First PPL pilot @ Durban Skyye

My flight school's first PPL student to qualify for his licence, my husband Lllewellyn, seen here in the Sling 2 aircraft we own together and which will take us across to Madagascar next month. Llew has been flying with me from the start but was determined to pass all the exams, do the hours and get his own licence which arrived from the CAA yesterday.

Both Llew and I qualified for our licences in our Sling aircraft ZDL

The proud holder of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) which qualifies Llew to fly airplanes over 600kg MAUW and for any plane that requires less than 2 pilots

Dave gives Llew the thumbs up and congratulates him on his licence

Weekend flying

The Flight School was busy today with microlight flights, students training for their pilot's licence and even pilots hiring our Sling aircraft out for flights along the coast.

Our flight instructors Brandon (left) and Brad (CFI middle) chat to William who is doing his National Pilot's Licence with us.

Dave takes student Gordon (right) for a training flight up to the Tugela River mouth in somewhat bumpy and a little hazy weather conditions today.

Umhlanga beachfront and lighthouse on our return

Students

I had a great day today with two students on a rather dull weather-day. Armand, right below, is our youngest student and took off by himself for the frst time today. Great progress Armand, you're flying so well!! 

Armand is training for his pilot's licence at Durban Skyye Flight School

The Stadium and city looms into view as we take off from Virginia Airport

The Amanzimtoti Country Club en route to the General Flying Area

Slinging around Durban

We did it again !!

My flight school sister company, Durban Skyye Pilot Training (Pty) Ltd, has been granted authority by the SA Civil Aviation Authority to offer PPL (Private Pilot Licence) training in addition to the NPL licence presently offered by the Flight School.

This means we now cater for the recreational pilot who prefers to fly light sport aeroplanes or microlights as well as those intent on a career in aviation who need to obtain their PPL en route to their Commerical Pilot's or Airline Transport Pilot's licence. It was quite a long slog I can assure you as the Manuals for both flight school together took me a year to put together and go through the process of scrutiny and audit pending the issue of the training approvals. I got our NPL training authority in April and our PPL authority today.

Our SA CAA approval for PPL pilot training

There are still many advantages of first obtaining your NPL licence - it's cheaper, can be obtained in a minimum of 35 hours of flight experience (45 for PPL) and the exams are less hectic. Once you obtain an NPL licence you can also upgrade easily to a PPL licence by doing the extra hours as long as you also have the PPL exams under your belt. This is the way I did it, writing the PPL exams instead of the NPL exams first time around. The NPL licence got me into the air on my own quicker and with the NPL licence you can also take passengers and have some fun in the skyye with them.

Either way, we now offer both licences as an option and we do so in a relaxed, friendly environment, enjoying our time as Instructors and Students.

Durban Skyye are the only flight school approved for both NPL and PPL licencing at Virginia Airport, and possibly KZN, so come on down and start your training with us.

It's the way to go.. and The Sky's No Limit !      (Aviation Training Organisation ATO CAA / 0262)

Doing my Taildragger conversion training

Incredible day flying yesteday.. the air was clean and clear and you could see forever. Our Instructor Larry Van Der Merwe took to the skyye with me in our Taildragger MSC for my conversion training and we flew out to Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg for some cheaper circuits landing this beauty. You can do your conversion too at Durban Skyye Flight School - for both PPL and NPL pilots.

Instructor Larry (left) and Dave ready for some conversion training on our flight school Taildragger MSC

Durban looking beautiful as we flew in from Cato Ridge in the west

Larry with MSC in Pietermaritzburg - beautiful little airport and an ideal lunch stop if you are in the area - the coffee shop opens when the Link airline plane is due to arrive

MSC looking proud on the Pietermaritburg apron

Dave and Larry posing before flying back

All smiles from Larry as we head back to Durban

Durban's Bluff, the harbour and  city as we pass the compulsory reporting point at Cooper's Lighthouse

We head to the harbour entrance which is the second reporting point as we enter the Virginia Airport airspace

Rounding the harbour mouth we have now left uncontrolled airspace and the beautiful view back to the Bluff reveals itself. I used to be the City Councillor for the Fynnland ward and this view basically takes in my ward.. from the harbour side through the Fynnland suburb to Beacon Road.

A view of Vetch's pier - suitable landing space for our Seaplane when we get it up and running

Go Sharks Go!

I had a great day at the Flight School today with several new Pilot training enquiries as well as some good friends who came flying with me in our Sling ZDL.

Billy and Bernard from Tyson Properties Amanzimoti came to visit and fly over the Durban and Umhlanga beachfront with me.

Yak Pilot Chris is doing his taildragger rating with us

Jonathan from ATS Flight School in Johannesburg paid us a visit

Theuns is keen on getting his PPL licence and came to check out my Sling

The view of the Umhlanga beachfront from ZDL

Bernard from Tysons enjoying the flight with me

Mark is one of my service providers who took naturally to the skyye over Durban with me

Sharks Academy rugby player Marc-Alexander is keen to get his pilot's licence and follow in his Dad's footsteps

Taildragger next

If you like dodgem cars, you will love the Explorer Taildragger we have as a training aircraft at Durban Skyye Flight School and I had a lesson with our rated Instructor Ian today.. the difference between a taildragger and a tricycle plane is that the centre of gravity is behind you, so instead of it balancing on a nose wheel and two main wheels, it leans backwards with a little "supermarket trolly" type wheel at the back just above the ground. The huge difference this makes is that when you taxi or land the plane, the heavier back tail keeps trying to overtake you and can easily result in a ground loop or spin-around unless you can keep the tail centred behind you. Pilots like the taildraggers because they keep you on your toes and are fun to fly - certainly no docile plane!!

Here is Ian with the Explorer taildragger and then a few happy snaps as we took advantage of the clear Durban skyye after the rain and he showed me how to land the little bugger.

Ian poses before showing me how the plane works.. just taxiing the plane was taxing!

I think I can do this thing!!

Smart MGL glass cockpit of the Explorer with all the information you need to fly

Beautiful Durban and the harbour on take-off from Virginia Airport

National Flight Instructor

I passed my flight test today for my National Flight Instructor Rating Grade C, so I will now be able to train my own students.. very chuffed and looking forward to this next phase of my aviation life. Thanks to my Instructor and flight school partner Brad for the hours he spent with me having as much fun as I was in my plane teaching me some of the more advanced techniques the Sling is capable of. Thanks also to Johnny our airline pilot who handled the flight test. Looking forward to working more with you. I am the first student of Durban Skyye Flight School to commence and complete training at the fledgling flight school.. many more to follow!! 

Johnny (right) with Dave during the flight test

It's a thumbs-up from Dave enjoying his flight test

About to go 

The view of the beachfront homeward bound on a poor weather day finishing off the flight test

Johnny completes the skills test assessment for submission to Raasa

Flight School Manuals

Many months of my "spare" time were spent burning the midnight oil compiling the training manuals for our flight school which were approved in April. I have just completed a first revision and added the set of Practical Training Modules with the help of our Instructor Ian so that we have the theoretical and practical training syllabuses covered. These are for Part 62 (National Pilot Licence) training and I have also completed and submitted a full set for Part 61 (Private Pilot Licence) training as well to the CAA for approval.

I believe the learning process is enhanced if the students know where they are in the process, what needs to be achieved and what is expected of them. Ground instruction covering the full theoretical knowledge syllabus is also available, as well as the General and Restricted Radio Certificate. We are also registered as an online exam centre for the NPL exams.

Having fun at our scholars Pilot Open Day

We had some fun in Durban yesterday with our scholars Pilot Open Day.. introducing our planes, the Flight School and Instructors. Also with my son Mark here from Stellenbosch he came to help and also fly with me in our Sling ZDL.

Dave ready to welcome scholars at Durban Skyye Flight School Open Day

Mark and Dad getting some "airtime"

Durban Skyye Sling ZDL

Mark and I over the Umhlanga beachfront and lighthouse

OurSling ZDL whilst Instructor Brad chats to visitors alongside the Flight School's microlight

More pics on our Flight School blog here.