BASAIR Aviation College
Sydney (Bankstown) and Brisbane (Archerfield), Australia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CASA
Diploma of Aviation CPL and MEIR
- Flight hours
- 182 h
- Tuition from
- AUD 161,578
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 budget03 The programs
Every program on this path.
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FEATURED
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FEATURED
Australian National Airline College (ANAC)
Melbourne (Moorabbin), Australia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CASA
Diploma of Aviation CPL and MEIR
- Flight hours
- 220 h
- Tuition from
- AUD 142,000
View program -
FEATURED
FlyBy Aviation Academy
Burgos, Spain
- Zero to ATPL
- pilot
- EASA
EASA Integrated ATPL Program
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.
- Flight hours
- 238 h
- Tuition from
- EUR 69,500
View program -
FEATURED
Sydney Flight College (SFC)
Sydney (Bankstown) and Tamworth, NSW, Australia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CASA
International Pilot Package
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.
- Flight hours
- 201 h
- Tuition from
- AUD 169,900
View program -
FEATURED
Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CAA NZ
NZ Diploma In Aviation (Airline Prep) Level 6
Ardmore's airline pathway. The Level 6 adds ATPL theory and a four week A320 multi crew course, ending in a frozen ATPL.
- Flight hours
- 261 h
- Tuition from
- NZD 163,927
View program -
Ardmore Flying School
Papakura (Ardmore Airport), Auckland, New Zealand
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CAA NZ
NZ Diploma In Aviation (General Aviation) Level 5
- Flight hours
- 225 h
- Tuition from
- NZD 142,145
View program -
EPIC Flight Academy
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (HQ), 10 campuses nationwide, United States
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- FAA
Airline Pilot Program for International Students (Zero Experience to Airline Pilot)
- Flight hours
- 176 h
- Tuition from
- USD 91,510
View program -
New Zealand Airline Academy Limited (NZAAL)
Oamaru (Whanganui base coming), New Zealand
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CAA NZ
Commercial Pilot Licence Training
- Flight hours
- 222 h
- Tuition
- On request
View program -
Phoenix East Aviation (PEA)
Daytona Beach, United States
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- FAA
CPL MEIR
- Flight hours
- 205 h
- Tuition from
- USD 88,853
View program -
Perkasa Flight School
Jakarta (HQ); Cilacap, Pangandaran, Semarang (training bases), Indonesia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- DGCA ID
CPL MEIR
- Flight hours
- 261 h
- Tuition from
- USD 67,000
View program -
EPIC Flight Academy
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (HQ), 10 campuses nationwide, United States
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- FAA
CPL MEIR ex Instrument Course
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.
- Flight hours
- 101 h
- Tuition from
- USD 53,594
View program -
Airways Aviation Australia
Gold Coast (HQ), Brisbane, Lismore, Australia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CASA
Diploma of Aviation CPL (150hrs) and MEIR
- Flight hours
- 190 h
- Tuition from
- AUD 137,057
View program -
Airways Aviation Australia
Gold Coast (HQ), Brisbane, Lismore, Australia
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CASA
Diploma of Aviation CPL (200hrs) and MEIR
- Flight hours
- 240 h
- Tuition from
- AUD 161,679
View program -
Aviation Career Center (ACC)
Maribor, Slovenia
- Zero to ATPL
- pilot
- EASA
EASA 0-ATPL Programme
- Flight hours
- 265 h
- Tuition from
- EUR 74,000
View program -
Regional Air School (RAS Tuzla)
Tuzla, Romania
- Zero to ATPL
- pilot
- EASA
EASA Zero to ATPL
- Flight hours
- 200 h
- Tuition from
- EUR 59,747
View program -
Austrian Aviation Training
Graz, Austria
- Zero to ATPL
- pilot
- EASA
EASA Zero to ATPL Program
EASA Zero to ATPL modular Pilot Training Program
- Flight hours
- 206 h
- Tuition from
- EUR 89,500
View program -
Slovenian Aeronautical Academy (SAA)
Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
- Zero to ATPL
- pilot
- EASA
Integrated ATPL
- Flight hours
- 200 h
- Tuition from
- EUR 64,900
View program -
International Aviation Academy of New Zealand (IAANZ)
Christchurch, New Zealand
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CAA NZ
NZ Diploma in Aviation (General Aviation) Level 5
- Flight hours
- 240 h
- Tuition from
- NZD 140,000
View program -
Auckland International Pilot Academy (AIPA)
Auckland (Silverdale / North Shore Airport), New Zealand
- CPL MEIR
- pilot
- CAA NZ
NZ Diploma in Aviation Level 5 (General Aviation)
- Flight hours
- 230 h
- Tuition from
- NZD 134,110
View program
04 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.