Skipping a PPL
 

Lose the opportunity to put 2 mates in an aeroplane. Equally cost share on your solo navs and knock 2/3 off the price of the aircraft.

The PPL theory exam offers a good opportunity for you to assess your strong and week areas prior to tackling the individual CPL subjects.

Exposure to an additional flight test may help to expose you to the test regime and go someway to reducing subsequent test pressure.

Can add on a night rating and do your solo hours at night as part of your solo hours requirement. could result in you being eligible for an ATPL years earlier. (hard to get night command for many new starters in the industry)

An opportunity for a testing officer to identify your weaker areas and you can consolidate those on the way to a CPL

Could miss out on an opportunity to ferry an aircraft for a few hours

Wont have a licence to flash at the girls until a lot later

Glenn has nailed it there on the last line, because the reason we become pilots is to impress the girls right? (Or blokes for the ladies)

Other noteworthy points, without a PPL you wouldn't be unable to wear any bars on your solo nav's

And you would be unable to say that you are a pilot every time someone said hello on your morning walk of 30+ min 3 days a week that you tell CASA about each year.

On a serious note ild sit it, it's a nice part way achievement to keep it interesting if nothing more, personally I've never used it but was worthwhile.

I tend to generally flash out my ASIC. That seems to get them going..:ok:

BASAIR
 

Has anyone trained with Basair on the VET programs? Any thoughts, tips or items to look out for (from your experience), apart from the obvious ones, before signing up to the course? Tossing up between FTA and Basair.

I've gone through some of the old threads on this but they would be out of date. Looking for a more current insight from recent grads.

Thoughts from anyone else?

As glenb has stated above...

There are many reasons why going through the PPL flight test step is beneficial and for mine, the cost is very minor and well worth it. The more exposure to an assessment regime the better, when you're starting out.

Further, I would offer that if at all possible, avoid VET Fee help. My observation is that, despite the platitudes offered by the large colleges offering this, you simply become a source of approx $100K to them - they will want to grab that money as quickly as possible and shovel you out the door. Granted, most likely with a CPL, but with bare minimum training / effort on their part and for this you will suffer when looking for a first job. Better you find a school that you feel comfortable with that does not purport to be an "airline training academy". It will be a relaxed, low key company with instructors that focus on the delivery of quality training (not mass management of large course groups) and should allow you to take the journey through training as quickly (or slowly) as you like and can afford.

jjhews, you might try posting this in The Pacific: General Aviation & Questions section if you want a response, also try waiting more than half a day, people are probably at work and tend not to get on until the evening.

jjhews. Have you bothered to use our Search function? There are already a plethora of threads on Basair, without starting a new thread in our Airline News forum (now moved here):

PPRuNe Forums - Search Results

tail wheel - this thread was moved here by the moderators. And read the second paragraph of my post.

What's really annoying is when a thread gets hijacked with:

"Hey, I have no idea about this profession, but I'd like to get all the information right now as it relates specifically to me.

- Here is my background--

-Will I be paid well?

- Do you think I'm too old?

- What's the likelihood of me finding work?

Thanks guys"

Just, stop. :ugh:

Hi everyone. I feel like I was in all your shoes about 10 years ago. I remember writing on here asking where I should look for my first job and with resounding "Kununurra" as most of the replies, I packing my bags at the age of 18 I managed to gain a job about 5 months after setting myself in the Kimberley.

If you would like help in choosing a flying school, finding a first job, what it's like in the industry or have any other questions, please don't hesitate to PM me. I'd be happy to help out.

Cheers

Instruction/charter - looking for work
 

Hi, I'm looking for work and am prepared to go anywhere in Australia but would like some insight from the experiences of others that have been in my position in order to help me make sound choices now to set me up for my long term goal.

Goal: I love GA and would love to stay in GA for the foreseeable with my long term sights set on Air Ambulance/RFDS or other aeromedical group.

Current basic qualifications:
>Australian CPL and MECIR (current with recent command IFR)
>Grade 3 instructor rating
>Approx 300hrs TT (incl. some C210 time)
>HR truck license
>Registered Nurse

My options as I see them are to pursue instructing or charter or possibly a mix. I have been told that hours as an instructor are looked upon less favourably than those spent in charter. What are your thoughts on which path is the best in terms of my own development and experience as well as setting me up best for my goal as stated above? Perhaps some of you have been in this situation and could offer some insight.

Many thanks,
Reuben

Which flying school?
 

I have a PPL and am looking to go on and finish my CPL and MECIR.

I'm currently torn between ADFA, Redcliffe Aero club, RACWA, Thunderbirds or Basair/Sydney aviators. Has anyone been to any of these schools recently?

I'm an international student and don't really have the option of going in for a visit. I have rang them up and had lovely phone conversations with each one of them. Does anyone have any advice? Cheers!

helicopter training
 

Hi all!

I have a casa fixed wing ppl, and am intending to get a rotary licence too. May I know which schools are recommended?

Thank you!!!

Top flying schools
 

I am looking for latest reviews of some of Australia's best flight schools. This is for any international students looking to get the most of their flying in Australia. I have purposely left out organisations that work with cadets, as those interested in cadet programmes wouldn't really be interested in such a thread anyway.

I personally have a PPL and am now looking to move on to CPL and MECIR.

I am currently researching and looking in to these schools -
Aero dynamic Flight academy
Redcliffe Aero Club
Basair Aviation College/Sydney Aviators
Royal Aero Club of WA
Thunderbirds Aero Service

If anyone could help me review these schools I would be very grateful and it would help me greatly in making an informed decision.

Cheers!

See above....

http://www.pprune.org/pacific-general-aviation-questions/521632-newbie-flying-training-advice-merged.html

You may be better off posting your question in a helicopter biased forum. In any event you will want to indicate where you want to train.

Mate the best schools are in New Zealand, but there is a wait list.

I did my CPL and MECIR at Aero Dynamic Flight Academy and could not speak more highly of them. Alisdair is a top bloke and a very good Instructor. Would be money well spent.

have done renewals with Redcliffe and found them great, plenty of coworkers up here have come through racwa and have generally been happy with their training and seem to be good operators

the best flight school for obtaining PPL
 

Good evening

I am Michael. I am keen on aviation so I am now planing to obtain the PPL from Australia but there are many flight schools in Australia. i am confused about which one is good or bad; therefore is there anyone who can give me some recommendation? my budget is under AUD$26000(not including accommodation)


thank you very much:ok:

Brisbane and Gold Coast Flying Schools Advise
 

Hello everyone,
I'm looking at schools in Gold coast and brisbane to get my CPL and MEIFR I have applied for two of them BASAIR and AAA haven't got any acceptance letters yet, as I'm going for the VET FEE Option I only applied in those two.
I found GC schools are cheaper than Brisbane, schools like Air Goldcoast and wings Academy, just wondering if there's anyone who went aND trained there can give me some advice on these 4 Schools or what's the word about them, i found some post on the Internet but they are not very current.
I appreciated any help, thank you.

Best Instrument Rating provider in Melbourne
 

Hello all,

As the title suggests, I'm looking to do an MEA Instrument Rating in Melbourne and am after advice as to the 'best' provider.

In particular, I'm looking for a really solid ground school foundation. I have passed my IREX, but want a thorough grounding in the practical aspects of instrument flying, e.g. calculating terrain clearance for OEI departures, etc.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Steve Pearce at Peter Bini Advanced Flight training. :ok: An old salt who has forgotten more about twin IFR than I will ever know.

The best school is the one that has the instructor that you get on well with. Do the leg work and meet some.

I would suggest that once you've ticked the IREX box, the best learning is in the air or by yourself developing wx forecast reading skills and becoming very, very familiar with the charts and the GPS you will fly. Practice with an online simulator.

Right now; I'd decide if you are going to go the AsA route or Jepp route and whether you will go paper or iPad. The training you do will entrench this choice. If you go iPad, then get sorted with battery backup, external bluetooth GPS unit, kneepad / holders, etc. Choose your program and become fluent with it. IMHO Avplan is a better IFR program than OZrunways, but I prefer Jepp charts, so I have Avplan for flight planning & Jeppview for flying procedures. There is no good reason for this. Its just what I like. In flight Jeppesen Flitedeck is best, but it needs a windows based tablet and it all becomes harder than iPads (I carry a dedicated mini plus my day to day big one as backup).

There are less school / instructor options now under the new part 61 licence rules. Some of the best guys have not bothered to maintain their test officer status and others have effectively "closed their books" and are not taking new students. Thanks CASA. Another step forward.

This is especially so if you need to hire a twin. If you don't have a twin endorsement or limited twin time, remember that the aircraft type you do the MECIR rating in will be the easiest aircraft type to hire / be insured in. Its best to do the training in an aircraft type you will fly.

In alphabetic order; start by visiting Bini, MFS & Vortex.

best instrument provider in melbourne
 

speaking from my own training, Steve Pearce at Bini's, is the greatest. Kind person, exceptionally knowledgeable, still writes the ifr quiz questions for the Flight Safety Magazine (i think), and puts you at ease to learn. I remembered saying to him at my yearly renewals that its like seeing your annual dentist checkup, but I always came out without pain and smiling for another year.
Difficulty is he,s so booked up you may not be able to be instructed by him, probably by other instructors??
good luck

Thanks so much for the quality responses.

I have a little single-engine IF experience from overseas, and can/could generally keep the aircraft the right way up. I also have a twin endorsement on a Duchess from what seems like a thousand years ago, not sure how much use that will be.

I am already equipped with iPad + OzRunways, so will probably just lazily continue with AsA unless there is a compelling reason to switch.

Old Akro, you mention the subsequent hiring of a twin. I hadn't actually thought that far ahead, but it is a great point. I had assumed all the available training aircraft would be much of a muchness; is there one that is safer, or faster, or cheaper.......or EASIER FOR THE TEST!?

Thanks again for the shared wisdom

An aeroplane is an aeroplane. Its what you are familiar with. You'll find the schools will have Partenavia's, Travelairs or Seminole's as options.

Twin's are not all that easy to hire - especially with low twin time. Your options are likely to be either the school you use or Blue Demon. Thats why I suggest thinking about what aircraft you want to hire then using the MECIR training to build hours on type.

Years ago, I did most of my training for the rating on an Aztruck and then switched to the Partenavia (can't quite recall what the reason was).


However, the Partenavia was a delight to handfly and a breeze to operate for the test.

The DCA examiner was well known to me and gave me a good working over - all good fun - I think the autopilot "failed" shortly after the first takeoff.


Suggest you do the rating test on the Partenavia and then worry about fancier machines in which the throttles have some relationship to the airspeed and the wheels go up and down.

Partenavia-Italian for induction icing.


Aztec-love pumping them wheels up with an EFATO, unless it has dual hydraulic pumps.

You need a specialist performance engineer in individual runway analysis chart design for that sort of stuff. You won't get that in general aviation as it is normally aircraft type specific and the analysis would need to cover each obstacle liable to encroach the planned flight path including curved departures if needed for terrain reasons.

Steve Pearce, Bini's. :ok: A practical, no nonsense instructor.

Indian pilot for jobs in australia/newzealand
 

Hello,
My name is Ganesh and I'm an Indian citizen. I hold a FAA CPL with no work experience. I'm 32 yrs old and have done a lotta odd jobs in the meantime and would like to put my foot down and get into aviation. Eventually, I would like to migrate to australia/new Zealand.

If I studied instructor rating in either of the countries help me in getting a job as an instructor in a flying school? Or is there any other possibilities.
I appreciate any information that will help. Either post IR comments here or you could email me.

Thanks a ton.

No chance.

If a labor government ever gets back into power, you'd have more chance arriving by boat and claiming asylum.

So what happens to all of the Indian students that learn to fly in Australia? I'm assuming they don't stay and work in the industry?

I am not sure how much it is to buy a job in Jetstar these days, but it has both NZ and Australian bases. Could well be worth a look.

For NZ if you are not a citizen or PR then forget it. Being a pilot with out any major selling points will not get you a work permit here

That's the rub- unfortunately your age puts you outside the working visa window, so the main trouble is gaining residency- as has been said, a simple CPL is not enough to gain entry as a skilled migrant.

Do you have any other qualifications?

Tell that to the many newbie pilots looking for their first jobs in the hot and humid NT and WA.

Really? And where is this magical place that Australian pilots are to lazy to work?