PPL training /SFH in South Africa
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Excellent flying - even better place.
On a JAA licence you would have to be validated to go solo. Allow a day or two for that - and I think licence has to go to Pretoria (CAA Hq) for admin. Could be wrong though.
In SA you have to be 'type rated' on each type you fly. Nothing major but may be helpful to find a school using whatever type you're current on, and maybe even read the POH before you go.
I think Irv Lee can even do validations in the UK. Try here .
Enjoy
SK
On a JAA licence you would have to be validated to go solo. Allow a day or two for that - and I think licence has to go to Pretoria (CAA Hq) for admin. Could be wrong though.
In SA you have to be 'type rated' on each type you fly. Nothing major but may be helpful to find a school using whatever type you're current on, and maybe even read the POH before you go.
I think Irv Lee can even do validations in the UK. Try here .
Enjoy
SK
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Too bloody far from FALA
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You're picking a fantastic part of the world to honeymoon! Welcome! One of your compatriots contacted us at www.avcom.co.za (SA Pilots' Forum) and we recommended CFS but he subsequently had a problem there that he didn't go into. Might be worth PMing Bayalon (I think he uses the same nick on here and on Avcom) to find out what the story was. Locally this school has a very good rep but there have been mutterings on Pprune and elsewhere from Brits who've struggled with them. I can't comment either way because I fly out of Joeys.
BTW, do yourself a favour and go to the Nag's Head pub on the south side of Chapman's Peak Drive for calamari and sweet chilli jam. Hmm mmm!
BTW, do yourself a favour and go to the Nag's Head pub on the south side of Chapman's Peak Drive for calamari and sweet chilli jam. Hmm mmm!
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Another vote for Stellenbosch flying club. I spend quite a lot of time in that area and before I had a license in the UK I did a couple of lessons there. The sightseeing options within half an hour of that place make flying in the south east of England seem a bit daft.
If you fall in love with the place and want to buy a nice house in the area, let me know...
If you fall in love with the place and want to buy a nice house in the area, let me know...
Join Date: Feb 2002
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You'll need a 'validation' to fly without an instructor which requires:
1- SA Air Law ground exaam pass
2- flight test - may include nav depending on experience but you'd expect some shake down for rental anyway.
3- A club who WANT to get your validation processed in minimum time.
I can give you advice on 1 and 2, but you really need to gauge enthusiasm from your chosen club about number 3. I got my 'private' validation in under 24 hours at Algoa in PE but I'm afraid a different club (mentioned ealier) first told me "not to bother as validations take about 3 weeks". Well they do take 3 weeks if you want them to! Alernatively they can be pretty quick if the will is there.
Irv
1- SA Air Law ground exaam pass
2- flight test - may include nav depending on experience but you'd expect some shake down for rental anyway.
3- A club who WANT to get your validation processed in minimum time.
I can give you advice on 1 and 2, but you really need to gauge enthusiasm from your chosen club about number 3. I got my 'private' validation in under 24 hours at Algoa in PE but I'm afraid a different club (mentioned ealier) first told me "not to bother as validations take about 3 weeks". Well they do take 3 weeks if you want them to! Alernatively they can be pretty quick if the will is there.
Irv
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Hour building in South Africa
Any advice or info about South Afica for hour building? I've had a look through the archives and the comments seem generally positive but not very specific - any ideas about typical wx/temperatures in June/July time? - any paperwork needed in advance to fly on a JAA PPL as with the US? - how do a/c hire costs compare to the US? - any advice good or bad on specific schools?
Thanks!! S.
Thanks!! S.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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hello there
I did most of my training in SA and I can highly recommend it. Be carefull with your money.... ist AFRICA. Try Central Flying Academy at Gran Central Airport in midrand a bit north of joburg
PN
I did most of my training in SA and I can highly recommend it. Be carefull with your money.... ist AFRICA. Try Central Flying Academy at Gran Central Airport in midrand a bit north of joburg
PN
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: south africa
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Hi
Weather is generally good in June - July cause its the dry season. As mentioned above CFA is a great school but you may struggle to get bookings. I can suggest Superior Pilot Services, also in Grand Central and johannesburg has generally got better weather at that time of year. SPS is owned by an ex JAA instructor so he knows all the ins and outs. I did my PPl with them and they were excellent. You may want to check out the visa situation aswell.
I suggest you try this forum for more information. www.avcom.co.za
Hope this helps
BL
Weather is generally good in June - July cause its the dry season. As mentioned above CFA is a great school but you may struggle to get bookings. I can suggest Superior Pilot Services, also in Grand Central and johannesburg has generally got better weather at that time of year. SPS is owned by an ex JAA instructor so he knows all the ins and outs. I did my PPl with them and they were excellent. You may want to check out the visa situation aswell.
I suggest you try this forum for more information. www.avcom.co.za
Hope this helps
BL
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Planet Tharg
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Try Blue Chip at Wonderboom airport as well. The field is close to the general flying area and has accomodation on site or accomodation can be arranged within a short distance.
June/July is the Southern winter and the highveld remains virtually cloudless over this period.
Another option would be to buy into a motor glider and then sell it on to the next person along or form a syndicate with a few UK pilots and use it for holidays and hour building. Sell your share to the next person who needs to build hours. The hourly running costs are about US$20-00.
I recently saw a motor glider for around US$20000-00 and a small biplane microlight for around US$8000-00.
June/July is the Southern winter and the highveld remains virtually cloudless over this period.
Another option would be to buy into a motor glider and then sell it on to the next person along or form a syndicate with a few UK pilots and use it for holidays and hour building. Sell your share to the next person who needs to build hours. The hourly running costs are about US$20-00.
I recently saw a motor glider for around US$20000-00 and a small biplane microlight for around US$8000-00.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Hi Speir,
I've done my PPL with www.th-aviation-connexions.com.
I'm happy as you're not a number as anywhere.
Costs, perhaps not that cheap as in the US, but I prefer the individual instruction and more adventurous flying in Africa.
I'll definetely continue with my hour-building in South Africa!
good flying!
I've done my PPL with www.th-aviation-connexions.com.
I'm happy as you're not a number as anywhere.
Costs, perhaps not that cheap as in the US, but I prefer the individual instruction and more adventurous flying in Africa.
I'll definetely continue with my hour-building in South Africa!
good flying!
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Hi Amadu,
I believe the site you are looking for is Progress Flight academy
You can also try 43 Air school, alot of the SA trained guys here in Nigeria seem to have a lot of good things to say about it.
43rd Air school
Rgrds AP
I believe the site you are looking for is Progress Flight academy
You can also try 43 Air school, alot of the SA trained guys here in Nigeria seem to have a lot of good things to say about it.
43rd Air school
Rgrds AP
Join Date: Nov 2003
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There are a few others inland if you want to get some hot and high experience. The weather on the coast can be unpredictable but winter weather in the interior is usually cloudless blue skies.
I'd recommend Blue Chip Aviation at Wonderboom, Central Flying Academy at Grand Central and Pretoria Flying School.
You should find them all if you google for them.
Good luck and hope you enjoy your time here.
I'd recommend Blue Chip Aviation at Wonderboom, Central Flying Academy at Grand Central and Pretoria Flying School.
You should find them all if you google for them.
Good luck and hope you enjoy your time here.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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I did some flying while visiting South Africa last month and highly recommend it.
I didn't research training/SFH rates because I flew a privately owned C210 (thanks to a friend of a friend) but my impression was that rates in South Africa are significantly cheaper than the UK, less than the Caribbean, and possibly a little higher than America.
Although the Rand has picked up, accommodation, food, drink and fuel are very cheap compared with the UK.
Western Cape
The scenery is very impressive and, away from Cape Town itself, endless uncontrolled airspace in which to play to your heart's content.
It was probably just lucky timing, given what I've read on PPRuNe, but there was no waiting at all to take off from Cape Town International.
The Thunder City fighter collection is impressive. Just as I was considering whether (ie in danger of persuading myself that
) more than £7k for a 40 minute flight in a Lightning was worth it for a 'once in a lifetime' experience, the decision was made for me - you need to book well in advance. Thanks to a friendly engineer, I consoled myself by sitting in one and letting my imagination do the rest. Maybe I should start buying lottery tickets.
Approaching a farm strip at Kersefontein
- near Hopefield, about 90 nm N of Cape Town
Heavy rain a few days earlier -
but puddles shallow as per landing info
Kersefontein farm is a wonderful old Cape Dutch homestead which is also a guest house. The owner, whose family have farmed there since 1770, is a keen pilot, very knowledgeable aviation enthusiast and excellent host.
Western Cape coastline
Following the coastline back to Cape Town
Quick detour around Robben Island
The prison - now a 'Mandela' tourist attraction
Table Mountain and the Lion's Head
The Twelve Apostles, just South of Cape Town
Cape of Good Hope, from False Bay looking out over the Atlantic
Stellenbosch airfield
- in the winelands not far from Cape Town
Landed for a break. It must be one of the prettiest settings for an airfield in the world.
The surrounding mountains are stunning. The pic gives some idea, but doesn't do the scenery justice.
The Flying Club offers training at non profit rates. Link
Light shower didn't last long
All good things must come to an end ..........
Table Mountain, Lion's Head and sunset over Table Bay
I didn't research training/SFH rates because I flew a privately owned C210 (thanks to a friend of a friend) but my impression was that rates in South Africa are significantly cheaper than the UK, less than the Caribbean, and possibly a little higher than America.
Although the Rand has picked up, accommodation, food, drink and fuel are very cheap compared with the UK.
Western Cape
The scenery is very impressive and, away from Cape Town itself, endless uncontrolled airspace in which to play to your heart's content.
It was probably just lucky timing, given what I've read on PPRuNe, but there was no waiting at all to take off from Cape Town International.
The Thunder City fighter collection is impressive. Just as I was considering whether (ie in danger of persuading myself that
) more than £7k for a 40 minute flight in a Lightning was worth it for a 'once in a lifetime' experience, the decision was made for me - you need to book well in advance. Thanks to a friendly engineer, I consoled myself by sitting in one and letting my imagination do the rest. Maybe I should start buying lottery tickets.Approaching a farm strip at Kersefontein
- near Hopefield, about 90 nm N of Cape Town
Heavy rain a few days earlier -
but puddles shallow as per landing info
Kersefontein farm is a wonderful old Cape Dutch homestead which is also a guest house. The owner, whose family have farmed there since 1770, is a keen pilot, very knowledgeable aviation enthusiast and excellent host.
Western Cape coastline
Following the coastline back to Cape Town
Quick detour around Robben Island
The prison - now a 'Mandela' tourist attraction
Table Mountain and the Lion's Head
The Twelve Apostles, just South of Cape Town
Cape of Good Hope, from False Bay looking out over the Atlantic
Stellenbosch airfield
- in the winelands not far from Cape Town
Landed for a break. It must be one of the prettiest settings for an airfield in the world.
The surrounding mountains are stunning. The pic gives some idea, but doesn't do the scenery justice.
The Flying Club offers training at non profit rates. Link
Light shower didn't last long
All good things must come to an end ..........
Table Mountain, Lion's Head and sunset over Table Bay
Join Date: Jun 2004
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That looks fantastic. Thank you for sharing the pics.
I am thinking of a visit around Christmas time, combining a little hour building with a family holiday, is this practicable?
I am thinking of a visit around Christmas time, combining a little hour building with a family holiday, is this practicable?
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Thanks for the kind comments.
I work on the basis that, if I take enough pics, some are bound to be reasonable.
Happyeater
Christmas should be perfect - it will be summer in South Africa.
Combining some flying with a family holiday shouldn't be a problem provided you do some research and planning before you go. eg Stellenbosch is only about 40 minutes by car from the centre of Cape Town and the Flying Club offers very good rates, but they don't have many aircraft and I'm told you need to book in advance to be sure of flying.
_____________________
A few pics from Botswana.
A long way from Cape Town, but not far from the Madikwe Game Reserve (highly recommended ) in South Africa's North West Province.
(It's also not far from the flashy 'Sun City' which seems to be popular with some Brits.)
Horizontal vis wasn't very good on the day I arranged to fly, so the pics aren't great.
Kalahari Flying Club at Gabarone International
Near Gabarone
Village near border with South Africa
I work on the basis that, if I take enough pics, some are bound to be reasonable.
Happyeater
Christmas should be perfect - it will be summer in South Africa.
Combining some flying with a family holiday shouldn't be a problem provided you do some research and planning before you go. eg Stellenbosch is only about 40 minutes by car from the centre of Cape Town and the Flying Club offers very good rates, but they don't have many aircraft and I'm told you need to book in advance to be sure of flying.
_____________________
A few pics from Botswana.
A long way from Cape Town, but not far from the Madikwe Game Reserve (highly recommended
) in South Africa's North West Province. (It's also not far from the flashy 'Sun City' which seems to be popular with some Brits.)
Horizontal vis wasn't very good on the day I arranged to fly, so the pics aren't great.
Kalahari Flying Club at Gabarone International
Near Gabarone
Village near border with South Africa