Hi there, potential future professional pilot! Your interest in becoming a pilot has brought you to this page and you might be wondering how to become a commercial pilot in Australia? Is becoming a commercial pilot your dream or are you simply just curious about finding out how to become a pilot in Australia? If you answer yes to either one of these, then the information provided below is for you.

Becoming a commercial pilot is an exciting occupation where you can fly high above the clouds and see the world from a unique perspective.  If you’re 18 years of age or older and the type of person that is calm under pressure, has good grasp of mathematics and physics, possesses great English reading, writing and comprehension skills, then a career as a professional pilot could be your calling.

There is also great demand globally for more commercial pilots, with Boeing estimating an additional 612,000 pilots will be needed in the next 20 years*.

*Data sourced from http://www.boeing.com/commercial/market/pilot-technician-outlook/

How to Become a Commercial Pilot in Australia – 3 Steps

Step 1 – Complete the selection process

Prior to enrolling into the course, shortlisted students that meet the pre-requisites are required to complete a selection process arranged through our Parafield (SA) campus.  Selection includes aviation-specific entrance exams, aptitude testing, and an interview.  For more information about applying to undertake our courses, please refer to the selection information.

Students must also gain their Class 1 medical certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to be able to undertake practical flying lessons.

Step 2 – Study an AVI50219 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane)

Before you can jump inside the cockpit, you’ll also need a thorough understanding of what it takes to fly an aircraft.  Delivered in accordance with CASA requirements, our AVI50219 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane) will provide you face-to-face ground theory instruction that will set you on course for achieving your commercial pilot licence.  

With our AVI50219 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane), you will also gain flight experience. You’ll undertake commercial flying training at our Parafield (SA) campus, with access to over 30 aircraft as well as state-of-the-art simulators.  Both campuses offer fully serviced onsite accommodation, so you can totally immerse yourself into your aviation journey.

While on this course, you will be conducting supervised flight training towards an integrated commercial pilot licence (CPL).  FTA’s integrated CPL includes 155 hours of aeronautical experience.  You won’t need a licence to fly as a student pilot as you will be under the guidance of a qualified instructor throughout your training.

Step 3 – Gain your licence

The culmination of your AVI50219 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane) is completing your CPL flight test.  Once this is attained you can now be employed as a commercial pilot in Australia.  However, it should be noted that you will be limited to flying single-engine aircraft in visual weather conditions only.

The minimum requirement by most airlines is to be able to fly a multi-engine aircraft in all types of weather conditions.  This can be achieved by undertaking FTA’s AVI50519 Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating – Aeroplane).

If a career in an airline is not your preference, you might want to explore a career as a flight instructor.  In order to be employable as an instructor, you need to achieve the necessary qualifications.  These can be attained via FTA’s AVI50419 Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor).

For more information on our rotary-wing training and how to become a helicopter pilot – Diploma of Aviation (Helicopter) – please click here.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pilot in Australia?

Achieving the licenses and ratings required to operate aircraft commercially under Insrument conditions can take approximately 10 months.Becoming a pilot in Australia involves a structured process that usually takes around 18 to 24 months. The duration can vary depending on the type of pilot career you pursue. If you’re aiming to become a commercial pilot, the training typically includes accumulating 150-200 flight hours and obtaining a AVI50222 Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane) as well as an AVI50519 Diploma of Aviation (Instrument Rating – Aeroplane)Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). This can be achieved through flight training provided by accredited schools such as Flight Training Adelaide (FTA).

If you’re wondering how to become a pilot in Australia, your training involves completing both flying and theoretical lessons. This includes ground school lessons, supervised flight training, and passing the regulator’s exams to receive your licence and ratings.

Career Opportunities in Aviation

The aviation industry offers various career paths for trained pilots. Upon completing your training, you can choose from several exciting career opportunities:

1. Commercial Pilot: After earning your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Instrument Rating (IR) and Type Rating, you can fly for airlines, cargo services, or other commercial flight operations.
2. Helicopter Pilot: A growing field with opportunities in tourism, medical services, offshore operations, and more.
3. Flight Instructor: If you prefer teaching, you can become a flight instructor and guide the next generation of aspiring pilots.
4. Aviation Management: For those who prefer operations, there are roles in aviation management focusing on safety, logistics, and other behind-the-scenes functions.

The demand for pilots continues to grow worldwide, with many airlines actively seeking skilled pilots. Whether you’re interested in a commercial pilot career or pursuing helicopter pilot opportunities, there are plenty of avenues for job security and advancement in the aviation industry.

Boeing’s 20-year forecast for pilot requiremtnes can be found here https://investors.boeing.com/investors/news/press-release-details/2025/Boeing-Forecasts-20-Year-Global-Demand-for-Nearly-2-4-Million-New-Commercial-Pilots-Technicians-Cabin-Crew/default.aspx

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