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Newbie & Flying Training Advice (Merged)

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Newbie & Flying Training Advice (Merged)

Old 23rd Aug 2021, 10:31
  #841 (permalink)  
 
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Hunter Valley Aviation (BASAIR)

I am looking into CPL courses and I'm looking for some thoughts on Hunter Valley Aviation and their Diploma courses. I would also like to ask for peoples' thoughts on VET student loans also and is it a good option to go?

I see that basair also offer a combined course for CPL and MECIR that can all be covered under VET loans but from what I calculate is that this when end up having a greater debt than if I done the courses separately so probably better doing them separate unless there is a greater benefit for me doing the combined course?
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Old 24th Aug 2021, 03:08
  #842 (permalink)  
 
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Just my thoughts... probably not the best time in aviation history to be taking on a huge debt to fund a dream of flying. But then glass half full view, eventually there will be a bounce back and demand. Tought call if anyone is in your shoes. Personally if it was me, I would start slow and self fund to give me time to get to PPL and see where the industry has moved in that time.
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Old 22nd Nov 2021, 09:01
  #843 (permalink)  
 
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Getting my CPL Late in Life, is it worth the Effort?

Hello All

I posted this Thread to ask a Simple Question

I am 31 Yrs Old, a Truck Driver, and have a massive Dream of being a Commercial Pilot.

Now due to Personal Constraints, if I tried my Hardest, I won't be ready to start my CPL Course until I am around 34, 33 if I really Push it.

My Simple Question is this
Is it going to be worth it (Career Wise) to get my CPL so Late? I have been told that 35 is the ultimate cut-off.... so I thought I'd ask People who are in the Field, stick my feelers out and see what you Guys/Girls Think.

Thank you for any and all your Responces.
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Old 22nd Nov 2021, 10:35
  #844 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Thomflan90
Hello All

I posted this Thread to ask a Simple Question

I am 31 Yrs Old, a Truck Driver, and have a massive Dream of being a Commercial Pilot.

Now due to Personal Constraints, if I tried my Hardest, I won't be ready to start my CPL Course until I am around 34, 33 if I really Push it.

My Simple Question is this
Is it going to be worth it (Career Wise) to get my CPL so Late? I have been told that 35 is the ultimate cut-off.... so I thought I'd ask People who are in the Field, stick my feelers out and see what you Guys/Girls Think.

Thank you for any and all your Responces.
Depends what your dreams are. To be a jet captain at a major airline in Australia? Yeah, it's probably too late. To have a rewarding career in GA, corporate or regional. Plenty of time. You'll need to manage financial expectations appropriately.
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Old 24th Nov 2021, 11:49
  #845 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Thomflan90
Hello All

I posted this Thread to ask a Simple Question

I am 31 Yrs Old, a Truck Driver, and have a massive Dream of being a Commercial Pilot.

Now due to Personal Constraints, if I tried my Hardest, I won't be ready to start my CPL Course until I am around 34, 33 if I really Push it.

My Simple Question is this
Is it going to be worth it (Career Wise) to get my CPL so Late? I have been told that 35 is the ultimate cut-off.... so I thought I'd ask People who are in the Field, stick my feelers out and see what you Guys/Girls Think.

Thank you for any and all your Responces.
Hey mate,

Im 49 and have almost finished my PPL and have just made a booking for my first CPL exam, ive spoken to various people in the industry and all have given nothing but encouragement and said go for it. Obviously wont have any chance of getting into the airlines but that's not what i want, my plan is to fly GA commercially for as long as i can retain a class 1 med and enjoy being in the air.
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Old 24th Nov 2021, 19:58
  #846 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Thomflan90
Hello All

I posted this Thread to ask a Simple Question

I am 31 Yrs Old, a Truck Driver, and have a massive Dream of being a Commercial Pilot.

Now due to Personal Constraints, if I tried my Hardest, I won't be ready to start my CPL Course until I am around 34, 33 if I really Push it.

My Simple Question is this
Is it going to be worth it (Career Wise) to get my CPL so Late? I have been told that 35 is the ultimate cut-off.... so I thought I'd ask People who are in the Field, stick my feelers out and see what you Guys/Girls Think.

Thank you for any and all your Responces.
What the F makes you think 35 is too late?! Get a grip mate. Do you want to spend 30 years as a pilot or 30 years wishing you'd tried it?
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Old 25th Nov 2021, 03:21
  #847 (permalink)  
 
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Cool, any Financial Expectation you'd recommend Considering? Except for the Obvious of course, like actually doing the Course.
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Old 25th Nov 2021, 03:22
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Thank you for your Response NTJosh, yeah that's very Encouraging, and Good Luck with your Career.
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Old 25th Nov 2021, 03:23
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Very well spoken Rudestuff, I hear what you're saying about spending 30yrs with Regret!!
Thank you
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Old 26th Nov 2021, 12:41
  #850 (permalink)  
 
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Just gotta take the first step mate, i actually started my PPL with the aim of going commercial back in 2002, logged just over 30hrs and had completed my PPL theory exam. I got made redundant and then the only flying school where i was living closed down. Never got back into it and before you know it near on 20yrs have passed.

If its what you want do it mate, times goes past way to fast..ill have regrets that i didn't do it earlier..but i wont have the larger regrets of not doing it at all..!
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Old 28th Nov 2021, 02:56
  #851 (permalink)  
 
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Anybody have any advice on how to make the most of your CPL hour building? Based in Melbourne.

My situation: 107 hours TT, RPC with Cross Country endorsement, and RPL conversion. Skipping PPL. All 7 CPL subjects complete. Most of my hours are in RA aircraft, no controlled airspace experience yet.

Obviously I just need to get hour there and start grinding those 100 PIC hours, but when should I start working on CPL manoeuvres in a complex type? When do I tackle controlled airspace? Roughly how many hours of dual should I be planning on in the leadup to the flight test?

Cheers.
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Old 28th Nov 2021, 06:41
  #852 (permalink)  
 
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I would get a CTA endorsement as soon as you can and spend time doing navs and trips to prepare for CPL. Get an instructor to do a nav with you to show you what is expected and work towards that. More time in the machine you will do your test in the better. I’ve generally found 15-20 hours is needed to get up to CPL standard if the student has been pushing themselves during their hour building, more if they’ve spent most the time doing circuits and flying in the training area.
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Old 3rd Dec 2021, 06:54
  #853 (permalink)  
 
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Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north Go up north!

Nobody asked a question but I need a platform to let this out. After hearing and speaking to a lot of CPL students and graduates it's disappointing to hear their plans post CPL. Furthermore the answer to a lot of the questions in this thread and a lot of the new questions will be answered with ^.

- Go up north doesn't mean fly into Darwin for a week then fly home disappointed and complain about no jobs
- Go up north doesn't mean go up to Queensland
- Go up north doesn't mean sit in the city, call/email every GA operator and obsess over the hour requirements on their website. Front the F up with a paper resume!
- Yes, go north means to sacrifice your life in the city close to family and friends. Wtf did you think you were gonna do when you signed up to do your licence?
- Go up north applies regardless of worldwide situation. Economy munted? Go up north. Pandemic? Go up north.
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Old 24th Jan 2022, 10:13
  #854 (permalink)  
 
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Wollongong Flight Schools

Hi,
I'm interested in getting a RPL/PPL for pure GA (personal) purposes. I'm located in Wollongong and there are two flight schools here it seems - a Five Point Aviation and NSW Air Flight Training. I haven't been able to find out much about the former, and the latter garnered some pretty bad rep when it was managed by the previous administration. Nonetheless, it seems like NSW Air has new management in and I do wonder if they've cleaned up their act.

Does anyone have any particular recommendation or experience with these two schools?
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Old 25th Jan 2022, 04:59
  #855 (permalink)  
 
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NSWAir, great owner and great experienced instructors (I may be biased). PM if you have more questions.
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Old 1st Feb 2022, 00:16
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RPL vs PPL and Help with Flying School - Sydney

Note to the mods - Please don't merge this with an existing thread as its hard to get the relevant replies

Hi guys,
I hope all of you and your loved ones are safe.

Like most of us I always wanted to fly and pursue flying as a career. But unfortunately that didn't work out (my IQ, finances, nationality, age, etc.)
But I refuse to die before doing at least 1 solo and ideally renting an airplane and fly to Gold coast with my partner and our puppy.

So I have decided to pursue flying as a hobby. My questions are -

1. What is the difference between a RPL and PPL?
I couldn't figure out the difference on the websites of flying schools. My end goal is to be able to rent an airplane and fly around Australia with my partner.

2. Can I do PPL without RPL. Reason for asking is it will be great to leave option open for CPL. Who knows my Crypto investments get x100 returns and I can retire early with tonnes of cash

3. I live and work in Sydney. Relocating is not an option. Which are the top 3 flying schools I should reach out to. Please send me a PM if this is not allowed to be discussed on the open forum.

4. I am 39 years old and assuming that this should not be a showstopper for RPL or PPL

Looking forward for your help and support.

Thank you,
Kind regards.
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Old 1st Feb 2022, 00:43
  #857 (permalink)  
 
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Short answer is if you want to fly around Australia you'll want a PPL. RPL has cross country endorsements but realistically there are too many restrictions to make it a practical choice to circumnavigate the country.
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Old 1st Feb 2022, 00:50
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Welcome.

1. In short, there are three licence types common to recreational flyers:

The first is RA-Aus certificate, which is not issued by CASA. It is a cheaper way to learn to fly but there are some restrictions. You are limited to one passenger. Not recognised internationally either. RA-Aus are a self-administering body that you have to be a member of.

The second is the CASA Part 61 RPL. It is similar to a PPL, but with some restrictions. It is also, as far as I'm aware, not recognised internationally. So if you wanted to fly in the USA they don't recognise this licence type.

The third is the CASA Part 61 PPL. The minimum hours required is higher than an RPL, but the privileges are greater. If you fly internationally it will be recognised as a private licence equivalent.

Your goal of flying around Australia can be done on any of the above types, although you will need navigation, controlled airport, and controlled airspace endorsements unless you hold a PPL.

2. You sure can. You don't need to do the RPL theory exam or flight test if you then go on to do the PPL theory exam and flight test, although the minimum aeronautical experience to sit the PPL flight test is higher than the RPL.

3. Google is your friend. Avoid anywhere where you have to pay up front. Interview the flight instructor and if you're not happy, don't spend your money there - it's a lot, after all!If you're on the northside, I'd strongly recommend the ~1 hour drive to Central Coast Aero Club - uncrowded airspace, good fleet, experienced instructors.

4. Your age is no problem. Don't give up on your career dreams either! Whilst it doesn't get any easier with age, many people have changed careers in the late thirties, fourties, and later to fly professionally. It can be done, it's just a slog. But you also bring life experience which many very young, very green CPL grads lack...

Good luck!
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Old 1st Feb 2022, 01:34
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Originally Posted by MagnumPI
Avoid anywhere where you have to pay up front. Interview the flight instructor and if you're not happy, don't spend your money there - it's a lot, after all! If you're on the northside, I'd strongly recommend the ~1 hour drive to Central Coast Aero Club - uncrowded airspace, good fleet, experienced instructors.
I would strongly agree with the first part of this. Avoid paying up front like the plague. So many stories over the years of people losing their money as schools go bust. PAYG might end up marginally more expensive, but that's preferable to losing a big wad of cash.

But I would respectfully disagree with the last part. Learning at a busy capital city airport like Bankstown sets you up well to handle busy / complex airspace and procedures for the future. If you're planning to travel around the country you will inevitably come across these scenarios and having spent all your training time in that environment will make you a lot more comfortable. I fully appreciate the points Magnum has made but from my own experience, think Bankstown would be a better bet. All a matter of opinion though.

Best of luck though. Learning to fly is a fantastic experience.

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Old 1st Feb 2022, 02:02
  #860 (permalink)  
 
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Flyer517, I'm glad we can have a healthy debate.

I've flown in/at BK plenty of times on navexes.

I think the downside to Bankstown is that you often spend far too long waiting on the ground. For the benefit of the OP, if the engine is on - you're paying! Long wait times at the holding point are problematic.

I agree that getting comfortable in CTA at a busy class D is not necessarily a bad thing. That said, I find it amusing how many people who have learned to fly at a Class D airfield struggle when they go to a busy CTAF!
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