We fly in the Light Sport Category under Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) — a private, member-owned body with 180 flight schools nationwide. Here's exactly what the journey looks like.
To fly with us, you need RAAus membership — but you can start with a free temporary membership that covers your first 90 days and 3 hours of flight training, so there's no cost or commitment just to see if flying's for you.
A pre-flight briefing on how the aircraft flies, a chance to taxi and take the controls on the ground, then up into the training area — as far north as Nambucca Heads, south to Crescent Head, west to Bellbrook — for some straight and level flying and basic manoeuvres. You might even spot a whale, or fly over your own house.
It's about 60 minutes all up, with a minimum 30-minute flight, and it genuinely counts toward your certificate hours — this is your first lesson, not just a joyride.
$220.00Effects of controls, then straight and level, climbing, descending, turning. Stall recognition, avoidance and recovery. Then circuits — the take off, climb, turn, and "touch and go" pattern around the field — including how to handle an engine problem in the circuit.
Once you're assessed as proficient and have passed your first two exams, you go solo — a moment no pilot forgets. From there: two more hours of supervised solo circuits, then back to the training area for steep 60° turns, spiral descents, advanced stalls and forced landing practice, before consolidating with more solo flying and flight test prep.
$331.50 / hrBriefings on the theory behind every sequence you fly, plus the rules and regulations — delivered through video, animation, and time in our professional-grade procedural trainer (simulator), not just a textbook. Four exams in total, each requiring an 80% pass mark, with a full debrief on anything you get wrong.
Supplemented by self-paced online learning you can work through between lessons — so flight time counts for even more.
Hours vary by student — a fair estimate is 10–12 hours of ground school across the whole journey.
$88.00 / hrPilot in command of a recreational two-seat aeroplane. You'll start restricted to solo flight within 25 nautical miles and no passengers — both liftable with further training.
Radio procedures and phraseology you'll use every flight.
The rules that apply before you're cleared to fly alone.
Broader legislation covering solo flight beyond the circuit.
The final exam on your way to your Pilot Certificate.
Your certificate starts you off solo within 25nm of your departure point, without passengers. Both of those limits can be lifted with further training.
A recreational Pilot Certificate transfers into general aviation in a few easy steps — up to aircraft as large as a Cessna 172 (1500kg MTOW). It also counts toward the minimum hours for a private or even commercial pilot licence.
Brian obtained his commercial pilot's licence in 2021 and General Aviation instructor rating in 2024 — of the 250 hours required, only 50 were in general aviation aircraft. The rest were flown right here in light sport recreational aeroplanes.
You'll be challenged and taken out of your comfort zone — but if you're not enjoying yourself along the way, we're not doing something right.
We're a flight training school first — real flight time as pilot in command, not a youth program with limited access to the aircraft.
Our youngest student was in Year 6, our oldest 79. Our manager didn't start flying until 41, and took his mother for her first flight on her 71st birthday.
We keep student numbers low to keep aircraft and instructors genuinely available, and costs down — not because we can't grow.
There's no minimum age — though we might suggest waiting until you can see over the dash and reach the pedals. Under 18 needs a parent or guardian's signed consent. Over 75, you'll need a letter from your doctor confirming you're fit to fly.
No — for sport flying you self-declare your fitness to the same standard as holding a driver's licence. If you have certain medical conditions, or you're over 75, you'll need a letter from your GP.
Realistically $7,000–$8,000 all up, based on an average 25 hours to reach solo and certificate standard, plus briefings, exams and RAAus membership. Busier airports with longer taxi times and traffic delays tend to blow this out — Kempsey's quiet field works in your favour here.
Yes, four in-house exams at a standard similar to a car learner's licence test, delivered through video, animation and simulator time. We don't set people up to fail — the goal is you pass first go.
Yes, it's your flying journey. Let us know where you're headed and we can point you toward schools in our network.
With a passenger endorsement, yes — plenty of our pilots use it for a weekend flight to Byron Bay or further afield.
No — factory-built and maintained by Licensed Aircraft Engineers, inspected daily, with maintenance records available on request. We upgrade the fleet every two years.
Possibly — we'll take you up first to make sure you're comfortable, since the Aurora's nose attitude takes some getting used to. We can pair an aircraft conversion with your Biennial Flight Review at no extra cost.