I've wanted to get my PPL for a whike now, and now that i've decided to move to Oz it seems a good time to do it.

Is it better to do it here and then convert when I get there, or is it easier (and cheaper) to do my training in Australia?

Converting a UK licence to an oz one is not too difficult. Will require an Australian Air Law exam and some flights with the local flying school to make sure your happy with the local procedures. There will be further information on licence conversion at www.casa.gov.au. The actual training will be cheaper in Oz.

I'd probably wait and do it here if only from a cost angle. We looked into it in the UK and there was no way we could afford it so scrapped the idea. Got here and found it was much much cheaper (can't give you figures, it was a couple of years ago and I no longer have the paperwork). Had the money ready but then hubby blew that on a boat so still not learnt to fly

No question - do it in Australia.

Why spend all that money to get a UK licence and then a whole lot more to convert it into an Australian one? Procedures, weather etc are different.

Agreed. Wait and do it here. To renew mine over here means flight tests, totally new weather patterns to deal with, a lot more uncontrolled airspace - very little of the radar cover I was used to. If you're intending your future to be here, it makes sense to elarn here, otherwise you will have to un-learn a lot of the stuff you have just mastered.

I think it will depend on how long a wait you have before coming here. If you want your licence and can afford it, getting it in the UK and then converting is not a big deal. If time is not important and you can wait, then yes, getting it here will mean you've learnt on the procedures and weather where your ultimately based and will also save one lot of paperwork.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=91 may also be of interest.

Don't forget the weather!! I lost countless hours of flying due to the weather in the UK, you should be able to get your PPL without being interrupted.

My PPL(A) has expired now, but i would like to take up Gliding when i get over there. Looking forward to the countless thermals!!!

Can't offer any suggestions but best of luck.

I love aircraft and had a fantastic time flying a cessna.
Even jumped out of one once. The first step was a biggy. 2000ft.

Thanks for all the answers - as usual you've come up trumps

I'll wait till I get down there, apparently I'll have plenty of time anyway, seeing as it's impossible to get a job

And Fred - I watched my daughter do her first AFF level 1 jump yesterday, watching her freefall from 11000 ft certainly made me nervous. She loved it ...