The first licence stipulated by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority – the Regulator) is the Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL). To obtain the RPL you will need to complete a minimum of 25 hours flight training of which 5 of those hours must be flown solo (without an instructor). You will also need to be 16 years of age.

Experience shows that most candidates will require more than 25 hours. As with most learning experiences, the more regularly you train, the more cost effective it will be. Each of the lessons towards the RPL consists of a ground briefing followed by a flight of approximately one hour’s duration. During this training you will learn basic aircraft handling on how to fly an Aircraft and to handle Emergency and Non Normal Procedures.

After completion of the training and the Flight Test you will be permitted to fly within 25nm (approximately 40km) of the aerodrome and carry passengers. You can undertake additional training and add on various endorsements such as the Controlled Aerodrome Endorsement, Controlled Airspace endorsement (if you intend to fly in and out of such Aerodromes) and the Flight Radio Endorsement. For those that don’t wish to proceed to the Private Pilot Licence, you can also add on a Recreational Navigation Endorsement. Most candidates however, generally proceed on to the Private Pilot Licence (PPL).

For more information on how to obtain your RPL please visit the CASA website.