Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
- CPL
- pilot
- CAA NZ
Diploma in Aviation L5 (International Flight Training & DGCA)
- Flight hours
- 200 h
- Tuition from
- NZD 107,561
View program
Career path · Pilot training
Become a commercial pilot.
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.
- 32 programs on this path
- 19 partner schools teach it
- 8 countries to train in
01 The licenses
Four licenses, one ladder.
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.
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Stage 01
PPL
Private Pilot License
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.
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Stage 02
CPL
Commercial Pilot License
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.
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Stage 03
MEIR
Multi-Engine + Instrument Rating
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.
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Stage 04
ATPL
Airline Transport Pilot License
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
How the schools sell it.
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 budget04 Before you start
Is the cockpit for you?
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.
- Free · about 5 minutes · no account Quick aptitude check Sixteen quick questions on the core skills pilot work asks for. A directional read on whether to pursue training.
- Free account · 35 to 45 minutes Full pilot profile Cognitive and personality modules with a written report on your strengths, your blind spots and the pilot career that fits how you think.
- No sign-up · about 30 seconds Estimate your budget Pick your route and country and see a realistic total: course fees and living costs together.
NEED GUIDANCE
Not sure which program fits?
Let our team help.
School selection, application support and clear visa information: our advisors walk you through every step. Our school advisory is free for students.