Above: The ever enchanting 12 Apostles
Above: YMEN Tower Pad
Student News
A number of students hit impressive milestones this quarter.
First off was Ian who passed his PPL-H flight test. Ian has been a pleasure to teach, and the entire instructional team wish him safe flying and well wishes going forward.
A big congratulations to Xin, Nick, Tim and Pat who all flew solo for the first time. Well done to all.
Above: A happy Ian immediately post his successful PPL flight test
Above: Xin after returning to Essendon following his first solo flight
Below: Nick enjoying his first time alone in the air while at Moorabbin
Above: Tim with a big smile after his first solo
Below: Pat making it look easy down at Moorabbin
Staff and Graduate News
Melbourne Heli recently welcomed Josh Storer to the team as our newest flight instructor. Josh joins us after several years flying and managing operations at 12 Apostles Helicopters. Having completed his Flight Instructor Rating and Grade 3 Instructor endorsement with Melbourne Heli, he is now helping the next generation of pilots develop their skills and earn their wings.
Welcome aboard Josh.
Above: Josh at the controls of an H130.
Congratulations to Grade 2 instructors Rick and Harry who both obtained their single engine helicopter instrument ratings this period.
Flying through Sydney?
From 9 July 2026, airspace across Sydney will change to support Western Sydney International Airport, which opens later this year. The changes include new controlled airspace, changes to some restricted areas and updates to VFR routes. New procedures to follow include coded clearances at Bankstown Airport and carrying a transponder in new Class D airspace.
CASA recently provided an overview of the changes in a joint webinar with Airservices Australia. Watch the recording on their YouTube channel.
Find out more about the airspace changes at casa.gov.au/sydneyairspace.
CASA exams: plain English guides now permitted
Good news for students preparing for CASA pilot examinations. CASA has announced that candidates may now bring the relevant Plain English Guides (PEGs) into the exam room where the corresponding regulations are already listed as permitted reference material. This means students can use a PEG instead of, or alongside, the applicable regulations during their exam.
The change is intended to make aviation safety requirements easier to understand and apply, while maintaining the integrity of CASA examinations. Students should note that all existing exam conditions remain unchanged, including restrictions on annotations, loose pages and binding. It is also important to remember that exam questions continue to be based on the regulations themselves, with the Plain English Guides serving as a supporting reference rather than the primary source. Before sitting an exam, candidates should check the CASA permitted materials list to ensure the guide they intend to use is approved for that particular examination.
Special VFR v Heli VMC
Special VFR and Rotorcraft VMC (Heli VMC) are often confused, but they are not the same thing. Heli VMC is a set of visual meteorological conditions that allows a helicopter to operate under normal VFR with reduced visibility and cloud-clearance requirements in Class G airspace and at lower altitudes. Special VFR, on the other hand, is a specific ATC-authorised procedure that permits flight within a controlled aerodrome’s control zone when the weather is below the normal VMC requirements.
Under Special VFR, a helicopter must be authorised by ATC, remain clear of cloud, operate by day, maintain at least 800 m flight visibility, and be flown at a speed that allows obstacles and other traffic to be seen and avoided. Therefore, a helicopter operating in Heli VMC is still conducting a normal VFR flight, whereas a helicopter operating under Special VFR is using a separate set of rules and requires an explicit ATC clearance.
Check out the CASR 91 MOS references and VFRG excerpts below.
Are You Really Current? CASR 61.385
Holding the right licence, rating, endorsement and flight review is only part of the picture. Under CASR 61.385, pilots must also be competent to operate the aircraft and conduct the activity they intend to fly. That means being able to safely manage the aircraft’s systems, normal and emergency procedures, performance calculations, weight and balance considerations, and any specialised operations associated with the flight. In short, having the paperwork sorted doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to go flying.
A useful question to ask yourself before every flight is: “Could I successfully complete a flight review in this aircraft today?” If the answer is anything less than a confident “yes”, it may be time for some refresher training. If in doubt, book a flight with one of our instructional team members – we’re always happy to help keep your skills sharp and your flying safe.
Fenestrôn
Found on our fleet of Cabri G2s, the Fenestrôn tail rotor is one of the most distinctive helicopter tail rotor designs, replacing the conventional exposed tail rotor with multiple blades enclosed within a duct built into the vertical fin. A key feature of the Fenestrôn is that its blades are irregularly spaced around the hub rather than evenly distributed, which helps spread the noise generated by the rotor across a wider range of frequencies. Combined with the shrouded design, this significantly reduces the characteristic tail rotor noise and makes Fenestrôn-equipped helicopters noticeably quieter than many conventional designs. The enclosed rotor also improves safety for ground crew and provides aerodynamic benefits, making it well suited to modern helicopters in noise-sensitive environments.
Fly safe!