Once upon a time, a team of IT-guys wanted to learn to fly and chill high up in the sky. And so they decided, “Hey! Let's buy ourselves a plane".
In short, this is how the SkyFly Flight School was born. But, as they say, “the devil is in the detail”, so let’s talk about where and how you can train for a private pilot license. This article will be useful to those who are interested in light aviation in general and the pilot profession in particular, but don’t know where to start and what to expect when taking this path.
There aren't many flight schools in the post-Soviet countries. In Belarus, for example, there were only two such schools until 2019, when an IT-team who wanted to conquer the sky decided to open another one. At first it was intended just for colleagues of the company, but then it became publicly available. So, this School has opened up opportunities for everyone who dreams of flying. Currently, more than 10 pilots have graduated from SkyFly and received PPL licenses, and they aren't only from Belarus, but also from neighboring countries. Anyone can become a pilot, given good health and desire. The SkyFly Flight School will teach you to become a pilot, whether you are a programmer, manager, or car driver, in just a few months.
Different people may have different reasons for wanting to take this course. Based on the reasons given by our cadets, these can be divided into three types:
Different people may have different reasons for wanting to take this course. Based on the reasons given by our cadets, these can be divided into three types:
а) Emotional: You have long dreamed of flying a plane, the sky is your calling, and you crave new experiences.
б) Pragmatic: You want to radically change your life and start a career in aviation.
в) Practical: You need to cover long distances fast.
б) Pragmatic: You want to radically change your life and start a career in aviation.
в) Practical: You need to cover long distances fast.
The final requirement in your pursuit of a pilot career is to have a pilot license. There are several types of such licenses:
– PPL is a basic private pilot license which allows you to fly a light aircraft for non-commercial purposes and can be obtained in a relatively short time.
- CPL is a commercial license which is a professional qualification that allows you to fly commercially or work for hire.
– ATPL is a civil aviation pilot license. It's the next step after the CPL for those who plan to work in civil aviation or for an airline.
We offer the very first stage, the PPL license. Basically, it’s like a driving license, only you're driving a plane instead of a car. Flying a plane is no more difficult than driving a car, but it requires more knowledge and practice. But most importantly, it gives you a quick and cheap stepping stone to more complex licenses that are in commercial demand.
– PPL is a basic private pilot license which allows you to fly a light aircraft for non-commercial purposes and can be obtained in a relatively short time.
- CPL is a commercial license which is a professional qualification that allows you to fly commercially or work for hire.
– ATPL is a civil aviation pilot license. It's the next step after the CPL for those who plan to work in civil aviation or for an airline.
We offer the very first stage, the PPL license. Basically, it’s like a driving license, only you're driving a plane instead of a car. Flying a plane is no more difficult than driving a car, but it requires more knowledge and practice. But most importantly, it gives you a quick and cheap stepping stone to more complex licenses that are in commercial demand.
Step one
First you need to decide on a flight school. This process won’t take long, since there aren’t many schools in the CIS countries that issue official licenses. They rather just teach you practical piloting skills, but don’t provide a license. Our Flight School is located in Minsk and, in addition to training private pilots on the Aeroprakt A-32 (A-22), we offer sightseeing flights. And to decide whether you want to go for training, we suggest you pick the Aspiring Ace option. Our pilot will explain the structure of the aircraft and engine, show instruments and controls, talk about the techniques and methods of performing aerobatic maneuvers and comment on his actions in-flight. You, in turn, will communicate with the pilot and try your hand at the controls. This is a unique opportunity to immerse in the world of aviation and feel like a real pilot.
After this flight, you will have a better idea whether you want to start training at our Flight School. This is how it goes:
1. First, you need to get a medical clearance (VLEC)
2. Next is a theoretical course at the Belarusian State Aviation Academy (BSAA) and passing the exam (1 month)
3. And then there is the flight practice followed by a test (about 2 months)
After this flight, you will have a better idea whether you want to start training at our Flight School. This is how it goes:
1. First, you need to get a medical clearance (VLEC)
2. Next is a theoretical course at the Belarusian State Aviation Academy (BSAA) and passing the exam (1 month)
3. And then there is the flight practice followed by a test (about 2 months)
There are only three requirements for those wishing to become a pilot:
1. Secondary or higher education
2. Minimum age - 17
3. Clearance from the Medical Flight Expert Commission (VLEC), class 2.
You may be wondering what health limitations might prevent you from becoming a pilot. This list is shorter than you think: you must have no serious chronic illnesses, hearing, vision or heart impairments, but this is decided on an individual basis and varies from person to person.
You can undergo the VLEC assessment at the Civil Aviation Medical Service of the Republic of Belarus. Details can be found on their website (foreign citizens will need to provide medical certificates issued at their place of residence). In addition, a complete list of documents, a list of medical restrictions and the procedure for passing the commission are available on the Flight School website in the FAQ section.
1. Secondary or higher education
2. Minimum age - 17
3. Clearance from the Medical Flight Expert Commission (VLEC), class 2.
You may be wondering what health limitations might prevent you from becoming a pilot. This list is shorter than you think: you must have no serious chronic illnesses, hearing, vision or heart impairments, but this is decided on an individual basis and varies from person to person.
You can undergo the VLEC assessment at the Civil Aviation Medical Service of the Republic of Belarus. Details can be found on their website (foreign citizens will need to provide medical certificates issued at their place of residence). In addition, a complete list of documents, a list of medical restrictions and the procedure for passing the commission are available on the Flight School website in the FAQ section.
The training process
So, you've got your medical clearance. What's next? Next you are ready to start the pilot training course. Just like with a car driving course, to receive a “driving license” for an airplane, you must first learn the theory. So first, you are required to study 166 hours of theoretical training material. Theoretical training for the Flight School cadets takes place at the Belarusian State Aviation Academy (BSAA) and lasts about a month. There you will study the structure of the aircraft and its engine, control systems, the basics of aerodynamics, air navigation, aviation meteorology, as well as phraseology and radio communication procedures, documents regulating flight activities, and much more.
And now we’ve arrived at the long-awaited stage - the actual flight training. It’s time for the cadets to finally meet their new best friend, the light two-seater Aeroprakt A-32 (A-22).
Flight training takes place at the airfield. First, future pilots undergo training in the cockpit of a stationary aircraft, practice takeoff and landing, and learn piloting techniques in the airfield zone and in-route. After completing 16 hours of ground training and 6 hours in the cockpit, cadets undergo 41 hours of actual air training, which is about 1-2 months.
Flight training takes place at the airfield. First, future pilots undergo training in the cockpit of a stationary aircraft, practice takeoff and landing, and learn piloting techniques in the airfield zone and in-route. After completing 16 hours of ground training and 6 hours in the cockpit, cadets undergo 41 hours of actual air training, which is about 1-2 months.
The SkyFly cadets are trained at the Sivitsa airfield (10 km near Borisov). You need to keep in mind that the frequency of flights depends on weather conditions and your individual timing. There is no set schedule, you can fly as many times a month as you like, subject to these conditions.
When cadets have logged 23 hours of flight time, they feel confident enough to proceed to the most important stage of training - the first solo flight. This is the moment of maximum concentration and testing of your practical skills. Now that you don't have an instructor next to you in the cockpit, you need to be confident in your knowledge and also keep in mind that takeoff and landing will feel a bit odd, since without the weight of an instructor, the plane is balanced differently. Next, you will fly along established routes. As you fly further and longer, you develop and improve your air navigation and radio communications skills.
In addition, the course includes training flights where you'll have to deal with simulated engine failure, at minimum and maximum speed, etc., to practice your reactions in abnormal and emergency situations.
The final stage of the training course is the in-flight test of your piloting and air navigation techniques.
The final stage of the training course is the in-flight test of your piloting and air navigation techniques.
After successfully passing your test, the Flight School submits documents to the Higher Qualification Commission of the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Belarus for the issuance of a Private Pilot License. Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the Private Pilot skill! The first step of your journey is over. You can now continue your studies to obtain a CPL or ATPL license, which will cost you much less than if you would have studied for them straight from the start, skipping the PPL: the difference is tens of thousands of dollars. Or you can just stop at PPL and fly for fun. But you still need to maintain your skills and undergo flight tests at least once a year.
So, I’ve got my license. What's next?
What options are open to a private pilot with a Belarussian PPL license?
Every pilot needs a plane. But this is not a cheap buy, and it’s not always necessary or justified. Understanding this, we can rent out the SkyFly plane for you as needed. At our Flight School, you can also rent our plane with an instructor to improve your flying skills.
- non-commercial flights
- flights with a passenger on board
- flights within the airspace of Belarus, as well as abroad (in an aircraft registered in the Republic of Belarus)
- your license can be validated in other countries.
Every pilot needs a plane. But this is not a cheap buy, and it’s not always necessary or justified. Understanding this, we can rent out the SkyFly plane for you as needed. At our Flight School, you can also rent our plane with an instructor to improve your flying skills.
How much does it cost?
Private aviation is a truly interesting and exciting hobby. But this hobby doesn’t come cheap. The concept of our Flight School is to make flying accessible to everyone who dreams of experiencing the unattainable. That's why at SkyFly our prices start from just €6,000. This price includes pre-flight medical examinations, ground training, simulator training and flight training. For comparison, training for a PPL license at the Russian Aviation School costs on average 1,5-2 times more. In Belarus, not only will it cost you less to study, but you will also receive an international license that can be validated or converted in any other country.
If you still have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them in the comments or in our next publication.
If you still have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them in the comments or in our next publication.