Licences
Private Pilot Licence - Pilot training
The Private Pilot's Licence allows you to fly solo anywhere in Australia in visual daylight flying conditions (VMC - Visual Meteorological Conditions) with passengers. The PPL opens your way to many happy hours of flying - whether they be scenic flights over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, outback trips to Ayres Rock or fishing trips to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Obtaining a PPL is a significant achievement for a pilot. During pilot training you will be competent in general flying handling skills, flight planning, weather forecast interpretation, and cross-country navigation.
Before achieving a PPL, you will have flown one solo as well as completed the General Flying Progress Test (GFPT).
In addition to the minimum 20 hours required for the GFPT, a further minimum of 20 hours must be flown to qualify for a PPL, of which 5 hours is Pilot-in-Command flying.
Although CASA requires a minimum of 40 hoursof pilot training, almost every pilot will require more hours. Why? Factors influencing how may hours required to become a pilot include:
- Pilot skill
- The frequency of flying - every day or once a fortnight?
- Where you conduct your training may determine how much you can achieve in each 1 hour
A PPL will take approximately 25 hours to complete - this includes both dual training and solo navigation and general flying exercises. These times are in addition to those required for the GFPT.
To acquire a PPL you must be at least 17 years of age, pass your theory exam and pass a flight test with our Approved Testing Officer.
General Flying Progress Test - GFPT
The GFPT (formerly known as the Restricted Pilot's Licence) is the first official recognition of your flying skills.
Holding a GFPT will permit you to fly solo with passengers within the Sydney Training Area, which extends south to Picton, west to the Burragorang and Warragamba areas, and north to Prospect Pipeline and Resevoir.
We recommend the Citabria as your basic pilot training aircraft. The Citabria is a two-seat (tandem) tailwheel aircraft that will teach you excellent stick and rudder techniques.
Alternatively, you may choose the Piper Warrior, a four seat nose-wheel aircraft. If you continue to the Private Pilot's Licence level, you will also use this aircraft for your navigation training.
The GFPT is broken into two modules:
Module one - First Solo flight
This module provides you with instruction necessary to enable you to take your first solo flight.
This module teaches you the basics of flying. You will be confident in flying straight and level, climbing, descending and turning, not to mention the all important take-off and landing.
This module comprises the following: -
The Medical - Before a Student Pilot Licence may be issued, you must be certified medically fit to fly by an Aviation Medical Examiner. We can provide you with contact details of your local Medical Examiner.
Flight Training Manual - This important book outlines the fundamentals of flying an aeroplane and operating its systems. It also introduces the principles of navigation.
Briefings - Your flying instructor will provide personal tuition before and after each flight to introduce and reinforce concepts and answer any questions you may have.
Flying Training - This is the FUN part. Many students are able to fly solo after approximately 15 hours of pilot training and instruction.
Logbook - Every flight must be recorded in your personal logbook.
Module 2 - The Recreational Licence
Achieving a Recreational Licence involves passing the General Flying Progress Test (GFPT) following approximately 18 hours further training.
Advanced training in module 2 includes:
- Short Field take-offs and landings
- Crosswind Circuits
- Basic Instrument Flying
- Practiced Forced Landings
- Training Area Familiarisation
Training Area Solo pilot training
The highlight of this training module is taking to the skies on your own
into the Training Area! You may now explore an area bounded by Lake
Burragorang, Warragamba Dam, Prospect and the Thirlmere Lakes near Picton.
Basic Aeronautical Knowledge - BAK
Before taking the GFPT check flight, you will need to complete some simple
aeronautical and air-law theory, commonly known as BAK. It covers basic
aircraft systems, aerodynamics, aircraft performance and rules of the air.
The GFPT!
Now you are ready to pass the GFPT. Once completed, you may take your own
passengers to the training area!
Commercial Pilot Licence - (200 hour course)
Pilots who have already flown 200 or more hours privately may one day wish to convert their pilot licence to that of a Commercial Pilot. They may then enjoy both privileges of flying commercially, ie, for reward.
To do so, we recommend a visit to Curtis Aviation such that we may inspect your log book and fly with you. We will then put together a programme to ensure you will be at the standard to pass the Commercial Flight Test. This may constitute only a few hours of flying if you already fly regularly to a high standard, or possibly a more thorough programme, for example, to build Instrument Flying time to the required 10 hours.
Note also, you will need to pass the CPL Theory Exams set by CASA before undertaking the Commercial Flight Test.
Commercial Pilot Licence - (day only)
The Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane (CPL-A) 150-hour integrated course is offered by Curtis Aviation by approval of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Although the standard requirement for the issue of a CPL-A is 200 hours, the close supervision and integrated nature of our syllabus permits the training to be completed in a minimum of 150 hours.
Progression through the earlier stages of the course is identical to the GFPT and PPL-A courses, after which you will undertake more advanced air navigation exercises including simulated charters.
Left: Our two Eagle 150s rounding Cape York
The highlight of the Commercial Licence Course is the requirement to accrue at least 70 hours as pilot-in-command and we highly recommend you consider conducting a trip around Australia as part of your course. Not only will you have a fantastic experience, your flying will be quite varied compared with flying in and out of the same home base for each flight.
A trip around Australia may be conducted by yourself or as part of a group on one of our regular flyaways.
The aircraft available to complete your Commercial Course include:
- Piper Dakota 236
- Cessna 182
- Victa Airtourer
- Maule MX-7
- Cessna 180
Completing your pilot training in a tailwheel aircraft will certainly differentiate you as a new Commercial Pilot.
Before undertaking your Commercial Flight Test you will need to hold theory passes in the 7 subject areas examined by CASA. They are:
- Aerodynamics
- Aircraft General Knowledge
- Aeroplane Performance and Operations
- Navigation and Flight Planning
- Meteorology
- Air Law
- Human Performance and Limitations (Human Factors)
CASA now examines by way of CyberExams, with each subject area examined individually. Click for more information regarding CyberExams.
Total minimum hours accrued for the Commercial Licence will be 150 hours, of which 70 are in command, 20 of which are navigation as pilot-in-command and 10 total hours of instrument flying.
This Day course prepares you for the Commercial Pilot's Licence endorsed to fly single-engined aircraft less than 5700kg in daylight visual conditions.
Career opportunities exist in charter and joyflights and freight charter. Alternatively, you may seek to undertake a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating, a Night VFR Rating or an Instructor Rating to further your qualifications.
Commercial Pilot Licence - (with night rating)
Although similar to the CPL-A Day course, this 150-hour integrated pilot training course incorporates Night Flying into the syllabus.
Maule VH-MXS preparing for night flight at Emerald, Qld
Incorporating Night Flying into your flying training is particularly important should you be considering a Command Instrument Rating or a Flight Instructor Rating.
Left: Maule MXS short finals just before dusk - Elliot, NT
As opposed to the Day VFR course, some of your navigation exercises and training will be conducted at night.
As part of the 150 hours required for the Commercial Licence, approxmiately 15 hours will be flown at night.
For further details of the course, see CPL-A - Day VFR Course
Commercial Pilot Licence - (with multi-engine command instrument rating)
This course is commonly taken by those pilots commencing their flying training with a view to one day entering the airlines.
Curtis Aviation Instructors have long trained commercial pilots that have entered service with QANTAS, the former Ansett Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and many other internationally renowned carriers. These pilots all enjoyed multi-engine endorsements and Command Instrument Ratings in addition to their Commercial Pilot's Licence qualifications.
This course includes the 150-hour commercial syllabus with a multi-engine endorsement, as well as a Command Instrument Rating.