Nothing wrong with TVSA, professional crew.
If/when finished there, Point cook flying club has a c150 @110hr and a c172 @160hr. (wet)
Also a satellite of MAS runs a weekend operation out of the clubhouse, so ongoing flight training happens there.

By commercial pilot I assume you mean an "airline" pilot - just to clarify, to work in GA as a pilot you will need to hold at least a commercial licence.

If your aim is "I want to be an airline pilot" and every other role is a stepping stone then serving your apprenticeship in GA is a path well trodden.

Others may have different takes on the process but this is mine:

If your target is "the airlines" then if you have the aptitude and attitude and motivation it will usually result in you reaching that target.

You will need to throw yourself into any GA job with passion and responsibility and if you have the aptitude, hunger and perseverance you will make it. It doesn't always follow like A->B->C but requires commitment and perseverance on your part and that will likely eventually get you to an airline job if that is your target (and will build up your store of wisdom and experience as a pilot).

Worth noting that many people who just wanted to be an "airline pilot" and are only doing GA under sufferance to build enough hours to apply, drop out before they get to that point as they don't want to put in the hard yards. Which is potentially a good thing as far as the airlines are concerned - it weeds out people for them.

Perhaps worth stepping back a bit it may be worth thinking about why you want to be a pilot - what is it that draws you to it? If it is a fascination about aviation and a desire to fly then don't discount the potential to carve out a lifetime career in general aviation that can be very personally rewarding and fulfilling. GA is not often well paid and for many not as glamorous from the outside as an "airline" pilot but can be very fulfilling - it depends on what motivates you.

If you are in it for the love of flying - why not try doing some initial training? - inquire about a Trial Instructional Flight with a flying school to see if it is what suits you - most schools do a good rate for a trial instructional flight as an intro.

Like I said - that is my take but I am an opinionated old fart - worth trying to talk to folks who have gone through the UNSW course (or similar) and see where that has taken them.

I’m about halfway through my CPL unit and just wanted everyone’s two cents on the instructor rating vs Multi Engine and Instrument rating issue.

While I would like to instruct, it doesn’t seem like there are too many jobs out there at the moment. Is it any better in single engine GA, which is where I would be heading of I do the multi cna intrument rating.

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

You're kidding right? Flying schools are desperate for all Grades of FI's. Trawl through AFAP jobs and you will note that pages are full of listings.

If you have a passion and enjoy the satisfaction aviation education brings, go for it. Its long, tiring work which is demanding but working towards high level Flight Instructor qualifications in the Part 61 world may pay dividends later in your career if you so desire.

Hi all, I'm a school leaver with PPL looking for a good CPL course that I can put on VET HELP for next year. I've been eyeing out Redcliffe Aeroclub's Diploma of Aviation which can get me RU, MPPC, NVFR and CPL MECIR for $73 614 loaned.

Compared with other RTO's who offer the exact same course (AVI50415) RAC is the only I've found that offer a MECIR, while staying under the max loan amount. It's also close to home and the airport I've done all my ab-initio and private flying from.

After finishing the course I'll have just upwards of 200 hours, possibly some 210 time and a MECIR CPL. My main question, is this a good position to go job hunting up north?

I think you would find, other schools would be able to tailor their CPL diploma course to you as most would assume that you are starting without a PPL. Alot of schools like basair and air gc down the coast offer the MECIR under a seperate diploma which allows students to do the CPL course from scratch and then the MECIR course without busting the $75k course cap and the $100k lifetime cap.

Only a little piece of advice but you've made me rethink my plan altogether. Get on the next bare CPL course at Basair, AirGC or ADFA, recognition-of-prior-learning my PPL and 60 hours thus bring the total tuition fee down, allowing for the pursuance of a MECIR + 200 series time or FIR under VET HELP without reaching the $100k limit by a generous margin.

Flying clubs in New Zealand
 

I want to start flying from next year , and Ive heard a lot of great things about Flight training Manawatu , the name has been changed to New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy. I would like further suggestions on this. Itd be great if you guys coould help me out . :)

Flight schools in New Zealand
 

Ive been searching a lot for flight schools in New Zealand and have chosen to go with NZICPA (New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy) earlier called as FTM . Does anyone have any views on this school or any other opinions as to which might be better? Any help is appreciated :)

Mature aged - starting a pilot career
 

Hi
Does anybody ever hear if over 45’s make the effort to change careers and get hired as DEFO or similar.

Appreciate the cost and potential unlikeliness to make LHS on a wide body, but what about the dream.

Yep know of several of over 45's who have done it and been hired as an FO.

Not sure of your location so costs are a bit had to advise on.

Chances of LHS for a wide body are in reality pretty low. Since you're asking about wide body and mentioned DEFO as well, the job you're likely to get initially will be FO on a Turbo Prop and then take your chances from there, probably a command on a Turbo Prop then either FO on a narrow body or SO on wide body.

Thanks. I’m Sydney based, was looking at Central Coast Aero Club.

I’ve been involved in airlines for many years (10+ years), working at Virgin and Qantas in Technology, but have always had a dream to fly.

Jobs?
 

I am planning on getting a CPL once I have received my PPL from air cadets, but after I have gotten my CPL what jobs are the for a single engine Rating?

Redcliffe, QLD training - BFR
 

Hi all, I'm heading back to Brisbane in February to do my BFR. I've been out of flying practice for around 7 years although have kept up to date with changes and potter around on MS Flight Sim. I'm looking for some thoughts on Air Queensland vs Redcliffe Aero Club, both based at Redcliffe. Does anyone have experience of either and could recommend one or both of them? I want an honest outfit who are going to give me the training I need, without going over the top, and have good quality aircraft for private hire as well.
Thanks in advance!

I don't know the Air Queensland guys but fly with the Aero club regularly. Plenty of 172s and a 3 182s + 200 series, twins and access to tailwheel. Combination of dials and glass but always well maintained. Biggest issue I've had in 7 years was one flat battery.
Priced on the tacho for private hire so a pretty cheap hour in the circuit. I generally fly on very short notice but have rarely not found something to take.
Suggest you drop past and have a chat with both of them to get a feel.

172fun, you can't go wrong with both Air Queensland and Redcliffe Aeroclub. Personally I choose AQ for any training because the aeroclub membership fee is too much of a burden on my already light wallet. As suggested above you should pop in to both joints to look at their aircraft, facilities and instructors.

For pvt hire there's always a Cherokee 140 parked on the grass outside the aeroclub which is competitively priced at $200/hr. Available for multi day hire w/ no 'day cost', only tacho time billed. All info online, just search 'Piper for Hire'

Thanks @PatrickF and @bloodandiron - very helpful. @PatrickF do you happen to know what the PA28 is like at the Aero Club?

Haven't flown it although I expect it will be in pretty good nick. Everything I've flown is kept in good shape.

PPL conversion (easa to casa)
 

Hi! In a few months, I will move to Australia for about 1 year. Thus, I am looking for a license conversion but I have one question : According to this document https://www.casa.gov.au/file/139811/download?token=Mkyzt7o5 , I need at least 2hrs ot "Dual Instrument Time". I wanted to know if flight hours without visibility (so, operating VFR) match these requirements or if I had to fly real IFR? Thanks.

Hi - "hood" time should be fine. The 2 hrs will be to match the local PPL requirements - almost always done as VFR with foggles or hood, and I think we accept half of that in a sim.

Ok, thanks ! Someone else to confirm ?

I think you need to meet the experience requirements for an Australian PPL (assuming a PPL is what you are wanting to convert to?).

From the CASR part 61

so you would need a minimum of 2 hours dual instrument time, at least 1 hour of that must be in an aeroplane. The dual flight IF time for a PPL is normally done in simulated conditions (ie under a hood).

Anz cadetships
 

Just wanted to get some insight into the program itself, mainly the recruitment process, application numbers, what airlines offer them and when. I tried to google this info but there was little to none. Are these cadetships open every year? Also is this similar to defence recruiting for pilots?

Hi everyone,

I received an offer from RMIT associate degree in professional piloting however I've been reading very negative feedbacks online and I've confirmed it with a friend who is currently in the course. Most likely i will be rejecting the offer.. i don't want to spend heaps of money for nothing. I want to ask which flight school in melbourne provides the best training to become an airline pilot? i would prefer the flight school to be offering fee-help

I see I see, so getting a cadetship is extremely difficult. What do they look for in your application?

Oh I see, easy, I got an op 6 in qld which is alright I guess and did those subjects, is there an age limit for cadetships? I.e do you have to be a current year 12 student in order to be eligible or you can be older. I'm currently 18.

Rex Cadetship Maths and WOMBAT
 

Hello,

First of all, yes I'm aware of the numerous Rex cadetship threads currently on here. They're all pretty old so I'm after some fresh info.

I have my WOMBAT test coming up in a few weeks and I've also been asked to sit an in house maths exam the same day. I have been studying flat out, but have no idea if I'm on the right track.

If there is anyone who has recently sat the in-house maths test could you please offer some info on the level and the topics they test most on, so I can focus my study a bit better.


Thanks

D12G

Amblyopia
 

Hey guys,

I've nearly finished school completely and i'm heading in the direction of aviation. I've been to two optometrists and both of them have told me that I won't be able to achieve my CPL but I will be able to achieve my PPL. I have amblyopia in my left eye and astigmatism in my right eye. My eyes require maybe +1.75 to 2.00 strength.

-Thanks

Speak with a CASA-approved Ophthalmologist and get an expert opinion on your options.

If you're in Melbourne Dr. Noel Alpins is a good option.

Thanks for that I will be sure to check it out!

Gold Coast Flight Schools (PPL or RPL)
 

Hi guys,
I am not a pilot yet but am saving up to be one and hoping to start training in the next year or so. I have done countless hours of research but it seems like I only ended up with more questions than what I began with, so was hoping someone would be able to help me out.
I am a photographer/filmmaker living on the Gold Coast QLD, and have always been interested in aviation and would absolutely love nothing more than to become a pilot myself, and to be able to incorporate that into my filmmaking with the use of go-pros and such.
Because of that i'm not interested in becoming a commercial airline pilot at all, to me it would be more of a personal hobby. I might want to learn aerobatics in the future as well as instrument ratings and possibly even longer flights across country (not sure on that yet, but I would love to fly myself around scenic places like Uluru).
So my first question is, should I go for a Recreational Pilots License (RPL), or a Private Pilots License (PPL)? Or should I get the Recreational license first and then the Private license later? What would be the most cost efficient without also compromising my own safety just to save money?
I'm willing to pay the appropriate amount to become a pilot however I don't want to end up choosing the wrong flight school and paying thousands of dollars more than I have to! I've looked at a bunch of different ones in my area and i'm just getting more and more confused at what to choose, all the prices and fleets are so different. What is a fair price for this and at what flight school? And what are the safest planes to learn in that won't also cost me an arm and a leg to do so??
If anyone has any similar experience around the Gold Coast please let me know! Google isn't helping me at all and I really need the advice of real people with real experience.
Thank you!

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and looking for an advice about cadetship program in Australia specially with Virgin Australia.

I am 30 years old and completed my HSC in 2005 & Bachelor in Science degree in 2008. I have done both HSC & BSC in India.

I would like to know if my HSC in 2005 will be considered if I apply for cadetship program now or should I have to do any bridging course in TAFE.

Regards,
SSK

Australian Flying Schools
 

Hi All

Can anyone recommend flying schools in Australia, preferably Sydney/Gold Coast. I have seen a few posts with people having bad experiences but no recommendations.

A bit about me, without trying to sound like i'm writing my profile on a dating website:= Im originally from Bonnie Scotland:D currently residing in Sydney. Im 33, work in Construction, and have wanted to be a pilot since my early teens. Realistically i would like to do the training full time- PPL-CPL as far as i am aware is the route, and aim to gain a cpl and look for a job in the RHS around the 36 mark. Giving me around 30 years of a flying career after that. I have read the posts about struggles of the job and training, costs etc but i think f*c* it you only live once and im in the position that my only commitment at the moment is myself and i have a job i can fall back on worst case scenario. Anyway enough negativity. Any help on the route i should take from here with regards to course structure and ratings to put me in the best position possible for employment would be great :ok:

Peace out:D

In Sydney wander down and have a chat to the guys at Curtis aviation in Camden.

Opinions on 3 flying schools in Melbourne
 

Good afternoon,

After doing my own research online and going though the extensive resources available in this forum to get get started on my PPL, I narrowed down my options to 3 flying schools and might need guidance/opinions if possible:
1) The Royal Victorian Aero Club
2) Melbourne Flight Training
3) Moorabbin Flying Services

Any pointers and personal experiences will be appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

Pit82

MFS would be my pick but they are all good options.
Ask if you will be allocated one instructor for the whole duration
Try and time your flying for the least busy periods of the week as YMMB resembles a car park at times and the taxi waiting periods can be a PITA

PPL Theory (Australia)
 

Hello All,

About to sit the PPL exam in about a weeks time. Have been studying a subject a week for the last 6-7 weeks self study, i feel that reading all of the content again could be useless to me and am wondering if anyone else has some 'hot tips'. Should i make use of these well known practice exams and have a squiz over the areas im getting wrong? or would someone with experience recommend reading the books again? Im fresh and apologies if this is considered a stupid question..

Rex....

hello

I am looking at my completing my instrument rating and was wondering what people think of aerodynamic flight academy on the sunshine coast?

Rex,

There are no stupid questions. You may get a wider Australian audience by posting in The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions, but to answer your question. I agree that a massive reread is not required as presumably you have already done that in the last 6-7 weeks. I would do as you have said and concentrate on practice questions and then revisit those specific areas which you are getting wrong. Another option would be to use the CASA Learning Objectives and ensure you have covered all the bases. Don't forget to include those objectives associated with the BAK.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detai.../Html/Volume_3

Good luck!

Loro.

Its worth using the question banks for final revision , PPL exam has a high failure rate.