PPL training /SFH in South Africa
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I'm a member there having both rented and trained - did my SA commercial nav, night and day gfts, and my full SA instructor test there. Great place - accommodation good, staff, training, social side all excellent. You can pay as you go, and it really feels like a mutual too. (No, I don't get commission!).
ps: You'll need a tie, but not for what you think.
ps: You'll need a tie, but not for what you think.
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nearly forgot - the latest "Esquire" (April 2003) has an article and photos looking specifically at learning to fly at Algoa. (pages 123 - 128 t ospeed things up for any WHS shelf-browsers - don't look quite as high as usual do, it should be about middle height) 
Join Date: Apr 2003
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PPL, in south africa, esquire mag
Do any other gonnabe's have the contact details of the flights schools in cape town in South Africa. I read in esquire magazine that you can complete 45hrs and gain your PPL CAA in one month of hard slog.
Any one remember or know the contact?
Bluetinge
Any one remember or know the contact?
Bluetinge
Join Date: Mar 2003
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www.algoa.co.za
I'm hopefully going there in October - do a search on this name in african or here and you'll get lots of info
PM if you wish for anything else though
I'm hopefully going there in October - do a search on this name in african or here and you'll get lots of info
PM if you wish for anything else though
South African PPL
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Just a quick note on the weather in Cape Town. When you guys have lovely summer weather in Europe, Cape Town has real sh1tty weather. It's cold and wet. The Cape is the only part of the country that has winter rainfall, so not the ideal place for training. By all means come over in YOUR winter. Then you cant beat the place when it comes to good weather.
Another school worth looking at:
http://www.flightacademy.co.za
Regards,
Chris
Another school worth looking at:
http://www.flightacademy.co.za
Regards,
Chris
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Algoa Flying Club
I went there in 2001 and had an absolutely fab time. Not only did I come back with a PPL the life experience was something I will never forget. The people there are so friendly the place is superb and the weather was excellent throughout. Port Elizabeth is coastal but tends to get a sanitised version of what Cape Town has several days later.
The magazine article sums them up very well - the mix of professionalism and recreational fun puts them at the top of my list for further holiday visits. Indeed I've been back twice already. Kenneth was my instructor too and I know the situation well - pre-spin nerves and all. Nothing's too much trouble for them and Glynis, the flight administrator, effortlessly sorts out everything.
There's a sort of South African support group for UK based SA PPL's which is very helpful for anyone looking at it as an option - try: http://www.uksa.flyer.co.uk
The magazine article sums them up very well - the mix of professionalism and recreational fun puts them at the top of my list for further holiday visits. Indeed I've been back twice already. Kenneth was my instructor too and I know the situation well - pre-spin nerves and all. Nothing's too much trouble for them and Glynis, the flight administrator, effortlessly sorts out everything.
There's a sort of South African support group for UK based SA PPL's which is very helpful for anyone looking at it as an option - try: http://www.uksa.flyer.co.uk
Join Date: Oct 2002
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I have been looking into Algoa Flying Club for quite a while now and so far I have only heard and read good things about them!
I am hoping they are all true as I leave for the fair shores of Port Elizabeth this week. I can't wait
Aerfungus
I am hoping they are all true as I leave for the fair shores of Port Elizabeth this week. I can't wait
Aerfungus
Join Date: Aug 2001
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I did my PPL at Progress Flight Academy just outside Port Elizabeth a couple of years ago. I grew up in PE and know the area well. It's a very beautiful area and none of the hassles of the cities. Algoa is more a flying club than a professional flying school and is at the regional airport, so you pay for taxiing and waiting for slots etc. Progress is out of town and right on the rim of the General Flying Area where all training pilots practice general handling, stalls, spins etc. It has a grass strip and an excellent training record. Most students there are doing professional courses and the instructors are excellent. I found I was very well prepared for flying here when I returned. Accommodation is available on site, but you would probably want a car to get in and out of town - public transport in SA is questionable to non-existant!
Contact Steph or Mandy at [email protected] and mention me!
Contact Steph or Mandy at [email protected] and mention me!
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"Algoa is more a flying club than a professional flying school and is at the regional airport, so you pay for taxiing and waiting for slots etc. "
- It is very true that Algoa has a great club atmosphere but whilst I was there there were also lots of CPL students and of course Progress Flight Academy were regular visitors because CPLs need Tarmac, ILS, ATC etc, etc. If you fancy some uncontrolled grass, Progress is just down the road ! - Therfore, Aloga really does give you the best of both worlds !
- It is very true that Algoa has a great club atmosphere but whilst I was there there were also lots of CPL students and of course Progress Flight Academy were regular visitors because CPLs need Tarmac, ILS, ATC etc, etc. If you fancy some uncontrolled grass, Progress is just down the road ! - Therfore, Aloga really does give you the best of both worlds !
Guest
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Correct website
Re a posting above, the web address for Algoa is www.algoafc.co.za or [email protected]
Join Date: Feb 2002
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.
I 'rate' SA training in general but what doesn't often get a mention is difference in attitudes between SA and UK from the Airports Authority when it comes to GA. I certainly don't remember any waiting for anything at P.E. International and was flying in and out of there there for quite a few days.
Attitudes at larger 'commercial' airfields are different over there anyway compared to the UK - the airports authority (ASCA) in SA seems very much pro G.A. in practice - so much so that I went on a GA Nav competition where the Airports Authority was the sponsor, and we got MAJOR subsidy towards our fuel use in that event!
Chatting with the airports mamagement over end of competitiion drinks, it was so refreshing to find the "we need GA" attitude in their thoughts- Can you imagine BAA letting us have a UK provincial Class D airport for a 3 day event and subsidising fuel for synidcate and rental airciraft for that time, and making sure everyone - commecial and GA were happy rather than prioritise one over the other?
As you mention costs, the club you happen to mention, Algoa, is a mutual, so very hard to beat on value anyway as no-one is taking profits out. The only annoying thing is the occasional e-mail in the Uk winter to tell me of yet another evening BBQ or club drinks evening in the bar 'this week' - just what I need to read in a UK winter!
so you pay for taxiing and waiting for slots etc.
Attitudes at larger 'commercial' airfields are different over there anyway compared to the UK - the airports authority (ASCA) in SA seems very much pro G.A. in practice - so much so that I went on a GA Nav competition where the Airports Authority was the sponsor, and we got MAJOR subsidy towards our fuel use in that event!
Chatting with the airports mamagement over end of competitiion drinks, it was so refreshing to find the "we need GA" attitude in their thoughts- Can you imagine BAA letting us have a UK provincial Class D airport for a 3 day event and subsidising fuel for synidcate and rental airciraft for that time, and making sure everyone - commecial and GA were happy rather than prioritise one over the other?
As you mention costs, the club you happen to mention, Algoa, is a mutual, so very hard to beat on value anyway as no-one is taking profits out. The only annoying thing is the occasional e-mail in the Uk winter to tell me of yet another evening BBQ or club drinks evening in the bar 'this week' - just what I need to read in a UK winter!
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And another thing
Talking of BBQ's (or Braii as they call them) it reminds me of when I was there doing my PPL, Algoa were hosting the Richie Rally (I think it was) and several teams came over from Progress to compete. I had just done my first few hours of training so could not pilot, but ended up being a marshal on the first checkpoint. I was meant to log the aircraft as they came over and note their times. Well, there were something like 15 or 20 teams, Progress had about 4 or 5. Only one team from Progress made it close to our checkpoint but was too far away to log properly, they were even going in the wrong direction. The others just never showed. The BBQ afterwards was awash with stories from the teams. The Progress contingent were suitably embarassed by their performance.
Fortunately when my turn came to compete in a Rally I had a rather accomplished navigator and spotter. I just had to work out how to do hot and high spot landings with a max'd out aircraft...
Fortunately when my turn came to compete in a Rally I had a rather accomplished navigator and spotter. I just had to work out how to do hot and high spot landings with a max'd out aircraft...
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Went out to SA with A JAR-PPL and 160hrs. Sat the SA CAA CPL exmas and came back with a SA CPL Multi/IR in 10 weeks.
Had a lovely time saw loads of Africa. Would recommend it to anyone.
I trained with Central Flying Academy and Lanseria Flight Centre.
In Gauteng Province (tup north by Jo'Burg/Pretoria) and found that the proximity to the SA CAA meant that I could get problems dealt with easily and in person.
Both schools were excellent and would bend over bacwards to help. They both catered for the needs of foreign PPL holders and took into account your different experience from European flying.
I did however discover that there was one school that you did not want to go near with a barge pole and that was FTC of Africa. They are true dodgy rip off mechants. Thier web site offers pretty much everything that they do not have, they are slowly going broke and cannot pay their bills.
I knew of many people having to pay for thier own fuel because the airport would not give them any more credit because they were with FTC. Instructors and aricraft overbooked every day so that things like their advertised 3 day night rating take weeks.
The lovely instructors suffer from administration so poor that they truly could not run a piss up in a brewery. Such a shame that the potential of the surrounds their was wasted on money grabbing, liars and cheats.
So if you want a good experience go CFA or LFC if you want to live with rats and spend half a year getting your PPL whilst running the risk of living next to a township full of drugs, guns and HIV knwoing that the electric fence doesnt work and the security guard lets anyone in then go to FTC. Oh assuming you live through the experience as the aircraft are so poorly maintained that most instuctors won't fly at night in them
Any redirect please mail me. The evidence speaks for itself.
Had a lovely time saw loads of Africa. Would recommend it to anyone.
I trained with Central Flying Academy and Lanseria Flight Centre.
In Gauteng Province (tup north by Jo'Burg/Pretoria) and found that the proximity to the SA CAA meant that I could get problems dealt with easily and in person.
Both schools were excellent and would bend over bacwards to help. They both catered for the needs of foreign PPL holders and took into account your different experience from European flying.
I did however discover that there was one school that you did not want to go near with a barge pole and that was FTC of Africa. They are true dodgy rip off mechants. Thier web site offers pretty much everything that they do not have, they are slowly going broke and cannot pay their bills.
I knew of many people having to pay for thier own fuel because the airport would not give them any more credit because they were with FTC. Instructors and aricraft overbooked every day so that things like their advertised 3 day night rating take weeks.
The lovely instructors suffer from administration so poor that they truly could not run a piss up in a brewery. Such a shame that the potential of the surrounds their was wasted on money grabbing, liars and cheats.
So if you want a good experience go CFA or LFC if you want to live with rats and spend half a year getting your PPL whilst running the risk of living next to a township full of drugs, guns and HIV knwoing that the electric fence doesnt work and the security guard lets anyone in then go to FTC. Oh assuming you live through the experience as the aircraft are so poorly maintained that most instuctors won't fly at night in them
Any redirect please mail me. The evidence speaks for itself.
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Vortex,
I have heard lots of bad things about FTC. But I think your comment that "people (have) to pay for thier own fuel because the airport would not give them any more credit because they were with FTC" is a bit strange. Any time that I've rented an aircraft, no matter how reputable the school is, if I've needed to refuel away from my home base I've paid for the fuel, then been paid back when I returned the aircraft and presented a receipt.
Don't want to detract too much from the general point that although a few people have been to FTC and been happy, they seem to be the minority.
FFF
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I have heard lots of bad things about FTC. But I think your comment that "people (have) to pay for thier own fuel because the airport would not give them any more credit because they were with FTC" is a bit strange. Any time that I've rented an aircraft, no matter how reputable the school is, if I've needed to refuel away from my home base I've paid for the fuel, then been paid back when I returned the aircraft and presented a receipt.
Don't want to detract too much from the general point that although a few people have been to FTC and been happy, they seem to be the minority.
FFF
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: South Africa
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Algoa
Just a few points:
Runway 10/28 has been re-opened at the Port Elizabeth Airport. It is a shorter greas runway and adds a new dimension to the training
Delays and waiting are the exception and not the rule
All Algoa aircraft have credit cards that are accepted at all airfields in South Africa (except Springs where they accept cash only) so there is no need to dip into your pocket
Runway 10/28 has been re-opened at the Port Elizabeth Airport. It is a shorter greas runway and adds a new dimension to the training
Delays and waiting are the exception and not the rule
All Algoa aircraft have credit cards that are accepted at all airfields in South Africa (except Springs where they accept cash only) so there is no need to dip into your pocket
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Flying from Cape Town
If any of you are thinking of training at Cape Town, beware interminable air traffic delays. Last time I flew there (last month) I spent 45 minutes on the ground before getting airborne. ATC just aren't geared up for tactical thinking in the way you'd expect from most UK ATC. I can't think of any way you'd get a PPL in 45 hours flying out of Cape Town - plus there are lots of extras on the cost such as approach fees.
Much better to go to a proper GA airfield - there are plenty in SA and if you definitely want to train in the Western Cape you couldn't do much better than Stellenbosch: try http://www.stelfy.co.za
Much better to go to a proper GA airfield - there are plenty in SA and if you definitely want to train in the Western Cape you couldn't do much better than Stellenbosch: try http://www.stelfy.co.za
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Just a point about stellenbosch - I'm a member there ,and would
say a nicer bunch of guys and gals you'd be hard pressed to
meet -a fabulous setting with the mountains behind the airfield ,however I've found that booking aircraft and instructors there is quite difficult as they are well utilised by club members .I would suggest that you call Marc Storey there and explain what you want so that the aircraft/instructor is available for you . I found on several occasions that details were cancelled with short notice as the instructor had something else he wanted to do .
so ensure that they know you are travelling a long way to give them your custom .... It is more of a club than a school and it seems to me there is a fair amount of inclub politics which spoils it just a little . BUT a super place ,right in the winelands with plenty of B & B's ranging from bearable at £10 a night to the sublime @
£60 a night . Do try Trudie & Mike @ Wedgeview on the Bonnimile
it well worth the £40/night for a 'full wedgie 'breakfast .
www.wedgeview.co.za.
My advice -don't wast your time at Capetown -try it once for the buzz of keeping a 747 waiting for you on short finals otherwise save your money . I'm going to try Algoa next time !!
Above all else whatever you do -GO .
They say that you can take the pilot out of africa , but you'll never be able to take africa out of the pilot . I'm not sure who said this
but its quite true .
You'll experience a lot more there - You'll learn to actually like spinning , and with PFL 's practiced actually down to the deck !
On one climb out from Stell 'just come right a bit - around that flock of pelicans''
Nightlife in Cptn is great -go to the Cuban bar above the
news cafe in Green point !!....But don't try and fly the next day !!
For goodness sake someone stop me .................
Best of Luck
say a nicer bunch of guys and gals you'd be hard pressed to
meet -a fabulous setting with the mountains behind the airfield ,however I've found that booking aircraft and instructors there is quite difficult as they are well utilised by club members .I would suggest that you call Marc Storey there and explain what you want so that the aircraft/instructor is available for you . I found on several occasions that details were cancelled with short notice as the instructor had something else he wanted to do .
so ensure that they know you are travelling a long way to give them your custom .... It is more of a club than a school and it seems to me there is a fair amount of inclub politics which spoils it just a little . BUT a super place ,right in the winelands with plenty of B & B's ranging from bearable at £10 a night to the sublime @
£60 a night . Do try Trudie & Mike @ Wedgeview on the Bonnimile
it well worth the £40/night for a 'full wedgie 'breakfast .
www.wedgeview.co.za.
My advice -don't wast your time at Capetown -try it once for the buzz of keeping a 747 waiting for you on short finals otherwise save your money . I'm going to try Algoa next time !!
Above all else whatever you do -GO .
They say that you can take the pilot out of africa , but you'll never be able to take africa out of the pilot . I'm not sure who said this
but its quite true .
You'll experience a lot more there - You'll learn to actually like spinning , and with PFL 's practiced actually down to the deck !
On one climb out from Stell 'just come right a bit - around that flock of pelicans''
Nightlife in Cptn is great -go to the Cuban bar above the
news cafe in Green point !!....But don't try and fly the next day !!
For goodness sake someone stop me .................
Best of Luck