RAAus - Time to first solo

pelorus32 · 12-11-06, 07:56 PM

RAAus regulations say that a pilot certificate requires at lest 20 hours and of that at least 5 must be solo.

How realistic is it to be able to get your pilot certificate in the minimum time?

Please only answer this if you were an ab initio RAAus pilot certificate candidate. No GA conversions please.

Regards

Mike

PaulN · 13-11-06, 10:22 AM

Hi P32,

I won't say it was easy but managed my Pilot Cert from ab initio at 26.4 hours 5.7 of which were solo. XC and Pax endorsements took a while longer of course. If it's possible, I think the best approach is to do your training in a concentrated block of time rather than over a long period. Mine was achieved in just under two months ... but the learning goes on.

Paul

Ed Herring · 09-01-07, 11:23 PM

Hi Guys

The minimum requirement for an RA-Aus Certificate is certainly achievable which is probably why the minimum is set at 20 hours with 5 hours solo.

Not many do actually achieve it however, and it is far from the average! There are so many variables and factors which contribute to firstly going solo and ultimately gaining the certificate.

At the end of the day even though we all remember our "first solo" with pride, does it really matter when you have logged say, 200 hours?

While going solo early is certainly something to brag about...BUT...it is the time in the seat and the knowledge learn't and retained that counts when 200 hours is logged.

Good subject this one!

Regards
Ed

leestanley · 23-01-07, 02:39 AM

As I am learning... time to solo seems to be governed significantly by the weather... I am currently getting lots of great experience in the cct at YTDN in strong crosswinds (10+ kts) but until I happen to get down there on a calm day I won't be going solo...

I've come to realise that time to solo is not that important... the quality of instruction and experience in difficult conditions will always stand me in good stead... as long as I can afford to burn $ in the cct! Thats the rub - until I go solo (and can start accumulating those mandatory 5 hours) I won't be able to get any closer to my certificate and I'll have 20 hours up in a couple of weeks.

Loving it though!

**slartibartfast** · 23-01-07, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leestanley

As I am learning... time to solo seems to be governed significantly by the weather... I am currently getting lots of great experience in the cct at YTDN in strong crosswinds (10+ kts) but until I happen to get down there on a calm day I won't be going solo...

That was happening to me until PaulN made me realize that I could get up at 3:30am, drive the 1.3 hours to YCOM, get 2 hours flying in, and still get to work at a reasonable hour. I have loved the early morning flying. Smooth. Spectacular. Still.
This morning I got 2.6 hours in which has put me at 20 hours with 6 solo. My instructor says I'm ready, so I'm quite excited.
I highly recommend getting some early mornings in if your instructor is as obliging as mine.

Ross

leestanley · 23-01-07, 03:10 AM

Hi Ross,

I have thought of that as well... but I'm on the kids school run most days

so that will have to be a school holidays option!

At the moment im getting 3 hours in a weekend and I always fly early in the day so all I can do is wait for the Gods to favour me with a headwind on 04 or 22. I've been ready for first solo for the past 2 or 3 hours... I'm aiming now for my basic cert by about 26 hours, I hope

Well done on being ready to go now, Ross!

Cheers,
Lee

numptie · 23-01-07, 03:28 AM

Lee,

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones when it comes to time. I managed to get all of my training done and have my pilot certificate issued at 20 hours.

I found that, like you, being at the coast I was doing a lot of flying with the instructor in reasonably heavy winds and I think it helped me learn to FLY the plane better so that when it came to solo, it didn't matter what the conditions were like. Luckily, my first solo was on a calm day.....for the first 3 landings, after that it started getting a little windy. In the 16 months since then, I think I've had 2 or 3 calm(ish) days.

I do agree with the others, if you want to fly in calm/light winds, get in some early morning lessons, trust me, it's worth it when you see how great your first solo is.

Bob

maxamos · 30-01-07, 02:42 AM

Lee, I am another one that learnt at Tooradin on Jabiru's and also went through a bit of extra crosswind training before I got the right day when I could go solo. After soloing the first time, also then found it wasn't easy to get the right days to be able to get out there and practice solo due to the conditions, ( and my lack of experience to handle them). Sure does make it easier in the long run, and makes you a more competent pilot.

bateo · 30-01-07, 12:13 PM

I was quite opposite to you guys, Although I had my GA background and doing a conversion in a Thruster tail dragger, My instructor wanted to take me up in rougher conditions before I went solo (all dead calm). There was a week or 2 before he could pick a rough enough day to do my 4th hour... It was fairly rough for a rag-and-bone plane but managed, let me go solo in it afterwards...

leestanley · 31-01-07, 03:30 PM

hi maxamos,

pleased to hear im not the only one

seriously though, the additional hours in difficult conditions have been great - i'm feeling very confident. over the past 3 or 4 hours i've actually completed all the post solo dual work as well whilst waiting for the right day for that elusive solo! the precautionary search and landings on french island were great fun.

are you still down at YTDN? might bump into you one sunday...

cheers,
lee.