Training

General Training:

The North Shore Aero Club has adopted a professionally designed flight-training curriculum based on traditional methods of flight training and CAA Part 61 requirements. The student is paired with one of our Flight Instructors and begins each lesson with an individual briefing in one of the special briefing rooms.

The briefing will detail the flying lesson for that day with special attention to the expected goals of the lesson (The flying lessons are detailed in the "Private Pilot Training Guide" and the briefings are included as part of a "Starter Pack").

Once the flight has been completed the Instructor will debrief the student, the lesson will be examined and the student's ability to fly the lesson will be discussed.

It is important to note that flying should be enjoyable and we aim to make this so for our students and we also encourage our students to broaden their aviation experiences as much as possible in their time at the aero club.

Minimum Requirements:

In order to fly at the North Shore Aero Club you must become a member of the Aero Club. We have a wide range of membership options available however the most common is the full "Pilot" membership.

Minimum Requirements - Private Pilot's License - Theory

There is no formal requirement to have undertaken any theory examinations before your first flying lesson. The first restriction (with respect to having successful examination passes) applies to "cross country" flights. This applies to flights beyond 25Nm from the aerodrome of departure. In order to undertake such a flight solo (as Pilot in Command (PIC)), you must have successful examination passes in:

• Air Law
• Navigation
• Meteorology and;
• Flight Radio Telephone Operator

For a Private Pilot's License you must also obtain examination passes in:

• General Aircraft Technical Knowledge (Aeroplane) and;
• Human Factors

At the North Shore Aero Club we run night school courses (typically on Monday and Wednesday nights) for the six PPL subjects. Typically, a full night school course of all six subjects will take three months to complete. However, the option for self study at home is available for all club members. Please note that the syllabus (contained within Advisory Circular AC61-1.3) for the six PPL theory examination subjects can be viewed on the CAA website (see the Links page).

The North Shore Aero Club has a lecture room situated on the ground floor of the clubhouse. Private Pilot License theory examinations are held in the same room at regular intervals (typically Wednesday nights) by Aviation Services Limited (ASL). These times are subject to change but a timetable is kept regularly updated with sitting times on the club noticeboard. Commercial Pilot License (and other professional pilot examinations) are held at various locations within the Auckland region on a monthly basis. These venues and examination timetables can be viewed on the ASL website (see the Links page).

"Pilot Accessories" is a privately owned business which has a showroom located in the clubrooms and stocks theory books for use in the night school courses (or for self study) for both the Private Pilot's License and Commercial Pilot's License theory subjects. Pilot Accessories also sells headsets, clothing and gifts and will also order in items from overseas at special request. Further information regarding Pilot Accessories can be accessed through our Links page.

General Training - Aircraft Selection

The predominant training aircraft used at North Shore Aero Club is the Robin R2120 (low wing - side by side seating and dual controls). A full set of handling notes for this aircraft will be included in the "Private Pilot Training Guide" as part of a Starter Pack.

Professional training is also available in various Cessna and Piper aircraft online at the aero club. We can train a student from "ab-initio" up to Commercial Pilot standard in either the Robin, Cessna or Piper aircraft. Please talk to our office staff, or to one of our instructors, for more information on how we can cater for your individual needs.

Once your flight training has commenced, there are various checkpoints along the way. Below is a list which contains some of the more critical points in your pilot training (with associated minimum requirements):

Minimum Requirements - First Solo

• The main requirements for the first solo flight are :
• Be a minimum of 16 years of age;
• Hold a current Class 2 Medical Certificate;
• Speak, read and understand the English language and;
• Have demonstrated competence in the various aspects of flight outlined in Part 61.105 of the Civil Aviation Rules.

Minimum Requirements - Private Pilot's License (PPL)

These are outlined in AC61-1.3, some, but not all of the requirements for the issue of a Private Pilots Licence are listed below. The applicant must:

• Hold a current Class 2 Medical Certificate;
• Be a minimum of 17 years of age;
• Pass the PPL theory examinations which are Aviation Law, Meteorology, Flight Radio, Navigation, Human Factors, Aircraft Technology;
• Have a minimum of 40 hours flight training, or if cross country privileges are wanted, a minimum of 50 hours including cross country experience;
• Have a minimum of 15 hours solo flight time;
• Have a minimum of 5 hours instrument flying;

The CAA web site contains the civil aviation requirements regarding training towards a pilot license (private, commercial etc). It is recommended that this information be read as early in the pilots training as possible, especially if the pilot desires to pursue a career in aviation. The various other civil aviation rules can be viewed on the CAA website under the "Rule Index" toolbar.

Minimum Requirements - Commercial Pilot's License (CPL)

These are outlined in AC61-1.5, some, but not all of the requirements are as follows:

• A current Class 1 Medical Certificate;
• Be a minimum of 18 years of age;
• Pass the CPL theory examinations which are Aviation Law, Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Navigation, Human Factors, Aircraft Technology;
• Have a minimum of 100 hours flight time in aeroplanes as PIC;
• Have a minimum of 200 hours flight time in aeroplanes (see AC61-1.5 for more details);
• 30 hours of cross country navigation (of which at least 20 hours must be dual training);
• 10 hours of instrument flying (of which at least 5 must be dual instrument flying in aeroplanes);
• For commercial privileges (by night), at least 10 hours total flight time comprising of at least 4 hours dual, 5 hours PIC and at least 10 takeoff's and landings as PIC.

We also offer a wide range of other training at the North Shore Aero Club. For example, once a PPL has been completed, an instrument rating might be an option, particularly for those require a license for business purposes (i.e a flight might be possible IFR might be possible when weather is not suitable for VFR flight). For those planning a career in commercial aviation, an instrument is nearly an essential requirement.

We can provide training for both single engine and multi engine instrument ratings. For a detailed prospectus, please contact the flight office.

Foreign License Validations

For the overseas pilot wanting to fly within New Zealand, there are several options available. Potentially, this process can be complicated if certain criteria are not met (refer CAA website under the "Pilots" link).

In general, the pilot must:

• Have a current pilot license (including current medical) issued by the authority of an ICAO member state and;
• Meet the minimum requirements for a New Zealand PPL and;
• Successfully complete a NZ Biennial Flight Review (BFR) up to PPL standard with an A or B Category Flight Instructor.

There is also some paperwork (with associated fees) to be completed at the end of this process before a pilot can be issued with a New Zealand Private Pilot's License.

To be conservative, the above should be taken as a best case scenario. If any of the above is not met, then potential re training would be required. This might include having to sit theory examinations as well however it will depend on the circumstances of each individual applicant.