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How much does a pilots licence cost?
Again, the price differs. Young people tend to need less instruction with older people wanting more than often is needed. You need a minimum of 25 flying hours but doing double this is not uncommon.
To obtain a microlight pilot’s licence, you require a minimum of 25 flying hours, of which a minimum of 10 hours is dual flying (with an instructor) and 15 hours solo are required. On average if you are less than 30 years of age most student microlight pilots take about 25 flying hours to qualify. If you are older than 30 years of age average flying hours needed will rise by 10 hours if you are under 40 years of age after which you can expect to need about 50 hours.
For weight-shift aircraft. Current costs per hour vary upon the plane flown but average at about R600 per hour without fuel. Fuel costs vary per aircraft but allow for about R150 per hour. We will sit with you to determine your needs and desires and advise on a budget that will be based on the plane flown and our expectation of the extent of instruction that you should anticipate. The total cost will include books, ground school, radio licence, medical etc and will normally cost between R25,000 and R35,000 for a weight shift microlight licence.
The hours needed to obtain a microlight pilot’s licence on a three axis fixed wing microlight will on average be the same as the above but the cost will vary greatly depending on the type of plane you choose to be instructed upon. On average allow for quoted minimum hour packages to cost about R10,000 to R20,000 more than the cost of flying a weight-shift plane.
Once you have a National Pilot’s Licence (NPL) it will be endorsed for the specific aircraft that you trained upon. If you wish to fly a different type /model of microlight you need to obtain an instructor’s sign-off of your competence on the plane in question. No minimum hours are specified. On average the following are not unusual:
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From one type of weight-shift microlight to another – one hour.
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From one type of fixed wing microlight ( nose wheel or taildragger) to another in the same class – two hours.
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From a weight-shift microlight to a three axis (nose wheel) microlight – 15 to 20 hours.
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From a weight-shift microlight to a taildragger – 25 to 30 hours.
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From a three axis microlight to a tail dragger – 10 hours.
If you are wanting to do your private pilot’s licence (PPL), then microlighting offers you an alternative route to a PPL, as there are several flying schools that will accept half of your microlight flying hours, up to a maximum of 12.5 hours, as contributing to the 40 hours that are necessary for a private pilot’s licence.
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