flight training & joy flights

Learn the art of aerial precision, freedom & control!

The AAA Aerobatic Course is the most comprehensive advanced flight handling skills course in Australia! We combine aerobatics and spinning endorsements, UPRT and advanced handling techniques to make you a safer, more proficient pilot.

Aerobatics is FUN! It is the only way to truly understand and enjoy the pure three dimensional freedom of controlled flight, and you don’t have to be the next “Top Gun” to do it! The ability to perform simple loops and rolls is a skill that provides a level of flying confidence and exhilaration that continues to elude “mainstream” flight training today.

Conducted in the Robin 2160i, the course is designed to teach licensed pilots with no previous aerobatic experience the skills and knowledge required to conduct safe, proficient aerobatic flight manoeuvres. Not only will you learn how to perform individual manoeuvres, you will learn how to fly them in sequence as well as recognise and recover from mishandled manoeuvres in safety, and have fun doing so!

The course also incorporates all element of the Academy’s Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) course. This examines every aspect of the aerodynamic flight envelope, as well as how to cope with various emergency situations in realistic, scenario-based training.

Upon graduation, you will qualify for CASA Part 61 Aerobatics and Spinning Flight Activity Endorsements, be able to take up passengers in the Robin 2160, fly aerobatics and spins, and be confident in your ability to do so safely!

The AAA Aerobatic Course includes:

• CASA Part 61 Aerobatics & Spinning Flight Activity Endorsements
• Robin 2160i  / Alpha 160A type conversion
• Precision flight path & approach control techniques
• Advanced stall awareness, recognition and recovery
• Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) incl. stall/spin scenario training, unplanned upsets and engine failure contingencies
• Fully developed stable, unstable & incipient spins incl. emergency spin recovery technique
• Loops
• Aileron rolls
• Wing-overs (“lazy eight”)
• Stall turns
• Hi-“G” turns (≥ +2G)

Already have some aerobatic experience? If you already have some experience in aerobatics, and you are looking to expand your skills, then please look at our advanced aerobatics courses. These “post-graduate” courses will give you the skills and knowledge to progress from a “basic aerobatic endorsement” to as far you want to take your aerobatic development – all the way to Unlimited world level competition if you so desire!

The Academy can also conduct aerobatics training for owners of aerobatic-capable Experimental category aircraft subject to assessment and suitability – please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Need an Aeroplane Flight Review or thinking of converting your RA-Aus certificate to a CASA RPL? This course is a fantastic way to expand your skills and meet the relevant CASA requirements! Contact us for more details.

Don’t become just another aviation safety statistic! Learn the skills to SURVIVE!

Are you…..

• Uncomfortable in slow speed turning flight?
• Apprehensive near the stall or lose excessive height in recovery?
• Concerned of your chances of survival in an engine failure scenario?
• Unaware of the exact limits of your aircraft’s performance capability?
• Afraid to “cross controls” for fear of a spin?
• Doubtful about your ability to cope with a unplanned upset or departure from the intended flight path, speed or attitude?
• Unable to recognise an impending stall without reference to the ASI?

If the answer is “YES” to any of these questions…

YOU NEED THIS COURSE!

The second-highest cause of accidents in aircraft is loss-of-control according to continuing ATSB statistics. The primary cause remains “collision with terrain” – mostly as a result of losing control!

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), now realising the increasing impact of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) events worldwide, is committed to “...reducing LOC-I <as> a global aviation safety priority“(sic.) by mandating UPRT for commercial pilots.

This doesn’t exclude the recreational or private pilot from increasing their skills. ALL pilots need to understand and control the environment in which they operate! UPRT provides an additional layer of protection against unplanned loss-of-control events.

Too many people are needlessly killed in aeroplane accidents because of a lack of understanding, recognition or recovery from impending or inadvertent loss-of-control! Don’t let THIS happen to you…

The Academy’s UPRT  course is a defensive driving course for pilots! Our course consists of 5 lessons, each designed to increase your flight safety by providing a greater awareness of aircraft capability and confidence in the ability to recognise, avoid and recover if necessary from unexpected adverse aircraft control events or “upsets.”

Our comprehensive UPRT course includes:

• Confident and accurate flight path control and energy management;
• Nose high and nose low upset awareness and recovery;
• Advanced stall recognition and recovery;
• Stall / spin awareness and prevention;
• Fully-developed & incipient spin recovery; and
• Emergency scenario training. 

Skills are learned in a controlled environment with strict performance parameters to maintain safety. Some aerobatic manoeuvres are used to demonstrate the full capability of an aircraft, as well as expose you to the likely adverse effects of incorrect or mishandled recovery techniques. This is backed up with comprehensive pre-flight briefings to gain greater knowledge of HOW and WHY pilots lose control.

Due to the condensed nature of the course, the aerobatic manoeuvres and spinning conducted are not available for endorsement. However, credit will be given toward the successful completion of an AAA Aerobatic Course based on competency if desired.

You don’t need to worry about how to fly a new aircraft type or learn local airport procedures! Our instructors will take care of that for you so you can concentrate on learning the techniques which may ultimately save your life!

If you are an Experimental aircraft owner, you may complete the course in YOUR aircraft! (subject to assessment and suitability) Our instructors are experienced in many different types of light aircraft including the popular Vans RV series. If you choose to use your aircraft, please note that some aspects of the course can only be completed in an aircraft with aerobatic capability. However, our instructors are available upon completion of the course to show you how your newly-learned skills apply in your regular aircraft within it’s limitations.

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Learn the Skills you need to FLY WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE TODAY!

UPRT Course

There’s no doubt that watching movies like Top Gun has inspired people to pursue a career in aviation. However, it requires specific skills to learn to become the next Goose or Maverick. When you need to improve your flying skills, you can enrol in one of several courses that the Australian Aerobatic Academy offers, including the UPRT course. Accidents and errors can occur during a flight, so you must have the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate these scenarios by receiving Upset Prevention and Recovery Training.

What Does Our UPRT Course Involve?

Instead of becoming another aviation statistic, you need to go through this course to help you learn critical skills that can lead to your survival in an emergency. According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the second-highest cause of accidents in an aircraft is loss of control. UPRT has become an essential aspect of being a pilot, and here’s what you can expect from the course.

• During the five-lesson course, you will learn skills to increase your flight safety and become more aware of the aircraft’s capabilities. By understanding the tools in front of you, you will have the confidence to recognise, avoid and recover when the aircraft is experiencing adverse control events.
• Other elements you will gain from the course include accurate flight path control, energy management; advanced stall recognition and recovery; spin or stall awareness and prevention, nose high and nose low upset awareness and recovery, and emergency training.
• Our instructors will use aerobatic moves to demonstrate an aircraft’s ability and expose you to the negative effects of mishandling recovery techniques. We conduct these lessons in a controlled space with strict parameters for your protection.

We believe that a pilot’s training is the most essential part of their career as this is the time for us to shape your habits, skills, and attitude. Remember that when you have a heap of knowledge and training to depend on, you’re ready to acknowledge abnormal situations and can provide solutions faster when you’ve had the training.

Go beyond the basics and roll with Australia’s aerobatic champions!

The Australian Aerobatic Academy’s “post-graduate” aerobatics courses are designed to expand your aerobatic repertoire and increase your skills to be capable of world-class aerobatics!

These courses build upon the AAA Aerobatic Course with additional manouevres and skills. You will begin with advanced rolling manoeuvres, followed by combination manoeuvres and ultimately low level aerobatics below 3000’ AGL as your skills and experience increase.

AAA’s advanced aerobatics courses are closely aligned with the Australian Aerobatic Club competition grades to allow graduates to compete upon completion. Aerobatic competition is the best way to provide feedback on your skills and challenge you further as you strive for perfection.

Once you have mastered the basics of aerobatic capability on the Robin 2160i, AAA offers an upgrade to the ubiquitous Pitts Special S-2A—the aircraft that has made more aerobatic champions the world over than any other aircraft! The Pitts Special is an excellent aircraft to begin your transition to higher-performance aerobatic aircraft, with it’s higher roll rate, greater horsepower and capability of sustained negative G manoeuvres.

For those wanting to pursue the upper echelons of aerobatic competition, AAA is proud to offer (by invitation only) the Extra NG – the highest performance two-seat certified aerobatic aircraft in the world! This aircraft is capable of unlimited aerobatic flight and is a weapon designed for serious aerobatic competition!

With AAA’s rich competition heritage, you can be assured of being trained by Australia’s top aerobatic instructors and pilots: 

Peter Townsend, AAA’s Chief Flying Instructor, has been active in competition aerobatics for over 20 years as a competitor, coach, judge, contest organiser & contest director, having won his first national championship in the Basic category in 1998.

Cassandra Moeller, co-owner of the Academy, was the 2018 Australian Unlimited Aerobatic Champion and has been instrumental in running and organising Australian Aerobatic Club events since her first competition in 2010. Cass was also the recipient of the Matt Hall Racing (MHR) Scholarship for exemplary airmanship and sportsmanship in 2013.

Peter & Cassandra are both recipients of the FAI Paul Tissandier Diploma  – awarded by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) for their commitment to the sport of Aerobatics.

AAA has fielded a team to almost EVERY Australian competition since it’s inception, with competitors in every grade from Entry to Unlimited!

Progression through our post-graduate aerobatics courses is very much as your time, funds and desires permit. Each manoeuvre includes a briefing and aircraft are charged at standard rates. Once competency is attained you can practice to your heart’s desire until you decide to add a new figure to the sequence. As such, course costs will vary between individuals.

AAA Entry Category course:

• Barrel rolls
• Inverted flight
• Slow rolls

AAA Graduate Category course:

• Competition Spins
• Half cuban eight
• Roll-off-the-top (Immelmann)

AAA Sportsman Category course:

• Humpty-bumps & “Sharpies”
• Half reverse cuban eight
• Snap (flick) rolls
• Hesitation rolls

Low level aerobatics flight activity endorsements:

For those wishing to fly competition at the state, national and even international levels, the Australian Aerobatic Academy’s Low Level Aerobatics Courses consists of a series of tutorials and flights designed to instill confidence, safety and proficiency at performing aerobatics below 3000 feet AGL. The courses concentrate on energy management, geographic positioning and low level aerobatic sequence design & flying.