Flying RAAuS Aircraft vs General Aviation – A Comparison
People now defy gravity and take to the air for many different reasons.
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Some, jetting across continents in 747's fly only because it is the fastest and easiest way to get from A to B.
Many of us are flying purely for pleasure, with the more adventurous among us willing to jump off cliffs in hang gliders to get as close as they can to our feathered friends.
L???earning to fly a recreational sport aircraft has many advantages over general aviation aircraft
Recreational aircraft are lighter aircraft, so you don't need to be Muscle Man to be able to operate the controls easily. A lighter aircraft also means less inertia so you have to "fly" the aircraft and be more attentive to keeping it on the level as it jostles about in bumpier air!
You therefore learn good “stick and rudder” skills right from the beginning of training, making it easier to change over to General Aviation later - rather than the other way round, should you wish to fly different aircraft at a later date.
An RAAus aeroplane is a very good short field aircraft, giving you a wider choice of landing areas should you ever be unlucky enough to have a problem during flight.
This short field ability also enables more pilots to keep their aircraft at home, thus saving what could amount to a lot of travelling time to and from the nearest airfield.
Training is cheaper - about $5000 for a sport and recreational pilot certificate versus $12,000 + for a General Aviation Basic Pilot Licence.
You only require 20 hours minimum, plus 10 hours of navigation training, to obtain your full RAAus licence. Whereas you have to complete a minimum of 40 hours training to be issued with a Private Pilot Licence (PPL).
A basic licence in both cases means you have passed your flight test and have not completed further navigation training
The general aviation licence allow to remain in the approved training area only or a maximum of 10 mile radius until your area restriction is removed and an RA Aus certificate affords you a generous 25 mile radius.
Aircraft maintenance is cheaper and you are allowed to do all your own, providing that you are not leasing the aircraft for flight training or hire.
No medicals are required to fly an RAAus aeroplane - so long as you are fit to drive a motor vehicle.
Part of your licence fee covers you for public liability insurance.
You do not have to have a commercial pilot's licence if you ever want to become an instructor.
There are a few disadvantages of RAAus aircraft
Aircraft have only 2 seats
You can only fly Visually by Day - but then it is nice to be able to admire the scenery.
There is restricted access to controlled airspace.
Recreational aircraft are affected by turbulence more than a GA aircraft.
On the whole though, RAAus aeroplanes are becoming much more sophisticated nowadays and RA flying is certainly becoming more popular - as indicated by the increasing number of RAAus aircraft in hangars around the country.
There are now 10 WAC members who keep their RAAus aeroplanes in the Wynyard hangars, plus a couple who keep them at home, compared with 7 who own GA aircraft.
Happy RAAus flying!
By Kate Gregory
(Kate Gregory is an active member of the Wynyard Aero Club and flies both RAA and GA aircraft.)
