Our Courses
Why train with us?
Our CFI, who is responsible for the quality of the training, Charmaine Vincent is an experienced instructor with over 11,000 hours of experience. She is a well-known pilot in the Lowveld Area and her experience in instruction spans initial and advanced training
Our base, at the Old Nelspruit Airport is a busy general aviation hub, with a runway that is sufficient for all our training needs. Taxiing to the runway is a matter of minutes as students can be airborne quickly and get on with their training objectives.
The training area in Barberton valley is also near the flight school. As such students much of students’ time can be spent in actual training as opposed to finding their way to the training area.
Our general area has Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) nearby and we make use of the navigation and airport facilities at KMIA for training such as night rating and instrument rating.
The areas around Nelspruit are also scenic, which means students can enjoy their cross-country flight training by carrying out flights to places such as Hoedspruit, and Blyde Canyon. The busy airspaces of Pretoria and Johannesburg are also within flying distance.
Our planes are in good condition and permanently hangered. The fleet is maintained by a registered Aviation Maintenance Organization(AMO) on the same airfield, meaning we experience minimal downtime during routine maintenance and/or periodic inspection.
Be in Demand with Our Professional Training
Explore our courses and learn how to fly!
PPL
This is the entry level license and opens up avenues for further training. Lowveld Aero Club has trained many PPL holders over the years and a good number continue to be active club members.
- Minimum of 25 hours’ dual flight training with an instructor
- Minimum of 15 hours of solo flight training including a minimum of three hours solo cross country navigation flight
- 5 Hours Basic IF Simulator training
- Practical flight and navigation skills test with a Grade II instructor
- In addition, the applicant should also hold a Restricted Radio License – Lowveld Aero Club also offers training for this. See Radiotelephony
- Minimum Class II Aviation Medical Certificate issued by a registered Aviation Medical Examiner, contacts of which can be obtained from the club
Night Rating
Night Flying requires a different and enhanced set of skills. After obtaining a PPL, most of our students choose to progress their flying journey by acquiring a Night Rating. This gives the students the ability to fly at night in good visual conditions.
- Valid Private Pilot License
- 5 Takeoffs and landings by night
- 10 hours of instrument instruction – 5 of these can be accumulated on an approved flight simulator
- Night cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles. This flight includes two full stop landings at different aerodromes and a controlled airport
Instrument Training
Achieving the initial PPL requirements means the pilot can fly in “fair weather conditions” or Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) in accordance with Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
The Instrument Rating equips pilots with skills to fly solely by reference to instruments in clouds and conditions where a visual external horizon is absent (Instrument Meteorological Conditions), using Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures. As can be expected, this is a more rigorous training, designed to ensure proficiency so as to provide safety. It requires an elevated level of accuracy and adherence to procedures.
- Minimum 40 hours instrument flying
- 20 hours in a simulator
- 20 hours in an aircraft
- Practical flying skills test with a CAA approved designated examiner
Complex Training
This rating enables a pilot to fly a complex aircraft i.e. one with a variable pitch propeller (as opposed to the fixed pitch ones that are used in primary training), flaps and a retractable gear. In addition to honing the pilot’s skills, this endorsement is important for pilots who wish to obtain a commercial pilot license later.
Taildragger Rating
Initial training worldwide is carried out on nose-wheel aircraft. Taildraggers require a different set of skills on the ground and in the air. About 10 hours of training in a taildragger are required with an rated instructor.
Radiotelephony (RT)
As a minimum, the applicant for a PPL should hold a valid certificate in restricted radio telephony operations. This authorizes the trainee to operate the radio equipment on board the aircraft in accordance with the airspace requirements. We offer periodic training towards the issuance of this certificate, carried out in our briefing room at Old Nelspruit Airfield. Our Chief Flight Instructor is also an approved RT examiner in both restricted and general radio certificates.
Renewals
Since the club has an experienced CFI, license holders are able to carry out the periodic renewals for PPL and ratings such as instrument ratings are easily arranged and carried out through our fleet and/or using the simulator. For this reason, many of our students automatically maintain membership in the club upon completing their training.
Our Fleet
Lowveld Aero Club has well maintained planes used in both training and hire & fly services. The workhorses are the Cessna 172s and Cessna 150 which are used in primary flight training all around the world.
To supplement training, our students and clients also have access to a CAA-approved simulator which is within walking distance. The simulator is important in instrument training (primary and renewals) as well as night rating (instrument phase).
Hire & Fly
For club members and students, very competitive hire and fly hourly rates are available. This service is popular with students who are working on their hour building towards higher licenses such as the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) as well as pilots who wish to keep their skills current by engaging in regular recreational flying.