Obtaining a pilot licence in Australia is a dream for many aviation pursuits. The CASA pilot licence policy sets out a few requirements one must follow to obtain a pilot licence. Candidates who want to know how long it takes to get this licence can get a complete idea by reading this article.
Getting this licence requires around 40 hours of flight, including 20 hours of solo flight time. However, some students take 60-70 hours of flight time to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to pass the exam. If you are taking a full-time training course, then it takes about two months. On the other hand, if you are taking part-time training, you might take a year to finish it.
What is the Process for Getting a Private Pilot licence?
One has to go through a flight training program for this pilot licence, which consists of three phases:
- In the first phase, the student receives ground training and flight instruction to prepare for their first solo flight.
- The second one is where the student further develops their skills and knowledge with more advanced flight training.
- The last phase is cross-country training. The student learns to navigate and fly longer distances across different grounds and weather conditions.
How Much Time Does it Require to Get a Private Pilot Licence?
The duration of each training phase varies depending on the progress and proficiency of the candidate. Generally, it takes approximately 6 to 12 months to complete all three phases of this training program.
However, the time to obtain the licence varies depending on the student’s and the aircraft’s availability. The flying experience one needs for this CASA pilot licence depends on the aircraft category rating candidates are training for.
What is the Eligibility to Get a Private Pilot Licence?
Apart from the flight training, the aspiring pilot must also pass a series of theory exams. It includes air law, navigation, human factors, meteorology, and aircraft systems. The students must achieve passing marks of at least 70% in each subject to obtain this pilot licence.
What are the Requirements for Getting This Pilot licence?
To obtain this pilot licence policy, one has to meet the following requirements:
- An individual has to be at least 17 years and should be able to speak and understand a certain level of English.
- The applicant must undergo a medical test to get a medical certificate.
- One should also hold a Recreational Aviation Medical Practitioner’s Certificate (RAMPC) for flying an aircraft.
- A candidate is supposed to complete an integrated or non-integrated training course successfully. An integrated training process requires about 10 hours of solo flight and 35 hours with a co-pilot.
Conclusion
Obtaining a private pilot licence in Australia requires dedication and a significant investment of time and money. With proper training, knowledge, and experience, one can fulfil their dream of becoming a private licence pilot. Once you get this licence, you will be able to add more aircraft categories and flight crew ratings.
