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There is no formal education requirement to commence flying lessons, however you must be able to read, write and speak English.
Age Requirements
There is no age restriction on when you can commence your flying lessons, but you must have reached 16 years of age before you can complete your first Solo flight. Furthermore, you must be 17 years old before you may hold the Private Pilots Licence.
Before your student licence is issued you must undergo a medical examination by an approved CASA medical examiner, which will grant you a Class 2 medical certificate.
The Class 2 examination is basically a general physical check-up.
All sorts of medical irregularities are permissible, provided that you are in generally good health. We recommend that you complete the medical early in your training so that it won’t delay later solo training sequences. People in wheelchairs hold Pilot licences and colour blindness is usually acceptable after individual consultation.
On completion of the medical examination, the results are sent to the CASA Medical Branch in Canberra for the issue of a Medical Certificate. The Medical Certificate is required as part of the application for a Student Pilot Licence.
Click here for more information on medical requirements and approved practitioners.
Being issued with a Student Pilot's Licence;
Commencing Theory Training;
Passing the Pre Solo Exam (including Radio Procedures and Air Legislation);
Having your First Solo Flight;
Passing the Pre Area Solo Exam;
Passing the Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK) Exam;
Passing the General Flying Progress Test (GFPT).
You're now the holder of a restricted Pilot's Licence! You can carry passengers on your own, within the confines of the training area. Only three more steps to your unrestricted licence!
Passing the PPL (A) Exam;
Successfully completing a combination of approximately 10 solo and instructor navigational exercises.
Passing the PPL Flight Test.
Once you've successfully passed the PPL theory and flight tests, you will be issued with a Private Pilot's Licence and the sky's the limit!
Please examine each of these points below and contact us should you require further explanations. Remember, aviation theory is not demanding... all the exams are multiple-choice and no mathematics or science qualifications are required or expected. Calculators are permitted during exams. In Victoria you can hold a Pilot’s licence and share airspace with a 747 before you’re old enough to hold a car driver’s licence !!!
Passing your GFPT allows you to fly within the confines of the training area with passengers. It's the first stepping stone towards your Private Pilot's Licence.
Getting Started: Stop Dreaming and Start Flying!
Your first step towards becoming a pilot could not be easier. Just take an obligation free Trial Instructional Flight (T.I.F) with Moorabbin Flying Services and experience the actual thrill of flying with one of our Instructors. You will sit in the Pilot's seat and be given the opportunity to operate the controls throughout most of the flight, while basic aircraft control will be demonstrated and discussed - you'll even have certain features and landmarks pointed out to you! Let us show you how easy it really is to fly a modern light aircraft. Total cost of this flight is $170.00 all inclusive. You are under no obligation after this flight to continue with flying lessons. Price subject to change without notice.. Note, that this flight will also count towards your training hour requirements.
Moorabbin Flying Services is open seven days a week and we can normally accommodate your T.I.F on short notice, usually on the same day.
Anyone with good health can fly. This assessment can only be completed by certain Doctors who are trained and approved by CASA. This is a necessary formality for the issue of your Student Licence. Click here for more information.
The student licence is isued by the CASA once your security check has been cleared by the A.F.P and ASIO. The student licence and medical must both be issued before your first SOLO flight.
Time to purchase text books and pilot log
books (both available from our school pilot shop).
MFS operates ground school classes on
weeknights and weekends for those of you who may wish to have the elementary (and
advanced) flying theory subjects taught to them in our fully equipped classrooms. A very
reasonable fee is charged for this service. Alternatively you can complete all the
study at home. However, having said that, we generally find that the pass rates
from taking our classes compared to home self-study is three times higher.
The ground school classes
will also give you the opportunity to meet and converse with other
students who are also keen to get their wings .
In total there are 4
subjects which must passed:
The ground theory work is not difficult and most students will pass all exams on their first attempt.
Pre Solo, Pre Area Solo and BAK Exams
The first three exams are set internally by MFS. These exams are 20-30 multiple-choice questions with no time limits for completion. The Pre Solo exam must be passed before you can undertake your first solo flight, while the Pre Area Solo exam must be passed before you can be sent solo in the training area. You must pass the first three exams before you can complete your GFPT and carry passengers.
Private Pilot's Licence - Aeroplanes Exam
The fourth exam - PPL(A) is issued by CASA. It is an "open book" exam and contains approximately 54 multiple-choice questions. A time limit of 3 1/2 hours is allowed. The PPL(A) must be passed before you can have the area restriction lifted from your licence.
You are the customer and as such we will always try to fit in with you. You can fly as often as you wish and book your lessons anytime; 7 days a week. We recommend each flying lesson should take between 60 to 90 minutes which will minimise air time in and out of the Moorabbin training area.
Before each flight you will be given a briefing on the sequences to be expected and after landing, a debrief will be available as required. These briefings are included as part of the lesson and are not charged separately.
As indicated before, this is an exam comprising of 20-30 multiple-choice questions with no time limits for completion. The Pre Solo exam must be passed before you can undertake your first solo flight.
The BIG moment. This is when you’ll be sent out to fly the aeroplane on your own - for the first time - SOLO! You will be surprised how quickly this solo flight can be achieved. A day to be relived and remembered forever! By this time you will have completed the Pre Solo written exam enabling you to experience the excitement of your first solo flight.
As with the Pre Solo exam, this exam is comprised of 20-30 multiple-choice questions with no time limits for completion. The Pre Area Solo exam must be passed before you can be sent solo in the training area.
This simple exam covers the principles of flight, engines and systems, aerodynamics and aircraft performance.
Sample exam papers are supplied when you purchase your text books and instructors are always available to assist with any questions.
Your final evaluation flight, the General Flying Progress Test. Note, the minimum flying time for the GFPT as stipulated by CASA is a total time of 20 flying hours. Of the 20 hours, a minimum of five must be flown as pilot-in-command. Obviously, the actual time taken to reach the standards required to pass the GFPT varies from pilot to pilot.
Obvious factors that influence this include aptitude, motivation, consistency of training and finances. From our extensive experience we have found the average pilot will fly somewhere around 30 to 35 hours to reach GFPT standard.
You are now a Pilot. A qualification for life which you can share with your friends; the Freedom of Flight.
You've made the grade.... Congratulations!
THE NEXT STEPS.... With some further training ....Australia awaits you !!!
After successfully completing the above 10 steps, you will have satisfied the requirements for the G.F.P.T General Flying Progress Test. You will now be able to carry passengers, but you must stay inside the Moorabbin Training Area.
To remove the area restriction, further flight training and a pass in PPL(A) theory is required. The PPL(A) is a muliple choice examination that takes on averafe, about three hours to complete. It encompasses:-
Navigation;
Meteorology;
Flight Rules and procedures;
Aircraft performance and;
Aerodynamics.
The training for the PPL is very practical and straight forward. It focuses on navigation training and procedural work. You will learn:-
Map reading;
Cross-country techniques;
Operations in controlled airspace;
Emergency procedures;
Use of radio navigation aids.
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On satisfactory completion of this training syllabus you will be recommended to the Chief Flying Instructor for the PPL test, however before undertaking the flight test you must pass the theory exam set by the CASA. MFS is an approved examination centre, so you can sit the exam in a place with which you are familiar and comfortable - and on a day and time of your choice.
Successful completion of both tests will earn you your Private Pilot Licence - the sky is the limit !!
Your Private Pilots Licence authorises you to fly an aircraft for pleasure and/or for private business purposes, (but not commercially for hire or reward - although you may share the cost of the hire of the aircraft with your passengers on an equal basis). It allows ordinary people extraordinary freedom - like visiting friends in Merimbula for the day, or conducting business in Swan Hill until late in the afternoon and still arriving home in time for dinner. Perhaps even a week or two in the Outback without spending days travelling on the road to get there.
In its basic form your licence allows you to fly an aircraft by day in fair weather, that is you must remain clear of cloud at all times. There are also additional privileges that may be added to your Private Pilots Licence such as a night rating, which then allows you to fly at night, or an instrument rating which enables you to fly in most types of weather i.e in cloud.
The minimum flying time for the issue of a PPL, as stipulated by CASA is 20 hours with a minimum of five hours solo. In our experience we have found the average time taken to reach the required standard is about 25 hours. Note: the 20 hours required for the issue of a PPL is in addition to the 20 hours required for the GFPT, ie a total of 40 hours.
Moorabbin Flying Services offers a variety of advanced flight training options. Along with all the facilities to keep your flying current and knowledge up to date. Costs are more than competitive with any other training establishment. Should you decide to further your flying training towards career aspirations then please feel free to discuss this with the us at any time. We have everything you need to start a rewarding career path.
Ground school courses are regularly run in:
Our regular Newsletter (The Dodgey Duck) also keeps you informed of all changes and courses that are coming up in the near future. This is mailed bi-monthly to all MFS Students and Pilots.