Learning to fly
Flight training procedure outline
Flight training procedure outline
Module content
1.1 Ground and flight programs at FTFsAll forms of flight are potentially hazardous, but the skills of safe flight can be readily mastered by anyone who has the necessary motivation and enthusiasm, and consequently willing to devote some effort to it. The training programs at RA-Aus flight training facilities [FTFs] comprise a ground study program and an in-flight program, but much of the ground study program is usually done in your own time, under direction from your instructor.
The principles learned on the ground are assimilated in the flight program so that you, the student pilot, should always be comfortably aware of the consequences of each of your actions, or inactions. Each in-flight lesson entails flight time of about 45 minutes plus pre-flight and post-flight briefings; thus the total time at the FTF for each flying lesson will be about two hours. Flight training will be conducted in the airfield circuit area and a local training area designated by the school; except if a cross country navigation exercise [navex] is involved. The flight time for a longer navex may be 90 minutes or more. You can of course opt for two flying lessons in each day; i.e. a full time schedule. More than two in-flight lessons in one day is probably unproductive, as are lesson durations that exceed 45 minutes — excepting an advanced navex. 1.2 Outline of the flight training programThe Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority [CASA] issued a refreshed version of their old Flight Instructors Manual in 2005. Issue 2 of this version is available in PDF format (89 pages) and although it is intended primarily for flight instructors, a student will find it is well worth studying. The exercise sequence outlined in the CASA manual is as follows:
The ground study program, though broad-ranging, does not require any particular educational qualification except for reasonable proficiency in English. It covers — in general terms — the theory of flight, the atmosphere and aviation meteorology, aircraft instruments, engine handling, radio communication procedures, flight planning and navigation, air law and basic (level 1) aircraft maintenance plus coping with emergencies. The diagram below shows an indication of the practical and exam components required to attain the Pilot Certificate. Note that the hours shown represent the legal minimum required. More often than not, most student pilots will take longer than this to achieve competency before they can first fly solo, and before they can attempt the Pilot Certificate flying test.
The end of the ab initio training period could be regarded as reaching the competence level equivalent to the day VFR private pilot licence; i.e. Pilot Certificate plus the navigation, communications and passenger endorsements. You should not aspire to acquire extra endorsements until you have at least one or two years experience in your logbook — perhaps 100 hours or so. However, there may be circumstances where you must get extra endorsements. For example, if you trained in a high performance, nose wheel aircraft but have since decided to purchase a low performance, tail wheel aircraft then a few hours further training in a low performance, tail wheel aircraft is vital. 1.3 Competency, ground and flight testsAll aspects of your performance and progress should be measured objectively, and continuously, against a competency standard required by RA-Aus. There are only three ground examinations and one formal flight test involved in the initial program. The first ground examination is a simple test on the rules of the air (i.e. the traffic rules), which must be passed before your first solo flight. The second is the RA-Aus Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) test, which must be passed before the Recreational Aviation Australia Pilot Certificate can be issued.Also prior to issue of a Pilot Certificate, the student pilot must pass the RA-Aus examination on human factors, airmanship and decision-making. All the written examinations are 'multiple choice', which require you to select one clear answer from three or four possible answers. Your instructor will endeavour to make sure you know your subject beforehand. Also, the flight tests are only undertaken when your instructor believes you have acquired the necessary competencies and recommends to the facility's Chief Flying Instructor [CFI] that you are ready, so you will not be undertaking a flight test unless you are most likely to pass. The flight test is conducted by the CFI to formally assess your airmanship and ability to manipulate the aircraft safely. The Chief Flying Instructor is responsible to our Operations Manager — and to you of course — for your ground training, your flight training and your safety at all times. After success in the flight test and BAK you are qualified, in one of the three major RA-Aus aircraft groups (i.e. Group A 3-axis, Group B weight-shift trikes or Group D powered parachute) to fly within a radius of 25 nautical miles from the airfield. You are not yet qualified to carry passengers. There are two other Pilot Certificate aircraft group ratings; Group F for foot-launched backpack engine-powered parachutes and Group C for combined control (i.e. combined weight-shift and 3-axis inputs) aircraft.
Incidently, Australia has a long history in flight training. The first pilot or aviator's certificate was issued 17 November 1911, by the Aerial League of Australia, to William Hart for satisfactory completion of the certificate flight test — five continuous figure eights within a 500 metre circuit. It wasn't until 1921, after the 1921 Air Navigation Act came into being (and the establishment of a network of 60 landing grounds for the aerial mail services was commenced), that government-controlled civil pilot's licence and aircraft register systems were introduced "to reduce reckless flying and the number of air fatalities". The first Commercial Pilot's Licence was issued in 1921, by the newly established Department of Civil Aviation, to Norman Brearley, ex-WW1 pilot and founder of Australia's first regular airmail and passenger service — West Australian Airways which later became Australian National Airways and, finally, Ansett-ANA. 1.4 Certificate endorsementsWhen a newly qualified, 3-axis group A pilot receives their Pilot Certificate, it will carry endorsements reflecting the performance and configuration of the aircraft type in which the person trained or is qualified.Those endorsements usually are:
You need to gain some familiarity with the control, advisory and information services available from the various air traffic service units of Airservices Australia. Instruction will be provided in the on-line acquisition of weather briefings and current advisory notices to airmen [NOTAM] from Airservices Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology. 
It is also advisable to obtain a radio operator endorsement, which allows you more freedom, and ease, of flight — for instance if you want to visit our annual fly-in. It only entails some study of the radio communications procedures in Class G airspace and at non-towered aerodromes, and a written and oral test by an RA-Aus instructor. In most FTFs you will start learning some radio procedures from your first flight. You can qualify for a passenger carrying endorsement to your Pilot Certificate after you have a total of 10 hours solo (as pilot in command [PIC]), which must include two hours in a RA-Aus two-seat aircraft. The CFI has to be convinced of your personal maturity and you also have to do a flight test to check that you know how to look after your passenger. The pre-flight planning of fuel requirements, passenger and baggage arrangement, assessment of runway and air density conditions, calculation of aircraft weight and balance, and the physical pre-flight airworthiness checking of the aircraft is emphasised, to ensure the flight will be operated safely. All RA-Aus flight training facilities offer the navigation, passenger and radio endorsements. At the conclusion of the basic program you, as a certificated RA-Aus pilot, will be fit to carry out the level 1 maintenance; to check the aircraft's airworthiness by reviewing the maintenance release and maintenance log; to do the daily and pre-flight inspections of the aircraft. If you also have the cross country endorsement then you can also fly — in daylight and reasonable weather under the visual flight rules [VFR] — anywhere within Australia. Generally you will be restricted to fly below 5000 feet above mean sea level, to stay within Class G airspace unless you fulfil some specific requirements of Airservices Australia (the air traffic management organisation), and not fly over towns in some ultralight categories, or designated remote areas, or other prohibited or restricted areas. 1.5 Student entry conditionsA student cannot fly as pilot-in-command of an ultralight (i.e. solo) until she/he has attained the age of 15 and until an RA-Aus Student Pilot Certificate is issued. Up to three hours dual instruction can be undertaken before applying for a Student Pilot Certificate and a further six hours dual instruction may be flown while waiting for the document. However, an intending student can apply for RA-Aus membership and issue of a Student Pilot Certificate, before selecting a particular flight school, by downloading the form Application for membership and Student Pilot Certificate and returning it to the RA-Aus office. An aviation medical is not required but a student pilot must be medically fit to a standard equivalent to that required to hold a driver's licence in Australia and sign a declaration to that effect. If under 18 years of age a parent must also sign the application.A student pilot must possess an RA-Aus Operations manual (which will be issued automatically by RA-Aus on joining) and a log book, and it is recommended that a study manual is also purchased. There are a number of titles available. You may also wish to purchase maps and other reference materials. When you start training, the FTF should issue you with a training package that contains flight notes produced by the FTF including a Pilot's Operating Handbook or Aircraft Flight Manual for the training aircraft and a study manual. The RA-Aus Operations Manager may refuse to accept an application for a Student Pilot Certificate or a Pilot Certificate if it is known that the applicant has a history of aviation regulation contravention or flying activities that might bring the good name of RA-Aus and its members into disrepute. 1.6 Fees charged by the FTFThe flight hours required by an individual vary, particularly according to the flight frequency, i.e. generally someone flying just three or four hours each month will need more hours than someone flying three or four hours every week. Most people, not undertaking a full-time schedule, achieve the Pilot Certificate within 3–5 months.For a person who is not the holder of a valid pilot licence, RA-Aus regulations require a minimum 20 hours general flying training, including a minimum of 5 hours flying as pilot in command, i.e. solo, before the Pilot Certificate flight test and if this minimum was achieved then the total flying costs would be around A$2500 to A$3500 including the Australian Goods & Services Tax. (The FTFs charge from $125 to perhaps $175 per flight hour depending on the type of aircraft employed.) But the typical student time is 15–20 hours flying with an instructor and 8–10 hours flying alone and, like learning to drive, a few students will take a lot longer to achieve a satisfactory competency level in all the required training sequences. The costs you will incur depend chiefly on flight hours and the aircraft type flown. Check the flight training facilities [PDF file] for the FTFs near you, or near where you plan to take a vacation. Accessing the flight school web address may provide comparative information on rates for their types of training aircraft. Instead of charging an hourly rate, some FTFs may offer a fixed-price package, or a package negotiated to fit your needs, which you should assess carefully — bearing in mind the range of qualification times mentioned in the preceding paragraph. There will also be out-of-pocket expenses for purchase of study manuals and navigation materials. Perhaps you should also consider purchasing your own helmet and communications headset early in your training period. In this guide we have included the text of a brochure issued to prospective clients by a flight training facility. You should read this document, which rightly points out that when selecting a flight school, there are aspects other than fees to be considered. Advice is given on setting goals, picking aircraft types to train in, getting started, selecting a school and hints on how training actually happens. Not particularly highlighted in the brochure is the need for the student to be happy with the instructor's personality and training style — not easy to assess on initial contact. The training should reinforce your view that your decision to learn to fly is a wise one and not be a de-motivating experience. Expect value in return for your expenditure — if you are not happy with the customer service provided by the FTF, inform the CFI of your needs; if you are still dissatisfied, take your custom to another school. It is also important that the student takes responsibility for their own learning and, with that in mind, we have included a document, titled "Flight instruction — a student's viewpoint", written by Dr Carol Richards, a recreational aviation enthusiast and RA-Aus board member who also happens to be a senior lecturer in education at the University of Newcastle, Australia. 1.7 Costs charged by Recreational Aviation AustraliaBefore you can be issued with an RA-Aus Student Pilot Certificate or Pilot Certificate you must be a member of Recreational Aviation Australia and carry the third party legal liability insurance protection. This has been arranged by RA-Aus to cover members for damage to other people's property or person.RA-Aus fees remained unaltered from 1997 to 2006, due to the cost containment practices of an efficient and effective office staff and the amortisation of the costs over a growing membership base. However, in October 2006 the association found it necessary to make a general fee increase. The current cost schedule, including GST, is:
1.8 Airfield security IDAn aviation security identification card [ASIC] must be worn by all persons who need access to the secure parts of some Australian aerodromes. A flight school will advise if students need an ASIC and the RA-Aus staff will handle an ASIC application. The RA-Aus fee for this members-only service is $160, which includes the service charges from the various police, security authorities and the card manufacturer. Read this ASIC document for more information, including a list of the airfields affected. You can also download the application forms from that page.1.9 After you get your Pilot CertificateMost pilots do not buy their own ultralight initially but prefer to join a club where members can hire a club aircraft, usually paying a flight time hourly charge. One thing about joining a club, you will be well entertained when the members get together to swap tall stories! There are quite a number of ultralight clubs in Australia but they normally tend to focus on one ultralight aircraft group — 3-axis, trikes or powered 'chutes. Your initial RA-Aus Pilot Certificate usually covers only that aircraft group in which you qualified.If you wish to extend the category of recreational aircraft that you are qualified to fly you will need further instruction in the chosen group before the endorsement can be added to your Pilot Certificate. You can also add endorsements for formation flying, waterborne/amphibian operations and others — so there is ample potential to spread your wings. We will cover this in the advanced flight training section of this guide. To continue holding an RA-Aus Pilot Certificate you must remain a financial member of RA-Aus, remain medically fit and undertake a biennial ultralight flight review [BFR] with a Senior Instructor or Pilot Examiner. This two-yearly review helps pilots identify any deficiencies in competency which may have developed. See the Operations Manual section 2.07, subsections 4–5. Whether you extend your qualifications or not, you will experience a whole new world of fun with many varied activities within the recreational aviation community. Some of the internet discussion forums may provide rewarding participation. To compare the RA-Aus training program with the general aviation program for their Private Pilot Licence we recommend you visit CASA's flight training page. While there, look at the 'Licence Requirements and Entitlements' section. (Also look at the aviation jargon explained in the 'Glossary of Terms'.) Some Australian-designed aircraft, such as the Jabiru, may be registered as a Recreational Aviation or as a General Aviation aircraft. In fact, many Jabirus are used in flying training organisations from both Recreational Aviation and General Aviation so it is easy to compare the cost of attaining a Private Pilot Licence with that of attaining an RA-Aus Pilot Certificate. It is interesting to note that in September 2004, the United States Federal Aviation Administration introduced their Sport Pilot Certificate which is expected to have a significant beneficial impact on US recreational aviation and the associated aircraft manufacturing industry. The FAA Sport Pilot Certificate appears to be based on the RA-Aus Pilot Certificate — the same driver's licence medical standard, the same minimum dual (15) and solo (5) training hours before qualification, and the same concept of maximum aircraft weights — 600 kg for a landplane, 650 kg for a seaplane ]. 1.10 Procedure for holders of a valid pilot licenceHolders of a valid pilot licence (e.g. PPL, CPL, ATPL) must receive a minimum of five hours exposure to the flight characteristics of very light aeroplanes of a type registerable with RA-Aus, before an RA-Aus Pilot Certificate and endorsements will be issued. For more information read paragraph 2 of the Flight Crew Certificate document in the Operations Manual. Of course, licence holders converting to powered parachutes or weight-shift aircraft will need considerably more than five hours of training.1.11 Airservices Australia — RA-Aus flight training scholarship programThe aims of the Airservices Australia/RA-Aus joint scholarship program are to:
For more infomation visit the GYFTS page. |
| LEARNING TO FLY GUIDE The next section provides a brief outline of the RA-Aus training organisation. |
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