GET YOUR PRIVATE PILOT'S LICENCE WITH FULLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS
This is an
amazing opportunity to learn to fly at the world-renowned
Cape Town
International airport! Take trips around the incredibly scenic Cape
Peninsula and see sights such as Robben Island, Table Mountain and the
beautiful Cape winelands from the air. You may even see whales and
sharks as you fly over the clear blue Indian & Atlantic oceans.
Do something exciting and unusual and gain your pilot's license at the
end of it! You'll take your training at a top Pilot Training Institute.
It is one of only a handful of schools on the African continent to
provide full-time courses for Private and Commercial Pilots. The
Institute is well known and has trained pilots from all over the world,
many of whom are now flying with numerous international airlines.
The latest
South African CAA regulations have lowered to minimum age of learner
pilots to 16, so this course is suitable for all people aged 16 years
old and upwards.
To obtain your
Private Pilots License you'll do a minimum of 45 hours of flight
training. 25 hours will be with an instructor and 15 hours will be solo
(flying alone), plus 5 hours on a flight simulator. Of these, 3 hours
will be solo cross country flight time ... sound exciting?
The flight school we work with was established over 30 years ago, with
the specific goal of making flying accessible to as many people as
possible. They have over 300 members and highly skilled and experienced
instructors.
The school is situated at Cape Town International Airport, which is an
ideal training location. Being exposed to the ATC (Air Traffic
Controller) from your very first lesson will reduce the intimidation
later of complicated airspaces and the stress of slotting in between
large aircraft. Just imagine the excitement of watching a Jumbo landing
just 50 ft in front of you! Some students have even been spotted waving
to tourists in the terminal buildings as they taxi past.
The Academy’s fleet
consists of 9 aircraft, ranging from basic 2-seaters (Piper Tomahawks)
and a Cessna 152 Aerobat, to the Piper Warrior and Cessna Skyhawk. For
the more advanced single engine pilot, there are also two Cessna 172 RF
Cutlasses with retractable gear and variable pitch propellers.
The Private Pilots License (PPL) is taken on either the Cessna 152 or
the Piper Tomahawk, but type rating for other aircraft may be
undertaken. (This involves about 5 hours flying time on whichever
aircraft is selected, plus familiarisation study of that aircraft.)
The PPL is an
eight week course and should be completed in that time. However it may
take a little longer if adverse weather conditions prevail. 45 hours is
the minimum requirement (25 hours dual*, 15 hours solo plus 5 hours on a
simulator), to obtain your PPL. This is subject to instructor
recommendations. The Academy states that when they sign you out, they
won't compromise and will ensure your safety. Having said that, 90% of
students finish within this time frame. Should you require extra hours
then this would be an additional cost to you.
(* Dual instruction means flying under instruction with an instructor.)
Requirements:
You must be at least 16 years of age to qualify for a Private
Pilots License. You must also be medically fit and be able to pass a
medical examination by an approved South African physician. The medical
examination includes chest X-rays, an ECG, vision and hearing tests ...
and yes, you can fly with spectacles. You can have the medical
examination in South Africa, if you choose - the cost is approximately
R1, 000 (approx £65, US$125).
There are no
other basic minimum requirements, but you need to be literate in the
English Language and be able to understand basic and advanced
mathematics. The three basic requirements for becoming a good pilot are
common sense, good coordination and a willingness to stay within the
boundaries of both flight regulations and personal piloting ability.
The different
elements:
Initially you will obtain a Student Pilots License (SPL). This requires
you to pass an elementary written exam in Air Law and pass the Private
Pilots License Medical. This will allow you to fly solo when you have
satisfactorily reached a proficient level in aircraft handling and
emergencies as well as take off and landing whilst in the circuit.
You will be
required to write and pass an exam on Radiotelephony to gain a
Restricted Radiotelephony Operators License.
Additional to
this, you will have to write and pass an exam on Air law, Meteorology,
Navigation (necessary before you do a cross country flights), principles
of Flight, Instruments and basic technical with emphases on engine and
aircraft performance based on a training aircraft. Ground courses are
conducted on the required subjects.
Finally, you
will have to pass a practical general flight test as well as a practical
navigation exercise conducted by a Grade ll or Grade l instructor.
Once you have
a valid Private Pilots License, you will be able to fly, within limits
of any ratings held as pilot-in-command (PIC), of an aircraft endorsed
on your license and carry passengers, but not for hire or reward.
The Flight School:
All instructors at the
Flight School are fully qualified and SA CAA approved. Aircraft are
fully maintained to SA CAA specifications.
Time spent at the flight
school will be approximately 3 hours per day, but this may increase,
depending on various factors. Flying time on instruction is about 1
hour, dual and solo, per day. If you want to speed up the process, you
may be able to fly twice a day to complete the course quicker.
The cost of the course
includes a Pilots Bag which you'll receive containing three instruction
manuals (study material), Pilots Radio Handbook, and certain basic
instruments, maps, etc.
License conversion:
The Academy advises that the SA license is recognised worldwide.
However, you will need to convert it to your home country's
requirements. For example, for UK students, the license would need to be
converted to a UK license with the UK authority, but we have been
advised that this is easy to do.
Please Note: Accommodation options can vary for this placement, depending on
time of year, preference etc. Specific information on your accommodation will be
provided upon booking. Sometimes we use a host family for this placement,
which could be one of the instructors from the flying school.
We usually accommodate other volunteers (Work experience, Care and teaching
placements) at the Lodge in Observatory, which is about a 15 minute drive from
Cape Town International Airport.
You can either use the public mini-bus taxi’s, or (if you have a driver’s
license and over 21) you can hire a car for the duration of your placement.
This, of course, will be for your own expense.
In a bohemian part of Cape Town, along the east coast of the city near
Woodstock, is a set of very lovely lodges! The Lodge Observatory is a series of
5 houses in Observatory, a famous Alternative Suburb in Cape Town.
Apart from other Travellers volunteers, this hostel mainly attracts many intern
students. The Lodge is managed by Nelly and her daughter Charmaine. They are
very friendly and will always help you where needed. They can answer any
questions or can even help when you need some TLC because you feel a bit
homesick!
The Main Lodge is the centre of all the lodges and is a meeting
point for everyone. You can discuss your day in the living room, have a nice
chat out on the terrace, go for a swim, watch a movie, etc. There are two
4-person dorms, one 3-person dorm and one double room.
This lodge has a living room, two bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen.
The back of the house has a nice covered terrace, as well as a braai area (South
African barbecue) and a swimming pool.
In the back of the garden there is a little place called the Garden Lodge. This
is basically the chill-out room with several comfortable sofas, satellite
television, VCR and HiFi system. Great for relaxing or for parties.
The Main Lodge also has storage facilities for surfboards etc. and space to
store your luggage if you wish to travel around the country and leave your
things somewhere safe.
Food: You will be given a food allowance to buy your own food from the big
supermarket up the road. Each house is equipped with a kitchen with a fridge,
stove, oven and microwave, and all the necessities to cook a good meal.
TRAVEL:
You have the option to
arrange your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If
you would like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding
available flights and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight
bookings/payments will be fulfilled for you by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL
No. 6856. (Read
more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.)
Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the same flight
and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on
your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving
for your placement.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets
because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in
their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within
the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you
choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable
ticket.
We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you make your own travel
arrangements or not.
We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of
your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and
wondrous country!
VISAS:. In countries where visas or immigration documents are required, we'll
send you all the necessary forms and information and make the process very easy
for you.
To read about the extensive Support & Backup we provide in our countries, please
click here.
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in South Africa, please
click here.
Please also note that the price quoted for
this project is an estimate and based on the average flight training
time to completion. Keep in mind that this is an estimate, not a "one
size fits all". Your actual costs will vary, simply because everyone is
different and possesses different learning styles and past experiences.
Your Project Co-ordinator will liaise with you in depth during the
setting-up of your placement and will be able to give you an accurate
figure at that time.
Fuel Surcharges may also apply:
Unfortunately, neither we nor the flying schools can commit to fuel
costs at the time that you'll be doing the course because of the
fluctuations in oil prices, so there may be fuel surcharges applicable
at that time.
Prices
include
Food & accommodation while on your project,
unless otherwise stated,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
.
+44 01903 502595
