Here are my experiences of getting checked out and flying light aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa. It's a little more difficult to get started than some other places, but well worth the effort. The main problem is you need to visit Pretoria in order to get the validated licence issued. Pretoria is about 35 minutes by car from Jo'burg, so it's not too bad.

Licensing

In order to qualify for a validated SA PPL, you'll need to sit (and pass!) the Air Law exam. Show up at FTC with your licence and logbook, and allow an hour to study the Air Law guide and twenty minutes to take the test on the computer (which then prints out your result). There were about 25 questions with a 70% pass mark (no penalty marking). Hang on to the print-out, you'll need it in Pretoria...

So now you've got one piece of paper to say you've passed the flight test, and another to say you've passed Air Law. Some flying schools will arrange a validated licence for a small fee. If you'd rather so it yourself, the procedure is as follows:

First stop is Sandton, in Johannesburg, to collect the Restricted Radio Licence (the office has recently moved from Pretoria, thanks Mark Shedd, who let me know). The man to talk to is Jim Markalala (tel: +27-(0)11-321 8411) at Pin Mill Farm, 164 Katherine Street, Sandton. Office hours are 0830 to 1230 and 1330 to 1600.

Directions: Exit off N/M 1 Marlborough St. Take a right at the first robot (traffic light). Stay in left lane. You come to a T at the second robot. Take a left onto Katherine St. Go to the third robot and look for the Pin Mill Farm sign. Turn left into the compound and ask the guard at the gate for directions to Block B. Go to reception, ask for Finance, pay R30 and collect receipt. Then go to Block B and ask for Licensing (Jim). He'll issue you with a Restricted Radio Licence on the basis of your foreign licence, with a 12 month validity.

Now to the CAA at Pretoria.

Click for a larger image

Navigate your way to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) (tel: +27-(0)12-346 5566) at Grammik Park, 281 Middle Street, New Muckleneuk, Pretoria, where you will be issued with a validated PPL, valid until your medical expires, for a fee of R60. Remember to take your logbook, licence, passport, ICAO crew card (if you have one), and test results with you. The whole trip to Pretoria will take around two hours.

The CAA now has an email address: mail@caa.co.za and a website. Thanks Donvé Idle for this information.

Now the catch is that you will need to go back to Pretoria when your medical expires, and then back to Sandton when the validated Radio Licence expires... If you intend flying in SA on a regular basis, it might be worth considering getting a "stand-alone" SA PPL. The only extra work involved is a SA medical and the four ground exams (Meteorology, Navigation, Technical, and Principles of Flight), which can be taken at FTC on the computer for no charge. The advantage of this route is that there is no need ever to go back to Pretoria - there will be a flight test after the first twelve months, then it's every two years. You can get a SA medical done annually, combined with your UK or US medical.

One further advantage is that you cannot qualify for extra ratings (type, IMC, twin) on a validated licence. So, for example, if you wanted to do a helicopter conversion, it would be impossible unless you had a "proper" PPL first.

It is, of course, quite possible to take the "validated licence" route first and then upgrade to a PPL in slow time later.

Where to Rent

I went to the Flight Training College of SA (FTC) (tel: +27-(0)11-315 3992) at Grand Central Airport. Grand Central is roughly a third of the way from Jo'burg to Pretoria, close to the N1 motorway (take the Midrand exit).

At FTC they've got the following aircraft Cessna 172, Cessna 172 RG, Cessna 182, Diamond Katana, Piper Arrow II, Cessna 210 and Seneca II.They can also arrange to have a private Cessna 206 available, on request.

There are also flying schools at Lanseria and Rand. Schools At Lanseria schools include the Lanseria Flight Centre (tel: 011-659-2810) with various Cessna 172s and Pro-Flite (tel: 011-701-3286) with Cessna and a Piper Arrow. Schools At Rand include the Transvaal Aviation Club (tel: 011-824-4749) with a Piper J3 Cub, a Cessna 152, a Piper Arrow and a Piper Aztec, the JNB School of Flying (tel: 011-827-9827) a Piper Cherokee 180, a Cessna 152 and a Cessna 172 RG, the Tas Flight School (tel: 011-824-2531) with a Cessna 172 and a Piper Arrow II and Vic's Flight Centre (tel: 011-824-4248) which has a Tiger Moth (dual only), a Piper Saratoga FG, a Piper Arrow III and a Piper Turbo-Arrow III.

The Check Out

The flight test is a pretty standard club check-out, although it will be signed off as a PPL Flight Test. Brush up on high-altitude techniques first - Grand Central is 5,300 ft above sea level! Expect to depart to the North at 7,500 ft to the airspace just east of the Hartbeesport Dam (HBV VOR), carry out a steep turn, practice forced landing, track a radial into HBV, then down to Lanseria Airport for a couple of touch-and-goes. Then back to Grand Central for a couple more circuits including a glide approach and a short-field landing. Total time for me was 1:30 in the C172.

Where to Fly

Sun City

FAPN, S2520.0 E02710.3 Elev 3,410', rw 05/23 2240m by 21m, tarmac, tower 118.4, NDBs PLB 215 and PLG 480, tel: 01465-21143 or 22154, fax: 01465-21108. IR required for night departure. 40 min flying northwest of Johannesburg, R22 parking fee (for up to three hours), free transport the last couple of miles to Sun City - casinos, restaurants, and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (nb 2,000' agl) next door.

Mabula Game Lodge

Unmarked private strip, S2444.0 E02754.0 Elev 4,500', rw 14/32 1,300m, gravel/track. 40 minutes flying north of Johannesburg, prior permission required so call 014734-616 in advance (fax: 014734-733). Fly over the lodge on arrival and they send a vehicle to collect you from the strip. Beware game on the strip! Nice lunch, R90 for a two-hour Game Drive in the afternoon at 1400. Good day out, GPS recommended to find the strip!

Rand,Wonderboom (Pretoria) and Lanseria Airports

Lanseria and Wonderboom have loads of small to medium commercial operators, flying schools, an airport restaurant and a well-stocked pilot shop. Rand is similar, with more vintage aircraft to be seen, but beware the landing and passenger handling fee (in the order of R60).

For more ideas on where to fly, contact Donvé Idle who runs SA Fliteguide Publications (tel: +27-(0)11-238 2601) and publishes the Airfields of South Africa guide. Thanks to Mark Shedd for additional information.

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© C J Parker