Part 1: Pilot Licenses - South Africa (Private Pilot)

This is the first of a 3-part series where we look at the various licenses that the SACAA issues in South Africa. We focus on fixed wing aircraft. In this episode we tackle the Student Pilot Licence (SPL) and the Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
Useful resources:
SACAA - www.caa.co.za/P...
MZeroA - www.m0a.com/
Fly8MA - fly8ma.com/
Bold Method - www.boldmethod...
www.atpforum.eu/
www.theairline...
pplgroundschoo...
Book by Jim Davis 'Learning To Fly
jimdavis.co.za/
Music: Beach
Musician: Jef
Social Media
Twitter - / dubeprof
Facebook - / angelo.dube.98
Instagram - / capt_angelodube
LinkedIn - / prof-angelo-dube

[@jasonMB999]

Basically, aviation is books, exams and knowledge. Flying is the last and simplest part.

[@FlyingJurist]

Exactly. Once the exams are out of the way, it becomes an easy ride.

[@cabanganindlovu3769]

No one ever explained it so well. Thank you so much.

[@FlyingJurist]

Hi Cabangani, thanks for the feedback and support. Much appreciated. All the best in your endeavours!!

[@chaguine4384andrei]

thank you cpt , from Dakar

[@jasonMB999]

Yeah. Very good advice. The first flight school i went to, some of the desk staff were extremely rude. Dome are very helpful and respectful but a few bad apples WILL ruin your experience, trust me. But unfortunately, you can't identify every bad apple, there were some instructors for examples who wouldn't just fly with you, like they're there and they choose who they fly with even based on race. I don't like Race conversations but some things are just right there for you to see.

[@FlyingJurist]

Indeed, you are right. Your observations reflect the experiences of aviators of colour on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing.

[@lilithasmith7077]

Qqqqqqqq

[@lilithasmith7077]

Qqqqqqqqq

[@hugomarengo2812]

Excellent conversación. Thank you very much. Hugo Marengo F.

[@lunamandlaluna6291]

Thank you Capt. I've learnt a lot from you. I would like to start my pilot training next year.

[@FlyingJurist]

Luna, you are welcome! All the best as you prepare to embark on your aviation journey. Keep pushing, keep working hard and remember with every hour the cockpit beckons!!!

[@lithatyamzashe6349]

Beautiful my brother thanks

[@FlyingJurist]

Thankbyou Litha. Appreciate the support.

[@hummingbirdaviationzambia]

Great Angelo. Lutangu Wasilota

[@FlyingJurist]

Thank you chief🙏🏾

[@JostleMedia]

thank you so much for the info, I want to do my PPL

[@thabangmonnakgotla]

Thank you so much 🙏🏾

[@FlyingJurist]

You are welcome Thabang and thank you for the support

[@georgevorster2540]

Hello Angelo. It's great to see a South African channel on aviation. I'm currently pursuing my NPL (due to costs). I understand that one can write exam at a designated school or CAA. How does one go about writing at the CAA? I searched for info on their website but can't seem to find a clear instruction on how to book exams i.e. fill in form x, submit it to x or call x to make a booking.

[@georgevorster2540]

Another question. Could you please do a video on airspace classifications? Personally I'm having a hard time visualising each airspace's boundaries etc. Regards

[@FlyingJurist]

@@georgevorster2540 thank you for the feedback, a video detailing airspace classification will be developed in the coming weeks.

[@FlyingJurist]

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. The approach you have taken is indeed a sound one, doing it in modular form like that can work where there are financial constraints. You will build up incrementally and eventually get to where you want to over time. Before Covid-19, the procedure for writing exams at the CAA was that the student pilot would walk in to CAA, fill in Form CA 61-91, make the necessary payment (either at the CAA cash counter or via EFT), present booking form CA 61-91 and proof of payment to the 'Exams Counter' and select an available date on the schedule. Now post Covid-19, the new procedure excludes the walk-in bookings. A student must now make the necessary payment via EFT, fill in Form CA 61-91, and mail both proof of payment and the booking form to [e-mail]. Thereafter an official from CAA will write back and confirm if the date and time chosen by the student on the booking form is available. Sometimes there is a need to follow up on this response. I have personally found the telephonic followup to be ineffective, as the phones may ring unanswered, may be dropped or you may be sent back and forth. I have in the past simply sent a follow up email at reasonable intervals. The booking form is available online at www.caa.co.za/Pages/Personnel%20Licensing/Forms.aspx All the best in your current studies! Keep adding those hours!!!

[@sinenkosindlovu9184]

Thank you for the informative video. Please include the cost for each step

[@FlyingJurist]

Thank you for the feedback Sinenkosi. I will put together an episode in the coming months specifically on that.

[@danielndala4598]

Really appreciate your video May you please Sir, make a video or just you can put a list of some cheap fly school in SA cause I heard that it's expensive

[@FlyingJurist]

Hey Daniel, thanks for the support and feedback. Our team will look into it

[@kingccaptured2790]

Hello sir I start with my training next week where can I get the Jim Davi’s book

[@FlyingJurist]

Hi King C Any pilot shops should likely have it, I’ll check if the one in Lanseria has one. He explains things so easily and so well

[@kingccaptured2790]

@@FlyingJurist Thank you very much Sir

[@XabzintheNBAGuru]

What is a cheap school I can go to in KZN, coz Pmb Aero club unfortunately doesn't offer scholarships and it's perfect

[@FlyingJurist]

Hey xabzin_ unfortunately scholarships are hard to come by in this field. Do look out for TETA adverts for scholarships around July/August (www.teta.org.za). For the school do check out Focus Air at Virginia Airport

[@tshegofatsotladi08]

Can I ask which is the best aviation school I can go straight to after finishing my matric in South Africa?

[@FlyingJurist]

Hi T, there are plenty of good schools in SA. Can we connect on any of the social media handles in the description, and i will gladly guide you.

[@kgalaletsoletlhatlhe2333]

Hi can u recommend any Bursary or Scholarships, please also drop links to websites and pages

[@FlyingJurist]

Kgalaletso, the SACAA used to have a bursary, which they have since shelved due COVID-19. The TETA bursary, as far as if know is still active, applications often open around August every year, keep a look out on their website. Otherwise aviation funding has been shrinking.

[@Yehoshua.Matityahu]

Good day Capt. Dube, could I get you email just would like to ask a question. If that will be alright with you of course

[@FlyingJurist]

Good day, sorry for the late response, [e-mail]

[@thembelihlemathunjwa9813]

how were you able to fund your pilot training?, I'm looking for ways of funding mine.

[@FlyingJurist]

Thembelihle the sources of funding in aviation are drying up everyday. The SACAA used to have funds for aviation training (including pilot training) but the last I checked they had temporarily stopped funding and redirected those funds to Covid-19 response measures. TETA still does issue a call for applications every year in July. Otherwise the other option (which i used for a greater portion of my training) is to raise funds yourself, either through work (salary) or through starting a business.

[@thembelihlemathunjwa9813]

@@FlyingJurist for TETA to fund you, you need to have a PPL, thank you though, love your channel💯💯.

[@FlyingJurist]

Thanks T, I appreciate the support👍🏽

[@jaxan0882]

I had you until you started with diversity and race. Sorry but you don't know what is going on.

[@FlyingJurist]

Your personal experience differs from that of a thousand aviators of colour in South Africa. I dont expect you to understand it. And for your information, i know exactly what i am talking about.

[@jaxan0882]

@FlyingJurist I also have my CPL and ATP with over 5,000 flying hours. The last time I checked, white was also a color. Positions should be filled on merit and not race nor diversity. If a black female pilot is better qualified than a white male pilot, choose her on qualifications and not race or gender.

[@FlyingJurist]

@@jaxan0882 clearly you are not getting the point on the place of racism in South Africa, and the SA labour space, with historical roots. You cannot wish away the lived experiences of many aviators of colour simply because you do not understand what their complaint is. There is racism, and sexism in the industry and those are issues that need to be tackled head on. Denying their existence can never be a solution. Race can never qualify an individual for anything. That is not the argument here, yet nuances of both racism and sexism colour the industry in many ways. The gender of an individual is also not a qualification, but in a society that is trying to heal from structural racisms and sexism, informed by the values contained in our constitution, we cannot ignore such social dynamics.