RECREATIONAL PILOT LICENCE (RPL)
The Recreational Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) – RPL(A) – is the first licence that a prospective pilot trains for. The RPL is the qualification you need if you only want to fly local flights from the training aerodrome location either on your own or with one passenger.
RPL REQUIREMENTS
There are no pre-requisites however all students should have an adequate practical understanding of maths and physics, be fluent in the use of English, be 15 years before their first solo flight and 16 years before the RPL flight test.
RPL SYLLABUS
The RPL syllabus is focused on ‘learning to fly an aeroplane’ and is based on a minimum of 35 hours flight training and 30 hours ground training. Ground training is sequenced before similar flight training sessions. As well, there are written internal and external examinations to be completed before the flight test.
RPL FLIGHT TRAINING
Flight training lessons include general handling, basic and advanced manoeuvres, circuit operations, basic instrument flight, procedures in the event of abnormal situations and human factors and non-technical skills awareness and application.
RPL COURSE DURATION
The time to reach competency for the RPL licence will vary for each student. Each training flight is around 1.2 hours plus around 0.5 hour for pre- and post-flight briefs, and each long briefing is 1.5 to 2.0 hours. If done part-time, the RPL course is usually completed within 12 months or less.
RPL COURSE COST
The cost of the RPL course depends on the aircraft used and each student’s training rate, ability, effort and progress. Additional costs need to be allowed for to cover a Basic Aeronautical Knowledge course and CASA exam (RPL), purchasing textbooks and equipment (headset), getting an ASIC (security ID card), getting an aviation medical and logbook.
Prices start from $5,500.
OUR FLIGHT SCHOOL
Training is conducted at Albury Aerodrome NSW in a purpose-built flight training school collocated with Oberon Aviation. The school consists of a fleet of capable training aircraft and the region’s only state-of-the-art Redbird full motion flight simulator.
I had originally started at a different school and transferred to Flight Training Centre part way through.
Flight Training Centre has since stood out to me for having excellent training focused on safety and student success, with experienced instructors who are friendly and thorough.
Jeremy W
