Recreational Pilot Licence

Your Recreational Pilot Licence with RVAC Flight Training Melbourne

When you learn to fly, the Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) is the first qualification in your flight training. For the aspiring pilot, flying lessons towards this qualification offer you a foundational and cost effective path to becoming a qualified pilot.

Accredited flying courses to get you up in the air

The Recreational Pilot Licence Melbourne based course meets all Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements. When completed, you can act as the Pilot in Command of an aircraft with one passenger on board, and fly within 25 nautical miles of your departure airport to an associated training area.

For a solid foundation in your flight training, join the best place to learn to fly in Melbourne, and start your RPL course in no time. Get in touch with RVAC on +61 3 8586 777 or use our contact form at the bottom of the page to get started.

Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL)

Minimum Hours: 25

Step 1 - What's Required

You will need the following;

An Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC);
Class 1 or 2 from a Designated Authorised Medical Examiner (DAME); and
English Language Proficiency Check & Assessment. This is required from all students, regardless of their background, to prove their competency in English, which is the standard language in use in Aviation.

Step 2 - What's Involved

Students will require typically between 25 to 30 hours of flight training in one of our General Aviation aircraft to obtain their Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL). During your Flight Training, you will receive individual tuition from your qualified Flight Instructor to build a strong foundation of knowledge in how to fly an aircraft. Your flying lessons will include take-off and landing, effects of control, climbing and descending, emergency procedures, and eventually your opportunity to complete your first solo flight!

CASA regulations require that each student complete a minimum 25 hours flight training, including 5 hours of supervised solo flights. Upon completion of your training, passing the theory exams, and when your Instructor is confident in your ability you will proceed to a flight test with a CASA approved Testing Officer to earn your Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL). Your testing officer will be one of our RVAC senior instructors.

Minimum of 25 hours of Flight Training;
English Language Assessment; and
Theory Exams

Step 3 - Theory Requirements

The RPL Theory Course contains a few elements –

Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (BAK);
Air Legislation;
Flight Radio;
Human Factors;
Take off and Landing performance calculation;
Aerodynamics, and other items

The theory requirements provide students with an understanding of the fundamentals of aviation and prepare them for the Recreational Pilot Licence examinations.

Students have the option of either self-study, or enrolling in theory classes which are conducted by our highly experienced theory instructors.

All RPL exams are held and assessed in-house at The Royal Victorian Aero Club.