The European Flying school
 

For info - there is no such flight school in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

I went out to J'burg - Midrand, with Flight Training College, SA for a 2 week session. The good thing is that they have JAA registered pilots and the training counts towards your UK licence, even if you do not complete it in SA.
The major downer is that I had to pay 1500GBP up front, only spent 700 GBP and three months later I have still not got my 800 quid back = WATCH OUT FOR THAT WHEREVER YOU GO!

Algoa Flying Club in Port Elizabeth
 

Bit late to the forum again but I concur with psmd earlier - I too had grief from UK schools who were convinced I was going to be 1) a liability with an SA PPL, 2) would need to spend at least 4 hours to brush up skills, 3) would have to convert the licence to JAR as soon as I returned, 4) would not be considered for solo in the UK until I had 1-3 sorted out.
Fortunately I was lucky to speak to someone in the know and did my SA PPL at the Algoa Flying Club. On my return to the UK I did a single checkride and now fly a rented G reg a/c out of Popham. With 8 hours to go until I reach the ton I have absolutely no compunction to convert to JAR as the privilages I have on the SA PPL (for pleasure) are seemingly equal to those I would have otherwise (at less expense).
All I need now is a ZS reg a/c based at Popham!
A potentially handy site is being built for UK based SA PPL's etc at: www.uksa.flyer.co.uk

SA Training
 

I did a small amount of flying in Midrand (Grand Central) at the only JAR approved school in RSA, FTC.

My advice is not to attempt a JAR licence with them as the term 'organised chaos' springs to mind when I read FTC.

Most of the instructors are great but the management of time, fleet & account differences are to be avoided at all costs. Plus we students, customers, are not respected by the controlling parties.

If you want to do an SA PPL/CPL then go to any of the other good schools in RSA, for example, Central Flying Academy, downstairs at Grand Central.

Hope this helps.

Flying in RSA is good experience, but for god's sake avoid FTC at Grand Central Airport.

They are morally corrupt and cannot manage their fleet.

70+% of previous 'customers' are greatly dissatisfied and a PPL seems to average 6+ weeks.

Good Luck in your endeavours.

FB

Chaffers:
Am I right in thinking the Cricket World Cup is down there in places like P.E. sometime soon? Just think, a fellah could take his lady there on a vacation of a lifetime and learn to fly whilst his lady watches the ..... no, stand-by, I'll rethink that and get back to you.
:D :D :D

Here's a list of flying school websites in South Africa:

CAA
http://www.caa.co.za

Virginia Flight School, Virginia Airport, Durban
http://www.vfs.co.za

Avex Air Flying Training, Grand Central, Johannesburg
http://www.avexair.com

43 Airschool, Port Alfred
http://www.43airschool.com

Good Hope Flying Club, International Airport, Capetown
http://www.ghfc.org.za

Flight Training College, George Airport, George
http://www.flighttraining.co.za

Flight Training College, Grand Central, Johannesburg
http://www.ftc-sa.com

The Algoa Flight Centre, P.E. Airport, Port Elizabeth
http://www.algoafc.co.za

Lanseria Flight Centre, Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg
http://www.lfc.co.za

Cape Aero Club, Capetown Capetown
http://www.capeaeroclub.co.za

Cape Flying Services, George Airport, George
http://www.flightschool.co.za

Progress Flight Academy, Port Elizabeth
http://www.flightacademy.co.za

Phoebus Apollo, Rand Airport, Johannesburg
http://www.phoebusapollo.co.za

Blue Chip Aviation, Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria
http://www.bluechip-avia.co.za

Pretoria Flying School, Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria
http://www.africansky.co.za

Airline Pilot Training Centre, Port Elizabeth
http://www.aptrac.com

Border Aviation Club
http://www.electrodynamics.co.za/avi...ac/default.htm

Aeroclub of South Africa, Grand Central Airport, Johannesburg
http://www.aeroclub.org.za

Central Flying Academy
www.flyingacademy.co.za

Enjoy,

EchoKiloEcho :)

I did my radio course there--as I have a South African Microlights Pilots licence. The people I met there seemed on the ball--I am thinking of possibly continuing my training there, so I have not been put off!

Echo,

Thanks for that list. Very useful.
Do you have any experience or comments on any of those schools?

Also, does anyone know what is involved in getting a SA CPL/IR in terms of the theory?

Are there 14 subjects like in the JAA system?
And if you have passed all the JAA theory, can you get credits against the SA theory?

IH

Have you thought of Argentina for hour building ?
I think this site´s been recommended already.
www.patagonianskies.com.ar

Cheers.

Island Hopper

I started my PPL at Lanseria Flight Centre, Lanseria Airport, in Johannesburg. Nice airport & environment, but the school itself is not the best.

I continued my PPL training at 43airschool in Port Alfred. What a great flying school! I can recomend it to anyone. I would love to go into more detail, but see my post re: 43Airschool. :rolleyes: (The forum name is: 'Progress Flight Academy or 43 Flight School'


I've been to most of those schools as well but can only comment on what i've seen:

Virginia Flight School, Virginia Airport, near Durban is a realy beautiful location 20 yards from the beach.

Flight Training College, George Airport in George is a nice large airport, good facilities, 20 mins drive from the beach, but a little bit isolated.

Good Hope Flying Club, Capetown International Airport, large airport, good training facilities, 10 mins flight from table mountain.

The Algoa Flight Centre, Port Elizabeth Airport, good flying club, very friendly. PE airport - very friendly & helpful control tower, just a bit windy, but good for training. (My first solo x-country landing was at PE airport with 15 kt crosswind gusting 25 kts with a South Afircan Airways 737 in front of me!!!!)

Pretoria Flying School & Blue Chip Aviation, Wonderboom Airport, Pretoria. Large runway. Good training facilities, and good fleet of aircraft (I think about 11 C172s) Almost allways good flying weather. Very hot & high conditions. I believe its 4,500ft above sea level! Nice scenery with lots of game reserves near by!

:cool: EKE :cool:

If you want more info on any flying schools / airports or destinations, i've got some books and can post more details and info here if you want!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:) :) Chuffer Chadley, you said you were going to Capetown in January 2003. Did you go in the end? How was it? Tel us your experince.:) :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registering / Reregistering an Aircraft to be N-Reg (in South Africa)
 

What are the benefits of N- registration compared to ZS-Registration?

What would have to be done to reregister a ZS- registered aircraft to be N- registered, and operated in SA?

I might buy a new Aircraft, and have it N- registered - would there be any problems in flying it in SA?

I'm imagining that if a ZS- registered aircraft was reregistered, it might have to be awarded a new AC from the FAA and approved, but after that as long as it is maintained to FAA standards it should be ok.

One advantage is not having to renew the AC (=CofA) but I can't remember if SA is similar to the UK on that

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Regards

Alex Walker

South Africa PPL later this year...
 

Hey Folks

Is anybody thinking of going to SA in the Autumn for PPL?

I'm planning on going there in October.

;)

That's right, rub it in, the rest of us looking out the windows at the incessant rain, freezing our b@ttocks off, while you are cruising over the wildlife in the sun at about 50p an hour.

Grrr.

Which school were you thinking of doing your training with?

Algoa Flight School in PE - need more info just send me a PM.

Trying to see if there will be drinking buddies at the same place!!

There is a support site for you afterwards: UKSA site
It's for anyone with SA qualifications in the UK or Ireland

Algoa Flight Centre
 

Anyone know or heard anything good or bad about Algoa Flight centre, Port Elizabeth, South Africa?

I'm planning on going there in two weeks to do the PPL. Haven't paid for anything yet though.

'Preciate your thoughts...

Algoa
 

I did my PPL with algoa in June 2002. I had a great time and would strongly recommend them. The school is a non-profit club so the flying is very cheap. Accommodation, food and drink in P.E is also very cheap.

It took 5 weeks for me to get my PPL and do some training in the different planes available. I could have done it quicker, but I wasn’t in a rush. So if you are on a tighter schedule I’m sure you can do it quicker

When I came back to the UK I had no problems. I did a few hours flying with Irv Lee at Popham and then i passed a check ride at my local club. Irv is qualified to renew your S.A. licence and is familiar with the differences in flying in South Africa and the UK.

You can go to his web site and it may explain questions you might have about learning to fly in South Africa.

www.higherplane.flyer.co.uk.

You can also go to this web site, some of the people trained at algoa, and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you emailed and asked questions

www.uksa.flyer.co.uk

If you have any questions about the club or P.E you can email me at [email protected]

Pete

SA
 

Hi Aoife

check your PM ;)