i) Principles of Flight
 ii) Engines, Airframes and Instruments
 iii) Meteorology
 iv) Navigation
 v) Air Navigation Regulations (Air law)

e) Obtain a Radio Operator's Certificate
f) Pass a Flight Test

South African Gyroplane Association (SAGPA)
The Aero Club of South Africa controls various forms of the flying discipline, such as Ballooning, Model Aircraft, Power Flying, Hang Gliding, Para Gliding, Motorised Para Gliding and also gyroplane flying. All this is done under the auspice of the Commissioner of Civil Aviation. The association allows the Aero Club to approve flight training operations. Promotion of the sport, its flight safety and other general issues are also the looked after by the Aero Club.

Medical  

Only doctors approved by the Commissioner of Civil Aviation, may perform the required medical examinations for pilots. A good look is taken at the pilot's eye-sight, his hearing capabilities, his lunges are x-rayed, an ECG is done and his blood pressure is checked under various configurations.

It is important to know that there are several established protocols for several disabilities, and it might be of value to know that a protocol can be established for a certain disability if not yet done. What this means in short, is no pilot should give up the idea of flying, simply because of a disability of some nature.

It might be comforting to note that their are people flying, which have been flying for years, with severe disabilities. Quadriplegics, Paraplegics, one-eyed pilots, hearing disabilities, speech disabilities and many more, they all frequent the skies.

Practical & Theory training
[CLICK HERE FOR "PRACTICAL SYLLABUS used microlight syllabus as interem only"]

Radio Operator Certificate
The contents of the Radio licence falls beyond the scope of these notes.

Flight test
At the end of the day, the Flight Test, signifies the completion of your South African Gyroplane Pilot's Training Course, upon successful completion of which, you will be issued a Gyro Pilot Licence by the Commissioner of Civil Aviation. The possession of such a licence, awarded in one's own name must always be seen as a privilege and not a right to the air. The only way to become a good pilot is to become a good airman. Airmanship, is what it is all about and it can be a wonderful experience which never comes to completion, but rewards as you go along.

Costs in general
Microlighting courses are normally presented in 20 hour packets, as that is the minimum hours required by the CCA to complete a licence. All people are of different nature and ability to learn, and therefore some pilots, in fact, most pilots are not able to complete the entire course in the prescribed minimum of 20 hours. But as this is the base to work from, a cost estimate can be derived from this basis.

A package of 20 hours would thus constitute practical flying for 20 hours in a school owned and operated gyroplane. It would normally also include your theory course, all the required handbooks, a map, which is used for cross-country navigation exercises and a Radio Licence.

Hidden costs

* Fuel and oil would normally be excluded.
* Local club membership
* SAGPA membership
* Your medical
* CCA licence fees.
 

Optional costs

* Motor-bike goggles
* Motor-bike gloves
* Flying suit
* Balaclava
* Fuel-container
 

PRACTICAL TRAINING

Requirements
Remember that it is important to do the flight medical before you commence with your flight training. A list of doctors approved to conduct flight medicals will be available on request from the Department of Civil Aviation.

When stepping into the office of your chosen flight school for the first time, you will be advised that you have to acquire what I would call, some essentials:
* flying-goggles (motor-bike type)
* flight suit or some warm clothes (jeans with long jons etc)
* gloves
* a fuel container to hold a minimum of 25 litres

Your practical syllabus requires a minimum of 20 hours training which constitutes a minimum 10 hours dual and 10 hours solo training (where you fly alone, but under the watchful eye of your instructor). These hours are broken down into approximately 1 hour flying sessions where a qualified syllabus of exercises are flown. These exercises are numbered from 1-27 and will be explained in subsequent paragraphs.