The aim of the Private Pilot Licence (Aircraft) course is to train the student pilot to fly safely and efficiently by day in weather conditions appropriate to Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

The basic license can be extended by the qualification for a Night Rating and Instrument Rating.

The Privileges of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) are to act, but not for remuneration, as pilot in command of an aircraft and carry passengers for private or business purposes. The applicant for a PPL must be at least 17 years of age and in possession of a valid Flight Crew medical certificate. Flight Training The 1997 Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) part 61, which are in the process of implementation, require a minimum of 40 hours flight training for the issue of a PPL, of which at least 15 must be solo.

 CQ Aviation standard PPL course is 45 hours.

 The PPL course has five distinct phases;
1. pre solo manoeuvres to first solo flight,
2. solo consolidation and advanced manoeuvres,
3. navigation flights, and
4. basic Instrument Flying
5. revision and flight tests.

On your PPL course you will normally fly with the same Flight Instructor for the entire course (except the flight tests). There is normally one Flight Instructor to two students on each PPL course, ensuring that your time is used productively.

Ground Training:  The theoretical training of 35 hours proceeds in parallel with the flight training and is a combination of 35 hours of lectures and individual study. The syllabus and tests are comprehensive yet practical. The ground school covers the basics of Human Factors, Meteorology, Aviation Law, Navigation, Engines and Airframes, Principles of Flight and the syllabus for the Radiotelephony Certificate (Aeronautical). You do not have to be a mathematician or an engineer to understand it and the final examinations are not difficult. You do, however, need to set aside time for study in the evenings.

The Aviation Law syllabus is based on International Operations and relevant National differences are identified.

Examinations and tests:  We are approved examiners so all examinations and tests are carried out ‘in house'. The PPL examinations are single subject papers with multiple choice answers and are completed progressively throughout the course. There is also a written examination and a practical test for the Radiotelephony Certificate.

The General Flight Test takes about one hour during which the various manoeuvres covered in the training syllabus are demonstrated and there is a separate Navigation Flight Test.

On completion of the course you will qualify for the Private Pilot Licence (Aircraft), the Restricted Radiotelephony Certificate (Aeronautical) and your CQ Aviation wings and Certificate. Course dates and duration Full-time courses for the Private Pilot Licence are four to six weeks in duration. The ground school is completed during the same period as the flight training. Flight training takes place from Monday to Saturday, and occasionally on Sunday. Course details The PPL course offered complies with the SA CAR. The mainstream Private Pilot Licence course uses the Jabiru, Cessna 152, Cherokee 180 or Cessna 172. These aircraft are fast becoming the mainstream training Aircraft due to low costs to operate which gives you the student the advantage of flying newer aircraft.

All courses include:

• Flight briefings and de-briefings 
• Lectures and personal tuition in theoretical study
• Textbooks, charts and Navigation equipment
• Radiotelephony Certificate issue fee

 Student and Private Pilot Licence issue fees The average student can expect to complete the PPL course within 45 hours flight training. Extra hours are charged at the prevailing rate, and it's best to budget for a few extra hours.

Validity

Private Pilot licences are valid for an initial period of one year, after which a Flight Test is required. Thereafter it is valid for as long as the medical certificate, which is two years if age below 40, one year if age 40 or over. A Flight Test is required every second year. International Standards & Conversions

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) establishes minimum requirements for aircrew licensing & most countries of the world are signatories to the ICAO Convention. The European Community’s Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA) introduced harmonised licensing standards through the Joint Aviation Regulations (JARs).

The Private Pilot Licence syllabus is 45 hours of flight training, which must include 25 hours dual, and 10 hours solo and 5 hours basic Instrument Flying. The PPL entitles the holder to operate aircraft registered in the State that issued the PPL in any ICAO State.

The requirements for the issuing of a foreign country's pilot licence must be to the equivalent standard of a similar South African licence. In a case where the requirements of a foreign country are lower than that of theRepublic of South Africa, the Commissioner may direct that an applicant meet the higher requirement before granting a validation.

a.    No validation will be considered if a prospective applicant has been refused a licence in South Africa before, or if the applicant's SA licence has been refused in the past.
b.    Validations will only be granted to foreign license holders once confirmation/verification has been received from such issuing Authority.

Therefore the issuance of a validation might take anything between 48 hours up to 10 days.

2. CONDITIONS OF ISSUE

A licence validated by the Commissioner will be subject to the limitations and restrictions of the validated licence and in addition, to such conditions and limitations as the Commissioner may deem. necessary, but shall nevertheless not permit privileges in excess of the equivalent South African licence.

3. VALIDITY PERIOD
The validity period of a validation issued by the Commissioner shall be:
(a).   12 months calculated from the date of issue of such validation; or
(b).   in accordance with the validity period of the license issued by the foreign authority, whichever period is thelesser.

4. VALIDATION OF A LICENCE FOR PRIVATE FLYING ONLY
A validation of the above licence will have to be to the level of proficiency of a South African private pilot licence. The Commissioner may further impose and endorse on the validation, such conditions as he/she deems necessary. Any acceptable valid foreign licence may be validated by the Commissioner on application for private flying.

All applicants must:-
(a) pass a practical flight test with a grade lor /I flight instructor who is rated on the type of test conducted, who will also be required to assess the candidates cross-country, navigational proficiency. (Only A TP foreign licenseholders are not required to do a cross-country); and
(b) be a holder of a valid foreign radio licence.
(c) According to the level of experience of the candidate, be required to: pass an examination in Air Law at an approved training organisation.
The aforementioned validation does not include the validation of an instrument rating.
If the validation is to include an instrument rating or in the case of those licences where the instrument rating is an integral part of the licence, the following requirements are to be complied with:
(d) Provide full medical records in English language to the Aviation Medical Division of the CAA  in
accordance with SA-CA TS-MR,

The Medical records should include:

Private Pilots under the age of 40 years.
History and examination form (in English).
Eye examination including colour vision testing every 2 years.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) every 2 years.
Resting and Stress ECG at the initial medical examination.
Lung Function Test at the initial medical examination.
....
Private Pilots between 40 and 60 years
History and examination form annually
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually
Resting and Stress ECG every 2 years.
Lung Functions Test every 2 years.
....
Private Pilots above 60 years
History and examination form (in English).
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG annually.
Lung functions Test annually.
....
If the validation is to include an instrument rating or in the case of those licences where the instrument rating is an integral part of the licence, the following requirements are to be complied with:
For issue of a validation for private flying including IF, the applicant must:-
a) pass a practical flight general test and a instrument rating test with a designated examiner, who is rated on the type the test is conducted according to experience levels and as the Commissioner may decide and must:-
a) pass an examination in Air Law and Procedures with the CAA; and
b) be a holder of a valid foreign radio licence.

VALIDATION OF A COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL) (for commercial purposes)
A validation of the above licence will have to be to the level of proficiency of a Commercial pilot licence, the Commissioner may further impose and endorse on the validation, such conditions as he deems necessary.T

To qualify, the applicant must:-
(a) be in possession of a valid equivalent licence and, if applicable, a valid instrument rating;
(b) have flown a minimum of 200 hours total time of which a minimum of 100 hours shall be as pilot in command;
(c) pass an examination in Air Law and Procedures with the CAA;
(d) be a holder of a valid radio licence; and
(e) pass a practical flight test with a designated examiner who is rated on the type of test conducted, who shall also be required to assess the candidates cross-country and navigational proficiency.
(f) Provide full medical records to the Aviation Medical Division of the CAA,

The Medical records should include:
Commercial Pilots under the age of 40 years.
History and examination form (in English).
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG every 4 years.
Lung Function Test every 4 years.
....
Commercial Pilots between 40 and 60 years . History and examination form (in English) annually.
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG every 2 years.
Lung Functions Test every 2 years.
....
Commercial Pilots above 60 years . History and examination form (English), annually.
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG annually.
Lung functions Test annually.
....
<75.2 The applicant may be required to pass an examination in any other subjects that may be required by the Commissioner according to experience.
<7 5.3 For operations conducted commercially outside South African Airspace, the applicant shall pass an examination in South African Air Law.

VALIDATION OF AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT LICENCE
A validation of the above licence will have to be to the level of proficiency of a South African Airline Transport Pilot licence.

To qualify, the applicant must:-
(a) be in possession of a current, valid ATP.
(b) have flown a minimum of 1 500 hours total time, of which at least 100 hours shall be night flight and 75 hours instrument flight.
(c) pass an examination in Air Law and Procedures with the CAA.
(d) Be a holder of a valid foreign radio licence; and
(e) pass a practical flight test conducted by a designated examiner who is rated on the type of test conducted, who may also be required to assess the candidates cross-country and navigational proficiency.
(f) Provide complete medical records to the Aviation Medical Division of the CAA,
The Medical requirements include the following tests:
A TP under the age of 40 years.
History and examination form (in English).
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG every 4 years.
Lung Function Test every 4 years.
.
...
A TP above the age of 40 years.
History and examination form (in English)
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually
Resting and Stress ECG every 2 years.
Lung Functions Test every 2 years.
....
Private Pilots above 60 years.
History and examination form (English).
Eye examination including colour vision testing annually.
Full Audiogram (not just a whisper test) annually.
Resting and Stress ECG annually.
Lung functions Test annually.
....

6.2 For operations conducted commercially outside South African Airspace, the applicant shall be required to pass an
examination in South African Airlaw.
6.3 The applicant may be required to pass an examination in any other subject as may be directed by the Commissioner
according to experience.

VALIDATlON OF INSTRUCTOR RATlNGS
NO INSTRUCTOR RATINGS WILL BE VALIDATED.