You don’t need a uni degree, Year 12 or an ATAR to become a pilot. You certainly don’t need to be a Rhodes Scholar.
Some of the most capable pilots we’ve met weren’t strong students at school. They were driven & motivated, worked hard & made it work. We’ve also watched some high academic achievers struggle with the practical side of flying. Flying takes all kinds of people.
Here’s how the licences build on each other.
Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL)
Start here. The RPL teaches you the basics of flight: handling the aircraft, take-offs, landings & what to do when things don’t go to plan. Initially it lets you fly locally, within 25 nautical miles of the aerodrome you depart from. Add endorsements for navigation & controlled airspace when you’re ready to go further.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
The PPL teaches you the basics of navigation: planning a route, reading the weather, working with air traffic control & finding your way to other aerodromes. With a PPL you can fly anywhere in Australia & take friends & family along.
Ratings & Endorsements
From there, add ratings & endorsements to suit the flying you want to do.
Ratings add operational capability, such as flying at night, in cloud or at low level:
- Night VFR Rating
- Instrument Rating & Private IFR
- Low Level Rating & Aerial Mustering
- Multi Engine Class Rating
- Flight Instructor Rating
Endorsements are usually specific to aircraft systems, like retractable undercarriage or a constant-speed propeller. Some cover a type of flying, such as aerobatics or formation:
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
The CPL is for people who want to fly for a living.
We wouldn’t recommend that someone fascinated by modern medicine do a medical degree & surgical training just so they can say they did it. The CPL is the same: it’s a vocational qualification. If you simply love flying, a PPL with the right ratings will take you a long way.
Despite what some schools teach, commercial flying is about much more than navigating accurately enough to find a needle in a haystack. It means flying to get a client’s job done: coping with changes to the task (often sudden & frequent), making your timings & finding solutions when obstacles come up. All of it legally & safely.
Ways to get there:
- Commercial Pilot Licence: our CPL course
- Pilot Career Pathway: around 24 months of training, with opportunities to fly commercially for our partner operators in the Northern Territory along the way
- Bachelor of Aviation – CQU: if you’d like a degree as well (Flight Operations major, flight training at our bases)
Already hold a CPL? Our GA Ready Course gets qualified commercial pilots ready for their first job, especially those who didn’t train with us. It’s two weeks full time in Darwin, where many pilots land their first job.
Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Pilots heading for the airlines, or aiming to be pilot in command of a multi-crew aircraft, will eventually need an ATPL. It takes substantial operational experience, so it’s usually something you work towards after years in the industry. That said, once you’re ready for that step, we can even do your type rating & ATPL flight test.
Theory & Exams
Throughout your training you’ll do plenty of theory study. Some people like a little extra help with it. We run theory courses for every step along the way, from RPL to ATPL.
Licence Conversions
Hold a licence from another country? We can help you convert it.
- Overseas Licence Conversion: converting a PPL usually needs no extra exams or flight tests, just a flight review. CPL & ATPL holders need extra CASA theory exams & flight tests, which we can train & test you for.
- New Zealand Pilots (TTMRA): convert under TTMRA, then complete a flight review before you fly in Australia. Many Kiwi pilots do our GA Ready Course afterwards.
Not Sure Yet?
Book an Experience Flight & take the controls with one of our instructors. Still at school? Our 3-day School Holiday Program is a good first look at flying. Or call us on 1800 435 946 to talk through your options. We train in Brisbane, Darwin & Perth.
