Royal Newcastle Aero Club

Commercial Pilot Licence

The Royal Newcastle Aero Club has been training commercial pilots for nearly 90 years.  Many a professional pilot started their commercial training with us!  Our location in the lower Hunter Valley provides ideal access for remote navigation as well as exposure to a variety of training in controlled air space.

On your way towards your Commercial Licence, we also offer advanced training in Aerobatics, Tailwheel aeroplanes, Formation Flying, Night Flying. Further training such as Multi-Engine and Command Instrument Ratings can be conducted.

Having completed your Commercial Pilot Licence, Royal Newcastle Aero Club offers a unique, specialised Flight Instructor Rating Course.  Our Flight Instructor Courses have been specially designed in that they also offer Emergency Manouvre Training and Spin Training Approval to candidates.  Attitude upset training and spin training approval integrated into your Instructor Rating training will produce a more confident and capable Flight Instructor.

Royal Newcastle Aero Club Flight Training Tiger Moth Joy Flights

A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) authorises you to conduct private and commercial operations.

In order to exercise the privileges of your CPL, you will need to hold a Class 1 medical certificate. You need to carry this certificate with you whenever you fly. If you do not renew your Class 1 certificate but still have a valid Class 2 certificate, then you will be restricted to private operations only. The most common question asked about medical requirements is, “I wear glasses, can I be a commercial pilot?” The short answer is yes, many commercial pilots do wear glasses, however depending on the findings of an aviation ophthalmologist, you may have some restrictions placed on you.

After you have achieved your PPL, you will undertake further navigational training, be instructed in making commercial decisions, and undertake the CPL theory exams. There are 7 exams that you must pass in order to sit for your CPL flight test. These include Aircraft Systems, Aerodynamics, Flight Planning and Performance, Navigation, Meteorology, Human Factors, and Air Law. You may self-study for these exams or we can assist you in a classroom environment.

The minimum legislative requirement is 200 hours; however you need to meet a required standard. The amount of hours required to meet this standard will vary with each individual and also depends on how often one flies. RNAC conducts CPL training in a Cessna 182 and you will be charged at the “Advanced” training rate. Please see the attached price list for up to date costing information.

A CPL allows the holder to be the co-pilot in any operation and the pilot in command of any operation except the following:

  • Multicrew aircraft in charter or regular public transport operations
  • An aeroplane certified for single pilot operations with a MTOW of more than 5700kg in regular public transport operations
  • Turbojet aeroplanes with MTOW of more than 3500kg in regular public transport operations

You must also hold the relevant aircraft category rating on your CPL and the class or type rating for the aircraft you wish to fly.

A flight review is required once every 2 years, however in order to carry passengers you will need to have completed 3 take-offs and landings within the 90 days previous to the day you intend to carry them.