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Visiting pilots

Visiting Australia to fly? Here's how to fly here, and who to talk to.

Sites on the map

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All sites, with their wind directions and who looks after them

Membership

Current SAFA membership is required to fly in Australia, including for visiting pilots.

SAFA's page for visiting pilots (opens in a new tab)How to join (opens in a new tab)

Before you fly

  • Overseas pilots must hold SAFA Visiting Pilot Membership and SAFA authorisation before flying. It includes compulsory third-party insurance.
  • You need a current overseas licence and ratings (IPPI, APPI or similar), and must complete SAFA's visiting pilot workbook and exam.
  • Most sites do not need local club membership, but some do.

A short summary, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the current requirements with Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) before you fly. Summary checked 16 Oct 2026.

Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA): current rules for visiting pilots (opens in a new tab)

Finding local knowledge

  • SAFA asks visiting pilots to contact the club that manages a site before their first flights there, for its rules and hazards, and to report to the duty pilot if one is appointed.

Checked 16 Oct 2026. Sources: source 1 (opens in a new tab) · source 2 (opens in a new tab) · source 3 (opens in a new tab)

Help on the ground

Businesses whose own websites say they help visiting pilots. It's worth contacting them before you go. These lists are indicative, not complete. We add more as we find them, so there are likely others not listed here.

On offer here: Site briefings (1) · Guiding (4) · Lifts and shuttles (2) · Help with membership (3) · Accommodation (3) · Tandem flights (9) · Courses (9)

Flying tours here

Organised trips for qualified pilots, as each operator describes them. These lists are indicative, not complete. We add more as we find them, so there are likely others not listed here.

Talk to the local club

Each site is looked after by a club or another body. Contact them before your first flight at any site for site rules, protocols and hazards.

Find a club

Find sites

Every site we know of, with its published wind range and who to contact.

Browse sites

Ratings

Pilot ratings as published by SAFA and site guides (for example PG2, HG Supervised).

Weather and forecasts

Each site page shows a 3-day wind outlook and links to forecast services. Save sites to My Sites to see them together.