air and require parachutes to avert a certain fate. I think also a plane would fall through the air for the same reasons. On the ground the earth supports our weight, in the air we require LIFT.
Just an important correction, although I agree with some of your gripes with AAC.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Australia
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What you smoking there zoomy?
If it is not the air supporting our weight are you suggesting that, in the extreme case, conventional flight in a vacuum is possible and that variations in air density are of no concern to aviators.
L is lift force,
ρ is air density
v is true airspeed
A is platform area, and
CL is the lift coefficient at the desired angle of attack
If p = 0, there is no lift.
L is lift force,
ρ is air density
v is true airspeed
A is platform area, and
CL is the lift coefficient at the desired angle of attack
If p = 0, there is no lift.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Australia
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Oh Four Balls, you are so right. So sorry. I WILL SAY AGAIN, LIFT supports our weight. Air is the medium in which we create lift yes.
If you drop your Four Balls how hard will they fall without LIFT do you think.
If you drop your Four Balls how hard will they fall without LIFT do you think.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: in my house
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I did my licence there in 96 and was pleased with them. Good instructors and a nice family run flying school.
Could someone give me some fresh news from them via PM, please? Many thank's
D_71
Could someone give me some fresh news from them via PM, please? Many thank's
D_71
Join Date: May 2007
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Went into Gill Laytts a few months back..
Cheapest place at YBAF for your PPL, but also one of the worst value. Flying the C150, GFPT is around 8k and PPL in the 172/PA-28 is 18k, is another 8k or so, at least thats what they allow.
The place, well, IMO its a bit seedy. Whenever I went in there, nobody was there except Gill sitting down having a smoke on the couch. But, its cheap, so who cares.
If possible, I'd stay away from YBAF, its possibly the worse training area in Australia atm. Some of the worst landing fees too, $28 I think they are now.
Cheapest place at YBAF for your PPL, but also one of the worst value. Flying the C150, GFPT is around 8k and PPL in the 172/PA-28 is 18k, is another 8k or so, at least thats what they allow.
The place, well, IMO its a bit seedy. Whenever I went in there, nobody was there except Gill sitting down having a smoke on the couch. But, its cheap, so who cares.
If possible, I'd stay away from YBAF, its possibly the worse training area in Australia atm. Some of the worst landing fees too, $28 I think they are now.
What happened to FTA??? I thought that used to be the most prestigious place....
I can certainly recommend to go up north... If I have had to do it all over again I would have gone to Bob Harris or a smaller flying school north of Rocky or Mackay... Although the training I received was pretty good YBAF's schools take your money and all you hear is "thanks for coming...see'ya..."
Someone like Bob Harris or owners/instructors of similar smaller flying schools can help you find your first job or at least can put you in the right direction...
I can certainly recommend to go up north... If I have had to do it all over again I would have gone to Bob Harris or a smaller flying school north of Rocky or Mackay... Although the training I received was pretty good YBAF's schools take your money and all you hear is "thanks for coming...see'ya..."
Someone like Bob Harris or owners/instructors of similar smaller flying schools can help you find your first job or at least can put you in the right direction...
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Brisbane, Qld
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okay peeps, now I've narrowed it down and I need your input (FWIW 
). I'm planning on doing my CPL + ME/CIR at Archerfield (Redcliffe is unfortunately too far from where I live which is next to Archerfield!!) and I've narrowed it down to the following:
1. RQAC
- CPL + ME/CIR = $79k
- ATPL = $5k
2. Gil Layts
- CPL + ME/CIR = $75k
3. Sunland
- CPL only = $55k
4. FTA
- CPL + ME/CIR = $69.5k
- ATPL = $3k
Now I know each flying school has its pros and cons but I'd like to hear a bit more, hopefully from those who have been there recently.
Cheers
Pharoah
). I'm planning on doing my CPL + ME/CIR at Archerfield (Redcliffe is unfortunately too far from where I live which is next to Archerfield!!) and I've narrowed it down to the following:1. RQAC
- CPL + ME/CIR = $79k
- ATPL = $5k
2. Gil Layts
- CPL + ME/CIR = $75k
3. Sunland
- CPL only = $55k
4. FTA
- CPL + ME/CIR = $69.5k
- ATPL = $3k
Now I know each flying school has its pros and cons but I'd like to hear a bit more, hopefully from those who have been there recently.
Cheers
Pharoah
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brisbane
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Hey Just dropped into the conversation & saw the pricing so I thought I might but in. Up to you if you take the advice or not..
RQAC - I think at the moment are the best shot as
1- They aren't going to go bust
2- You can do everything under the one roof
Gil Laytts - Are they still doing or able to do ME/CIR? I thought they were a total VFR school now
FTA - Still not sure about them if you look a similar posts. I have also had personal dealings with them that I won't go into.
Sunland - Good as per previous post's regarding Brian Westin & the others. But you can't do it all in the same place to get a package deal.
Did you have a look at Flight one? www.flightone.net.au David St John there is a great bloke I did my instructors rating with him years ago. So I know he iron the wrinkles out.
Hope all goes well
RQAC - I think at the moment are the best shot as
1- They aren't going to go bust
2- You can do everything under the one roof
Gil Laytts - Are they still doing or able to do ME/CIR? I thought they were a total VFR school now
FTA - Still not sure about them if you look a similar posts. I have also had personal dealings with them that I won't go into.
Sunland - Good as per previous post's regarding Brian Westin & the others. But you can't do it all in the same place to get a package deal.
Did you have a look at Flight one? www.flightone.net.au David St John there is a great bloke I did my instructors rating with him years ago. So I know he iron the wrinkles out.
Hope all goes well
Sunland for CPL. Brian Westin has forgotten more about GA commercial ops than most of us have learnt... Used to work with him and learned a lot..he's a hard but fair task master and you would enjoy flying with him.
FTA ... strong focus on foreign contracts ... 'nuff said.
RQAC ... no first hand experience of them (but maybe a bit like FTA?)
Gil Layt's ... more laid back and perhaps more personal attention ... not a sausage factory.
Just my two bobs worth.
FTA ... strong focus on foreign contracts ... 'nuff said.
RQAC ... no first hand experience of them (but maybe a bit like FTA?)
Gil Layt's ... more laid back and perhaps more personal attention ... not a sausage factory.
Just my two bobs worth.
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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The main points for me about RQAC are that I've always had the same instructor, and I can get the airframe I want when I am able to fly (about twice or three times a month on weekends - full time job to fund it ). One of the factors is that I want to rent aircraft from there when I'm finished, so it made sense to go there.
They do seem to be doing a fair bit of international stuff, but I haven't had a flight cancelled because of it and the foreign students are friendly and polite.
). One of the factors is that I want to rent aircraft from there when I'm finished, so it made sense to go there.They do seem to be doing a fair bit of international stuff, but I haven't had a flight cancelled because of it and the foreign students are friendly and polite.
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Hmmmmm.... Went through all the Brissy schools about three years ago and found that,
FTA: Instructors to cocky, to much "Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators" exclusivety amongst senior pilots. Very foreign student orientated. **** aircraft for top dollars.
RQAC: Heres a computer, come play flight simulator, heres another computer, now pay me $3.5K and do you theory on that. Not to bad a fleet, a little expensive although once again, very focused on foreign studies and student (MCPL).
Arena/AV8/Whatever else has failed: Kept going broke, or moving building, stealing money and owner a dick.
Sunland: Had the cirrus, charged to much and thats as much as I know.
Redcliffe: Awesome instructors, easy to get booking (in the early days), cheap and nasty as well as cheap and awesome aircraft, big +++'s.
Downs Aero Club: Good Ol' fashion Aero Club, basic service, always time for a coffee, old planes, average price, good quality instructors.
Innisfail Aero Club: Farkin awesome instructor, good planes, good prices, good airport, good town, close to mission beach, heaps of chicks and if you get signed of on MECIR or CPL from the CFI you earnt it. Bloody Good!
If you are going to quote prices from start to finish dont, its a waste of time, all schools are going to rape and leach more money out of you than what they say. Better of to look at the hourly rate on the aircraft you wish to use.....
FTA: Instructors to cocky, to much "Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators" exclusivety amongst senior pilots. Very foreign student orientated. **** aircraft for top dollars.
RQAC: Heres a computer, come play flight simulator, heres another computer, now pay me $3.5K and do you theory on that. Not to bad a fleet, a little expensive although once again, very focused on foreign studies and student (MCPL).
Arena/AV8/Whatever else has failed: Kept going broke, or moving building, stealing money and owner a dick.
Sunland: Had the cirrus, charged to much and thats as much as I know.
Redcliffe: Awesome instructors, easy to get booking (in the early days), cheap and nasty as well as cheap and awesome aircraft, big +++'s.
Downs Aero Club: Good Ol' fashion Aero Club, basic service, always time for a coffee, old planes, average price, good quality instructors.
Innisfail Aero Club: Farkin awesome instructor, good planes, good prices, good airport, good town, close to mission beach, heaps of chicks and if you get signed of on MECIR or CPL from the CFI you earnt it. Bloody Good!
If you are going to quote prices from start to finish dont, its a waste of time, all schools are going to rape and leach more money out of you than what they say. Better of to look at the hourly rate on the aircraft you wish to use.....
Join Date: Jan 2006
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RQAC: Heres a computer, come play flight simulator, heres another computer, now pay me $3.5K and do you theory on that. Not to bad a fleet, a little expensive although once again, very focused on foreign studies and student (MCPL).
95% of their students (RQ & AAA) are Australian. There is a bigger focus on the Aussie market rather than foreign students. They've got the approvals so there are some international students.
Although it is owned by RQAC, the Airline Academy of Australia has a different AOC and very different style of training from the aero club(focusing on full-time courses). Some people are getting the two confused.