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

Microlight Association of South Africa (MISASA)
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 microlighting. All this is done under the auspice of the Commissioner of Civil Aviation. The association allows the Aero Club to approve flight training operations and microlight manufacturing. 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"]

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 Microlight Pilot's Training Course, upon successful completion of which, you will be issued a Microlight 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 25 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 25 hours. But as this is the base to work from, a cost estimate can be derived from this basis.

A package of 25 hours would thus constitute practical flying for 25 hours in a school owned and operated aircraft. 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
* MISASA membership
* Your medical
* CCA licence fees.
 

Optional costs

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

Microlight Aircraft
There are basically two types of microlights available and popular in South Africa today. The initial looks and flies like the standard light aircraft we see in our skies to day and it is reffered to as a 'FIXED WING' and the other looks like a standard hang-glider with wheels and an engine attached to it - referred to as a 'FLEX WING'.

Fixed wing microlights are more commonly known as 3-axis and flex wing microlights are more commonly know as trikes.

Fixed wing
Fixed wing microlights are controlled by means of 3-axis, hence the more common name. They have more complicated control mechanisms ie. pullies, push-pull rods, control cables, bell-cranks and so-forth. They are generally heavier aircraft, and hence require more horsepower to operate. By virtue of the design, they also generate more drag and therefore become less efficient in terms of fuel usage and often engine life-span. They are more controlable in adverse weather conditions, in terms of manpower required to operate them. They often use longer take-off and landing distances. They are normally fairly difficult to disassemble for transportation by road and they require generally more maintenance. They are also deemed to be more expensive.

Flexwing
Flexwing microlights are controlled by means of weight-shift primarily, ie., by shifting the weight of the pilot - this is achieved by means of moving the wing in relation to the pilot. This method then eliminates the need for complicated pullies and bell-cranks and reduces the weight and maintenance facet of the aircraft, considerably. Although the wing design would be considered fairly inefficient from an aeronautical point of view, it remains very simple, therefore relatively efficient. As their are no additional control surfaces required, less drag is generated, consumption is reduced, engine life is lengthened and production costs and maintenance costs are lower. Flexwings are also most transportable by road.

Flexwings require more mussel to operate in adverse flying conditions and require a little more coordination to fly. There large and high wings make them most susceptible to winds and adverse conditions and great care has to be taken before subjecting oneself to weather conditions. Trike are generally flown very early in the morning and later in the afternoon.

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 25 hours training which constitutes a minimum 10 hours dual and 15 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.