For anybody who has ever yearned to fly, there is no better experience than that of fun flying. With proper training on today's modern reliable aircraft, we can fulfill your dream of flying like a bird. Light Flight microlight and light sport plane flying services is one of the oldest established Microlight operations in South Africa. Since 1988 we have been offering full time professional training.
Light Flight School offers ab initio training for those who have never flown, conversions to most types of microlights and light sport planes, Instructor courses, Advanced Flying courses, Aerial surveys, Game management and Aerial Photography. Our aircraft are an excellent platform for photography. Light Flight does both weight shift Trike Instructor courses as well as advanced Light sport 3-axis Instructor training. Light Flight has two 'A' grade instructors and two 'B' grade instructors who between them have over 13 000 hours of flying experience. Our aircraft are the Aquilla Trike and the Aeroprakt A22 Foxbat as well as access to a wide range of other trikes and fixed wing microlights and light sport planes.
Geoff Dyers' microlight hours have passed 6500 with over 5000 hours of instruction. Ten years ago he began teaching 3-axis microlights. He enjoys training people to fly the "best microlights' in the world. Light Flight boasts a runway of 500 meters. At present there are four large hangers which can accommodate up to 35 microlights. There is accommodation for students who would like to stay of the farm and the necessary infrastructure for full time training. We have an active bunch of micro-light pilots that often participate in fly-a ways of which you could be a part.
Light Flight Flying Services has been granted a Class 3 Air Services License. No 638D from the Department of Transport and Aviation Training Organisation number CAA/0083. Besides flying, the main thrust at Light Flight Farm has been to restore the original grass lands.. To date about 30 acres of invasive alien vegetation, in the form of lantana and bugweed have been cleared and indigenous grassland reclaimed. Wildlife is encouraged and a herd of indigenous Nguni cattle established. In May 2004, the Killarney Valley Conservancy was formed with Light Flight Farm as the northern boundary.
Courses
Recreational Pilots Licence Course WCM, CCM & LSA
The following is a brief outline of the Recreational Pilots Licence course.
The Learner/student will do Lectures & exams on the following:
Principals of Flight instruction
Meteorology
Airlaw
Navigation
Principals of Flight
Human Performance Limitations
During this time the learner/student will participate in flying training and cover exercises 1-27.
The instructor will go over each flying exercise in detail through the hour of flying. The learner/student has a sponge of knowledge and that sponge is taking so much information in over one hour that it becomes saturated and the student does not learn anymore there after. On average, the Learner/student pilot, will have completed approximately 25hrs of dual flying before she or he is ready for solo. I say approximately, as everybody is different in learning this very odd concept of flying. This time can be different between young and old. Some people pick up the concept quickly and some take longer. Never be in a rush to go solo. Online exams are now apart of the curriculum and will be completed at Light Flight under a controlled environment.
Advanced Flying Courses
On request, the instructors at Light Flight will give you advanced microlight training to better your safety, ability and confidence as a microlight pilot. We will teach you to handle your microlight weight shift or fixed wing aircraft in un-natural attitudes, we will help you to land in small spaces and to become confident. We will also teach you to land your weight shift aircraft with the engine switched off.
Below are the following exercises you can expect on an advanced flying course.
Steep turns
Precautionary Landings
Low level flying
Navigation
Bad weather rapid decent
Forced Landings under simulated engine failure
Short field landings
Thermal flying
Formation flying
Wing overs (within limitations)
Mountain flying
Radio procedures into controlled airspace such as Pietermaritzburg
Instructors Course
If you have in the region of 200 solo flying hours then you may apply to do the instructors course held at Light Flight under Geoff Dyers guidance. You will start off as a "C" grade instructor then after 200 instruction hours you are able to the an upgrade to "B" grade instructor then after 500 instruction hours you can do the "A" upgrade. As a PPL instructor wanting to convert to LSA you will have to phone RAASA to find out more details. Light Flight was the first microlight school in South Africa to hold regular comprehensive instructor training. These courses have been held at Light Flight since 1992. Over 100+ candidates have completed the course, many of them from the surrounding territories of Namibia, Malawi and Zambia. There have even been a few from the United Kingdom and Germany.
The course is run at Light Flight farm in Cato Ridge and lasts a week. Six to eight hours of lectures daily are given as well as instructor's flying patter by experienced full-time A-Grade instructors. Examinations are then written and an Instructor's Flight Test is completed. Light Flight has set the standard for MISASA (The Microlight Section of the Aeroclub of South Africa). Geoff Dyer is currently the Head of Licensing and Training for MISASA. Light Flight does both weight-shift Trike Instructor courses as well as advanced Ultra-Light 3-Axis Instructor training.
The following is a brief outline of the Instructor Course.
The make up of an instructor
The teching process
Airmanship
Lectures & exams on the following:
Principals of Flight instruction
Meteorology
Airlaw
Navigation
Principals of Flight
Human Performance Limitations
Pulsating tribal rhythms, assegai wielding warriors and mysterious rituals; this is the magic of Shakaland, tucked away in an indigenous setting of aloes and mimosa trees overlooking the beautiful Umhlatuze lake in the heart of Zululand.
A visit to this authentic Zulu village provides a wonderful tribal experience for the visitor. The Nandi cultural show includes typical Zulu traditions such as tribal customs, layout of the traditional home, spear-making, beer-tasting and Zulu dancing.
A luncheon, which includes traditional dishes prepared according to Zulu custom, will conclude this unforgettable event.
WHERE: Georgedale Road, Cato Ridge
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 031 782 1987