GAFA

Thanks for the quick reply.

Do they come with toe brakes or are the brakes operated by a handle?

VUG was in a standard holding patern for BNE, which just happens to be near the search area. Aerorescue currently have the Dornier 328 PPG based at BNE. I believe the crew are required to be at the airport during daylight hours, so they can be airborne ASAP, so perhaps that aircraft went TECH.

After many months of looking around I did my my first flight in a LSA, the C162 Skycatcher. It has been 14 years since a flew any single engine aircraft, but it was fun. The C162 was a nice aircraft to fly and the Garmin G300 was really easy to read and use and contains just as much information as the Regional Jet I normally fly. The aircraft is very pitchie, and for take off you only need to move the stick slightly (about 5mm of travel) aft and it leaps offthe runway and climbs away better than the C152, C172 and the Piper types I flew as an instructor many years ago. Visibility was great ( other than the usual issues with high wings), it was nice to fly along at 90KIAS and enjoy the view. With 2 of us on board and around 80 lts of fuel on and 26 deg 0AT the aircraft averaged a ROC of 1100fpm at 70 kts, and pulling back to 55 we were going up at 2000fpm. After some upper Airwork, where it flew just like a C152, other than the glide approach( which was far better in the Slycatcher), it was back to do some CCTs. Even with the 20 knots blowing in the CCT the aircraft was easy to handle and although my first flare was a little high(I'm use to flaring at 5O knots, it was easy to land. After another 2 CCTs the instructor was happy that I was safe to fly the aircraft on my own. The C162 is VH rego, so my plan is to get the 5 hours up this machine and then convert my ATPl over to RAA. Once I have the RAA my plan is go have a go of the Pipersport, Sportstar and the Texan. I'm now hooked on LSA's

Once flew a Fokker100 VFR at 1500' from Bundy back to Brisbane.

Just did a quick search on hire rates in the USA and they are still far cheaper (in same cases half the price) of what they are here. Most C150/152's are $70-90 private hire and 172's are $90-120. Dual rates for most 2-4 seat aircraft are $120-$190.

When I was an instructor in the early 90's Dual rates for a 152 or PA38 were $100 per hour and private hire was $60-70.

There are two schools at Gympie who do have dual rates just under $200. The prices I posted on page 1 were from schools at Redcliffe, Caboolture and Caloundra as these airports also have GA flying schools and the RA schools have to complete with them. And if you look at the price of learning to fly and private hire using the Tecnam at Redcliffe Aeroclub, against any of the RA schools there isn't much in. motzartmerv, I do have a leased car and need to do k's per year so traveling isn't a problem.

Yep prices are correct. If you look further out such as Gympie dual prices are around the $200 mark. Thanks for answering the instructor rating question, that's my aim for later this year. Perhaps you could set up a satellite operation to your school in SE QLD and I could be one of your instructors :-)

I must say I'm impressed with the amount of manuals ie POH's available on the net, either via manufactures web sites or flying schools in the USA. I now have an iPad full of LSA manuals. Over the last week I've sent out some emails to schools asking similar questions to the above. From the replies I've received some schools really need to work a lot harder if they want to get more people through the door at their schools. When I was a junior instructor at BK, I would go out of may way to answer and help anyone who walked through the door and was considering learning to fly. Some of the replies were one liners saying all the information as on their web site or see the RA-Aus web site, to me that doesn't show a flying school that looks after it's students. However I did get some good replies, with the best coming from a school in Gympie. The reply is that good I will drive the 2 hours and check it out. Once again thanks for all the replies. If anyone has a any tips/ advice on flying the Sportstar or the Texan please pass them on. Cheers GAFA

Thanks Wayne, Just found a school at Gympie who operates the Sportstars and their rates are cheaper than Redcliffe. Any comments from pilots who have flown the Sportstar or Texan on what they think it them? I see the Texan has a brake lever rather than toe brakes, does it take long to get used to it after flying aircraft fitted with toe brakes?

Once again thanks for all the info. Regading cost's the research I've done on the Flying Schools at Redcliffe, Caboolture and Caloundra there has been little difference between GA and RA. For example; Redcliffe Aero Club (GA) Tecnam P2008 Dual $250 Private $150 Freeflying Redcliffe (RAA) Sportstar Dual $225 Private $162 Redcliffe Flight Training (RAA and GA) Tecnam P92 Dual $253 Private $154 Freeflying Caloundra (RAA) Texan Dual $210 Private $150 GoFly Caboolture (RAA) Texan Dual $228 Private $158 P92 Dual $218 Private $148 CTSW Dual $228 Private $158 FDMC Dual 228 Private $158 So in general the private hire rate of the GA registered glass cockpit P2008 at the Redcliffe Aeroclub is the cheapest in the area. However I do like the look of the Sportstar and the Texan and wouldn't mind having a go flying them. Does anyone else operator the Sportstar in SE Qld?

Thanks for the replies so far. Tomo, Section 2.07 Para 2 C states; if holding a current PPL or higher licence, have completed such dual training in a low performance recreational aircraft as is deemed necessary by a CFI and, in any case shall have not less than 5 hours flying experience in a low performance recreational aircraft which shall include a minimum of one hour solo. And the note at the end states; Note: For the purpose of para c. above, experience in GA aircraft may be counted towards the 5 hours (up to the full amount), provided the experience was gained in a recreational aircraft type which may be registered on either the RA-Aus or the VH register, e.g. Jabiru, Gazelle, Skyfox, Lightwing as recognised by the RA-Aus Operations Manager or their delegate. So how I read it is GA aircraft time ie VH registered does count for the full 5 hours if that type can be registered either VH or RA-Aus. So if I was to go and fly the VH registered P92 at Redcliffe Flight Training or the VH registered P2008 at the Aeroclub that time would count torwards the 5 hours as those type can be RA or VH registered. Cheers GAFA

Hi all, I'm a current airline pilot thinking about joining the RA ranks and have the following questions. 1. Has anyone done any training or flown at Freeflying / Adventure Flights at Redcliffe, Redcliffe Flight Training or Freeflying Caloundra? If so any comments good or bad about the schools and the aircraft types used? 2. Reading the RA-AUS ops manual because I have prior flying hours I only need 5 hours in RA aircraft or GA aircraft that could be RA registered. So if I was to do 5 hours in a Tecnam on the VH register (both Redcliffe Aeroclub and Redcliffe Flight training have Tecnam's VH registered) what additional training would I need to qualify for the RA pilot certificate? 3. Would all my ATPL privileges ie pax carrying, cross country etc automatically carry over to the RA pilot certificate? 4. I hold an expired Grade 2 instructor rating, with around 800 hours as an instructor mostly in C152's and PA38's. I've also held CASA check and training approval on turboprops and currently a training captain on jets. What training would be required to gain an RA Instructor rating? 5. Any recommendations for other schools on the north side of Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast? Thanks in advance GAFA

Hi All, Thinking about converting my ATPL over to RA and was wondering if anyone has done any training with them? I live very close to Redcliffe airport hence I'm looking at schools based there. Cheers GAFA