Career path · Pilot training
From recreational PPL to the right-hand seat of a commercial aircraft. We map your route throughout the training journey with schools that align to your target career.
01 The licenses
The standard pathway from zero hours to the airline cockpit, in four stages. Each license builds on the one before, and you do not skip a stage.
Stage 01
PPL
Your first solo and the foundation of every aviation career. Around 45 hours of flight training plus theory. Lets you fly single-engine aircraft for recreation, not for hire.
First solo. Recreational flying.
Stage 02
CPL
The license that lets you get paid to fly. Adds 150 to 200 hours of flight time and deeper theory across navigation, meteorology and operational procedures.
Get paid to fly. Single-engine commercial work.
Stage 03
MEIR
The bridge to airline operations. Multi-engine handling, IFR procedures and approach plates. Most modular airline-track pilots stack this on top of the CPL.
Multi-engine aircraft, IFR operations.
Stage 04
ATPL
The highest license, required to act as captain on commercial airliners. The theory exams cover 14 ATPL subjects; the full unfrozen ATPL requires 1500 hours of total experience.
Captain on commercial airliners. The end goal.
Each license also requires a medical certificate and language proficiency, and the details vary by country regulator.
Common questions about pilot training02 The routes
Schools sell the stages as packages. Every route here is counted from the programs our partner schools publish, with the lowest course fee they ask.
Routes and fees
Schools in the United States, Australia and New Zealand sell the commercial license with its multi-engine instrument rating as CPL MEIR; European schools train the same pilot as Zero to ATPL, with the airline theory included. The search shows both under one route, and either can come with a flight instructor rating added.
Course fees as the schools publish them, converted to USD at current rates. Living costs, exams and visas come on top.
Estimate your whole budget03 The programs
Wayman College of Aeronautics
Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States
The Wayman Classic! Associate Degree of Applied Science combined with CPL MEIR, CFI & CFII
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Tulsa, United States
Phoenix East Aviation (PEA)
Daytona Beach, United States
Australian National Airline College (ANAC)
Melbourne (Moorabbin), Australia
BASAIR Aviation College
Sydney (Bankstown) and Brisbane (Archerfield), Australia
FlyBy Aviation Academy
Burgos, Spain
A 14 month EASA integrated course from no flying experience to a commercial licence with a multi engine instrument rating. FlyBy publishes 238 flight hours and a price of EUR 69,500 for the basic flying program or EUR 79,500 all inclusive.
FlyBy Aviation Academy
Burgos, Spain
One enrolment covering FlyBy's 14 month integrated ATPL, a 3 month flight instructor course and a 12 month paid instructor contract at the academy. 29 months in total, from 91,400 euros.
Sydney Flight College (SFC)
Sydney (Bankstown) and Tamworth, NSW, Australia
Full time 21 month residential pilot training program based in Tamworth, NSW. CASA Commercial Pilot Licence plus a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating and UPRT. 222 flying hours including simulator, priced at AUD 169,900.
Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
Ardmore's airline pathway. The Level 6 adds ATPL theory and a four week A320 multi crew course, ending in a frozen ATPL.
Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
Hillsboro Aero Academy
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
EPIC Flight Academy
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (HQ), 10 campuses nationwide, United States
New Zealand Airline Academy Limited (NZAAL)
Oamaru (Whanganui base coming), New Zealand
Perkasa Flight School
Jakarta (HQ); Cilacap, Pangandaran, Semarang (training bases), Indonesia
Phoenix East Aviation (PEA)
Daytona Beach, United States
EPIC Flight Academy
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (HQ), 10 campuses nationwide, United States
You have an FAA or Intl. PPL then this is the training route for you! Instrument rating, commercial licence with a multi engine option, followed by optional time building.
Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
BASAIR Aviation College
Sydney (Bankstown) and Brisbane (Archerfield), Australia
Airways Aviation Australia
Gold Coast (HQ), Brisbane, Lismore, Australia
Airways Aviation Australia
Gold Coast (HQ), Brisbane, Lismore, Australia
Airways Aviation Australia
Gold Coast (HQ), Brisbane, Lismore, Australia
Aviation Career Center (ACC)
Maribor, Slovenia
Slovenian Aeronautical Academy (SAA)
Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
Regional Air School (RAS Tuzla)
Tuzla, Romania
Austrian Aviation Training
Graz, Austria
From Zero to ATPL & FI Rating. Your pathway to a bright future in Aviation
Austrian Aviation Training
Graz, Austria
EASA Zero to ATPL modular Pilot Training Program
Regional Air School (RAS Tuzla)
Tuzla, Romania
Perkasa Flight School
Jakarta (HQ); Cilacap, Pangandaran, Semarang (training bases), Indonesia
Slovenian Aeronautical Academy (SAA)
Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
International Aviation Academy of New Zealand (IAANZ)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Auckland International Pilot Academy (AIPA)
Auckland (Silverdale / North Shore Airport), New Zealand
Australian National Airline College (ANAC)
Melbourne (Moorabbin), Australia
04 Before you start
Commercial flying filters on multitasking, spatial reasoning, working memory under pressure and how you respond to ambiguity. Two assessments show where you stand, and the estimator what the path will cost.
School selection, application support and clear visa information: our advisors walk you through every step. Our school advisory is free for students.
