By becoming a commercial pilot, fly high above the clouds to see the world with a new perspective. If you are above 18 and planning to have an exciting, thrilling career, follow the steps on how to become a pilot in Australia.
Step-by-step Guide on Becoming a Licensed Pilot
Before getting into a flying school for formal training, read the brochures about the different schools near you. If you want a commercial pilot license, opt for schools primarily focused on commercial licensing. In the case of private licenses, choose the school offering the best private licensing. However, choosing a flying school that offers non-recreational commercial pilot training is advisable if you are planning for a full career as a pilot.
Steps You Should Follow After Choosing the Right School
Step 1: Select the Training Stages you Need to Undergo
Once you have chosen your desired training school, select the stages of training you need depending on your career plans. The stages of training you can customise are:
- Student pilot license: The basic license to start your training.
- Private pilot license: For flying solo or with passengers and cargo without remuneration.
- Commercial pilot license: To become a paid professional pilot.
- Instrument and multi-engine ratings: They are certain add-ons to your license. An instrument rating allows you to fly under weather conditions only using the instrument cluster. The multi-engine rating allows you to fly multi-engine aircraft.
- Airline transport pilot license: Allows you to command air carriers.
Step 2: Complete the Training Hours
After selecting the training type you deem perfect for you, the second step on how to become a pilot in Australia is the completion of mandatory training hours. The average time you must dedicate to your training school for efficient learning is around 55 to 60 hours. However, you must complete at least 40 hours to be eligible for certification.
You can also choose whether to go for full-time or part-time training. You should remember that for full-time training, you will have to dedicate around 2 months and for part-time a complete year. As there is no hard and fast rule of any type of educational qualifications for undergoing flight training, having a high school certificate is preferred but not necessary.
Step 3: Obtain Your License
Get the Aviation Reference Number (ARN) from CASA. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the governmental body regulating all aspects related to flying in Australia. However, if you plan to become a flight instructor, get an AVI50419 diploma in aviation. It is a 16-week course curated to make students pass through their Flight Instructor Rating assessment to make them reliable instructors.
After you become a full-fledged pilot, you should undergo the mandatory biannual review as the final step on how to become a pilot in Australia. It determines your competence to fly in the future, which may deteriorate over time.
