These are FAQ regarding Flight Training

What is the difference between General & Recreational Aviation? Top
To read the difference between General and Recreational Aviation please follow this link.

What is the minimum age to learn to fly? Top
For General Aviation you cannot pilot an aircraft solo until you are 16 years of age. In addition you cannot hold a PPL (Private Pilots Licence) until you are 17 and a CPL (Commercial Pilots Licence) until 18. For

Recreational Aviation, a student pilot certificate will not be issued to students under the age of 14 years and 6 months. We therefore recommend that students do not commence training until they have reached this age. A student pilot cannot fly as pilot-in-command of an ultralight (i.e. solo) until she/he has attained the age of 15 and until an RA-Aus Student Pilot Certificate is issued. Up to three hours dual instruction can be undertaken before applying for a Student Pilot Certificate.

What paperwork is required to apply for a Student Pilot Licence, Aviation Medical and ASIC/AVId? Top
CASA require you to apply for an Aviation Reference Number (ARN), Student Pilot Licence (SPL) & Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) or Aviation Identification Card (AVID).

How long will it take to receive my Student Pilot Licence, Aviation Medical and ASIC/AVID? Top
CASA states an average processing and issuing time of 4 to 6 weeks for initial and renewal applications for ASIC’s and AVID. Be prepared to expect delays in the process because of the high number of applications received by CASA.

If you intend on conducting your flight training full-time, we highly recommend being in possession of all of the documents prior to commencing your flight training. We cannot send your first solo until you have been issued and are in possession of your Student Pilot Licence & Medical.

What class aviation medical do I need? Top
You will need to undertake a Class 2 Medical. This medical standard is applicable to Student Pilot, Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot Balloons and Flight Radio Operator Licences.

Where can I sit an aviation medical? Top
A list of Designated Aviation Medical Doctor’s (DAME’s) can be found here.

What is a General Flying Progress Test (GFPT) and Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Top
The GFPT is an intermediate stage to a PPL using the privileges of your Student Pilot Licence. The GFPT allows a student pilot to fly as pilot in command in the student pilot training area and up to 10nm from the departure aerodrome (subject to approval by an instructor), and to carry passengers in the aircraft type you are endorsed on.

After the completion of the GFPT you can commence your navigation training flights for the PPL. The navigation exercises teach the practical skills and airmanship required for flying safely to distant locations plus management of fuel and flight logs, radio communication and transition through different airspace, control zones, unplanned diversions due to weather etc., and circuits at distant locations with landings on different types of surfaces.

These skills will then be reinforced and consolidated in preparation for the Private Pilot Licence flight test. After passing the PPL Flight Test, you will be issued with the licence which enables you to fly anywhere within Australia, solo or with private passengers in daytime visual meteorological conditions. You will no longer require your instructor’s permission to undertake a flight as pilot in command.

What is the Pilot Certificate and Cross Country/Passenger Carriage Endorsement? Top
The Pilot Certificate allows you to fly within a 25nm radius of your training airport, without passengers in RA Aus registered aircraft that you have trained in. Upon reaching 10 hours flight time as Pilot in Command you can be issued with a Passenger Carriage Endorsement allowing you to carry passengers within the previously mentioned distance and aircraft limitations. After undertaking a navigation training course, consisting of dual and solo cross country flights you will sit a flight test enabling you to fly in command on cross country flights.

What theory exams are associated with the GFPT & PPL training? Top
Prior to undertaking your first solo you are required to sit and pass a First Solo Exam. Following this, you are then required to sit and pass a First Area Solo Exam, prior to flying solo in the training area.

Before completing your GFPT you are required to sit and pass a Basic Aeronautical Exam. Before completing your PPL you are required to sit an pass a Radio Theory Exam and the CASA PPL(A) computer based exam.

All of our exams are conducted at our premises.

What theory exams are associated with the Pilot Certificate & Cross Country Endorsement? Top
Prior to undertaking your first solo flight you are required to sit and pass a First Solo exam. Prior to undertaking your Pilot Certificate flight test, you are required to sit and pass Air Legislation, Basic Aeronautical Knowledge, Radio and Human Factors theory exams. The navigation/meteorology exam is required to be sat and passed prior to your Cross Country endorsement flight test.

All of our exams are conducted at our premises.

Where can I study the theoretical aspect of flight training? Top
Learning to fly isn’t all about the joys of flying an aircraft, there is a theory component of the training. If you find that you cannot concentrate at home (i.e children, siblings, pets, loud music etc), we welcome you to utilise our club rooms for your studying requirements. Our club rooms are modern & comfortable with air conditioning/heating and full kitchen facilities. We have a library of all the text documents you require as well as 3 full-time instructors to answer your questions.

I commenced flight training elsewhere, can I continue with the Bunbury Aero Club? Top
You can continue your training with the Bunbury Aero Club. We will request your flight training records from your previous flight school, and refer to your log book for your training history.

How many instructors will I have during my flight training? Top
The Bunbury Aero Club have 3 full-time instructors. We aim to allocate you one instructor however; on occasion this is not possible. Our instructors teach to the same syllabus and standards and as such, should you be required to fly with someone other than your main instructor, you will receive the same high level of education from each of them.

How often should I conduct a flight lesson? Top
There are no minimum requirements to how often a lesson is to be conducted. Your availability, budget and how soon you wish to complete your licence will be the deciding factors in how often your undertake a flight lesson. Having said there is no set minimum to how often you go, we do suggest at least once per fortnight, otherwise you may find that you end up conducting more flight training revision than learning new sequences.

How much will a Private Pilot Licence or Pilot Certificate cost me? Top
There are so many variants involved in flight training that it is impossible to quote you the exact cost of gaining your Private Pilot Licence or Pilot Certificate.

Based on our prices, and the average hours (not minimum) that it takes a student to gain their licence we can say that the approximate cost of attaining a PPL using our training aircraft is $20,500. The approximate cost of attaining a Pilot Certificate (Including Passenger Carriage & Cross Country endorsement) is $14,500.

Obviously training in your own aircraft drastically reduces the cost.

Remember, this is not an up-front cost, as we operate on a pay-as-you-fly basis, but more so a quote from your very first flight, right through to the completion of your licence and also includes the cost of your SPL, ASIC, Medical, Text Books, Documents, Exams, Landing & Airservice Fees & Flight Tests. The quoted price includes all expenses you will incur during your flight training.

To request our Learn to Fly information package click here.

I’ve heard the terms Grade I, II & III Instructor. What does this mean? Top
Before a pilot can teach a student to learn to fly, they must be the holder of a Flight Instructors Rating. This authorises the pilot to train other pilots in association with a flying training school. A recently qualified flight instructor is issued a Grade III rating and through aeronautical experience works their way up to a Grade I instructor. Each Grade entitles the instructor to conduct different aspects of flight training.

Who are the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)? Top
CASA’s mission is “To enhance and promote aviation safety through effective safety regulation and by encouraging industry to deliver high standards of safety”. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) was established on 6 July 1995 as an independent statutory authority.

Under section 8 of the, Civil Aviation Act 1988, CASA is a body corporate separate from the Commonwealth. CASA’s primary function is to conduct the safety regulation of civil air operations in Australia and the operation of Australian aircraft overseas. It is also required to provide comprehensive safety education and training programmes, cooperate with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and administer certain features of Part IVA of the Civil Aviation (Carriers’ Liability) Act 1959.

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, made under authority of the Civil Aviation Act, provide for general regulatory controls for the safety of air navigation. The Civil Aviation Act and CAR 1988 empower CASA to issue Civil Aviation Orders on detailed matters of regulation. The CASRs 1998 empower CASA to issue Manuals of Standards which support CASR by providing detailed technical material.

Other legislation affecting CASA in the exercise of its powers include the:

  • Air Navigation Act 1920
  • Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
  • Auditor-General Act 1997
  • Ombudsman Act 1976
  • Freedom of Information Act 1982
  • Privacy Act 1988
  • Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
  • Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

 How do I contact CASA? Top
Phone 13 17 57 (local call cost within Australia)
+61 6217 1449 (from outside Australia)
CASA confidential hotline 1800 074 737 If somebody is putting safety at risk – report it!
Emergency Airspace Declarations (02) 6217 1177

Mail
GPO Box 2005
CANBERRA ACT 2601

CASA Corporate Headquarters
16 Furzer Street
Phillip ACT 2606

CASA Operations Headquarters
12 – 14 The Circuit
Brisbane Airport, Qld 4007

Who are Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus)? Top
Operationally, Recreational Aviation Australia Incorporated is a recreational aviation administration organisation [RAAO]. Legally it is a not-for-profit, member-based association incorporated under the Australian Capital Territory Associations Incorporation Act 1991 and consisting of individual members with voting rights and affiliated clubs.

How do I contact RA Aus? Top
Contacts for RA Aus can be located by following this link.

Can I save $6000 Learning to Fly at the Bunbury Aero Club? Top
Yes! Learn to fly at the Bunbury Aero Club and you’ll save $6000 dollars compared to flight training costs at Jandakot.

  • Our hourly rates for briefing and flight training are less
  • Our aircraft hire rates are less
  • There are no landing or airservice fees in Bunbury
  • There is no congestion on the ground or in the air, so no time is wasted in queues waiting to go flying