Pandalet

Rumour has it that the South African licences are soon to become JAA approved. Maintain a listening watch...

Anyone got any info on Starlite Aviation?

I had a search for other threads about them and its seems they don't have a great reputation, but I can't seem to find out why. Has anyone actually worked for them? They seem quite a large company judging by their website.


Ioan

I did my traing with them and i couldn't have been happier, very professional and great instructors! i'm not to sure about thier overseas contracts but i did one or two charters for them before i went to fly in the congo and thier charter side in south africa is top notch!

Starlite Helicopters, formerly Chopper Flying Services are one of three helicopter companies based at Virginia Airport, Durban North. They do a lot of training - last I heard they were training the South African Police pilots, as well as for foreign military pilots. Used to have the Netstar contract but lost it to NAC recently. Used to have the beach rescue contract too but I believe they have lost that too - any confirmation? They do charter too and also operate a few Pumas overseas, in the Sudan and Indonesia. Used to operate in Spain too - is that still going?

Anyway, yes they are a large company. But enough of the facts - now for the gossip:E

Not as big as they used to be. Lost a couple of key employees recently and then lost a couple of contracts. Some aircraft owners have withdrawn their machines in acrimonious circumstances. Their training side is rumoured to be more focussed on the big money earners (Police & military contracts) than on single individuals who get second class treatment.

Or so I've heard.

That would make sense! I approached them a couple of years ago to do some Jet Ranger flying with them. Calls not returned, emails not answered. In the end I went down the other end of Virginia Airport to NAC where I couldn't have got better treatment or instruction!

Cheers

Whirls

Thanks. I too emailed them about some training a while back and they still haven't got back to me. Got me wondering... NAC look tidy enough, as do Base4. I'll look into those as well. Cheers!


joyrider
Any more news about that rumour yet?

just wondering: when did the SA Police start training their own pilots? last time i heard, they used civvy/ex mil pilots and did not do any training as such.

cheers! :ok:

Ioan - sorry not heard any more yet.

Discobeast, Starlite were awarded the contract a couple of years ago. As far as I know, in all that time only one student has joined the SAPS airwing from the training programme, and because SOPs require 800 hrs minimum, that student does not yet have command (i.e. can only fly under supervision of another pilot). In the meantime as pilots leave SAPS, they have had to recruit externally while waiting for the new students to come on stream. It may take a lot longer yet - 2 students have pranged aircraft and one student (rumoured to be related to a senior government figure) left after obtaining their comm at taxpayers expense.

Or so I've heard.

Chopper flying Port Elizabeth
 

Hello,
Was just wandering if anyone here has done any flying in Port Elizabeth, what the schools are like etc etc. Never been but heading there soon. Any info would be much appreciated

Anyone Mentioned Henley Air?
 

I havent read the whole thread (and I'm biased) but...

Great company based at Rand airport. Awesome instructors with loads of commercial experience.Nice to have ppl give a crap bout your training and future for once! (ha ha... from fixed wing -cant compare)

anyway... thoughts? havent really heard of a bad reputation, cant imagine they do..

Well Henley Air surely is one of the better flying schools in SA. The people treat you as a proffesional and their approach to the flying industry is proffesional and mature. They also operate as a close family. Awesome place to go to for training seeing that Rand airport is at 5483ft you start with limited power operations from day one. Teaches you alot of respect for the R22.:D

Startlite Aviation has now also secured the contrat for training the military students for the South African Airforce. This is because the SAAF does not have a abanitio Helicopter trainer anymore after the ALO 3 was phased out of service. From what I hear, the holiday in Durban is seriously interfering with their studies. Apparently struggled to pass their exams on a PPL level. :ugh: What next????

I recon for proffesional treatment and having your calls returned at least, the better options at Virginia is NAC and then JNC helicopters.

SFH and conversions in Cape Town
 

I'm considering a holiday in SA later this year, and wondered about the possibility of a JAA -> SA CAA PPL conversion and some R44 self-fly while out there. Can anyone suggest or recommend a school / hire outfit in the Cape Town area? Any idea as to per-hour prices of a 44?

Does anyone have any first-hand experience of JAA to SA license conversions? What is actually involved, and how long is the process likely to take? Obviously, if there is a 2 month delay between taking a flight test and getting the requisite paperwork, it's probably not something I'd be able to do at the beginning of a 2-week holiday that involves self-flying in week 2...

I've found Base4 so far, but not having much luck beyond that. Their email server appears to have some issues...

No first hand experience, I'm afraid, but Google produced this via www.caa.co.za:

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/AIC'S/30.7.pdf

Section 4 will apply to you.


HTH,

B73

PPL Conversion, Pandalet
 

Pandalet,

Does anyone have any first-hand experience of JAA to SA license conversions? What is actually involved, and how long is the process likely to take? Obviously, if there is a 2 month delay between taking a flight test and getting the requisite paperwork, it's probably not something I'd be able to do at the beginning of a 2-week holiday that involves self-flying in week 2...

Ive just been to Port elizabeth and converted my FAA ppl to the South African CAA. Validation paper work takes about week to week and half. All you need to do is PPL airlaw and i did a pre solo exam that the school had. R44 prob works out about £250 hr with instructor which is still £150 cheaper than in uk. Look up helicopter charter and training, they have plenty R44's that could probably do good deal on!
hope this helps
Dave

JAR in South Africa
 

Hi all,

Following on from earlier threads have any flying schools in South Africa been approved by the UK CAA for PPL (H) JAR rating? Is it true that JAR class 1 and 2 medicals can be undertaken in South Africa at a cheaper rate than the UK ?

Does anyone know about the reputation of base4avaiation in Cape Town?

Thanks for our assistance in advance.

To the best of my knowledge, that was just an unsubstantiated rumour. It is very unlikely that any further JAA training establishments will be established outside of Europe (or the JAA states.)

Initial JAR Class 1? No. For the UK, it's Gatwick only.

For Class 1 renewals or initial Class 2, the following details came from the CAA website:

10319
Dr K A Ingham
ARWYP Medical Centre
9th Floor, 21 Central Avenue
Kempton Park
Johannesburg
South Africa
1619
Tel: 00 11 394 6583
[email protected]
Also authorised by CAA South Africa, CAA Ghana, CASA, Transport Canada (subject to valid approval)


10319
Dr K A Ingham
Central Aerospace Medicine
IL Placere Office Park
Block A, First Floor
49 New Road
Grand Central Airport, Midrand
Johannesburg
South Africa
1684
Tel: 00 27 11 315 5817
Fax: 00 27 11 315 5817
[email protected]


10158
Dr P W Buys
PO Box 39298
Moreletapart
RSA
South Africa
Tel: +27 12 998 5928
[email protected]


HTH

Hi Bravo,
Thanks for the rapid reply. Would you know of anyone suitably qualified in the UK to do the annual SA PPL (H) check flight (and SA medical) or would i have to return to SA every year in order to do this?

I wouldn't know, I'm afraid.

Try asking Pandalet - she seems to be reasonably knowledgeable about the SA flying scene.

Medical examiners in the UK (taken from www.caa.co.za):

Orton, Peter
aviation medica inflite, hangar 1, first avenue, londonstanstedairport, essex, cm 241RY
09-44 1279 661 580

tallent, david, n
brookdale medical centre, 79 povey cross road, gatwick airport, rh6 0ae, uk
09-44-1293-776-996

alexander, bruce, r
9 de havillands, bekesbourne, ct45bw, kent, uk
09-44-1843-222-404

perry, i
19 cliveden place, london
09-44-207-730-8045

wallace, jt
40 hadham road, bishop stortford, herts, cm23 2qt
09-44-1279-654-053

edington, kenneth
Airport medical services, 35 massets road, horley (near gatwick), surrey, rh6 7dQ, uk
09-44-1293-775-336

goodwin, sa
Airport medical services, 35 massets road, horley (near gatwick), surrey, rh6 7dQ, uk
09-44-1293-775-336


As far as flight examiners go, I know of one chap in England who does fixed-wing exams, but nothing for rotary. That said, I haven't looked all that hard, as I always intended to do JAA qualifications.

I have flown with Base4, and found them to be friendly and helpful. Be warned, though, they are very busy, so if have weather cancellations (because you were there in the middle of winter, natch :hmm:), you may have to wait some time before you can re-book. I am aware of at least one other operator in Cape Town (of whom I have no experience), and can highly recommend one in Port Elizabeth.

When I was there in August, SA was in the process of switching to the new computer-based exams and the streamlined foreign license validation process, so things were a bit chaotic, but I would imagine they've settled down a bit now. I can give you the full run-down on getting a JAA PPL(H) validated and pleasure flying in SA (including which bits of Cape Town International Airport NOT to fly over) if you're interested.

training options; cape town?
 

Hi Pandalet,
Bravo suggested i contact you with regards to PPL heli training in South Africa. I've looked into various schools in the cape Town area and would appreciate any feedback you could give me. In particular do you know anything about base4aviation?

The options i have to complete my training are as follows (if your eyes glaze over please accept my apologies and hit delete immediately :ok: ) :

1) Do my entire training in a R22 here in London. I passed my final PPL (H) theory exam in May 2006 so i believe i have until May 2008 to pass the skills test. The downside of flying here from what i've read is that it's difficult to accumulate hours (at least 45 required) given the bad weather we have over the winter and early Spring period. This coupled with the extra cost makes it my least desirable option. (My current choice of school here is heliair based in Denham).

2) I have 30 hours logged in a R44 in malaysia (last logged hours in March 2006). I could continue training In Kuala Lumpur and would probably need at least another 35 hours before im proficient enough to take the skills test. I need only take 2 exams to gain my Malaysian PPL (H). The risk i run here is that if i'm unable to pass my skills test within 35 hours then flying in a R22 in South Africa from scratch would have been more cost effective. Also upon my return to convert licenses i would have to take my skils test in a R44 which is £££

3) Go to South Africa and train from scratch on a R22. I would need 50 hours training and would have to take 5 theory exams. I could also do a R44 crossover course. If i wanted to convert this license to UK would i have to take the UK skills tests in a R22 and then get validation for my R44 type rating? Finally assuming i take this option and looking ahead are there any South African instructors in the UK who can do SA PPL (H) renewals and medicals?

Best regards