CASA CLP student licence, Class 1 costs in Sydney
 

Hi Everyone,
I would just like to share my experiences and costs with all of you so that we all don't have to learn twice.
I'm on my way to getting my rotary CPL and have found it pays to shop around.

To get your student licence you will first need to get two passport photos.

DAME $198 for Class 1 medical.

Blood tests taken by DAME $43

ASIC form $201

CASA Student licence $50

DAO eye test $467


The DAO that I saw just so happens to be the most expensive. After a ring around I found quoted prices from $130 all the way to $467. The average cost being around $230.

It has also be explained to me post medical and eye test, that if I went to my GP first and got a referral for both services then I could reclaim some of the cost from Medicare.

So all up you are looking at an outlay of around $722 - I spent $959, lucky me .

I did my initial medical in a small town which didn't have an ophthalmologist so for my eye portion of the medical (and under DAMEs orders) I went to OPSM and got a free eye test.

Of course CASA came back saying its not good enough but a follow up call from my DAME had the medical issued that same day.

:ok:

Should have looked outside Australia.
Part 61 arrives in less than a month so you'll more than likely be paying for a license not recognized anywhere else, like our LAME licenses.
Regardless, the cost of an Australian license makes most places in the world, except Europe, much cheaper than here, with a lot less hassle. My advice would be to go have a nice holiday in NZ.

Pretty pointless getting a class 1 medical for a SPL. By the time you get close to a CPL it will have expired.

My advice to students: Get a class two first, discuss with the doc whether there are any issues for a class 1. Then you have 2 or 4 years depending on your age to go play student.

Aussie Bob, hear ya, BUT,
would you vouch that 'chat with doc' will uncover any hidden/not obvious conditions that could preclude one from getting Class 1?
Are all the Class 2 initial tests comparable to Class 1, incl ECG? I've had EEG done in Europe as well, for example, but not for CASA.
From what I've read so far about medical/special conditions etc on this section of pprune, it seems better to be safe than possibly sorry, with the logs thrown under legs to some.
I've not been stuck int he Part 67 regs, as I've done initial Class 1 around the globe past few years incl CASA and without snags, therefore not digging into the regs further. Enough all the pilot theory.

Many people advise to get initial Class 1 done before committing to high expenses of integrated course or high spending towards commercial, in Europe (stricter than, say FAA and in some ways, than Australia, re CVD for example). He'd not have to do the Class 1 initial later so long it's not expired more than 5 years to renew it when needed. He'd still get Class 2 valid as applicable, so why not?

Why not treat it as similar to pre-buy car/aircraft inspection?

Yeah, +1 for getting a class one before commencing any training if a CPL is the goal. Small expense for a lot of piece of mind.