Kestrel Aviation have been training overseas students since 1985 and are now training up to 40 overseas students per year. Students come from all over the world, and have included Japan, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, UK, South Korea, Solomon Islands, Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka, and USA.

A well established understanding of overseas students has been developed over a number of years at Kestrel Aviation, and our professional staff have a proven track record of successful and satisfied graduates, achieved through dedication and commitment to a complete training package, and recognition of specific requirements for students from a non English speaking background.

It was with the needs of overseas and interstate students in mind, that Kestrel Aviation decided to re-locate to Mangalore Airport in Central Victoria, where it is possible to house the students on the airport. The logistics of training and living are simple with students housed together in the 26-bed accommodation complex. Cars are available for hire on a per kilometer basis and public transport is available from nearby Seymour.

Perhaps of greatest significance are the settled weather conditions, which are of particular benefit to students that travel great distances for their training and cannot sustain long periods of being unable to fly due to poor weather. This is particularly the case for overseas students who must complete their course within the time frame of their student visa, and must conform to airline bookings and of course that wish to keep their living costs to a minimum.

Mangalore Airport is nestled in the famous wine-growing district of the Goulburn Valley and is just 1 hour north of the City of Melbourne by train. Mangalore is approximately 10 minutes from Seymour, a town that has a variety of restaurants, accommodation and nightlife as well as a selection of supermarkets and other amenities.

Kestrel Aviation offers the following helicopter courses.

Private Pilots Licence - Helicopter
Commercial Pilots Licence - Helicopter
Commercial Aeroplane to Commercial Helicopter conversion course

Private Aeroplane to Commercial Helicopter conversion course

Night VFR Rating - Helicopter
Instructor Rating - Helicopter
Various helicopter ratings including low flying, sling load and mountain operations
Helicopter Safety Courses including LOFT training incorporating the Frasca 342 helicopter simulator and Aeronautical Decision Making
Overseas Licence conversion training

English language requirements

Depending on which country the student comes from, English Language testing may be required. For students from countries which are assessed at Level 4 (Level 4 countries are: Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), a minimum overall band score of 5.5 IELTS is required to commence the course. Students with a score below this are able to conduct English language course prior to commencing their pilot training course, which can be conducted in Australia.

For students from other countries, an alternative test is arranged by Kestrel Aviation College.

JAA/FAA Training

While there is currently no flying training school in Australia which is able to offer JAA or FAA accredited courses, Kestrel Aviation are able to design courses for students that fulfill the flight training requirements of their particular aviation authority to ensure a smooth conversion to their own country's licence, whether it is a JAA, FAA or other licence that is aim of the candidate. Please contact Kestrel Aviation directly for further details, or watch this space for an update.

Visa Information

Kestrel Aviation is a Registered Training Organisation, and is an endorsed provider for courses for international students. For courses of 12 weeks or more it is a requirement for international students to hold an appropriate student visa, and Kestrel are able to assist with this process.

The process for enrolling in a course at Kestrel and obtaining a student visa is as follows:

1. Request a student prospectus and course costs from Kestrel Aviation.

2. Upon receipt of Prospectus, complete application form (101), formal course enrolment application form (102), and sign and complete student contract (103) and forward to Kestrel Aviation. These application forms are all available in the Prospectus. A deposit of $5000 Aus is also required with the application; a refund policy is contained within the Prospectus.

3. Upon assessment of the student's application, the College will issue the student with an official Certificate of Enrolment, which should be lodged with the nearest Australian High Commission (AHC). The AHC may have other application procedures including medical examinations, ability to pay, background and bona fide checks etc. Kestrel Aviation will also conduct an English test.

4. Upon issue of the student visa, students should contact the Kestrel office with arrival details and a Kestrel representative will meet you at Tullamarine airport in Melbourne!

Visa Conditions

There are various visa conditions, which a student must comply with, and full details can be obtained from the nearest Australian High Commission. In brief however students must comply with the following:

• Students must be able to support themselves and pay for their entire course for the duration of their stay. If students are unable to demonstrate an ability to pay for their course and support themselves, the AHC may not issue a student visa.
• Students must attend classes on a full time basis, other than in scheduled term breaks. Any absences must be reported to the school, and if attendance falls below 80%, the school must inform the Department of Immigration.
• Students are able to do paid work for a maximum of 20 hours per week and full time during term breaks.
  
  

Cost of living in Australia

Living expenses will vary from student to student, however with students able to do their own cooking, should range from $50 - $60 per week for food and $10 - $15 per week for transport. Accommodation, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses would be extra.

The following is a sample of average prices of some grocery items (as at 26/09/07). Please note that vegetable and fruit prices can vary depending on the season.

• Loaf of bread (800g) $2.65
• 1 litre milk $3.00
• 1 dozen eggs $3.60
• 1 kg rice $3.20 500g prime beef $8.00
• 500g chicken fillets $6.00
• 1 kg onions $0.90 ~ $2.00
• 1kg potatoes $1.00 ~ $2.00
• 1 kg pumpkin $1.00 ~ $2.00
• 1kg apples $1.00 ~ $3.00

Medical and hospital insurances

It is an Australian Government requirement that all overseas students are members of the Overseas Student Health Cover scheme. This is arranged by Kestrel and is included in the total course fee. Students are covered for medical and hospital expenses, but may be required to pay a percentage if their doctor charges them more than the scheduled fee.

Climate

The climate in Victoria is mild and there are not usually extensive periods of bad weather. In summer, temperatures can be quite high reaching 30-35 degrees Celsius for several weeks at a time, however spring and autumn offer months of settled mild weather. Winter is relatively short with temperatures dropping to 3-5 degrees Celsius during the night, and maximums during the day of 10-10degrees Celsius.

Goods and services tax (GST)

Kestrel Aviation College is a Registered Training Organisation and offers accredited courses to its' overseas students. The courses or parts of the courses that are listed on Kestrel's scope of registration are all GST free.

Recreational Facilities

Mangalore Airport has excellent recreational facilities including a 25-metre swimming pool available in summer time, and tennis and volleyball courts. The college have its' own social club complete with billiards, table tennis, darts, gym equipment and a bar area. Formal presentation nights are held on an annual basis. Water skiing, swimming, horse riding and trail bike riding is offered within 10 minutes of Mangalore. There is a golf course at Avenel, which is just 5 minutes from the airport.

Mangalore is nestled in the Goulburn Valley, which is a famous wine growing area, and many wineries are within close proximity to the airport. Excellent snowfields are about 100kms from the airport for anyone interested in going skiing. With the majority of students and staff living on or near the airport, new students to the airport will find it an excellent environment for their training, with everyone sharing a common goal. The local communities are very supportive of the activities at Kestrel and students will quickly feel a part of the community.

An international group of staff and students at Kestrel

Social evenings after training

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