Getting your Private Pilots License

There are several requirements to get your Private Pilots License in New Zealand.

• Get a passing mark in 6 theory examinations
  
  
  
  • Air Law
  
  
  • Aeroplane or Helicopter Technical Knowledge
  
  
  • Navigation & Flight Planning
  
  
  • Meteorology
  
  
  • Human Factors
  
  
  • Flight Radiotelephoney
  
  


• Complete either 50 hours of flight training (or 40 hours without cross-country prileges - in this case flying is only allowed within 10 nm of the home aerodrome).


• Pass a class 2 medical


• Complete a practical flight test


• Be at least 17 years of age (at the time of the flight test)

More information can be found on the CAA Website

Air Law
The Air Law Examination covers the legal aspects of flying in New Zealand. Your private pilots license must be obtained within 5 years of completing the Air Law exam, or else you will have to resit the exam.

Aeroplane / Helicopter Technical Knowledge
Which of these exams you will need to sit depends on if you want to get your Aeroplane or Helicopter license. This exam covers technical information about how aircraft work.

Navigation & Flight Planning
This exam covers how to navigate through, and around airspace, and how to plan flights, estimate arival times etc.

Meteorology
The effects of weather, weather patterns, and how they affect flying are covered in this exam.

Human Factors
The human side of flying is covered in this exam, covering things like how Hypoxia, Drunkeness, Fatigue and other factors effect flying.

Flight Radiotelephoney
The Flight Radiotelephoney exam covers the phraseology that is used when communicating via Radio, and the limitations associated with radio, including things like radio wave propagation etc. This test is required to be completed prior to using an Aviation radio without supervision.

For samples of some of these examinations you can see Aviation Services Limited

Flight Training in New Zealand is normally done either through dedicated aviation schools (normally if you are planning on going on to your commercial pilots license), or through Aeroclubs.

Here is a list of Flight Training Organizations

The normal order of flight training lessons are:

• Effects of Controls
  The effects that the different controls have on the aircraft


• Straight and Level
  Learning how to fly the aeroplane in normal, straight and level flight.


• Climbing and Descending
  Learning how to get the plane to climb and descend in a controlled manner.


• Medium Turns
  Learning how to turn the plane using controlled medium rate turns.


• Basic Revision
  Going over all the previous lessons.


• Basic Stalls
  Identifying and recovering from the basic type of stall (power off - nose high).


• Advanced Stalls
  Identifying and recovering from advanced stalls (low power - landing configuration - nose high).


• Advanced Revision
  Covering everything that has been learned up until this point


• Introduction to Circuits
  An introduction to flying in the circuit pattern at an airfield


• Touch and Go Circuits
  Learning about touch and go circuits, where full power is applied as soon as the plane touches down, so that you can take off again.


• Engine Failure after Take off, and Go-Arrounds

Learning what to do in the event of a engine failure after take off, and what to do when the runway is obstructed on final approch.

• Glide Aproaches
  Learning to land on the runway after an engine failure late down wind. This is similar to the final portion of a forced landing due to engine failure.


• Crosswind Landings
  Learning to land when the wind is blowing accross the runway, rather than straight along it. Also learning about the maximum amount of crosswind that planes can land in.


• Flapless Landings
  Learning how to land without the use of flaps, which are normally used to slow the aircraft down, and provide a lower safe speed.


• Aborted Takeoffs
  Learning what to do when a takeoff needs to be aborted, either due to an obstruction on the runway, or due to problems with the aircraft.


• Circuit Consolidation
  Combining the various types of circuits that have been learned about. This will normally consist of several lessons, until the instructors are satisfied that you are ready for your first Solo Circuit.


• First Solo Circuit
  With the instructor sitting by a radio on the ground, you will nervously complete your first circuit flying solo, by yourself, with no-one in the aircraft to turn to if things go wrong.


• Circuit Consolidation
  You will now complete several lessons of circuit consolidation, where you will go over the previous circuit lessons, first with the instructor in the aeroplane, then after a brief stop on the ground you will go back up to practice them solo.


• Circuit Joining
  Learning how to safely join into the circuit when you are arriving at the aerodrome is the point of this lesson.


• Forced Landing Without Power
  The point of this lesson is to learn what to do in the even of the engine failing in the aircraft. How to pick a suitable landing place from whatever altitude, and successfully make your way down to land. For this training exercise the descent normally goes down to 500ft above the ground, however at the instructors discretion it can go lower. After several times with an instructor, you will then get to practise this lesson solo.


• Steep Turns
  The effects on aerodynamics of a steep turn, and the additional requirements such as increased power that these require is learned in this lesson. After then lesson it is normal to practice this solo.


• Max Performance Take offs, and Precision Landing
  Have a short run way that you need to take off from or land on? The point of this lesson is to learn how to get the maximum possible performance during take off, and how to land as close as possible to the threshold of the runway when landing, so that you can safely land on those short runways.


• Compass Turns
  This lesson focuses on the effects that acceleration, deceleration, and turning have on the compass, and how to account for them. Once again, after learning this lesson you will then practice it solo.


• Full Panel Instrument Flying
  Learning how to fly on the instrument panel, so that if you accidentally fly into cloud, you can find your way out. This does not have a solo component, as simulated instrument flying always requires a safety pilot.


• Partial Panel Instrument Flying
  Partial Panel instrument flying is the same as full panel, except that those instruments that could be affected by icing are removed, and you have to rely on other instruments instead


• Low Flying
  Low flying occurs in specially designated areas, and involves flying considerable lower than the 500 ft minimum that is normally specified. The minimum height in these areas is as low as you can go without touching the ground, however instructors will normally specify a height like 200 ft etc, although one instructor I had, had me go down to 50 ft and fly at that height for a while.
  
  The point of low flying is so that you can handle it if cloud forces you to fly lower than the normal minimums (although you shouldn't really get into this sort of circumstance).


• Precautionary Landings
  Precautionary Landings are used when you need to land, but are unable to reach an airfield, either due to weather, or problems in the aircraft. This is different from a forced landing, in that you do have at least partial power, and involves selecting a suitable field, and spending time checking it for problems prior to landing.


• Map Reading
  Map Reading involves plotting a simple course on a map, and then following that course, keeping track of landmarks that you pass. This is done first, with an instructor, then normally the same course in reverse as a solo flight.


• Cross Country Flying
  This involves flying to a number of other airfields in a loop, back to your originating airfield. Normally this goes Dual Cross Country Flight, then Solo, then Dual, then Solo.


• Revision
  Revision of everything that has been learned is the point here.


• Mock Flight Test
  If after this the instructor thinks you are ready, they will generally direct you to book your flight test.


• Flight Test
  If you pass this, you are done and will be issued your license.

The CAA Class 2 Medical can only be provided by CAA Approved Medical Practicioners.

A list of these can be found on the CAA Website

Getting a Private Pilots license is a costly exercise. At the time of writting it costs between NZ$15,000 and NZ$20,000.

This is made up of:
50 - 60 hours flying time at $250 - $300 per hour: $12,500 - $18,000
Medical Examination: $120 - $250
Theory Examinations: $49 x 6 + $20 x 6 sitting fee - $414
PPL Flight Test: $200 - $300
Theory Courses: Various