Squizzyhunter

Well up this way (SE QLD) it around $220-$250 average for the schools that come up in searches.... also a lot of the ones recommended here are in that bracket. Mainly Jabs and foxbats..... and the occasional Tecnam. As stated $ is a very crude metric but still needs to be taken into consideration

Fantastic post mate! I really do appreciate that. I really do know from my professional background that I will be asking all the wrong questions and just really dont know what I just dont know yet. I am going in blind so find it hard to assess the real value because of it. I have had glowing reports of guys that charge $150 and a lot of recommendations for the $250 plus guys. I think it will just be trial and error from here on in, as with you I usually assess by the generalised approach and perceived attention to detail, as I know nothing I would think I was getting a meticulous education regardless, as I don't have a decent benchmark or gold standard. I am happy that I have asked the wrong questions (sorry for the frustration though guys) as economics is still one facet of real value (especially trying to justify it to my finance minister) . As stated I dont know what I dont know so am starting with a familiar benchmark($) as didn't want to pay 75% more just for a shiny plane and decent marketing (seems to happen in all professions). In getting that out of the way I can move towards assessing other perhaps more important facets such as institutionalised safety culture, variety and social aspects. Unfortunately some things can be told and we can hear and and understand them cognitively yet without the experience it is very hard to give certain factors the same weighting as someone that has already been through it..... though I am trying.....it does make a FNG like me consider things that were formerly not even on the radar and I thank you greatly for it :-)

Thanks mate they also look pretty good

Thanks Ill look them up too! Cheers

I have seen many for around $280 and one for $300.... wont mention the school though.

Good form once again Merv :-) So are you with South Coast Recreational Flying Club then?

Thanks Johnm I couldn't agree more

Thanks Dave Ill look into Fly Now as well. Much appreciated

Thanks Dazza! They are on my list to go and check out. Did you also do your training out there?

Hey there motzartmerv, thanks for the input, yes it seems like a mixed bag. I'm happy to pay a "realistic" price, just seeing where people recommend for value. As it looks like I will be travelling regardless, thought I would see what was out there. It has been my experience in other fields that some of the best operations have a low profile and can be hard to find without recommendations.

Thanks rankamateur, I will also track down Bill Grieve. Will look into the Savannahs also.

Cheers David, will do!

Fantastic info David! Very much appreciated. I will definitely go and check them out as its only an hour and 40 for me also. I dont know much about the lightwings apart from coming out of Ballina... the Rotax is an obvious bonus from the Jab 160 though I suppose. My rational for wanting to fly a Jab was that it would be easier to go from a jab to a Foxbat etc.. but a bit harder to go from a foxbat to a Jab. How do the lightwings handle?

Thanks for your response Dodo! Great to hear the the second hand opinions are not too far off the mark. That would be great to find someone of equal calibre up this way but don't mind the drive down there to the Oaks as they sound like good folk.

Hey there guys I have been scouring the forums over the last few months finding info on making my dollars go the further. I do understand that some people do skimp on quality just for low $ per Hr, However I do know that some fairly average operators are charging close to $300 Hr Dual in a Jab. So price does not always indicate quality. There are newbie instructors that charge top dollar as they have a great set up, business model and marketing yet there are some awesome and very experienced instructors that seem to still charge what they did in the early 90s. So PLEASE guys no lectures on you get what you pay for as it swings both ways. What has been the best value RA-AUS trainers you have found (anywhere in Australia) = good instructors and decent hourly rates without paying heaps in hidden extras. I am up on the Gold coast and don't mind travelling as I would camp out of my car for a few weeks to do initial pilots certificate. So far for 2nd hand info the top of my list would be Daves flying school http://www.davesflyingschool.com/about.html They are very cheap ($150 hr dual in a Jab 160) but most importantly I have only heard the utmost praise for the quality of training and for the guys out at the Oaks. There is the Horsham flying club in Vic, Jab $140 Hr Training but have no reports on Training http://www.horshamflyingclub.org.au/lsa_flight_training.htm Any recommendations would be greatly apreciated Cheers