Nairobi — It will soon cost a little less to train pilots in Kenya as local air operators start to replace old aircraft with modern and fuel-friendly ones from the United States.

The aviators say the move, coupled with the relocation of most training sessions to the newly-opened non-commercial airpark in Kajiado, would reduce fees by about 16 per cent.

The Orly Airpark, a private entity owned by members of the Aero Club of East Africa, aims to ease congestion at Wilson Airport. The airpark and the ACEA, Orly branch, were officially opened two weeks ago by Internal Security minister George Saitoti.

ACEA chairman Harro Trempenau, Kenya Association of Air Operators chief executive officer retired Colonel Eutychus Waithaka and Kenya School of Flying director Captain Martin Ririani, told the Nation in separate interviews that modern aircraft were not only affordable, but economical.

Reduced cost of buying such aircraft, coupled with economic use of fuel, would mean reduced pilot training fees. This, they argue, would in turn, give more Kenyans an opportunity to learn flying.

They admit most bright students who aspire to be pilots only dream of becoming one since their parents can not even imagine meeting a portion of the high fees. Most fees covers the cost of aviation fuel that goes for Sh128 a litre.

"Modern aircraft are fuel-friendly. This means flight training will be less costly ... by about 16 per cent. This will benefit more Kenyans. We would like to encourage more Kenyans to train," said Capt Ririani.

Flight training has always been a major frustrating factor to many bright students who aspire to be pilots.

Mr Trempenau, who owns an aircraft, says a light aeroplane uses 60 litres every flying hour.

"Aircraft built in the '50s are heavier and use more fuel. But modern ones are lighter and use less fuel. The new technology uses only 20 litres per flying hour," he says.

For instance, at the Kenya School of Flying, the minimum fee to get a basic pilot's licence, the Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) is about Sh707,020. A PPL allows a pilot to fly only a non-commercial aircraft for non-commercial purposes. To fly a commercial aircraft, a PPL holder would need to go back to school to upgrade the licence.

Multi instruments

The learner would need additional fee of Sh1,846,900 to get Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL). The ultimate licence, which is the dream of every pilot is the multi instruments rating licence (MULTI/IR) that would require a CPL holder to part with Sh1,237,200. In total one would have paid Sh3,791,120 in fees.

However, Capt Ririani says, the fees could change at "a very short notice due to fluctuations in the foreign exchange rates."

In flight training, flying lessons take most of the fees. For instance, out of Sh707,000 cost of getting a PPL, Sh494,100 is for flying hours and revision.

That is, 45 hours for Sh10,980 each. And before one is enrolled, the applicant has to undergo a general flight test (GFT) to assess if one is suitable to fly.

"Whereas the 40 PPL flying hours are the minimum required for the licence, experience has shown that some students go up to 55 hours to attain the required standard. This implies additional charges for every hour above the estimated 45 hours," says Capt Ririani.

In flying, a pilot's capability is measured in terms of hours and experience, said Col Waithaka.

And out of the over Sh1.8 million for a CPL, Sh1,701,900 is flying fee. That is, flying 155 hours above the 45 PPL hours for Sh10,980 each.

Of around Sh1,237,200 for a Multi/IR licence, Sh164,700 would cover training one single engine. Such training takes a minimum of 15 hours at Sh10,980 each. Then there is the twin engine training that takes 25 hours at Sh970,500 or Sh38,820 each hour.

Mr Trempenau says, with the opening of Orly Airpark, training pilots would go down as no landing or parking fee is charged unlike at other public airports under the Kenya Aiports Authority.

He says parking an aircraft at Wilson is $6 (about Sh450 currently) while landing fee is $10 (about Sh750).

However, navigation fee, at present $17 (about Sh1,125) will continue to go to the government through the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The fee is charged to help pilots get direction whenever taking off or landing.

The airpark, on 235 acres at Olooloitikosh in Kajiado, 50 kilometres from Wilson, was founded in 1998. The shareholders said, being non-commercial, it would not compete with commercial airports and airstrips run by the Kenya Airports Authority.

Mr Trempenau, said the Kenya School of Flying would be the first to relocate most flying lessons to the airpark next month.

Mr Trempenau and Capt Ririani are among the first five investors who initiated the idea.

Membership has since grown to 50. Each member is entitled to a hangar and residential plot within the airpark. Col Waithaka and Mr Trempenau said the airpark was the first in the region and second in Africa after South Africa's Wonderboom Airport.

Prof Saitoti said with increasing threats of terrorism around the world, the government would keep a keen eye on the airpark for it not to be misused.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority chairman Charles Wako said the government would encourage investors to set up such facilities.