Hi All,

Finished the 7 CPLs thanks to the Bob Tait books and now finished the PPL(A).

I'm in no hurry, but what is the actual process to 'hour build' to 200 hours and then go for the CPL?

Do I need to do any specific training, or could I conceivably do circuits in a 152 until the 200h mark and then go for the flight test? (Although I am aware you need time in an aircraft with CSU, retractable undercarriage, certain speed).

Thought I'd ask someone clever on here sooner than later in the process.

Thanks in advance.

That is a big misconception. A course of training is required to have been conducted before any licence or rating test is conducted. There courses of training have been published by CASA as standard syllabus’s and are available online.
Once the course of training has been completed the HOO (Head of operations) of a 141 or 142 flying school can recommend your for testing.
If you have had similar training and can prove it there is an avenue for you to take for REPL (Recognition of prior learning)
The PPL to CPL conversion course produced by CASA is 28 hours dual and 10 hours solo. So in building up your command you should consider these hours.

www.casa.gov.au/resources-and-education/...g-training-operators

Per your reference, there are some different numbers promoted about the number of 'instructed hours' and 'PIC' hours.

If we agree that any 'school' will correctly assess you for the number of 'instructor' hours that you need, before they consider you competent ... is there a definitive definition anywhere/somewhere of the minimum Pilot-in-Charge hours?

Thanks

Each school must supply a syllabus to CASA, the standard syllabus's make it easy and keep CASA Happy. However Schools can write and submit their own syllabus for CASA Scrutiny and approval if they wish to do so.
You should consider the Syllabus the minimum hours that you will require for the qualification.
Where it says " however the time required to achieve competency will vary from student to student" refers to students that need more training to reach the competency.

Thanks BTAdmin, appreciate the reply . . . apologies if this reads a bit blunt, but not sure it's quite the answer yet.

I completely get this bit ... schools, their syllabus, there are variations between schools, each school owns the assessment of a students competency, etc etc. Get it, get it, get it !

We are asking about "PERSONAL" PIC [Pilot in Charge] hours (NO 'school' involved hours) (other than maybe you pay for the use of their plane)... Yes, these hours obviously help build confidence, and compentency for your school syllabus - I get that. AND perhaps what you are saying is that the school will 'set' a minimum of these hours inside of their syllabus.....

BUT focussing solely on the PIC hours "outside of the 'school" does anyone else (ie, CASA, examiner) set an expectation that you should expect to do ... X hours, or X flights, or X landings as a solo / pilot-in-charge before you can sit the test?

Per the screenshots above .... it says as a pre-req you need 89.5 PIC hours ... but the standard syllabus doesn't go anywhere near putting in solo hours that get you near that value. Per your comments, how do you reconcile the 89.5 with the "10 hrs" in your comments. (The PPL to CPL conversion course produced by CASA is 28 hours dual and 10 hours solo)

Cheers, Tim

[ Also, your first two sentences actually seem to contradict each other just a little. You can't "MUST supply a syllabus" and then in the second sentence "CAN ... if they wish to do so" ... which is it ? This is a really confusing bet each way isn't it or what am I missing ] (Or maybe what you're saying is the school must submit a syllabus, which can/is_usually the standard syllabus without change, which should obviously get approved because it is the standard CASA syllabus, ... but then if they want, they can tweak/change/better/reduce that syllabus and submit "their own schools version" for scrutiny/approval if they want) [which in this context may/may not involve more/less PIC solo hours].

Again, really struggling to find a definition and very grateful for the help.

Reference to this statement :
BUT focussing solely on the PIC hours "outside of the 'school" does anyone else (ie, CASA, examiner) set an expectation that you should expect to do ... X hours, or X flights, or X landings as a solo / pilot-in-charge before you can sit the test?

There are 2 gates you must pass to obtain a licence, Gate 1 your must be recommended for the test by the Head of operations of a flight school (HOO) Gate 2 you must pass the flight test with an examiner. Think of the examiner as a medical specialist, you cannot see that specialist without a referral from a GP in this case the HOO. So therefore you must complete the solo hours predicated by the flight school and its syllabus to get the referral to the flight examiner.

as for below, again its 2 different statements that your confused with.
Statement 1 the flight school must supply a syllabus.......correct
Statement 2 they Can supply the CASA standard syllabus, or they can write their own syllabus different from the standard one and have it approved by casa.

Also, your first two sentences actually seem to contradict each other just a little. You can't "MUST supply a syllabus" and then in the second sentence "CAN ... if they wish to do so" ... which is it ? This is a really confusing bet each way isn't it or what am I missing ] (Or maybe what you're saying is the school must submit a syllabus, which can/is usually the standard syllabus without change, which should obviously get approved because it is the standard CASA syllabus, ... but then if they want, they can tweak/change/better/reduce that syllabus and submit "their own schools version" for scrutiny/approval if they want) [which in this context may/may not involve more/less PIC solo hours].

My best advice here is that you select a flight school, and discuss your options with the HOO to gain the qualifications that you want. As stated previously the definitive answer you are chasing doesn't exist.

CASA has in information page located at this link otherwise google CASA commercial pilots licence.

www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificate...mmercialpilotlicence

Thank you for the reply.

Your suggestion to select a flight school and discuss options is a good one. The obvious point is that I would like to be as knowledgeable as possible 'before' having that conversation.

I have re-read your original comments with a new lens. I acknowledge you need instructor hours (which perhaps the original thread starter didn't appreciate and you have correctly pointed this out).

It is also fair to say that you need to build PIC hours in addition to this. (not just do those instructor hours with no PIC hours). Exactly how many ... like you say, ... depends. How you build them ... not really defined. But it is considerable ... probably 100 hrs PIC ? ... (this may or may not include some of the instructor hours 10 of 27.5) . Additional hours of 'aeroneutical' experience may also count depending on what you've done before.

At some point, having ticked these two boxes (but probably not sooner) ... the flight school can recommend you for the flight test.

[ and no one is suggesting a flight school would recommend you for a flight test if you had the instructor hours and only 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 hrs PIC ONLY ... or are they? ]

Regards, Tim

If your after more reading check out the flight crew Licencing manual pages 48-49 for CPL.

Flight Test PrerequisitesThe applicant must have been certified in writing by a person under Regulation CASR 61.235 (5) that the applicant has met the following requirements before undertaking the flight test:• is at least the minimum age to hold the licence; and • has passed the aeronautical knowledge examinations for the licence; and • has met the flight training requirements for the grant of the licence; and • has met the aeronautical experience requirements for the licence; and • meets the Aviation English language proficiency requirements • KDR`s completed for an applicant with an examination pass of less than 100%

Non-integrated Training Course:An applicant for a commercial pilot licence with the aeroplane category rating must have at least 200 hours of aeronautical experience that includes: − at least 190 hours of flight time as a pilot of an aeroplane; and − at least 100 hours of flight time as pilot in command of an aeroplane; and− at least 20 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command of an aeroplane; and − at least 10 hours of instrument time; and − at least 5 hours of dual instrument flight time in an aeroplane.Flight Rules Test must be conducted under the Day VFR