All in a day's work

Having fun at Virginia Airport - all in  a day's work..

Brad taking a prospective student for an Intro flight in our Flight School Sling FYA

Val enjoying her second lesson with Instructor Brad

My other plane... 

Cassidy in the skyye with Brad on her 21st Birthday

Superb meals are available most times of the day at Head Office, the restaurant upstairs from our office in the main Concourse of Virginia Airport

Dave is CEO of the Flight Schools - PPL and NPL and an NPL flight instructor

New branding for PPL training

Dave and Brad are proud of their new training approval from the CAA

Showing off our new Aviation Training Organisation Certificate for Part 61 - PPL pilot training

PPL Pilot Training Approval

Our sister company, Durban Skyye Pilot Training (Pty) Ltd, has been granted authority by the SA Civil Aviation Authority to offer PPL (Private Pilot Licence) training in addition to the NPL licence presently offered by the Flight School.

This means we now cater for the recreational pilot who prefers to fly light sport aeroplanes or microlights as well as those intent on a career in aviation who need to obtain their PPL en route to their Commerical Pilot's or Airline Transport Pilot's licence.

There are still many advantages of first obtaining your NPL licence - it's cheaper, can be obtained in a minimum of 35 hours of flight experience (45 for PPL) and the exams are less hectic. Once you obtain an NPL licence you can also upgrade easily to a PPL licence by doing the extra hours as long as you also have the PPL exams under your belt. This is the way I did it, writing the PPL exams instead of the NPL exams first time around. The NPL licence got me into the air on my own quicker and with the NPL licence you can also take passengers and have some fun in the skyye with them.

Either way, we now offer both licences as an option and we do so in a relaxed, friendly environment, enjoying our time as Instructors and Students.

Durban Skyye are the only flight school approved for both NPL and PPL licencing at Virginia Airport, and possibly KZN, so come on down and start your training with us.

It's the way to go.. and The Sky's No Limit !      (Aviation Training Organisation ATO CAA / 0262)

Getting the hang of things

My student Bob had his second lesson today and has progressed well in learning to handle the plane at this early stage of his pilot training.

Instructor Dave (left) with Bob at the flight controls of our flight school Sling FYA

The old Durban International Airport which has become a Toyato new car parking lot as seen from 1000 ft seawards abeam the Bluff

Durban harbour and the city as we return via the Bluff to Virginia Airport

Bob concentrates on keeping a constant airspeed and altitude in gusty wind conditions

Getting to understand the Flight Controls

Starting out your training for a Pilot's licence, you will need to know about the 3 axes and the plane's centre of gravity about which it moves, either pitching, rolling or yawing.

This requires also an understanding of the flight controls that will enable you to pitch, roll, yaw and control the plane in flight. These flight controls - ailerons, rudder and elevator - have primary and secondary effects and the article linked here explains this in more detail. It's essential to your understanding of flight and what keeps the aircraft's flight controllable.

Theuns flies

Durban Skyye student Theuns gets involved in the admin part of flying aeroplanes.. refuelling. Our Sling aircraft run on 95-unleaded car petrol so this keeps the costs of fuel lower, compared to the expensive Avgas used by the airplanes of yesteryear built with older technology. The fuel economy is also excellent and the 75l fuel tank can get you to Johannesburg from Durban with 15l spare.

Theuns is trying not to underestimate the force..

Clouds swirl over an uncertain skyye as we find our path back to the airport after some exercises in the Virginia General Flying area inland of Amanzimtoti

The cheapest way to refuel is to fill up with 95 unleaded from your local petrol station. The fuel is filtered with a special electrostatic discharge filer that also takes any moisture or water out of the fuel to ensure a clean-burning engine free of contaminants.

Go girls go!!

Valerie is our second female student and is showing that girls can do it too, as she starts her pilot training for a National Pilot Licence with our flight school. Join our Facebook group and keep pace with the flight school's daily happenings. 

Valerie at the flight controls of our Sling FYA

Bob on his way to an NPL licence

My new student Bob Parnell taking flight with me for the first time in a small plane - "something I've always dreamed to doing" said Bob after zooming over his home on the Bluff's Ansteys Beach.

Thumbs up from Bob with Virginia Airport in the background - Dave wearing our new Durban Skyye Pilot Shirt.

Bob poses after his first flight in our Sling "Yankee" - FYA

Bob's view of his home on Anstey's Beach foreshore of the Bluff with the harbour and city in the background

Bob at the flight controls of our Sling

The computerised cockpit "glass cockpit" of our Sling

Umhlanga beachfront and the lighthouse looking clear after the rains

"Wow, what an amazing experience" says Bob

Win a flight in our Sling aircraft

PropCare have recently launched their mobile app which enables you to find a property specialist in your area.. from plumbers, electricians and maintenance guys to conveyancing attorneys and real estate agents. Durban Skyye Flight School and Mc Naught and Company Durban Attorneys have teamed up with PropCare to offer this competition prize of a flight over Durban in our Sling Aircraft. To enter, click on the link to their webpage here and follow the instructions.

Mike goes Solo

Our first student to go Solo, 73-year old Mike Atter, proves that it is never too late to go flying and earn your pilot's licence. Here our Chief Flying Instructor Brad Isaacson congratulates Mike on his achievement after he took to the Durban Skyye by himself after the initial phase of pilot training.

Congratulations to both Mike and Brad on this milestone event. Many happy and safe flying hours by yourself Mike. Well deserved achievement.

Our Chief Flying Instructor Brad Isaacson congratulates Mike Atter on his first solo flight with Durban Skyye Flight School for his National Pilot Licence

Instructor Brad does a few circuits with Mike before getting out of the plane and letting Mike fly by himself. Thanks Brian for being on hand to take these wonderful photos

Mike has landed safely after his first solo circuit at Virginia Airport, home base for our flight school

Brad congratulates Mike on his achievement

Blustery landing on YouTube

Ulf from Sweden took this short YouTube video clip of his landing at Virginia with our Instructor Brad in our flight school microlight CCL after a flight over the Durban beachfront.

"Best thing I have ever done"

It was a blustery Saturday morning, but our Chief Flying Instructor Brad is master of the winds and Ulf, who enjoyed a flight along the Durban and Umhlanga beachfront in our Flight School microlight, said "Oh my word, this is the best thing I have ever done."

You too can have some fun in the Durban Skyye - Intro flights are R600 for 20 mins taking in the Durban beachfront, Stadium and harbour mouth, or a 30 mins flight that extends the thrill to the Umhlanga lighthouse as well for R850. Bookings 083-7033329 or online at the top of this website, or email me for a gift voucher if it's a birthday or special gift.. durbanskyye@gmail.com - and if it's a career you are looking for we do full pilot training to get your own microlight or fixed wing licence.. stepping stone to either recreational flying or becoming an airline pilot.

Brad (left) takes Ulf up 500 feet into the Durban Skyye

Ulf gets ready for the flight of his life

Mike shows us you can!

You're never too old or young to learn to fly and our student Mike Atter shows you can!! Mike used to fly but his licence lapsed and he is again taking up his passion for flying and is about ready to go solo. Big day coming Mike, well done!

Mike checks the oil in a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft, our Sling FYA

Ready to go!!

Taildragger conversion training

Incredible day flying yesteday.. the air was clean and clear and you could see forever. Our Instructor Larry Van Der Merwe took to the skyye with me in our Taildragger MSC for my conversion training and we flew out to Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg for some cheaper circuits landing this beauty. You can do your conversion too at Durban Skyye Flight School - for both PPL and NPL pilots.

Instructor Larry (left) and Dave ready for some conversion training on our flight school Taildragger MSC

Durban looking beautiful as we flew in from Cato Ridge in the west

Larry with MSC in Pietermaritzburg - beautiful little airport and an ideal lunch stop if you are in the area - the coffee shop opens when the Link airline plane is due to arrive

MSC looking proud on the Pietermaritburg apron

Dave and Larry posing before flying back

All smiles from Larry as we head back to Durban

Durban's Bluff, the harbour and  city as we pass the compulsory reporting point at Cooper's Lighthouse

We head to the harbour entrance which is the second reporting point as we enter the Virginia Airport airspace

Rounding the harbour mouth we have now left uncontrolled airspace and the beautiful view back to the Bluff reveals itself. I used to be the City Councillor for the Fynnland ward and this view basically takes in my ward.. from the harbour side through the Fynnland suburb to Beacon Road.

A view of Vetch's pier - suitable landing space for our Seaplane when we get it up and running