International Students

Entry Requirements

There are some basic entry requirements that we would like for you meet up to in order to be accepted as an international student with Focus Air. We will expect from you as a prospective student to:

    • Fully understand and comply with the Flight School Rules.
    • Be motivated and professional in your studies and have a positive attitude about flying.
    • Not have a mental disorder or be on any medication that might affect your physical and psychological ablilities.
    • Have respect for fellow students, instructors, aircraft and the School facilities.
    • Show responsibility and maturity in your decisions with regards to flying and planning.
    • Behave in an orderly fashion whilst wearing the school uniform and being on the school premises.
    • Provide Focus Air with a certificate or proof of having completed maths and science on a basic level with a training institution (school or similar).
    • Produce proof that you have received training in the english language by providing us with:
      • TOEFL score / certificate, or
      • High school certificate / diploma
      • In absence of any of the above mentioned certificates or diplomas – an interview over the telephone will have to be arranged.
      • The above language proficiency requirements are mandatory since you as a student will have to undergo the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating (LPR) test and receive at least a LPR Level 4 (for PPL) and LPR Level 5 (for CPL), as required by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.

Please make use of the Contact Form to get more information about what other requirements there might be for your specific type of training.

Check list when choosing a flight school

  • Instructors

    The relationship with your first instructor will shape and affect the way you fly for the rest of your career. All of our full-time instructors have been handpicked and trained at the school. We believe our instructor training courses to be amongst the very best on offer and have received commendations from the South African Civil aviation Authority (SA CAA) for these programmes. Student and Instructor ratios are kept low and you will be assigned an instructor who will train and mentor you through all of your flight training.

  • Aircraft

    At Focus Air we have a range of aircraft to meet your needs through each and every phase of the training process from light two seat trainers to twin engine and aerobatic aircraft. All of the aircraft in our extensive fleet are maintained to the highest standards by professional and experienced Aircraft maintenance Organizations’ (AMO’s). The school has a zero tolerance when it comes to the serviceability of aircraft. We strongly believe in developing a culture of safety in all of the pilots that come through the school. Unlike many other schools we own our own aircraft and as such have a vested interest in their upkeep. See the link for more information on training aircraft.

  • History

    The school has been operating in one form or another in the main terminal building at Virginia Airport for more than 30 years. Whilst we have seen local competitors come and go we have strived to maintain a high standard. We believe this is what keeps both local and customers from all over the world keep coming back to Focus Air

  • Facilities

    Our central briefing room and reception is positioned with a spectacular view of the threshold of runway 05 and the Indian Ocean beyond. We have three more fully equipped briefing rooms. Student workstations are fitted with personal computers making full use of Computer Based Training programmes. Instructors have their own offices helping them to prepare in the best possible way for lessons. The simulator is positioned in its own air-conditioned room allowing for uninterrupted Instrument Flying lessons. In addition we have our own hangar and a number of other offices in the main terminal.

  • Courses

    We pride ourselves on the quality of our flight training syllabus and courses, which have been developed in house over a period of 20 years. The most experienced of instructors and examiners have contributed in their design. As mentioned we have received commendations from the CAA bearing testament to the high standard of our training manuals.

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Visa Requirements

How to apply for your study permit

Once you have confirmed your acceptance of a formal offer from a South African educational institution, you should collect a study permit application form from your nearest South African office abroad (see the box on the right above) and complete and return the form to the same office. In general, your application should be accompanied by:

    • A valid passport.
    • A letter formally offering you a place of study at the relevant institution.
    • Proof that you are financially able to pay your tuition fees and have adequate means of support.
    • A medical certificate and proof medical insurance cover usable in South Africa.
    • A written undertaking that you will return to your country of residence/origin after completing your studies.
    • The relevant permit fee – see the relevant Home Affairs web page.
    • A duly filled out form BI-1738 APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT.
    • A repatriation guarantee. Unless a South African sponsoring body, citizen or permanent resident provides a written undertaking as specified in the application form, you will be required to lodge a cash deposit or bank guarantee equivalent to the costs of transportation to your home country in case you fail to comply with your permit conditions. However, if your course is not longer than a year, or you will be attending a religious institution, you will be exempt from this requirement, and need only possess a valid return/onward ticket.
    • A written undertaking that you will return to your country of residence/origin after completing your studies.

Department of Home Affairs

  • Subdirectorate: Temporary Residence
  • Private Bag X114
  • Pretoria 0001
  • South Africa
  • Telephone: +27(0)12 314 8911
  • Fax: +27(0)12 328 3908

Guest House / Bed & Breakfast

Astor House

More info

African Regent Guest House

More info

Amble-In Guest House

More info

Letting Companies

Andrew Wood Properties

Lighthouse Property Group

Umhlanga Flat Services

Just Letting

Car Hire

Conversion Tables

Pressure

  • One hectopascal (hPa) or millibar (mb) = 0.02953 in.
  • One inch = 33.8630 hPa or mb.
  • One millimetre of mercury = 1.332 hPa or mb.

Speed

  • One knot (kt) = 1 nautical mph; 1.689 ft/sec; 1.1516 statute mph; 1.852 km/hr; 0.5145 m/sec.
  • One metre per sec (m/sec) = 1.9438 kt; 2.237 mph; 3.6 km/hr.
  • One mile per hour (mph) = 1.467 ft/sec; 88 ft/min; 1.6093 km/hr; 0.8684 kt.

Temperature

  • Equivalents: Centigrade to Farenheit: zero C = 32 F; five C = 41 F; ten C = 50 F; fifteen C = 59 F; twenty C = 68 F.
  • Conversion: C = (F-32) x 5/9. F = (C x 9/5) + 32.

Volume

  • One cubic centimetre (cc) = 0.03381 fl oz; 0.06102 cu in; 0.001 l.
  • One cubic inch (cu in)= 16.39 cc; 0.05541 fl oz; 0.01639 l.
  • One imperial gallon (imp gal) = 277.4 cu in; 1.201 U.S. gal; 4.546 l.
  • One U.S. liquid gallon (U.S. gal) = 3.785 l; 0.832596 imp gal; 128 fl oz.
  • One litre (l) = 33.814 fl oz; 0.21997 imp gal; 0.264172 U.S. gal.

Distance

  • One centimetre (cm) = 0.3937 in; 0.032808 ft.
  • One foot (ft) = 0.3048 m; 12 in; 0.33333 yd.
  • One inch (in) = 25.40 mm; 2.540 cm; 0.08333 ft; 0.027777 yd.
  • One kilometre (km) = 3280.8 ft; 0.6214 mi; 0.53996 nm.
  • One metre (m) = 39.37 in; 3.280840 ft; 1.0936 yd.
  • One nautical mile (nm) = 6,080 ft; 1.1516 mi; 1,852 m; 1.852 km.
  • One statute mile (mi) = 5,280 ft; 1.6093 km; 1,609.3 m; 0.8684 nm.

Weight

  • One gram (g) = 0.001 kg; 0.03527 oz avdp.
  • One kilogram (kg) = 2.204622 lb; 1,000 g.
  • One ounce, avdp (oz avdp) = 28.35 g; 16 dr avdp.
  • One ounce, fluid (fl oz) = 8 dr fl; 0.0296 l; 0.0078 U.S. gal.
  • One pound (lb) = 0.453592 kg; 453.6 g.
  • Avgas weighs 7.2 lb per imperial gallon, or 6 lb each U.S. gallon

Time

  • Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) = GMT = Zulu.
  • Australia (eastern) is ten hours ahead of UTC i.e at 2200 it’s only 1200 UTC.
  • Daylight Saving or Summer time adopted by several countries is one hour ahead of GMT/UTC/Zulu. For example:
  • British Summer Time (BST) is one hour ahead of GMT/UTC/Zulu.
  • Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the USA is five hours behind UTC i.e at 1200 EST it’s already 1700 UTC.
  • Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) = UTC = Zulu.
  • LT = Local time
  • Zulu = GMT = UTC.

Foreign Licence Validation / Conversion

If you are a holder of a non-South African licence it will be necessary for you to validate or convert your licence to a South African CAA Licence for the purpose of flight training (conversion) and/or hire and fly (validation). The conversion or validation process is described in the two forms below, from the South African Civil Aviation Authority.