This FAQ is for reference only. Please call our Flight
Operations Department 2711-5555 during office hour or email to Flight Operations for the latest information.
Q. How much does it cost and
how long does it take?
A. Learning to fly is
not as expensive as many people may have thought. Fixed Wing flying takes place from Shek
Kong Air Base. PLA allows us to fly only on Saturdays and Sundays. Thus duration
of training and obtaining a Private Pilot License (PPL) on a Fixed Wing aircraft
in Hong Kong may take on average 10-12 months. In our experience, it is a good
idea to take at least four lessons per month because your retention of newly
learned material will be high. With continuity in flying training it is
possible to complete PPL syllabus and obtain the License within 7-9 months
period.
Helicopter training takes place from Kai Tak and Shek Kong. At Kai Tak
you can book a helicopter lesson daily. Hence you can completed PPL Syllabus and
obtain the License within 6-7 months.
Q. What are the requirements
to obtain a Hong Kong PPL?
A. Generally speaking, you
are required to complete minimum 40 hours of flying experience to cover CAD
syllabus. But a student may take up to 50-60 hours of flying to achieve required
standard of flying depending student's progress in flying training. Then you
have to pass a General flying Test (GFT). The GFT is flown with a CAD Authorized
Examiner who shall assess your flying skill and standard. Besides the "flying"
part, an applicant for a PPL is also required to pass the following CAD ground
examinations, as appropriate:-
(a)
Navigation
(b)
Meteorology
(c) Aircraft
(General)
(d) Aircraft
(Type)
(e) Human Performance &
Limitations
(f) Radio
Telephony
(g) Aviation Law, Flight
Rules and Procedures (Aeroplane)
Q. Are there any age limits
to learn to fly?
A. You must be at least
14 years old to join the club and start your Flying Training. Till you reach 17
years of age you have to fly with your instructor. To fly solo you have to be at
least 17 years old and must have Medical Certificate from a CAD Authorized
Medical Doctor. There is no upper limit for age as long as you have Class 1 or
Class 2 Medical Certificate.
Q. Do I need to be physically
very fit?
A. Medical requirement
for a private pilot are not as strict as some people may believe, a pilot needs
to be healthy and reasonably fit. Neither is the wearing of eye glasses
restrictive but ideally you should not suffer form color blindness. You will be
required to pass a medical with a CAD Authorized Medical Doctor as part of your
license requirements, which is renewed every five (5) year, if you are below 40
years old. Above 40 years old medical exam is every two (2) years. Above 50
years old medical examination is every one (1)
year.
Q. What else do I need to
become a pilot?
A. Willingness to learn
and you need to be proficient in the aviation language-English and that's about
it. The club is supported by a number of very experienced local and expat flying
instructors, some of them are flying with commercial airlines. The Chief Flying
Instructor is ex Air Force Fighter Pilot. All flying instructors are always will
be on hand to assist students during their
training.
Q. Yes, I am interested, but
I am not sure. What should I do?
A. If you're
interested, we strongly recommended you to take a one hour Trial Introductory
Flight (TIF). In TIF we'll show you what this is all about. The current rate for
TIF per hour is HK$2,471 for fixed wing C152 / HK$2,732 for fixed-wing C172
& C182 / HK$3,249 for helicopter. (The rates includes aircraft rental,
aviation fuel, instructor briefing and fuel surcharge, are subjected to change
without any prior notice). We will give you a brief explanation of what to
expect, do a pre-flight inspection of the airplane, and then we go flying.
You'll be flying with one of our highly experienced instructor and he/she will
let you fly the plane most of the time after takeoff and before landing, you'll
get a real feel for flying lessons. After landing we'll answer all your
questions, and then you decide if you want to continue
learning.
Q. I have earned my flying
license in the oversea already and I am interested to fly in Hong Kong, how to
convert my foreign license to a HK license?
A. A Hong Kong PPL(A)
may be issued on the basis of foreign pilot license. The applicant will be
required to:
(a) Pass the Air Law, Flight
Rules and Procedures examinations (aeroplane);
(b) Pass an aircraft type
examination on the same aircraft in which the flight test
taken;
(c) Pass the examination
"Human Performance";
(d) Pass a PPL flight test
conducted by a CAD examiner; and
(e) Hold a valid Class 1 or 2
medical certificates.
Please note that all required exam must be passed with three attempts and
within period of 9 months commencing from the end of the calendar month in which
the first examination was taken.
Q. If I want to convert my
foreign PPL to a HK license, how many hours should I require flying with an
instructor?
A. HKCAD shall assess
your flying log book and theory examination results. Then you have to be a full
member of HKAC before you start flying. Depending on HKCAD recommendation
conversion flying training on Fixed Wing shall commence. Approx 5 hours of
conversion flying and a GFT with CAD Examiner for issue of HKCAD
PPL.
Q. If I don't want to convert
my foreign license to the Hong Kong license, can I exercise the privilege of my
oversea license in the club's aircraft?
A. At present you may
exercise the privileges of your foreign PPL in Hong Kong. Hong Kong CAD is
planning to make a policy that all foreign pilots in future may be required to
convert their PPL to Hong Kong PPL.
Q. If my foreign PPL license
has already expired, how can I reactive my license in HK and how long will it
take?
A. Please note HKCAD is
not authorized to renew Foreign License. It is recommended that you renew your
license in your country.
Q. What is the difference
between Cessna 152, 172 & 182 and which aircraft type is
better?
A. C-152 is two seater
aircraft and C-172 and C-182 are 4 seater aircrafts. We recommend flying
training either on C-152 or C172 aircraft.
Q. If I have a Cessna 152
license, can I fly in Cessna 172 or 182? If not, how can I do the type
upgrading?
A. For HKAC members we
carry out a conversion program on a new type of aircraft (C-172 or
C-182)
Note:
Reference
books-
a. The Air Pilots Manuals book 1 to 4.
b. Human Factors for Pilots-Green Muir James, Gradwell &
Green.
Training Notes will be provided.
Capt. S.K. Gupta / Chief Flying Instructor
19
May 2008
c 2006 All rights reserved. Site designed by Vivek Mahbubani.