Information Pack

Open 7 days a week, 8:00 am till 5 pm

GENERAL / PURPOSE

This handout is for people who wish to learn to fly, either recreationally or as a career. Either option allows you to take passengers and fly just about anywhere within New Zealand.

There are two types of licences we can offer you:

• Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

Once you have obtained at least your PPL you can get ratings. Ratings are additions to your licence which allow you to do more with your licence.

FIT AND PROPER PERSON

Under Civil Aviation Rules, a person applying for an Aviation Document (e.g. Pilot Licence) must be deemed a "Fit and Proper Person". This means that criminal convictions and land transport safety offences will need to be declared to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). For more information about this process please visit: http://www.caa.govt.nz/publications/vector/vector_articles/fit_and_proper.pdf

PILOT MEDICAL

Before being able to fly by yourself (solo) you will need to obtain at least an Aviation Class 2 medical. This is not a overly difficult process however, it can take a week or two for it to come through so get in early.

A Class Two Medical (for a PPL) needs to be renewed every 5 years if you are under 40 years of age and every 2 years if you are over 40 years of age.

A Class One Medical (for a CPL) needs to be renewed every year if you are under 40 years of age and every 6 months if you are over 40 years of age.

We recommend Wakatipu Medical Centre, McBride St, Frankton, Queenstown with Dr Tom Millikin (03) 442 2288 for an appointment.

Lesson Dual / Solo Hours from PPL 60 Hours Max Rate Turns Dual . Solo Stalling in the Turn Dual . Solo Steep Gliding Turns Dual . Solo Introduction to Mountain Flying Includes Beach & Strip landings Dual Commercial Cross Country Navigation North Island Tour (Recommended) Dual . Solo . Solo Advanced Mountain Flying & Strip Flying Dual Route Checks - Mount Cook - Doubtful Sound - Mt Aspiring Dual . Solo Milford Operations Dual Type Ratings in all charter aircraft (5 hours on type) Dual / Solo Aerobatics Dual / Solo Solo Consolidation Solo CPL Instrument Flying Dual Flight Test Revision Dual / Solo Flight Test -

Lesson Dual / Solo Trial Flight Dual Effects of Controls Dual Straight and Level Dual Climbing and Descending Dual Medium, Climbing and Descending Turns Dual Basic Stalling Dual Circuits, Taking Off & Landing Checks Radio Calls Safety & Emergency Equipment Glide Approaches Full Flap & Flapless Landings Simulated Engine Failure after take off Aborted take off’s *Flight radio completed

Dual First Solo & Solo Consolidation Solo Standard Overhead Rejoins Dual / Solo Forced Landings Without Power Dual / Solo Advanced Stalling Dual / Solo Steep Turns Dual / Solo Compass Turns Dual / Solo Instrument Flying (5 hours to be completed intermittently during remaining training) Dual Short Take off’s and Precision Landings Dual / Solo Crosswind Take Off’s and Precision Landings Dual / Solo Low Flying 1 & 2 Dual Cross Country’s x 3 Dual / Solo Revision for Flight Test Dual / Solo Flight Test Maximum All Up Weight Check Dual

THEORY EXAMS

There are 6 aviation theory exams that need to be completed before being eligible to start cross country training for PPL and CPL.

AIR NAVIGATION AND FLIGHT PLANNING

Form of the earth, direction on the earth, definition and application of terms, triangle of velocities, aeronautical charts, mental dead reckoning, flight planning.

METEOROLOGY

The atmosphere, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric temperature, pressure systems, fronts, wind, clouds, fog, thunderstorms, topographical effects, weather interpretation.

AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

Properties of the air, general aerodynamics, engines, electrics, compasses, instruments, weight and balance, performance, propellers.

HUMAN FACTORS

The effects of flying on the human body, how the brain works and absorbs information, mind sets, airmanship, lookouts.

AIR LAW

Syllabus as per VFR operations of light aircraft in NZ.

FLIGHT RADIOTELEPHONY

Communication, general radiotelephony procedures, distress and urgency communications, phraseology and phonetic alphabet.

Note: The NZ pilots licence syllabus is adeptly covered by "Aviation Theory Centre" and are used nationwide in conjunction with ASL exams. These are available by order for purchase or can be borrowed for a limited time from Wakatipu Aero Club. Practice exams and the syllabi can be obtained from ASL website at www.aviation.co.nz You can also apply to sit exams on this site.

PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (PPL)

HOURS / TIMELINE

There is a CAA minimum of 50 hours flying time to be eligible to sit a Private Pilot Licence Flight Test Assessment. Generally it takes around 60 hours flying time before a person is ready to sit the flight test. This ‘60’ hours is made up of flying with an instructor (Dual flying) and flying by yourself (solo flying). How often you fly will determine how soon you can obtain your licence. It is up to you how often you fly.

We recommend 2-3 lessons a week so consistency is maintained.

Most lessons are 45 minutes to 1 hour long, so on that basis if you flew once a week it would take roughly one year to get your licence.

COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL)

HOURS / TIMELINE

There is a CAA minimum of 200 hours flying time to be eligible to sit a Commercial Pilot Licence Flight Test Assessment.

This 200 hours consists of:

• 100 Hours Pilot-In-Command
• 30 Hours Cross Country which includes a 20-hour Cross Country course. This is made u of a minimum of 10 hours dual and 10 hours solo. The 20 hours cross country course must be completed within a 12 month period with a dual cross country flight test at the end.
• 10 hours instrument flying
• 10 hours revision for Flight Test
• 10 hours night flying (optional)

The above times are a minimum as they are based upon a competence level being reached.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

Training in the Queenstown and Fiordland mountainous environment is an invaluable experience that puts you “on top”. A much higher standard of flying is achieved through the specialised training required to operate in this area. It’s a whole new learning curve! Add to that the sheer pleasure of flying in the mountains, and you’ll be glad you came.

The CPL trained here is trained for employability, not just to pass a flight test. Assuming no unforeseen problems arise, we stand by our training by employing you ourselves. (conditions apply) This will assist you in gaining experience and greater potential towards employability.

To qualify for employment with us (and practically any other local operator) a minimum of 50 hours local experience time is required which includes Mountain Flying, Strip and Beach training, Milford, Mt Cook route checks etc. Obviously, in obtaining your CPL with us, these requirements will have been covered. Add to that various type ratings (which may involve extra cost for more expensive aircraft) and you are a fresh CPL with a level of experience and knowledge that surpasses all others.

TRAINING

99% of the training we do is 1-on-1 personalised training with one of our highly qualified instructors. Our Instructors have many years of flying experience around New Zealand especially the Wakatipu and Fiordland areas and therefore have a vast amount of knowledge to pass on to our students.

There will be times where it is appropriate and necessary for other pilots to sit and observe your flight. This helps them to learn and become more familiar with the area and there will be times when it is possible for you to sit in on their flight and learn too.

MOUNTAIN FLYING

INTRODUCTION

We believe our Mountain Flying training is the best in the country. We’re not claiming to be experts in IFR … but we are the best when it comes to Mountain Flying. From Queenstown, virtually every departure and arrival we make interacts with the mountains. It’s challenging and exciting and with our years of experience flying in this area, it becomes the safest.

Our Mountain Flying training is on-demand and is included in the local experience requirement (for employability), the ‘C’ Cat training course and the CPL training course.

The concepts covered include:

• Horizon definition
• Decision making
• Contour flying
• Valley turns and positioning
• Anticipation
• Saddle crossings
• White-out
• Sun / valley shadows
• Disorientation
• Weather interaction

This can extend into experience on strips, beach operations, Milford experiences etc. We offer an “Introduction to Mountain Flying”, as a minimum, which is approximately 1.5 hours. However, past experiences show it takes the average pilot trained in a flat environment approximately three to five hours to realistically superimpose a usable horizon on a variable background. Therefore, to do between 5 & 10 hours mountain flying is a valuable experience

AEROBATICS

HOURS / TIMELINE

The Aerobatic Course is generally a 6 week course. It can be completed sooner but again depends on how much you fly.

It involves around 5 - 8 hours flying with 3-4 dual lessons to start with, then alternating dual and solo flights.

Some of the flights have more than one lesson combined due to the shortness of the particular lesson.

After gaining the Aerobatic Rating, the pilot then is able to carry passengers on aerobatic flights.