Thinking about learning to fly is exciting, but it can also raise a lot of questions.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Am I too old to learn?
How much does it cost?
Will I be able to fly by myself?
Is flying difficult?
How often do I need to train?
And what happens if I decide I want to become a commercial pilot?
These are all sensible questions to ask before starting.
At Moorabbin Aviation Services (MAS), we speak with prospective students at all different stages of their decision-making process. Some have wanted to fly for years, while others have only recently started thinking about it.
Here are some of the most common questions we hear from people considering flight training.
1. Do I Need Any Previous Flying Experience?
No.
You do not need previous flying experience to begin learning to fly.
Most student pilots start with no practical flying experience at all.
Your instructor will introduce you to the aircraft, explain the controls and gradually teach you the skills required to operate it safely.
You don’t need to know how to:
- Take off
- Land
- Use the aircraft controls
- Communicate on the radio
- Navigate
- Read aviation charts
- Understand aviation weather
These are all things you will learn during your training.
A trial flight is often a good place to start because it allows you to experience flying before making a commitment to a longer training program.
2. Am I Too Old to Learn to Fly?
For recreational and private flying, there is no general upper age limit that prevents someone from learning to fly simply because of their age.
What matters is your ability to meet the relevant licensing, medical and competency requirements.
People start learning to fly at many different ages.
Some students begin straight after school.
Others discover aviation later in life and learn to fly as a new challenge, hobby or retirement activity.
If you are older and wondering whether you are too old, the sensible approach is not to focus on your age alone.
Instead, talk to an aviation medical examiner about the applicable medical requirements and speak with a flight school about your goals.
If you are physically and medically capable of meeting the requirements, age itself does not necessarily prevent you from learning to fly.
3. Do I Need a Medical Certificate?
Yes.
You need to meet the applicable aviation medical requirements for the licence and privileges you are seeking.
The requirements vary depending on the type of flying you intend to undertake.
If your ultimate goal is professional flying, medical considerations are particularly important because commercial pilot training involves higher medical requirements than some recreational flying.
This is one reason we recommend prospective professional students investigate their aviation medical requirements before making a major financial commitment to training.
A medical issue discovered later in your training can be extremely disappointing and potentially expensive.
4. Do I Need to Be Good at Maths?
You don’t need to be a mathematician to become a pilot.
However, there is some mathematics involved in aviation.
You will encounter calculations associated with areas such as:
- Navigation
- Distance
- Time
- Fuel
- Aircraft performance
- Weight and balance
- Headings and wind
- Flight planning
The mathematics is generally practical and applied to real flying situations.
You will also be taught the methods and procedures required for the calculations.
Being comfortable with basic mathematics is helpful, particularly as you progress through more advanced training, but you do not need to be an advanced mathematician to learn to fly.
5. Is Learning to Fly Difficult?
Flight training can be challenging, but that is part of what makes it rewarding.
You are learning to control an aircraft while simultaneously developing knowledge about weather, navigation, procedures, radio communications, aircraft systems and aviation regulations.
At first, there is a lot to think about.
But your training is progressive.
Your instructor will introduce new skills gradually and allow you to practise them before moving on to more advanced exercises.
You will also find that tasks that initially seem complicated eventually become much more natural.
The important qualities are generally commitment, preparation, concentration and a willingness to learn, rather than being exceptionally gifted.
And don’t expect to be perfect.
Making mistakes is part of learning.
6. How Long Does It Take to Learn to Fly?
There isn’t one answer.
The time required depends on the licence you are pursuing, your progress, how frequently you train and a range of practical factors.
For example, someone learning to fly recreationally will have a different training pathway from someone working towards a PPL or CPL.
Your progress can also be affected by:
- Weather
- Aircraft availability
- Instructor availability
- How often you fly
- Your own learning rate
- Theory study
- Previous flying experience
Minimum regulatory flight hours are not necessarily the number of hours every student will need.
Some students progress faster than others, while some need additional practice in particular areas.
The objective is competence, not simply reaching a particular number of hours.
7. How Often Do I Need to Fly?
This depends partly on your goals and your available time.
If you are learning recreationally, you may be able to train around work, study or family commitments.
However, regular flying is beneficial.
Flying frequently allows each lesson to build on the previous one and helps you retain recently learned skills.
If there is a long gap between lessons, you may need some time to refresh skills that you previously developed.
Students undertaking professional training generally need to make a much greater time commitment.
The important thing is to establish a realistic training schedule that you can maintain.
8. Do I Have to Fly Every Day?
No.
Flight training is not simply a matter of flying every day according to a fixed timetable.
There will be days when you fly, days when you study theory, days when you complete flight planning and days when you undertake a combination of activities.
There may also be days when you planned to fly but the weather isn’t suitable.
Aircraft or instructor availability can also affect the schedule.
This is completely normal.
A productive training day might involve:
- A flying lesson
- A pre-flight briefing
- A post-flight debrief
- Theory study
- Flight planning
- Navigation preparation
- Self-study
Your daily activities will depend on where you are in your training and what needs to be achieved next.
There is no typical day for a student pilot.
9. What Happens If the Weather Is Bad?
You don’t fly simply because a flight has been scheduled.
The weather needs to be suitable for the planned operation.
If conditions aren’t appropriate, your flight may be postponed or cancelled.
Although this can be frustrating, it is an important part of aviation.
You may instead use the time for theory, flight planning, revision or other training activities.
Learning to assess weather and make sensible decisions about whether or not to fly is an essential pilot skill.
In fact, knowing when not to fly is just as important as knowing how to fly.
10. Will I Fly the Aircraft Myself?
Yes, under your instructor’s supervision as you develop the necessary skills.
From the early stages of your training, you will begin learning to operate the aircraft.
Your instructor will demonstrate exercises and then allow you to practise them.
Over time, you will take on more responsibility.
Eventually, one of the major milestones of your training will arrive:
your first solo flight.
Your instructor will only authorise you to fly solo when they are satisfied that you have reached the required standard and can safely conduct the flight.
For most students, the first solo is an unforgettable experience.
11. What Is the Difference Between an RPL, PPL and CPL?
These are different levels of pilot licensing and privileges.
Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL)
The RPL is generally the first formal licence stage for a new pilot.
It provides the foundation of your flying skills and allows recreational flying within the applicable privileges and conditions.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
The PPL provides broader private flying privileges and allows you to undertake more extensive private flying, including cross-country operations, subject to the applicable requirements.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
The CPL is the qualification required to exercise commercial pilot privileges, subject to the applicable ratings and conditions.
It is the normal foundation for someone who wants to pursue professional flying.
The pathway can therefore look like:
Trial Flight → RPL → PPL → CPL
However, not everyone needs to go all the way to a CPL.
The right endpoint depends on what you want to achieve from flying.
12. Can I Learn to Fly as a Hobby Without Becoming a Professional Pilot?
Absolutely.
You don’t have to become an airline pilot simply because you learn to fly.
A PPL can be a very rewarding qualification for someone who wants aviation as a long-term hobby.
You can use your licence to fly privately, take family or friends flying and explore Australia from the air, subject to the relevant licensing and operational requirements.
For some people, that’s exactly what they want.
For others, learning to fly is the first step towards a professional career.
13. What If I Eventually Want to Become a Commercial Pilot?
That’s where planning your training pathway becomes important.
You can start by learning the fundamentals and obtaining your initial licence, then progress towards your PPL and eventually CPL.
As you move towards professional flying, your training becomes progressively more advanced.
You may also need additional qualifications such as:
- Multi-engine training
- Instrument Rating
- Further aviation theory
- Additional aircraft endorsements or ratings
- Flight experience
The exact pathway depends on your intended career.
You don’t necessarily need to decide everything before your first flight.
You can begin by learning to fly and discuss your longer-term goals with your instructor as your training progresses.
14. How Much Does It Cost to Learn to Fly?
This is one of the most important questions — and also one where there is no single answer.
The total cost depends on the licence you are pursuing, the aircraft you fly, the number of hours required, instructor time and other associated costs.
It is important to understand that the cost of flight training is not simply:
“number of flying hours × aircraft hourly rate.”
There can also be costs associated with things such as:
- Instructor time
- Theory
- Exams
- Aviation medicals
- Flight tests
- Licence fees
- Charts and navigation equipment
- Headsets
- Other aviation equipment
A responsible flight school should explain the likely costs and what is included before you commit to training.
It is also sensible to allow some financial margin because students do not all progress at exactly the same rate.
15. Do I Need to Be Rich to Learn to Fly?
No, but you do need to be realistic about the financial commitment.
Learning to fly is not an inexpensive hobby.
However, you don’t necessarily need to become a commercial pilot or complete an entire professional pilot program.
You can choose a training pathway that matches your goals and budget.
For someone learning recreationally, training can potentially be spread over a longer period and fitted around other commitments.
For someone pursuing a professional career, the financial and time commitment will naturally be considerably greater.
The important thing is to understand the likely costs before you begin.
16. Can I Train While Working or Studying?
Yes.
Many recreational and private pilot students train around other commitments.
You might fly before work, after work or on selected days.
However, you should understand the trade-off between flexibility and training continuity.
If your schedule allows you to fly regularly, you are more likely to maintain momentum.
Professional pilot training generally requires a much greater time commitment and should be approached more like a serious course of study.
17. What Happens During a Flying Lesson?
A flying lesson normally involves considerably more than simply getting into the aircraft.
Depending on the lesson, you may have:
Pre-flight preparation
You and your instructor discuss the objectives and prepare the aircraft and flight.
Flying
You practise the exercises relevant to your stage of training.
Debrief
After the flight, your instructor discusses your performance and identifies what you need to work on next.
As you progress, you will take increasing responsibility for the preparation and planning.
This gradual transfer of responsibility is an important part of becoming an independent pilot.
18. What If I’m Nervous About Flying?
That’s completely understandable.
Many people have some nervousness when they first fly.
A small training aircraft can feel very different from sitting in the cabin of an airliner.
Your instructor’s job is to make the experience controlled, structured and understandable.
You will not be expected to master everything immediately.
Your skills will develop progressively.
For many students, initial nervousness disappears surprisingly quickly once they understand the aircraft and start developing confidence in their own abilities.
And if you’re nervous, tell your instructor.
There is nothing unusual about it.
19. What Should I Look for in a Flight School?
Choosing the right flight school is an important decision.
Don’t choose a school based purely on the lowest advertised hourly rate.
Consider:
- The quality and experience of instructors
- The condition and availability of aircraft
- The airport and training environment
- Training facilities
- The school’s approach to safety
- How clearly costs are explained
- Availability of instructors
- How the school monitors student progress
- The pathway available if you want to progress
- Whether you feel comfortable with the instructors and staff
Most importantly, visit the flight school.
Talk to the people who will actually be involved in your training.
Ask questions.
Look at the aircraft.
Get a feel for the environment.
A good relationship between student and instructor can make a significant difference to your training experience.
20. Do I Have to Decide My Whole Future Before I Start?
No.
This is perhaps the most important thing to remember.
You don’t have to decide on day one whether you want to become an airline Captain.
You can start with a trial flight.
If you enjoy it, begin your training.
You may initially want an RPL.
Then you might decide that you want a PPL.
Later, you might discover that professional flying is something you would like to pursue.
That’s perfectly fine.
Your goals can develop as your experience grows.
The Best Way to Find Out If Flying Is for You
You can read about flying for weeks.
You can compare licences.
You can research aircraft.
You can look at career possibilities.
But eventually there is one thing that will answer the question better than anything else:
Go flying.
A trial flight gives you the opportunity to experience the aircraft, meet an instructor and see what flight training is actually like.
You don’t need to know everything before you start.
You just need enough information to take the first step.
Ready to Take That First Step?
At Moorabbin Aviation Services, we can help you understand the different licence options and explain what is involved in learning to fly.
Whether your goal is simply to learn to fly for fun, obtain a PPL or eventually progress towards a CPL and professional aviation career, your journey can start with a trial flight.
Come and experience flying for yourself.
Contact MAS to discuss your goals and find out how to get started.
Check here : https://mas.vic.edu.au/