The Private Pilot Licence is the first basic course you will undertake, either as a licence for your future recreational flying or as the first step on your path to becoming a professional, Commercial Pilot.

The course consists of 45 hours of flying training (40 of which are usually in a Cessna 152, one of which is pictured left)  with 5 on a flight simulator and of the 45, at least 15 hours have to be solo. You need a good knowledge of English and basic maths to be able to cope with the demands of the course. 

In addition to the practical flying hours, the student is required to attend groundschool lectures and then pass theoretical examinations.  The PPL will only be obtained once you have finished all of the flying hours to the required standard and passed all the exams.  Aptrac is a CAA-approved PPL examination centre so exams are written at the school.

All our training is carried out from the Port Elizabeth airport and the Private Pilot licence training should last 8 weeks.  This is of course subject to your progress and the weather etc.

On arrival in Port Elizabeth at the start of your course , you will undergo a CAA-required English Language Proficiency test and if successful, will then be taken for your pilot medical examination.    The minimum age for acquiring a PPL is 17.  A Student Pilot Licence can be obtained at age 16.  There is no upper age limit.

Students will be provided with a full pilot kit containing all the books and equipment (including headset) necessary to complete the course.  The kit is yours to keep at the end of your course. 

As a full-time student your flights and lectures will be scheduled for you.  You need to be available at all times to attend as required.

The flying exercises included in the PPL are:

• Cockpit layout
• Preparation for flight
• Air experience
• Effect of controls
• Taxiing
• Straight and level flight
• Climbing
• Stalling
• Medium turns
• Climbing and descending turns
• Take off
• Approach and landing
• Spinning
• First solo
• Side slipping
• Steep turns
• Low level flying
• Crosswind take off and landing
• Precautionary circuit and landing
• Forced landing
• Basic instrument flying
• Navigation

You have to pass 8 exams for the PPL

• Air Law
• Principles of Flight
• Meteorology
• Flight Planning
• Human Performance
• Navigation
• Aircraft General (covering engines, airframes and instruments)
• Radiotelephony

All the above are CAA on-line, multiple choice examinations, with the exception of radio, which is written.  The pass mark for all subjects is 75%.

All examinations have to be passed at stages as advised during your course and have to be completed before you are recommended for your final flight tests