Kampala Aeroclub
Flight Training

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Kampala Aeroclub offers flight training for the private pilot certificate!  This certificate allows pilots to rent aircraft for pleasure and personal transportation.  For pilots in Kampala who already have a pilot certificate, we can help you obtain a validation on your foreign license which will allow you to fly in Uganda.  Our 172s are available for rent to competent, qualified, current, safe pilots.  Uganda is part of the ICAO, so your license will be recognized in other countries.  So if you plan on leaving Uganda you will take your license and flight time with you!

Okay, the details and frequently asked questions:

Time  It takes a minimum of about 6 months to complete your license, but for most people we recommend planning a year.  It is technically possible to complete it in less time.  The limiting factor is usually the written exams that you will take with the Civil Aviation Authority- there are 5 exams to take, and they are only offered once a month.  So, six months to a year is a more realistic schedule for most people.

Training schedule  You will be most pleased with your progress if you can be available to fly in Kajjansi at least 2 to 3 times a week.  That is not a requirement, but your skills will stay sharp from one flight to the next if you can make that schedule.  If you can't, that's okay, we can work with whatever your schedule is.  Scheduling is flexible, usually any time in the afternoon, including weekends.  Mornings are also possible, although we often have charters in the morning. 

Ground School  Learning to fly requires a dedicated effort to studying.  Pilots don't need to be super smart (we're proof!)  but we do need to be knowledgeable in many areas, including aerodynamics, systems, navigation, weather, and emergency procedures.  Your instructor will cover these topics with you in one-on-one ground school, but you will also need to supplement that with studying on your own from the textbooks.  We have put together an absolutely superb student training cd that is an excellent supplement to the ground school and textbooks.  It is online, but we also provide our pilots with a copy of the cd.  Pilots who dedicate just a short time several times a week to reading about aviation will do very well.  It helps to remember that your instructor is just an average person who at one point was also a student pilot.  If they can do it, so can you!

Flight time  The private pilot license requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight training, with a minimum of 50 if the training is greater than 6 months.   Most pilots will require a bit more time than that- because neither Jeremy nor the pilot's spouse let us train pilots to just the "minimum standards"!  Seriously, gifted students who fly very regularly and study hard can finish in about  40 to 45 hours, but most people will take a little more time to reach the proficiency needed to be a safe pilot.  The training follows this general sequence:  The first step is learning to fly the aircraft, land, and handle basic emergencies.  Pilots will solo when this phase is complete.  We then work on navigation, weather, and flight planning.  During this time you will fly with your instructor to several other airports.  When you and your instructor are both confident with your flying and navigating, you will do some trips on your own.  After these trips, you will fly to Soroti for a checkflight with a CAA examiner. 

Cost is roughly $9,000 US dollars.  We can't give an exact price because the amount of aircraft time required varies.  You don't need to pay the entire amount to start, but we do ask that you put down a payment- $2000 or so- to start and keep a positive balance.  There are some other expenses as well- books and membership, test fees, medical, etc.  For flight training we rent our 172s for $175 per hour.   People often ask "Why does it cost so much?  Can't you give me a discount?"   Jeremy has the perfect answer:  "Sure, if you can find me aviation fuel for less than $8 a gallon I'll be happy to give you a discount!"  That's why he's the boss.

Medical Exam  Is required, even for private pilots.  You do not need perfect vision- glasses or contacts are okay.  You do not need perfect health.  Things that might be disqualifying are the things that could cause sudden incapacitation, like heart attacks or epilepsy.  If you have any questions about medicine, or medical conditions, please just ask.  If we don't know the answer, we can connect you with a physician who does.

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Airplane Rental:  When you have completed your license, we will give you a bit of advanced training that is not required for the license.  This is the really fun stuff, like animal clearing techniques!  We will also do airstrip checkouts, see below:

Foreign Pilots:  If you are a pilot in another country, you can get a validation on your license so that you may fly here.  How long this will take depends on the type of flying you've been doing, what aircraft you've been flying, currency, etc.  For experienced pilots this will take a few hours.  For new pilots, it will take a bit longer, but you will have fun and will learn a lot in the process!

If you are only here for a short time, a validation may not be feasible.  In that case, you are still welcome to come fly with us, on dual flights.

Airstrip Checkouts:  Our insurance requires that pilots be checked out at each airstrip they fly to.  This is a good policy, becuase every strip we fly to is different!  Very few are paved, many are short, many are uphill and therefore one-way, some have obstacles on the approach, some would be difficult to do a go-around on, many have wildlife on them...in other words, it is some great fun, African bush flying!  So, before any pilots go solo to a strip they will be checked out at that strip by one of our instructors.