Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) will cost around AUD$13,000 – $15,000. Private Pilot Licence (PPL) will cost AUD$30,000 – $33,000. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) will cost around AUD$80,000. We'll cover this one in our next article.
Costs: Joining the Australia Defence Force is the cheapest route but you must commit for at least four years. A cadetship at Qantas costs up to $87,000. Flying school will cost about $28,000 for a basic commercial pilot's licence.
To get a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in Australia, you will need an average of 1 to 2 years (in some extreme cases 3 years). Whereas you will need around only 3 to 6 months to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL).
Pass the commercial or private pilot licence
To pass the commercial pilot licence theory exam, you have to get a minimum grade of 70% in each subject – you'll be tested on seven subjects – except for the Flight Rules and Air Laws subject which requires 80%. Each exam takes around two to three hours to complete.
There's no specific age to become a pilot. It all depends on the type of license you want to get and the aircraft you want to fly. Surprisingly, you don't need a license to get flying lessons.
Average Qantas Pilot yearly pay in Australia is approximately $131,906, which is 28% above the national average.
Ideally, becoming a pilot should only take 3 to 4 years, the time it takes to get your Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Getting an education is also good for a consistency of training, so it's preferred to wait to start your journey until you are in a certified school, like LETU.
A sport pilot is the easiest and least restrictive certificate a student can obtain.
The cost of aircraft per hour varies with the type of aircraft used for training. These include Cessna 152, Piper Warrior PA-28-151, Piper Cherokee PA-28-181, etc. The instructor's fee is added to the cost of the aircraft. The total cost is usually between £8,000 and £11,000 (inclusive VAT).
Are Pilots in demand in Australia? Yes, pilots are in demand in Australia.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) does not require you to have any formal educational qualifications to train for an Australian pilot licence. You can pass CASA's private pilot licence examination with a standard education and ability to speak, read, write and understand the English language.
In Victoria, Swinburne is the only university that offers you the opportunity to study a Bachelor of Aviation to become a commercial pilot. Prior to selection into the course, shortlisted students are required to complete a skills assessment test with CAE Melbourne Flight Training in late November.
The answer is no. While some airlines have an age requirement before you can fly a commercial flight, there's no age limit in wanting to become a pilot. Many think that at age 40, they have missed their opportunity to become a pilot.
The shortages of regional pilots and engineers have become a well-known issue, with the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) joining a new alliance earlier this year to push for more attention on the issue.
Yes, pilots have free time. Junior pilots have a minimum of 12 days off per month, whereas the average pilot gets 15 days off per month and a senior pilot can enjoy up to 20 days off per month.
Some students ask themselves, “Am I too old to become a pilot?” and wonder how long they will be able to pursue a career in the air. No one is too old to attend flight school, as long as they are physically capable of operating an aircraft.
The reality is that you only become too old to start flight training when you can no longer hold a class one medical. However, if you are starting your training over the age of around forty, what you are looking to achieve takes some serious consideration.
Never too Late to Learn to Fly
You must pass a medical exam to get your pilot's license and it's not a one-time thing. Pilots under the age of 40 must pass the medical exam every 60 months, while pilots aged 40 and older must pass it every 24 months.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pilot? It takes two months to become a pilot and earn your private pilot license. To become an airline pilot, it takes two years to gain the required 1,500 hours flight time.
Federal regulations set the maximum work hours and minimum requirements for rest between flights for most pilots. Airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month and work an additional 150 hours per month performing other duties, such as checking weather conditions and preparing flight plans.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules prohibit a pilot engaged in international flying from operating in most airspaces when a pilot attains the age of 65 years (known as the `Rule of 65').
Qantas pilots were considered less likely to head overseas due to the career path the airline offered, and the fact pay rates were generally the highest in Australia.
In the USA, the yearly average airline pilot salary (First Officer) in a major airline is $39,000-$119,000, while Captains in the same type of airline can make $70,000-$257,000. Alaskan Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others are topping the list of the best-paying carriers in the country.