Hi all,

[bbbflash]

Well, I am no pilot... yet, but it is a long term goal of mine. My wife only rolled her eyes when I told her my plan... but she didn't say no, so I guess that's a start!!! We live on the east coast of Australia. It would be a great was to see this amazing and big country. Long term plan is to someday fly over to NZ. Dream big and step by step I say.

 

My dad and brother in law are pilots, so there is the connection to aviation. Look forward to starting my research into getting licence and starting the adventure. Cheers, Bobby.

 

 

[Nightmare]

Hi and welcome Bobby!

 

You have a good approach to obtaining your dream, and getting your pilot's certificate or license. It is a slow and steady process, step, by step as you say. Plug away at it one lesson at a time and before you know it you'll find yourself at 6500ft in a plane all on your own, saying to yourself, "does it get better than this?"

 

Have you contacted a flying school in your area yet?

 

 

[bbbflash]

Yes, through email and Facebook, but being a regional airport, they must not get checked often. I know that there is a lot of training both theory and practical hands on, so really looking into the costs now. I have researched average costs on websites. Feaseable, but I just bought and moved into our first house so may be out of the picture at the moment. I still have some research to do.

 

 

[Nightmare]

Yes, through email and Facebook, but being a regional airport, they must not get checked often. I know that there is a lot of training both theory and practical hands on, so really looking into the costs now. I have researched average costs on websites. Feaseable, but I just bought and moved into our first house so may be out of the picture at the moment. I still have some research to do.

If you go RAAus, you'll need to pass 5 theory exams throughout the course of your training, and complete at least 20 hours of flight training, but realistically expect to be doing a little over 30 hours, it is competency based so the CFI will sign you off when you are ready. Hourly flight training rates are typically between $200 to $300 per hour. Your school will probably recommend you purchase a pilot kit, which should include your text books you'll need, and maybe a pilot log book, or at least tell you what you will need and where to get it. They will also want to get you to get your Student Pilot Certificate, about $240, within the first month of you starting your training.Your first step would typically be a trial introductory flight. Your instructor will take you up for fly, and hand you the controls for parts of it. I would recommend you then schedule 1 hour long lessons at rather regular intervals, like every one, two, three, or four weeks, or as your finances allow. Just bear in mind that if you leave your lessons too far apart, you tend to be playing catch up a bit, so in the long run you may take a little longer to get through it.

 

I kicked off my training May 2015 and earned my RPC in Feb 2016, so I think my advice may still be relevant.