WE OFFER TWO LEVELS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: THE ‘FLIGHT CREW OBSERVER PROGRAM’, AND THE ‘FLIGHT CREW CANDIDATE PROGRAM’.

Your preparation commences with a review of our joint legal and personal responsibilities and requirements for flight in this aircraft.

This will sound like the one you received at the time of your booking.

We operate this ex-military aircraft to the highest possible standards in a civilian environment.

It is no small feat.

We were only approved to do so after we had demonstrated compliance with an exacting suite of regulations specifying all aspects of operations, training, and maintenance.

We have our own in-house, L-39 dedicated and approved engineer to monitor airworthiness on an ongoing basis.

The aircraft is operated under a ‘Limited’ category Certificate of Airworthiness, which specifies the conditions under which it is permitted to operate as an ex-military aircraft in civilian hands.

These rules are designed to maximise safety, for us in the air, and those on the ground.

Military aircraft are designed and built to a set of performance specifications, rather than the suite of regulations that apply to civilian ones, and as such are not required to comply with civilian requirements for transport aircraft.

This does not mean they are unsafe, just that they have been built to satisfy the demands of a military task rather than a civilian one.

We are required by the terms of our approval to operate these aircraft to carefully brief you on the specific detail of this. View the Legal Matters page.

As a result of the extensive upgrades and civilian modifications we carried out, our aircraft is approved by the responsible authority (AWAL) to the lowest possible safety permit index (Zero).

This enables it to operate without the restrictions applicable to all other L-39s in Australia, and in our knowledge the world.

Awareness

The likely circumstances and sensations that will be experienced during your flight will be discussed, including your physical and mental perceptions and likely reactions, your experience of possible increased ‘G’ levels, the uniquely immersive involvement in the environment under a clear canopy, and the enhanced visual and visceral stimuli.

The specific details of your mission will be discussed, including the expected weather conditions, and any changes that may be required.

Competency

• You will be trained in managing and utilising your life support equipment (please view the training video at least once before the day of your flight).
• Your flight suit. Secure and comfortable.
• Your helmet. Fitted and adjusted for maximum comfort and clear communications.
• Your lifejacket. Required for overwater flight.
• Your interface with the cockpit environment.
• Your Anti-G device (‘G’ suit. These are only used for specific flights where they will be of assistance).
• Sundry flight operations crew procedures and monitoring duties. (Candidates only.)
• Normal and emergency procedures, including entry and egress, canopy operation, safety harness usage, communications, and cockpit familiarisation.

Summary

Ground training and preparation is a separate procedure to your flight.

It will take between one and one and a half hours.

It needs to be renewed annually for any subsequent flights you may undertake.

On completion, after a short review of your knowledge and understanding of normal and emergency procedures, you will be qualified to fly with us an L-39 Observer or Candidate Flight Crew member.