Aeroclub Skopje holds a training center for training of various activities related to aviation sports. Thousands of Airplane pilots, Glider Pilots and Skydivers have passed through the education system of this club. Many of our members Pursue a Professional Career in Aviation.
AKS Skopje owns a Certificate of Work from the Civil Aviation Agency for the Training of Flying Pilots (PPL), Glider Pilots Training and Parachuting Training.
General aviation
If you have always dreamt about being a sport pilot or you want to build a professional career as a pilot, you are more than welcome at the Aero Club to make your first steps towards getting a Private Pilot License (PPL).
The Training Center is operating based on the Training and Private Pilot License Endorsement Programme and it focuses on providing standard training for student pilots. (МК JAR – FCL1). Mastering successfully all theoretical and practical aspects of this Programme allows student pilots to complete the training successfully and take the private aircraft pilot test.
Student pilots need to be 16 years of age or older to meet the pre-requisites before making the first solo flight, and at least 17 to be admitted to take the PPJ1(A) test.
The theoretical training consists of 130 hours. Student pilots are allowed to proceed to the practical part of the training only after having gone through training in the following subjects: Basic Introduction and Familiarization with Aircrafts, Performing and Planning Flights, Basic Principles of Flying and Communication. In the course of the actual flight training, student pilots are required to go through training in Meteorology, Navigation, Human Capacities and Limitations, Operational Procedures, Aviation Regulations and ATC procedures.
PPL(A) candidates need to accumulate at least 45 flight hours so they can be admitted to take the test. Based on the Flight Instruction Programme, it takes 123 flights to master all flying elements.
Skydiving
As an air sports discipline, skydiving has started developing in Macedonia after the World War II. The first parachute jump was performed back in 1938 by Aleksandar Trajkovikj.The Aero Club Skopje is providing beginner and advance skydiving courses. Beginner skydiving courses are organized twice a year: in spring and in fall. Advance skydiving courses are offered throughout the year.
The first stage of each beginner skydiving course is the medical examination performed at the Aviation Medicine Centre. Next, candidates need to go through a 3-week training consisting of core ground training and flight training.
The pre-requisites required to enter the skydiving training are as follows:
– candidates need to be 16 years of age or older;
– they need to provide medical certificate for a Class 4 medical fitness; and
– in case the candidate is not of legal age, written consent provided by a parent/guardian agreeing to the training.
The Aeroclub also organizes tandem parachute jumps in which the passenger is attached to the Tandem instructor with a special harness.
The training lasts 15 minutes before the jump and is jumped from 3000 meters.
Jane Stefanov, skydiving instructor, is carrying out the skydiving courses.
Gliding
The first attempts at gliding in Macedonia date back to 1936 and were made by students from the Skopje’s Male Gymnasium. At first, they were flying a “Ciling” glider plane, manufactured based on the plans that the members of the Aviation Company from Skopje had bought themselves. Just prior to the World War II, gliding became very popular in Skopje.
The Aero Club in Skopje houses a Glider Pilot Training Center approved by the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Macedonia.
The Training Center is delivering beginner and advance training. The beginner training is focusing on acquiring basic knowledge and skills which are a pre-requisite to obtaining a glider pilot license.
The Advance glider pilot training is designed to help candidates acquire various sets of skills and licenses, such as motor glider flying, night glider flights, flying in poor external visibility, glider aerobatic flying, flights for commercial purposes with a passenger onboard, glider pilots training instructor, glider aerobatics training instructor.
The pre-requisites that applicants need to meet to enter the beginner glider pilot training are as follows: Primary education; 15 years of age or older (prior to the start of flying lessons); Class 1 or class 2 medical certificate issued by an authorized Aviation Medical Committee; In case the candidate is not of legal age, written consent provided by a parent/guardian agreeing to the training; Personal identification document; Signed declaration that the candidate is voluntarily joining the training.
The beginner training for glider pilot license consists of core ground training and flight training.
The core ground training consists of 106 hours, out of which 90 hours are purely theoretical training.
Candidates are required to attend training in the following subjects: Aviation Rules and Regulations, Introduction to Aircrafts, Flying Performances, Planning and Loading, Human Capacities, Meteorology, Navigation, Operating Procedures, Flying Theory and Radiotelephony.
The practical training consists of ground exercises and flying exercises. Ground training takes place before the start of flying exercises and its aim is to familiarize students with the glider used throughout the training, with the airport itself and with the operating procedures for airport utilization.
The Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Macedonia is responsible for organizing and conducting the glider pilot licensing test.