Best time to learn to fly in Australia
How often the weather allows training flights in each month, from weather reports at 33 airfields with flight schools in Australia.
Across 33 airfields, 91% of daylight hours have weather suitable for training flights. The best months are April, May, and August. March is the most difficult month, at 88%.
Share of daylight hours each month with weather suitable for training flights (cloud base at least 3,000 ft, visibility at least 5 statute miles / 8 km, wind no more than 20 knots, no thunderstorms, freezing conditions or snow).
The flying year in Australia
Australia has the most flyable weather of any country in our data. Across 33 airfields with flight schools, the typical one has weather suitable for training flights in 91% of daylight hours, and no month falls much below nine-tenths.
Because the seasons are reversed, the national pattern is flat: the best month is April at 94%, and the summer months from December to March are only slightly lower, around 88–90%.
Where the weather is best
The tropical north, the Northern Territory and northern Queensland, is the most flyable over the year, with its best months in the dry season from May to August. Western Australia and South Australia are close behind. Victoria has the least flyable weather of the states in our data, and winter is its weakest season.
Planning your training
Almost any time of year works in most of Australia. In the north, the wet season brings thunderstorms and heavy rain, so the dry season is the better time for an intensive course. In Victoria, the summer months are the most reliable.
Questions
What is the best time to learn to fly in Australia?
Most of the year works. Nationally, April is the best month at 94%; in the tropical north, the dry season from May to August is best.
Flying weather by month
| Month | Typical airfield | Most airfields |
|---|---|---|
| January | 88% | 84–92% |
| February | 90% | 85–92% |
| March | 88% | 83–93% |
| April | 94% | 91–95% |
| May | 92% | 89–94% |
| June | 90% | 86–95% |
| July | 89% | 86–94% |
| August | 91% | 88–95% |
| September | 91% | 88–95% |
| October | 90% | 86–92% |
| November | 90% | 85–93% |
| December | 91% | 84–93% |
By region
| Region | Whole year | Best months | Airfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory | 95% | May, June, and August | 2 |
| Queensland | 92% | April, June, and August | 9 |
| Western Australia | 92% | January, April, and December | 5 |
| South Australia | 91% | February, March, and April | 2 |
| New South Wales | 88% | April, May, and August | 10 |
| Victoria | 82% | February, March, and May | 4 |
Airfields with the most flyable weather in Australia
| Airfield | Whole year | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Kununurra Airport (YPKU) Western Australia | 96% | April, June, and August |
| Emkaytee Airfield (YMKT) Northern Territory | 95% | May, June, and August |
| Darwin International Airport (YPDN) Northern Territory | 95% | May, June, and August |
| Townsville Airport (YBTL) Queensland | 94% | April, August, and September |
| Archerfield Airport (YBAF) Queensland | 93% | April, June, and August |
| Redcliffe Aerodrome (YRED) Queensland | 93% | April, June, and August |
| Brisbane Airport (YBBN) Queensland | 93% | April, June, and August |
| Perth Airport (YPPH) Western Australia | 93% | January, May, and December |
| Jandakot Airport (YPJT) Western Australia | 92% | January, February, and December |
| Gladstone Airport (YGLA) Queensland | 92% | April, May, and June |
How we worked this out
Based on hourly weather reports (METAR) from 2016 to 2025 in the Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive, at the weather station closest to each airfield and no more than 30 km away. Only daylight hours count. For each month we show the typical (median) airfield, with the middle half of airfields as the range.
Cite this data: BookFlightSchools, “Best time to learn to fly in Australia: flying weather by month”, 2016–2025. https://bookflightschools.com/flight-schools/australia/weather