Flight Training

A TIF is recommended if you wish to find out whether flying is for you.  You will receive a pre-flight briefing on the workings of a light aircraft and then undertake a flight of about 30 minutes duration with an instructor during which you will take the controls under instruction.  

A post flight discussion will be conducted to consolidate the lesson and answer any queries that you may have.

This qualification enables you to be pilot in command on flights carrying passengers while operating within 25nm of the departure aerodrome or within the local training area.  The minimum age for the first solo flight is 15 and a student must be 16 years old to be granted an RPL. 

Students take an average of 30 to 35 hours flight time to achieve this qualification. There are 3 theory progress examinations and a flight test to achieve the RPL.  The RPL can be done either as a CASA licence or RAAus certificate. A flight review with a flight instructor within the last 2 years is required to use the privileges of this licence.  The RPL can be a stand-alone licence or the first step towards a private or higher licence.  

Either a CASA class 2 medical or a recreational aviation medical practitioner’s certificate (RAMPC) is required.  The latter has some limitations placed on it.                    

If you have an RAAus certificate and wish to obtain a GA licence, this course will enable you to achieve the ground and in flight requirements to achieve this.

For pilots holding a GA licence who wish to obtain a RAAus Certificate. This course will familiarize you with RAAus aircraft and learn the skills and rules for flying such aircraft.

The PPL authorizes you to act as pilot in command in private operations carrying passengers within Australia.  The minimum age is 17. Students require an average of 55 to 60 hours flight time to achieve this qualification. There is a CASA PPLA online exam, a Flight Radio exam, and a flight test to be completed for this licence.  A flight review with a flight instructor within the last 2 years is required to carry out the privileges of this licence.  A class 2 medical certificate is required.

A CPL qualifies a pilot act as pilot in command, or as co-pilot, of an aeroplane engaged in commercial operations.  Students have to pass 7 CPL written exams, hold a CASA class 1 medical certificate, accumulate the required flying hours and pass a flight test to qualify for the CPL flight test.  The CPL training may be conducted in accordance with either of the following:

• Integrated 150 hour CPL – This course must be completed within an 18 months from starting. It is a structured course with achievement gates (both theory and flying) that must be met at certain times through the course. A major advantage of this course is that it is GST free.
• Non-integrated 200 hour course – This course is more flexible and does not have to meet any achievement gates and there is no time limit on completing the course. This course is subject to GST.  RAAus hours can be counted towards this licence.

Adding design features to a licence can improve pilot skills and broaden the pilot’s capabilities.  We specialize in manual propeller pitch control and tailwheel undercarriage training. About 5 hours in our Bellanca Decathlon can usually achieve this.

For pilots wishing to advance their skills and challenge themselves, adding a spinning, aerobatics or formation flight activity endorsement to your licence may be to their liking.

A night VFR rating allows the holder to fly at night in VMC as pilot in command in appropriately certified aeroplanes.  An applicant for a NVFR must hold a PPL, CPL or ATPL and have at least 10 hours night experience, including 5 hours night cross-country flying meeting certain requirements.  

There is no written exam, however considerable ground briefings and study are required to learn NVFR requirements and considerations. A flight test is required at night for the grant of the NVFR rating.

A basic PIR allows the holder to engage in private flights by day under the instrument flight rules flying in instrument meteorological condition (IMC) only when above the lowest safe altitude for the route being flown.  

The basic PIR requires that the applicant passes a CASA written exam, has a minimum of 20 hours instrument flight time, including 10 hours dual instrument time and a navigation endorsement  eg GNSS.  A flight test is required for the grant of a PIR, in a single-engine aircraft or multi-engine, as appropriate.  Our approved flight simulating training device (simulator) can be used for much of this training.

The holder of a PIR may be trained and tested for a range of PIR flight procedure authorizations (FPA’s) - for example, instrument departures, instrument approaches, night, etc.

Can be added to a private or commercial pilot licence to allow private or commercial operations in IMC (subject to type of licence held).

Initial training is done in our approved Category B Synthetic Flight Trainer. This significantly reduces the cost of the instrument rating. Subsequently, students progress to instrument flight in a single engine aeroplane and finally in the multi engine aeroplane (for IR MEA).

We specialize in training and testing for most aeroplane training endorsements (licences, aircraft ratings and operational ratings).

We conduct aeroplane flight reviews for single or multi-engine, or Night VFR rating in your aeroplane or one of hours.  Training for a new rating or endorsement to add to your licence may also cover the flight review requirement for the aeroplane category and class.

If you require a Proficiency Check for an Instrument Rating (IPC) or a Flight Instructor Rating (FPC), we can help.  Adding an additional endorsement to the appropriate rating may also cover the Proficiency Check requirement.

BHFS holds a CASR Part 142 Training Certificate, which allows us to conduct training and checking for other operators.