Virginia Flight School | Flight School | Durban

History and management:
Our history:
Virginia Flight School was founded in 1989 by Clyde Walker.
From those humble beginnings, it has steadily grown in both stature and reputation.

Our Staff and Instructors continue to work hard daily; to ensure that we maintain a high standard of service delivery to our students and customers. We provide a family orientated environment and deal with each individual on a One-on-One basis; thereby ensuring a relationship that is both professional and personal. When you join Virginia Flight School, you join a family of people who are passionate about aviation and who help each other to achieve their ultimate goal; be it the PPL, CPL or ATPL.

We pride ourselves on the high standard of instruction provided by our very dedicated team of instructors – under the watchful eye of our Chief Flight Instructor, Gregory Golden. Our instructors are the heart and soul of our flight school and without them, the school would not be where it is today. We believe that we have some of the best instructors in the country, who are passionate about their work and who deliver a high quality of instruction to each of their students.

We pride ourselves on our excellent Safety record; which is one of the best in the country. Using our unique Safety Management System, we closely monitor our safety standards. Each month we hold a Safety Meeting, to cover important topics and aspects of Aviation Safety. These meetings are held by our Safety Officer, Colonel Raymond Barske (ret), who has had many years of experience with the SAAF. We are extremely proud to have such a person watching over our safety procedures.

Your relationship with us does not end after you have obtained your license.
We encourage our PPL “graduates” to continue their flying experience with us by obtaining further ratings and advanced licenses.
Flight Training is our passion! We will do whatever it takes to help you to achieve your goals.
Virginia Flight School – Reaching New Heights

Our management team:
Douglas Fraser
Douglas Fraser

Executive director:
Ashleigh Fraser
Ashleigh Fraser

Executive director:
Tasha Governed
Tasha Governed

Chief flight instructor:
Raymond Barske
Raymond Barske

Safety officer:
Julle Bourguignon
Julle Bourguignon

Administrative manager:
The VFS Team!

Test centre management:
Douglas Fraser
Julle Bourguignon

Instructors:
Tasha Governed – Senior Grade II Instructor (CFI)
Rayno Rosslee – Senior Grade II Instructor
Shannon Greer – Senior Grade II Instructor
Tasha Naidu – Grade II Instructor
Alan Ware – Grade II Instructor
Patrick Fennemore – Grade III Instructor
Caleb Watson – Grade III Instructor

Ground instructors:
Wade Goss

Part-time instructors:
Wade Goss Grade II Instructor
Ryan Solomon Grade II Instructor

Radio telephony testing:
Neville Matthews

English language proficiency testing:
Neville Matthews
Raymond Barske

Training offered:
Please see below for detailed training descriptions
Private pilot’s license:
The Private Pilot’s License (PPL) is the first step in any individual’s aviation career and is considered to be the foundation of your flight training. This is where you learn and understand the essential principals and disciplines required for piloting an aircraft. These principals and disciplines are very important as later training will depend on your previous knowledge in order for you to continue, upgrade and improve your flying skills.

The entry requirements for the PPL are as follows:
There are no official academic requirements; however, we strongly recommend that the student has completed English, Mathematics and Physical Science/Geography in their Matric/Conclusive year at school.
The candidate must be at least 16 years old.
Pass a Class 2 Medical Examination (This examination must be conducted by an SACAA approved aviation doctor).

The training to be completed is as follows:
45 hours of flight training (This is the legal minimum required).
Complete the required ground training.
Complete the 7x Theoretical PPL examinations – these can be done online at the VFS test centre.
Complete the Restricted Radio Telephony Course & Examination.
Complete the English Language Proficiency Test (Not required if the student has a Matric Certificate).
Pass the Initial Practical Skills Test.

The Private Pilot License is aimed at the recreational pilot that wishes to fly themselves, their family or their friends to destinations not served by scheduled airline services; for either business or for pleasure. You would be entitled to fly aircraft that you are rated on as Pilot-in-Command. However, you would not be allowed to charge for your services as a pilot nor would you be allowed to charge for the use of the aircraft utilized for your flights.

Night rating:
The SACAA Night Rating is an additional rating that is added to your existing Private Pilot Licence. The night rating requires that the pilot has a minimum of 10 hours of Instrument training, upon completion of the rating. The instrument training must be done with an Instructor who holds a Valid Instrument Rating.

These instrument hours are done during the day under the “HOOD” in the General Flying Area. The “HOOD” restricts the pilot’s view to that of the instruments in the aircraft only. Once you have successfully completed 10 hours of Instrument Training; you will then complete Night Circuits followed by a Night Cross-Country exercise.

As soon as you have completed the syllabus for the Night Rating your instructor will recommend you for Testing with a Grade II Flight Instructor. Should you require a quotation or any other information for the Night Rating, please feel free to use our Contact Form.

Commercial pilots’ licence:
The Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) is considered a professional licence, and upon completion the pilot will be able to act as pilot in command of a single pilot aircraft, or as co-pilot of a multi pilot aircraft and get remunerated for their work.

The applicant for a Commercial Pilot licence in South Africa must have the following:
Hold a valid Private Pilot’s Licence, with Night Rating.
Hold a valid Class 1 Medical.
200 hours of flight training (This is the legal minimum).
Of the total time, 100 hours must be pilot-in-command time (PIC).
Of the total time, 20 hours must be DUAL Instrument Flying.
Of the total time, 5 hours must be DUAL on an aircraft that has retractable gears and variable-pitch propeller.
Completed the required ground training.
Completed the 10x Theoretical CPL Examinations.
Completed the General Radio Telephony Examination.
Pass the Initial Practical Skills Test.

Instrument rating:
The Instrument Rating is a rating that can be added onto either the Private Pilot’s Licence or the Commercial Pilot’s Licence and enables the pilot to fly under IFR (Instrument Meteorological Conditions).

The pilot will have to undergo extensive ground and flight training in order to prepare for the Instrument Rating Test.

In order to test the candidate will need to have:
40 hours of Instrument flight time (under instruction). Of which, 20 hours can be completed on an approved flight simulator.
Hold a valid Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot’s Licence.
Hold a Valid Class 1 medical.
Completed the required ground training
Completed the Instrument Rating Examination

A Pilot who holds an Instrument Rating will have the expertise and qualifications to fly with reference to the flight instruments alone, without having to look outside the aircraft. The completion of an Instrument Rating can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspects of the training process.

Instructor rating:
The Flight Instructor Rating (FI) is an excellent rating for any pilot to have on his/her licence. As an Instructor you will gain valuable flight experience and expand your level of knowledge.

You must be the holder of a Valid CPL or ATPL, in order to test for your Flight Instructor Rating.

The training will consist of the following:
20 hours Flight Instructor Patter (Learning to fly and instruct from the right hand side of the aeroplane).
80 hours of Flight Instructor Briefings.
2 Flight Instructor examinations – these can be completed online at the VFS Test Centre.

Once all training has been completed, you will be recommended to test with an approved Designated Flight Examiner.

Virginia Flight School also offers training courses and services for the following:
Aircraft Hire and Fly
Conversions/Differences Training
PPL/CPL/ATPL Ground School
Restricted Radio Telephony Licence
General Radio Telephony Licence
English Language Proficiency Ratings
Initial Multi-Engine Rating
Foreign Licence Validations/Conversions