Royal Victorian Aero Club - Training for your PPL

Training for your PPL 

The average time taken to achieve the required standard at the private level is around 65 hours total training time (dual & solo). It is much more realistic to budget on the fact that your training will probably be somewhere around this time, rather than closer to the legal minimum requirement of 40 hours.

People learn to fly at quite differing rates of progress and this makes it very difficult to state training costs precisely . However, the Royal Victorian Aero Club guarantees that it will make every effort to keep your training costs to the MINIMUM POSSIBLE for the standard required.

In terms of the Regulations, the minimum number of flying hours required for the issue of a Private Pilot Licence is 40 hours. The total must include at least 10 hours of solo flying time. The actual flying time taken to reach the standard varies from pilot to pilot, and , is dependent upon the aptitude and motivation of the student. There is no minimum time period in which the training must be completed.

The Flying School, a unit of the Royal Victorian Aero Club, operates 7 days per week, and the reception desk is staffed between 8:30am and 5:30pm. However, flying training is conducted outside of these hours where necessary. The administrative staff are present between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

A period of 1.5 hours is allowed for each of the initial flying lessons to cater for pre and post flight briefing as well as flying time. The actual flying time for the navigation training will vary for each lesson, depending on the particular exercise to be carried out.

Initial flying training is undertaken in the Cessna 150 or Piper Warrior aircraft. The choice is yours. The Piper Warrior is used for the navigation phase of training.

Requirements for the issue of a Student Pilot Licence

Student Pilot Licences are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. You must have passed your medical examination and make an application through your Flight Instructor. A Student Pilot Licence must be obtained before a student may fly solo.

The Private Pilot Licence

New students may commence flying training at any time. Reservations for lessons can be made to suit the student's budget, both in terms of time available and money. No advance payment is required; students pay at the completion of each lesson. Payment is based on aircraft engine running time, there being no charge for pre and post flight briefing.
Before each lesson, a full pre-flight briefing is given, covering all the theoretical aspects of the exercise to be undertaken. This will ensure that the student fully understands what is to be covered and can better appreciate what the instructor is demonstrating in the air.

Training for the Private Pilot Licence comprises basically four parts or phases:

Phase 1: First Solo

During this phase you will cover all the aspects of flight necessary for you to undertake your first solo flight. The number of hours this requires is not fixed and will depend upon your progress. The average flight time to complete this is approximately 15 hours. A theory requirement must be met prior to the completion of this stage.

Phase 2: Training Area Solo

The exercise covered in this phase will prepare you for and allow you to undertake more solo flying, including flights to the training area. A theory requirement must be met prior to the completion of this phase.

Phase 3: General Flying Progress Test

At the satisfactory completion of the exercises that have taught you to fly the aeroplane, but not navigate it cross country, you may undertake a flight test, of approximately just over 1 hours duration, which will entitle you to carry passengers in the training area. This test is not mandatory, but is recommended so as to give you a guide to your progress. It enables you to have the pleasure of taking passengers with you, and gives you experience at undertaking a flight test. A theory requirement must be met prior to the completion of the test.

Phase 4: Navigation Training

This phase is allocated solely to navigation training, both dual and solo. Here you will be taught the basics of pilot navigation, map reading, cross country flying techniques and the use of radio navigation aids.
On completion of this phase you will be eligible to undertake the Private Pilot Licence Flight Test. The successful completion of this test results in the issue of your licence. A theory requirement must be met prior to the completion of the test.

The Private Pilot Licence enables you to fly as pilot-in-command, by day and clear of cloud, almost anywhere in Australia and in many parts of the world. You may not charge for your services as a pilot, but you may cost share with your passengers to cover the cost of the aircraft hire.