INFORMATION LETTER FOR NON-SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS

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Hi there. Congratulations on finding Madiba Bay School of Flight

(MBSF). You have found a truly great school.

Please read through all the information that is available on our website,

and especially the items on this particular web page. It will answer

many of the questions you might have, including visas, accommodation,

courses, duration of training and so forth.

We are well aware that there are other good flight schools for you to

choose from, so please compare us to them in terms of the following

points:

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Payments:

We know that flight training is expensive, which is why we do

everything in our power to put flight training within the reach of as

many people as possible.

For this reason, we require no big lump sum deposits. Rather, we allow

you to pay as you go. Also, if you ever decide to leave the school, we

will fully refund ALL the remaining money in your account to you. We

have no non-refundable deposits.

We do have credit card facilities so you can swipe your card, but the

bank takes a 3% commission for that.

Alternatively you can do a swift transfer from your home country, and

your parents/sponsors may continue to make transfers once you are

here. The bank also takes their cut out of such a transfer.

We will help you open your own bank account once you are in South

Africa (student visa only; people on visitors visas are not eligible for a

bank account)

 

Formal Requirements:

There are no formal requirements for anyone who desires to enroll for

flight training. Below, I list some of the requirements that people often

enquire about.

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Educational Requirements:

There are no educational requirements for you to enroll in Flight

Training. Maths and Science may be helpful but are not essential.

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Medical Requirements:

Your application for a Student Pilot License (SPL) is made to the South

African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and will need to be

accompanied by a valid Aviation Medical Certificate. Only South African

doctors who also have the required aviation accreditations, may

examine pilots to determine medical fitness for the SACAA.

There are very few medical conditions that will disqualify a candidate

from being a pilot. It is logical that any condition that would cause you

to become incapacitated or to lose consciousness, would be relevant.

Heart conditions, lung conditions, epilepsy and such things would

disqualify you from being a pilot. If you have been on any medication

for depression or anxiety, then you may need a psychiatrist report.

If you are currently not in South Africa, and are concerned about a

particular condition that you might have, you can go see an aviation

specialist doctor in your country and they should be able to tell you

whether or not your condition will disqualify you or not.

You may fly with glasses, but being colour blind may disqualify you from

being a career pilot, depending on how badly you are colour blind.

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Language Requirements:

For non-South Africans, you will need to undergo a language

proficiency check, but we do have a fully qualified in-house language

expert for that purpose.

In terms of language requirements, however, you have to understand

that aviation all over the world is in English. If your English is very poor

or non-existent, we will first have to assist you in obtaining at least a

level 4 in Aviation English before you can begin with flight training. This

same requirement will exist in any country you may choose to do your

flight training, because it is an ICAO requirement. (International Civil

Aviation Organization) ICAO is part of the United Nations.

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Visa

As a visitor to South Africa, you may have to apply for a visa. A visitors

visa to South Africa is valid for 3 months.

A Private Pilot License (PPL) will take a minimum of 3 months to get. So

though it is possible to do a PPL on a visitors visa, it is advisable to get a

student visa instead, which may be valid for 1 or more years, and is

renewable in South Africa.

If you aim to get a student visa, then please follow the step-by-step

outline which is one of the items that you may find on this web-page.

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Course start dates:

You may arrive at ANY time and we will tailor make your training to suit

your needs. We do not have student batches, and so neither do we

have course start dates. Every person is a unique individual and we will

ensure that your training, including ground school, will suit your

Particular needs.

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Accommodation:

MBSF does not have its own accommodation, however we do have

preferred suppliers of accommodation with whom we have strong

relationships and whom we trust to take good care of you. All of these

accommodations are within an easy 10 to 15 min walk from the airport.

Just about any other flight school that you may go to will not have

accommodation within walking distance.

The school makes no money from student accommodation and we do

not mind if you prefer to rent a flat on the beach front. That is up to

you, and there are students who take that route. Many students buy

scooters or cheap cars which can later be sold to other students again.

Once you have a visa, and have bought an airline ticket, please let us

know your date and time of arrival, and we will arrange your

accommodation, and we will ask your landlord to meet you at the

airport.

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Airline tickets:

The airline that brings you to South Africa will bring you as far as

Johannesburg. From there you will need to catch a connecting flight to

Port Elizabeth. When booking this flight, please ensure that you allow

enough time between the arrival of the international flight, and the

departure of the domestic flight to Port Elizabeth. Please let us know

your arrival date and time so that we can arrange for you to be met at

the airport upon arrival.

If you have any further questions, please let us know, and perhaps that

will help us to upgrade this information document.