 |
 |
 |
|
|
1. How long will it take me? You can take as long as you wish to complete your training. You could even fly one hour every six months if you prefer. However, it is best to fly at least twice a week, so that the lessons learned do not have to be constantly re-learned. It makes sense to save up until you have enough for approximately ten hours, so that you can maintain a reasonable level of continuity in your training. You must also set aside considerable time to study. Many students find that their flying progresses rapidly, but the process is eventually delayed by the time required to pass the examinations. Students who start studying from the very first lesson normally do not encounter this problem, though. With reasonably concentrated part-time effort, it is possible to complete a PPL(A) (Private Pilot Licence--Aeroplane) in about three months. Most students seem to take around six months. Several of our full-time students have obtained a PPL(A) in about six weeks. 2. Are the Tecnam and the Jabiru good training aircraft? The answer is a resounding "Yes"! They teach excellent stick-and-rudder skills, with all the essential handling characteristics of a much larger aircraft. Most training aircraft use technology from World War 2. The new airframe and engine technologies combine to reduce operating costs by about 30%, while maintaining a very similar level of performance to traditional metal training aircraft. 3. I'm a big guy. Will I fit into your aircraft? Our biggest customer to date was 2,00 m and 125 kg. Enough said? 4. Is Kitty Hawk a good place at which to learn to fly? Kitty Hawk provides an excellent learning environment. It is quiet enough that virtually no training time is wasted while waiting for other traffic. It is also very close to controlled airports, providing the opportunity for exposure to busy traffic. Students are required to spend some time in a busy control tower to absorb the necessary radio-speak without the pressure of a noisy cockpit. 5. Shouldn't I rather get an MPL (Microlight Pilot Licence) or an NPL (National Pilot Licence)? Probably not. The introduction of the National Pilot Licence (NPL) continues the tradition of the Microlight Pilot Licence (MPL), with reduced standards for pilots who do not have aspirations to fly bigger and faster aircraft. The training standards vary widely, and training is not subject to direct supervision by the CAA like aeroplane flying schools are. At SFT, most of our students first fly solo after at least 18 hours of dual training. Only at this time do we feel that you can control the aircraft well enough to fly safely under supervision. Many microlight schools provide only 15 hours of dual training before setting you free to fly unsupervised! The difference shows clearly in the safety record. In addition, if you plan to pursue a professional career in aviation, or if you want to fly at night or in clouds or fly anything bigger than a two-seater aircraft, you will require an aeroplane licence such as a PPL(A). The PPL(A) has several advantages: In general, it's cheaper and easier to do a PPL(A) than to first do an MPL or NPL and then convert to a PPL(A). Under the new Civil Aviation Regulations, you can get no credit for time accumulated in microlight aircraft under 450 kg. Under special conditions, you can get credit for 10, 25 or 30 hours on bigger microlights, depending on the exact training route you took. However, we find that most MPL holders need considerable dual training before meeting the required standard of knowledge and skill, making it impossible to do only the minimum required add-on training for a PPL(A). If you consider the cost of the MPL or NPL training in the first place, it is quickly evident that a direct entry into aeroplane training would have been a much better and cheaper alternative. 6. Why do you quote for 55 hours of flying? Many flying schools try to mislead you by quoting for 45 hours of flight training. While 45 hours is the legal minimum experience required, in practice very few pilots qualify at this level. Part-time students typically take between 50 and 60 hours. If you want to compare quotations, be sure to adjust those figures to a more realistic level first. 7. How do I get started? You can contact us today for an introductory lesson with one of our instructors. During this lesson, you will get the opportunity to control the aircraft yourself and see whether you like flying. Once you decide to tackle training towards a PPL(A) in earnest, we recommend that you first obtain a flight medical certificate. Anyone in reasonable health can fly, but you may have a problem that you are not aware of. An aviation medical examiner can point out anything that may influence your subsequent flying. If you have any aspirations to a professional career or an instrument or night rating, obtain a Class I medical certificate. You don't need it for a PPL(A), but that way you can be reasonably certain that you can fulfil your ambitions later. We can provide you with a list of aviation medical examiners in Gauteng. 8. Can you recommend some reading matter? While you are getting your ducks in a row, you can make a good start by buying a good book about flight training and doing some reading. A good choice, providing a sound theoretical background, is the Air Pilot's Manual, Volume I, written by Trevor Thom but now marketed under a different author's name. This publication is available from pilot shops and most good bookstores. What to do in an Aircraft Cockpit, its Afrikaans equivalent In 'n Vliegtuigstuurkajuit and the international edition Cockpit Procedures: Effective Routines for Pilots and Virtual Aviators by Chris R. Burger provide a more practical approach, and are available from many online bookshops and most pilot shops. A good monthly magazine will also help you to find your feet in the wonderful world of aviation. World Airnews emphasises professional flying. African Pilot and SA Flyer emphasise sport flying. All three magazines are high-class glossy publications and are available from most good bookshops. 9. Yes, but I actually want to fly helicopters... You can start directly with helicopter training, without having to go through aeroplanes. However, if you want to fly helicopters professionally, you can realise savings of around 25% by first learning to fly aeroplanes. We have instructors that are qualified on both helicopters and aeroplanes. Our training techniques are also designed to ensure that you will obtain perspectives that make allowances for helicopter flying, even during your initial aeroplane training. You will not have to go through the painful process of un-learning what you learned during your aeroplane trying.
Back to top |
|
