Learning to fly! – So, you have decided you are going to learn to fly and now all you have to do is choose a flying school.  That is not as easy as you may think!  In the Sunshine Coast area there are many to choose from.  The scope and quality of flight training varies considerably between flying schools so you need to look carefully at what each school offers, your reasons for wanting to learn to fly and your ultimate goal.  Here are some examples:

  • If your goal is a career in the ADF or airlines, learning in a professional, controlled airspace environment, like the Sunshine Coast Airport is an advantage.  However, the airport is already very busy and expanding to cater for international airline flights.  If you choose a flying school / club that is based there, expect to be waiting (and paying!) engine running for take-off clearance for 10-15 minutes of every lesson!  Consider choosing a flying school that’s based at a smaller uncontrolled airport close by, where you will still be able to learn to fly in the neighboring controlled airspace environment, but far more cost effectively!

  • Choosing a flying school with more than ‘one type’ of training aircraft will give you the opportunity early in your training  to adapt your developing pilot skills to different aircraft types (a bit like adapting to driving different types of car).

  •  Your future pilot skills, confidence and safety will depend very much on the quality and depth of your initial flight training.  Check and compare the school’s course syllabus, number of instructors, their qualifications and experience.  Then check the age, quality, number and diversity of training aircraft available.  Also, check if they have the approvals to conduct more advanced training and conversions to a GA Pilot’s license after the Recreational Pilot Certificate (RPC) Course.

  • If your goal is a career in the airlines, you may be attracted to flying schools that offer an approved VET Fee integrated course.  They appear very attractive because the government is funding your training.  However, you WILL end up with over a $100,000 debt that you WILL have to pay back through later earnings!

  • Stay clear of flying schools that quote a low ‘fixed price’ for their RPC Course.  These prices are usually based on the legal minimum number of flight hours required so the price looks attractive but you will almost certainly get hit for the cost of additional lessons to complete the course to the required standard and if you decide to move to another school part way through your course, and you paid in advance,  you may struggle to get the balance of your advance payment refunded!  Most flying schools will let you pay ‘as you go’ after each lesson or at the end of each days flying.

  • In summary, check and compare carefully and never choose your flying school based on ‘lowest price’ alone!

                         Ready to Fly??

At the Sunshine Coast Flying School – our instructors are experts in making the learning process ‘fun’ and letting each student progress at their own rate of learning, and to fit in with family and work commitments.  There is no upper or lower age limit to start lessons and from 15 years old you can fly solo and hold a Recreational Pilot Certificate (RPC)! At the other end of the age spectrum it is common for retirees, with time on their hands, to take up the challenge of learning to fly!  There’s no up front course fees at the Sunshine Coast Flying School, just pay for your first lesson here on the website then ‘pay as you go’ after each lesson at the flying school.  Our RPC course, FAQ’s, prices, financing options and more are explained in our  INFORMATION PACK

We can teach you to fly, ‘really FLY’ and much more! Our Advanced Pilot Certificate (RPC) Course syllabus covers much more than the minimum content syllabus offered by most flying schools. Check  our COMPARISON TABLE.   When you have been awarded your Recreational Pilot Certificate (RPC) you can add further endorsements, like Navigation, and have the option to apply to CASA for a Recreational Pilot’s License (RPL).  If you are keen to develop your skills to the next level, we can then teach you the advanced pilot skills that other schools ignore because they don’t have spin and aerobatic capable training aircraft and/or instructors qualified to teach those skills.

GET ME STARTED!

Getting Started

Are you ready to learn to fly? it's simple, just take that first step! Hit the button and you are on your way to becoming a qualified pilot with your very First Flying Lesson (or first two lessons if you choose our Student Pilot Starter Kit) You will be directed to our online store where you can select and pay for your First Lesson or Student Pilot Starter Kit.
GET ME STARTED!