About Darling Downs Aero Club

The Darling Downs Aero Club has provided professional pilot training since 1946, training thousands of recreational and commercial pilots. The Club has built a reputation based on vision, leadership, commitment, empathy, teamwork and flexibility, giving the leading edge in the competitive job market by focussing on you and your individual needs. Our mission is to provide the highest quality aviation training available. All flight training is logged in aircraft, as opposed to the use of flight simulators. We believe a hands on approach provides the best testing ground for pilots of the future. [ More... ]

Standard Training: General Flying Progress Test (GFPT)

Your First Goal...

As a student pilot, your first goal is to complete a General Flying Progress Test (GFPT). This is also the first step towards gaining a Private Pilot's Licence. You will achieve two major goals - You will take the controls and fly your first solo, and on completion of the GFPT, you will have demonstrated that you can safely fly and control the aircraft. At this point, you can take family and friends on local flights within the local training area.

Requirements to complete the GFPT:

Must be 16 years of age
You are required to have passed a medical examination prior to your first solo flight
Must have minimum of 20 hours flying experience, including at least five hours solo
Must pass three theory exams
Must pass a Flight Test with an Approved Test Officer (Graeme Geraghty - Chief Flying Instructor).

Training Structure

Flight Training

Your flying lessons can be conducted full time or part time. The Darling Downs Aero Club carefully structures your flight training in a logical sequence. Prior to each lesson, you will receive a briefing on the lesson you are about to take. This time of taking to the skies can be the most exciting. Your training will include aircraft handling through every stage of flight. Training includes 36.5 hours of flying time, of which 30 hours will be dual instruction, and 6.5 hours of solo flight.

Theory

Ground School Theory Courses and Ground Briefings are provided at the Darling Downs Aero Club, facilitated by qualified and experienced instructors. They will prepare you for the Basic Aeronautical Knowledge Exam (BAK) which is a multi-choice exam. It is your choice whether to enrol in the BAK Theory Course, or receive all your briefings one on one. Training includes 13 one hour ground briefings, however if you choose to enrol in the BAK Theory Course, this will reduce the number of one on one briefings required substantially. Students may also opt to do theory independently using one of the self-study packages available.

As a GFPT Student, you will learn:

Basic theory of flight
To use the radio
Prepare for flight
Taxi
Starting and run-up procedures
Operate the controls
Straight and level flight
Climbing and descending
Level, climbing and descending turns
Stalling
Take-off, circuit and landing
Emergency procedures.

Exam Theory Covers:

Aeroplane general knowledge
Aeroplane operation and performance
Human performance and limitations
Aerodynamics
Flight Rules and Air Law
Flight Radio.

Aircraft

Piper Tomahawk

The Piper Tomahawk has a proven track record in the field of basic training. It has a side-by-side seating configuration with dual controls, and has excellent visibility. The tomahawk is powered by a piston engine which is horizontally opposed with well proven reliability.

Where Next...

Once you have passed your General Flying Progress Test (GFPT) you can plan to go for your Private Pilot's Licence (PPL), which extends your level of expertise, and allows you to fly anywhere in Australia in visual daylight conditions.