johncarlo

Unless I've misunderstood your question, a lot of the schools that advertise for the RPC only would be because they are RA-AUS Flight Training Facilities and don't hold the authentications from CASA to provide RPL (thus PPL and CPL) training.It's not about hours but competency, in regards to flight schools signing you off, CASA count the hours for minimum required.

Unless I've misunderstood your question, a lot of the schools that advertise for the RPC only would be because they are RA-AUS Flight Training Facilities and don't hold the authentications from CASA to provide RPL (thus PPL and CPL) training.It's not about hours but competency, in regards to flight schools signing you off, CASA count the hours for minimum required.

Not sure if this has already been posted but I found this comprehensive list of Oz flying schools really handy...

http://www.aeroclub.com.au/directory/flying-schools-training

Not sure if this has already been posted but I found this comprehensive list of Oz flying schools really handy...

http://www.aeroclub.com.au/directory/flying-schools-training

Been browsing many flight schools and most of them are solely promoting the RPC. Does that mean RA-AUS have declining memberships of new students? Is there a financial incentive for schools to be promoting the RPL over the RPC or am I missing something in my understanding, as they're still two separate options right?

Ps. I'm looking for a school to do my PPL in Sydney, who will recognise my RPC hours.

Been browsing many flight schools and most of them are solely promoting the RPC. Does that mean RA-AUS have declining memberships of new students? Is there a financial incentive for schools to be promoting the RPL over the RPC or am I missing something in my understanding, as they're still two separate options right?

Ps. I'm looking for a school to do my PPL in Sydney, who will recognise my RPC hours.

Thanks for sharing! I was actually at the field that day when it happened and it is good to know the full story. As a very new pilot all these stories are invaluable in helping to learn from other peoples' mistakes. As an example, two things have been reinforced with me this week:1. No low flying

2. Try to land without braking and where you do need to brake, make sure it is gentle and gradual

But all the best with your flying, I'll see you around!

Or landing on Tarmac. Nev

Are you referring to post #1. It has all the hallmarks of being a Jab LSA55 + actually a great little plane to fly. John Carlo must have muscles like a gorrilla to get it to lock up.Gentleness in all is the success of life.

Correct again! I do have muscles of a gorilla! I skinny gorilla who hasn't been to the gym in a year!

I've had my RPC for 12 months and recently started flying again after being offline due to major surgery. 1st time was with previous Instructor to make sure I remembered everything, and all went well. Did 2nd circuits a few weeks later, then did my 3rd 2 weeks ago. As I landed full stop and hit the ground, for some reason I pulled the brake full immediately, not gradually. The plane skidded beyond any controlling for about 70m into the long grass (the skid marks were somewhat like a "candy cane" shape for visual). Thankfully no damage as the long grass caught the wheels and stopped the plane before reaching any of the wire fencing a few metres away. If I had been on the other runway, I would have most certainly crashed into the parked planes which were in the same side I stopped but on the other runway (phew). My instructor got a bit annoyed (his plane) but saw there was no damage. I was so embarrassed. I also hurt my left chest as my instinct during the skid was to pull harder on the brake, so I reached across with my left hand to help my right hand pull the brake in the centre console - and with a seatbelt on I strained my chest with that reach across. I still don't know why I pulled the brake so hard, it was such a smooth, no crosswind, early runway landing. It's like driving a car, you don't go from 100km/hr and pull the handbrakes. Silly me.

My instructor has a hanger there and I did some training there. There can be a very strong wind corridor because of the terrain and trees.

Just received my RPL in the mail from CASA my paperwork was signed off and sent to CASA on the 17th April and I received it in the mail today 18th May so just 4 weeks in total including delivery to CASA and receiving in the mail here.

Sydney Flying Club (Schofields) at Bankstown Airport is a good school. 02 9709 8488, www.sfcaero.com.au . You could qualify for RPL in a similar plane to your RAA mount but if it is your intention to fly bigger aircraft, like a Piper Warrior,, PA28, then you should consider doing your RPL training one of those aircraft. Having an aircraft with a DI and an AI will also make your instrument flying training more accurate.

Is there any benefit converting? I understand they're identical? RPL came to effect 1 September last year.

Does the RPL carry greater weight if wanting to acquire PPL?

And any advice on best approach or good school in wider Sydney area for RPC to PPL route? Main consideration is quickest conversion possible. I learnt to fly at The Oaks.

Thank you friends. Good morning.

Hi friends, I just want to share that I completed my first solo flight yesterday! I was taught by John Taru from The Oaks and he's been great. First time up by myself actually had less fanfare than I expected. I thought I would have "first love" type feelings but no, I just did what I had learnt and landed and that was it. Was a great feeling nevertheless and a real sense of achievement. Can't wait for my next solo flight this weekend, maybe I should try some acrobatics. NOT!!! :)

So I need to make a final decision today on which school to go with... I've decided to go the RAA route and complete any PPL gaps should I go PPL later on.

Anyone here had experience with Dave at Dave's Flying School? He seems really friendly and right now, keen on the cheapest price. He charges $150 dual.

Thoughts?

Ok this is more of a silly one... but what's a nice watch to buy, maybe with an altimeter? I've been looking for a watch for some time now but since I'm also starting to fly, I wonder if there's a good watch to buy to compliment... SUPERFICIAL but keen.

You mean clearprop.com.au? The server is down :(

Re the logbooks, the technical part of my question is that is there a "favoured" one in the airline industry that will have an advantage? I've never seen any of them before in my hand so not sure if one has missing columns vs another which may be critical... Only cos I notice the Jeppesen one is American, not Australian?

I'm probably making a fuss over nothing.

Well I had my TIF on Saturday with Curtis and it was... easy?? All I was doing was moving a stick up-down-left-right, oh, and adjusting throttle... I guess I can't wait to actually start learning and mastering a plane. The instructor kept telling me to stop looking at the instrument panel and just look outside - I guess I didn't know my horizontal plane and kept sticking the nose up, and climbing obviously. I freaked out when he pulled the nose down and we dived for a moment. He had a great sense of humour. He even throttled down the plane and THAT freaked me out cos instictively I thought the plane would stall. Ah I'm such a silly newbie.

Anyway I had a good chat with Dave from Gostner and I'm going to go with his school. I still have to decide with RAA or PPL, but by the sounds of it, PPL would end up same cost relatively as RAA is also $220 in a VH plane.

I actually mixed up my appointment yesterday and went to The Oakes to see a nother Dave instead, and he wasn't there. Ended up having a good chat with Carl. Later that night Dave from Gostner called me and asked where I was and the mix up was revealed. Great guy he is.

I'm looking forward to learning this craft. This air-craft!

Hi, I'm a Just Landed and I want to buy my Pilot Logbook. Does it matter which one I buy?

Options:

Pilot Logbook - Aviation Theory Centre

Pilot Logbook - Air Services Australia

JEPPESEN PILOT LOGBOOK

JEPPESEN PROFESSIONAL PILOT LOGBOOK

Thanks guys for your generous input and encouragement. I look forward to the TIF tomorrow (apparently Curtis use a more "manual" plane using stick and rudder vs the more automatic sort) so it should be fun. I'll report back on Monday!

Wow thanks for all that info. I am indeed single and no commitments whatsoever. I could move and live as a 20 yr old quite easily.

I guess I have to put on my thinking cap and really think about what I want to do. My first goal is to learn to fly, so that's a tick already. Whether I go for a career change... I don't know if I want to take a pay cut for many years. I will want to find a girl and get married in the next few years.

But wow, an aircraft only costs $50K??

There was an article in the Sydney Morning Herald last week that some pilots earn $500K p.a.! I suppose they're the 747/A380 pilots.

Realistically, if I offered myself 8 years of flying study, could I be a commercial pilot by 40 and earn an average income of $100K?

I got behind the Darling Harbour flight simulator last week and it was fun but a little underwhelming as the real pilot did most of the work. But I'm doing my first TIF tomorrow with Curtis and hopefully attain some licence to fly a plane eventually, my lifelong dream!

Question, am I too old for this? What if I want to become a commercial pilot? (I'm currently a professional at one of the big 4 banks - yes, looking for a career change). What are your thoughts and feedback? Earning capacity? I'm sure I'll be learning as I go, but real excited to start this adventure!