mike_perth

When I say I was feeling ripped off I really mean in the difference between the 20 odd hour minimum (Im only guessing I don't know the minimum RAA hours) and the CASA minimum of 40 hours (and me taking 5 hours more than the minimum to get my PPL) and Yes I did my PPL at Jandakot so had plenty of controlled air space, long waits on the ground at times and dealing with high traffic volumes so maybe some of my extra time can be attributed to that. Now with the RPL I think my journey would be different as the 1500kg limit doesn't concern me as I mostly fly C172/PA28 so if I was starting my training again today that would be my pathway as it gives me all I need and would be a cheaper journey (not that Id think I could afford doing a RPL at today's dual rates - but thats another story!)

Its refreshing to read a true account of this process - it is often said around town that this process is quick and easy and that the standard of training is very similar and in only a few hours you'll have your RAA to PPL conversion complete, but for me it begs the question why did it take me slightly over 45 hours of training compared to the 20 odd in RAA license process - I often thought maybe I had been ripped off getting a PPL - maybe not!

I regularly fly from YMUL and it shares frequency with YSEN and it can be difficult at times when everyone is out flying, but I still have to say the biggest issue I have is the relaxed nature of some comms and the complete disregard to standard radio calls. In the last 2 weeks I have had to ask 3 times if the station calling was at YMUL or YSEN (every time they were at YSEN) which to add to confusion has the exact same runway directions. I don't feel it is any more difficult to use the correct phrases or to include the airfield you are operating out of especially when you are on the same CTAF as a field that is so close and has the same characteristics - there is no excuse - In my opinion this only degrades my situational awareness as I feel like i'm thinking about traffic that isn't even at the same field!

No problem - I have children and understand the need to get permission so feel free to discuss with your parents - they are more than welcome to come down and meet me etc. I fly either a Cessna 152, 172 or sometimes a Piper Warrior PA28 - just depends on the day and which aircraft are available from the club. I mostly fly from Murrayfield near Mandurah but sometimes from Jandakot.

Hi and Welcome to the forum. I see your in Perth - if your keen on a fly sometime keep an eye out on the Perth Pilots Facebook page (become a member if your not already its a good page) as I often(ish) put a post on there when I have a spare seat for someone to come flying (my profile pic here is the same as Facebook. Have fun

Hi Tyson I wouldn't put myself quite into your boat I fly around 20 hours a year, sometimes more but I do consider myself to be an infrequent pilot. I hold a PPL and go through the flight review process every 2 years (I don't know if you have this same process under RAA). I found this is good motivation for me to keep my skills sharp and I ensure that some of my flying is purely for fun and some of my flying is about skills. I like to use the pilots license is a license to learn line - your always learning and I don't think anyone can tell you how much you need to fly but its important your comfortable within your currency to fly. I also like to keep my radio skills sharp by making calls when i'm driving my car - I find this is one of the first thing that lacks in my flying and if i'm well rehearsed I don't get flustered making calls and it doesn't get a chance to distract me nor am I critical of myself for making sloppy radio calls. Safe Flying

I've been to two CASA info sessions for pilots in Jandakot and I think they both were of value to me and I will go again when they are back in town. I'm happy to pay whatever it is I pay to them in the course of keeling my license valid and for them to spend some of thatvmobey attending airshows and the like...they are helping to keep us all safe.

Ill just be the plus one for the android tablet. Over the weekend I ran both the ipad version and the Android to compare features - as a PPL pilot I don't think there was anything on the iPad version I missed on the Android version. The wind from forecast is nice in the plan (which android doesn't seem to do) but it really didn't take long to enter manually - and it had the added bonus of forcing me to interpret and read the forecast - I don't see this as a bad thing at all. The Samsung Tab A 7.0 suits my needs and its cheap at $169 from Officeworks (with GPS etc)

Well I think the answer here is...don't go to the medical "on your company dollars" go at a time you are relaxed/comfortable and not preoccupied...like the time you clearly make to actually go flying. To me that would make much more sense - we all know these DAME visits are rarely cheap - like an important meeting with a high profile client, I wouldn't walk in distracted/stressed or under prepared I want to display myself at my best not my worst...a bit like how Id feel walking in to see my DAME.

Couldn't agree more roundsounds - this is something Im hoping your instructor will give you guidance from and maybe even suggest some good airfields to divert to along your track - and leaving the diversion point and choice of field up to you. The marked 10 mile pencil is also a good one - Mine lives in my kneeboard to this day even tho I more often than not use Ozrunways (Still carry paper but may be slightly out of date due Ozrunways)

I would suggest starting small and building up - 2 x 1 hours per day max for the early training and maybe increasing in time as you approach solo as you will be less saturated with learing and more focused on perfecting. As mentioned above spaced retention is a real and well studied so having breaks is important. Lots of your learning will be done whilst thinking about what went right/wrong today and how you could/should/would have fixed things that occurred. I think for every hour in the air you probably (or at least should if you have time) spend at least as much time thinking about it/replaying it in your head. Good luck and enjoy!

Do it NOW - go for a trial flight - there are lots of good schools in WA Join the Perth Pilots Facebook page if you haven't already (assuming you have facebook - I have an account Ive only setup to join these types of pages) and keep an eye out for offers of a free ride in an aircraft (I usually have a spare seat one a month or so) and get out and immerse yourself in the joy of flight! Good luck and enjoy!

I am not advocating the use of or removing the onus on the pilot in command to do their own weight and balance calculations but I fly an aircraft from a club and they have made available a weight and balance for the aircraft in a very handy self calculating excel spreadhseet - its available at the following page - Flight Manuals – Curtin Flying Club the one you'll want is the weight and balance excel As mentioned above and in the spreadsheet it is the pilots responsibility to ensure the data is correct and the weight and balance is calculated as per the POH but I find this is a good tool to assist me in my flight planning

The 172S (marketed at the 172SP) is 180hp (From factory) the 172R that preceded it is 160hp - the R model has a lower MTOW than the S version by around 50kg from memory. I frequently fly the 172SP 4 up - but it has to be short flights as you really cant carry much fuel (if you are all slight builds then 90ltrs is usually max fuel to give you around 1.2 hours with appropriate VFR reserves)

Ah awesome Craig I also fly from there (I have my PPL) though currently I do most of my flying from Murrayfield to keep the costs down a bit but do my hangar flying at Jandakot and drink lots of Muzz Buzz coffee watching the goings on!