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.

The Academy is run by an ex SAFAir Captain and most of the staff are ex SAA pilots. The Academy is very popular with learners coming from all over South Africa and from overseas as well. The Academy is based in the town of George, which is a beautiful area on the renowned Garden Route. It really does have the idyllic attractions that people hanker after - miles of golden sands against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains ... and dolphins jumping through the waves close to shore.

The Academy has seven aircraft and all the instructors are fully qualified to SA Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements. The Private Pilots Licence (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 Private Pilots Licence 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.

Requirements:
You must be at least 16 years of age to qualify for a Private Pilots Licence. 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 £89, US$160).

There is no other basic minimum requirement, 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 Licence (SPL). This requires you to pass an elementary written exam in Air Law and pass the Private Pilots Licence 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 Licence.

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 Licence, you will be able to fly, within limits of any ratings held as pilot-in-command (PIC), of an aircraft endorsed on your licence 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.

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.