Newbie & Flying Training Advice (Merged)
Joined: Jun 2026
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Australia
How to get back in to flying
G'day all.
30 or so years ago, I starting taking flying lessons, passed my GFPT and had about 30 hours of flight time, before the money ran out, and I had to stop flying.
Kid is now starting to fly gliders (as a pathway to getting in to powered flying), and this has resparked my desire to get back in to the air, and I am thinking through my options.
Of the gliding vs RAAus vs RPL/PPL, what are the pros and cons of each learning pathway, that will get me the safest way to get back in the air?
Whilst some cross-country and travel flying might be interesting, it is not a high priority for me. Just getting in the air is what I really want.
Thoughts?
30 or so years ago, I starting taking flying lessons, passed my GFPT and had about 30 hours of flight time, before the money ran out, and I had to stop flying.
Kid is now starting to fly gliders (as a pathway to getting in to powered flying), and this has resparked my desire to get back in to the air, and I am thinking through my options.
Of the gliding vs RAAus vs RPL/PPL, what are the pros and cons of each learning pathway, that will get me the safest way to get back in the air?
Whilst some cross-country and travel flying might be interesting, it is not a high priority for me. Just getting in the air is what I really want.
Thoughts?
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 889
From: Oz
Stick to the CASA syllabus, that is RPL. Get hold of the Bob Tait entry level book, I’d imagine it’s called BAK or something, brush over all those basics then launch into it.
Just prepare yourself that it will be like starting all over, currency starts to bite after a few years let alone a few decades. However it does come back fairly quickly.
Just prepare yourself that it will be like starting all over, currency starts to bite after a few years let alone a few decades. However it does come back fairly quickly.
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 278
From: Melbourne, Victoria
G'day all.
30 or so years ago, I starting taking flying lessons, passed my GFPT and had about 30 hours of flight time, before the money ran out, and I had to stop flying.
Kid is now starting to fly gliders (as a pathway to getting in to powered flying), and this has resparked my desire to get back in to the air, and I am thinking through my options.
Of the gliding vs RAAus vs RPL/PPL, what are the pros and cons of each learning pathway, that will get me the safest way to get back in the air?
Whilst some cross-country and travel flying might be interesting, it is not a high priority for me. Just getting in the air is what I really want.
Thoughts?
30 or so years ago, I starting taking flying lessons, passed my GFPT and had about 30 hours of flight time, before the money ran out, and I had to stop flying.
Kid is now starting to fly gliders (as a pathway to getting in to powered flying), and this has resparked my desire to get back in to the air, and I am thinking through my options.
Of the gliding vs RAAus vs RPL/PPL, what are the pros and cons of each learning pathway, that will get me the safest way to get back in the air?
Whilst some cross-country and travel flying might be interesting, it is not a high priority for me. Just getting in the air is what I really want.
Thoughts?
If there's a local airport that has a local Flying School, I'd suggest talking to one of the instructors there about a TIF (Trial Instructional Flight) - they're generally not expensive - and trying both a Light RAAus aircraft (eg. a Jab or Foxbat) and a Cessna/Piper (RPL/PPL) if you can - to see what you like because, at the end of the day, flying should be fun and only you can decide what that looks like for you.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 303
Likes: 39
Any option is great. I would seriously consider joining the gliding fraternity with your son and experiencing it together. Powered options will always be there, but the bonding you can do with your son in a shared passion only has a limited time.
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