From the age of 14 students can start their flight training under instructor supervision. The minimum age to fly solo is 15 years and to obtain the first pilot licence in Australia 16 years old. With the Recreational Pilot Licence and 5h of additional solo flying, pilots can take a friend or family member.

Under CASA regulation there are a number of requirements every aspiring pilot must meet, mainly English language proficiency, medical requirements and a security status check. Anyone meeting those requirements and over 15 years old can learn to fly and become a pilot in Sydney with Flight Academy Bankstown.

We recommend booking an Introductory Flight first. This is a “Learn to fly trial” that will give you some important insights and hands-on experience to decide whether you want to pursue a pilot licence. Our instructors can then guide you depending on your aspirations, time and budget available.

You must be able to meet the General English Language Proficiency (GELP) assessment to become a pilot in Australia. You can start your training at our flying school in Sydney, but you will be required to understand, write and speak English before you can get the Recreational Pilot Licence. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) equivalent is an overall grade of 5.5 in the genral or academic module, with no individual grade in a paper lower than 5. We offer AELP assessment in Sydney.

Students and aspiring pilots in Australia need the equivalent medical fitness required to obtain and hold a Drivers Licence, with a declaration signed by a GP stating that you are medically fit to hold the equivalent to an Australian Drivers Licence.

You will need a Class 2 medical requirement to hold a Recreational Pilot Licence or Private Pilot Licence.
Commercial and Air Transport Pilots are required to pass a Class 1 medical requirement.

Flying, like operating any vehicle, carries risks. However, we operate under strict CASA safety regulations and students are under the supervision of experienced instructors at all times. We service our own aircraft fleet regularly at our hangar in Bankstown.

Perfect eyesight is not required as long as your vision can be corrected to 20/20 with glasses or contact lenses. If so, you will be eligible for a Class 1 and Class 2 medical certificate from CASA.

Also known as TIF (Trial Introductory Flight), this is the best way to get started in your journey towards a pilot licence in Sydney. Involving ground theory and a flight with an instructor, it will give you the insights and hands-on experience to decide whether you want to pursue obtaining your Recreational Pilot Licence in Australia.

The first pilot licence in Australia is the Recreational Pilot Licence. Under CASA regulation there are a number of requirements you must meet before obtaining your licence:

• Learn the theory and train with a training operator like Flight Academy Bankstown.
• Meet the General English Language Proficiency requirements (equivalent to IELTS 5.5)
• Get a Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate.
• Pass the Recreational Pilot Licence exam.
• Perform a minimum of 25 hours of flying time, including 20 hours dual and 5 hours as pilot-in-command.
• Pass an RPL flight test.

At Flight Academy Bankstown you can do your flight training part or full-time, and we offer flexible payment options to help you get your first pilot licence.

For the Recreational Pilot Licence, you can expect between $11,000 to $15,000.
At Flight Academy Bankstown we offer Trial Introductory Flights (TIFs) from $299. This is a great way to get some hands-on experience and decide if you want to pursue obtaining a pilot licence.

For the Recreational Pilot Licence you can expect between 4 to 6 weeks full-time or 4-6 months if you perform your training part-time.