L
earning to fly is a bit like going
to the supermarket. The choice
of products is bewildering and
you’re never quite sure you are
getting value for money. How do
you decide? The one in Tasmania
with the great water views, or the
idyllic rural retreat in Bathurst?
Or the well-established local aero
club which lacks the marketing
fanfare, the shiny brochures and
the promises?
Flight training is about having
an accurate flight plan and
preparing yourself for an expensive
journey. Think seriously about
these questions. How am I going
to pay for it? Do I want to earn
a living from aviation or is the
licence to fly just for fun? Is this
really what I want to do and am I a
suitable candidate? Psychological
testing could well be a valuable
investment tool.
And prepare for hard work
and disappointment because only
a fraction of ATPL pilots end
up in the left seat of an Airbus.
Qantas, unfortunately, is not a key
employment provider for Australian
pilots. Any airline cadet program,
owned and run by a regional orinternational airline will offer you
only conditional employment.
Jetstar and Qantas are not offering
cadetships in 2015.
So best have a Plan B. The
determined, hard working
students with genuine ability will
succeed anywhere in aviation. But
be honest with yourself about your
motives and be realistic about
success. This will be no holiday.
If you’re still interested, then the
first decision is choosing a f lying
school. Just like your trip to
supermarket, it can be daunting ...
unless you define the product you
want to buy.Getting the funds
Flight crew training in Australia
is carried out by over 200
f lying schools authorised by
CASA, as well as airlines and
other commercial operators
who conduct more advanced
training for their own f light
crew. While training is the
cornerstone of the local industry,
safety is paramount. Correct
behaviours and attitudes and
adequate skills and knowledgeacquired during f light training
form the basis for how pilots
conduct aircraft operations
safely. Most pilot training is
self-funded by the individuals,
some of whom are training for
fun or to work in an aviation
related business, together with a
smaller proportion planning for
a career in aviation. Vocational
Education Training (VET) loans
to a maximum of $96,000 are
available for Registered Training
Organisations (RTOs) and HECS
available for Universities.
CASA is currently undertaking
a review of flight crew licensing
because the regulations have
been in place for 20 years without
significant revision. Part 61
of the regulations, concerning
flying training, is going under
the spotlight because CASA
has found a “limited number
of inconsistencies” with the
international standards published
by the International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) of which
Australia is a signatory. CASA isStudents at the
Flight Training CAROL KITCHING
Flight training
in Australia has
become a matter
of choice for career
pilots. Do you put
yourself in debt for
a fast-and-furious
full-time course,
or do you opt for
the longer, slower
route through the
aero clubs and
private flying
schools. Carol
Kitching ponders
the question.
48
AUSTRALIAN FLYING January - February 2015MAIN: For private pilots, the pay-
as-you-go path through aero clubs
and smaller flying schools is still
a good option.
RIGHT: RVAC engineer Donna
Dascoli spent six months
researching training costs before
settling on the USA.Crossroads