Learning to fly is both easy and inexpensive when you come to the Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club, for between just $1k - $3k most people can learn to fly solo in our aircraft and with a bit of study achieve the RAANZ Advanced Microlight Pilot Certificate to allow them to fly all over the country.
The first thing you need to do is to arrange a trial instructional flight. Contact one of the instructors listed below and arrange a flight where you will get to fly the aircraft.
Once you have decided that you want to learn to fly, you will need to have your GP complete a Medical Certificate for you, and you will also need to complete a Fit & Proper Person Declaration (both on the Resources page) Take the completed forms to your instructor (at your next lesson) Your Instructor will then arrange for a Microlight Pilots License to be issued by RAANZ (Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand). At this stage you will need to join the club (an annual subscription and joining fee, see the Prices page) and also RAANZ (annual subscription). You will also need to purchase both a Pilots Logbook and a Pilots Training Manual.
Instruction should be arranged with your chosen Instructor. Please be aware that our Instructors have busy lives too, and may not always be available. Weather will also be a factor - we do not normally fly in strong nor-westers! Your Instructor will record your progress in your logbook which you should bring to each lesson.
You will pay for time in the aircrarft, plus ground instruction (a donation for your instructor's time of $30). The current hourly charge is displayed on the Prices page. On average a student may take 10 -15 hours to go solo, the likely total cost is around $1500 - $2200.
It is expected that your payment for the hire of the club aircraft be paid immediately after the flight and is Direct Credited to the Club Account:
Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club 03 1594 0061058 000
Microlights are governed principally by two organisations, RAANZ and SAC. Flying NZ (formerly the RNZAC) also has some microlight operations.
Listed below are our currently active instructors and their affiliation to RAANZ, SAC, or Flying NZ. If you are new to the sport, you should choose a RAANZ instructor to give the most flexibility in your training.
| Stewart Bufton (CFI) - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 021 260 2142 |
| Doug Anderson - Trike and 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 021 510 548 |
| Tony den Haan - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 027 480 8259 |
| Scott James - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 021 525 561 |
| Dave Mitchell - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 027 228 9556 |
| Glenn Martin - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ and SAC 021 109 1851 |
| Colin MacDonald - 3 Axis Tuition, RAANZ 021 047 5270 |