5 steps to becoming a pilot in South Africa
Many people don’t know where to start on their journey to becoming a pilot.
We have broken it down into 5 steps to help aspiring pilots just like you.
We will walk you through all of the steps you need to consider when pursuing your dream of becoming a pilot.
Step 1: Do your research on available flight training options
You need to know what programmes are available and which will be most suitable for you. This is where you should take into account what your aviation goal is.
- A Private Pilot License will allow you to fly your friends and family around.
- The Commercial Pilot License enables you to carry passengers or cargo around the world.
- Or, if you are looking to work for an airline then the Air Transport Pilots License is what you will need.
Step 2: Look at what the basic requirements are
Each license will have its own set of entry requirements.
The starting point is to obtain the Student Pilot License. You need to be 16 years or older, be able to read, speak and understand English, pass a medical exam, pass the aircraft technical exam and pass the student pilot exam.
Once your have your Student Pilot License you can check the requirements for the subsequent licenses you want to obtain.
Step3: Decide on which license’s are right for you
Your aviation goal will determine which licenses are right for you
- Student Pilot License (SPL): this allows you to start your pilot training
- Private Pilot License (PPL): fly solo or with your friends and family onboard
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL): enter the commercial world of aviation and fly across the globe
- Instrument Rating (IR) – optional: control the aircraft using only the instruments
- Multi-Engine Rating (MER) – optional: fly multi-engine aircraft
- Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) – optional: the highest qualification allows you to become an airline captain
Step 4: Choose your flight school
After doing all of your research, the next step is to choose the right flight school based on your needs.
In addition to which license you will need, you may consider your budget, the location of the flight school, the facilities they have, whether or not there is accommodation for you, the duration of the license and the cost of the license.
All of these considerations should help you choose the best school for you.
Step 5: Consider your career options
Many future pilots have a defined career path guiding they would like to pursue. Here are a few career options to consider:
- Airline pilot for small and large companies
- Corporate or business pilot
- Cargo pilot
- Charter / Air taxi pilot
- Flight instructor
- Medical/ Air ambulance pilots
- Agricultural pilot
Here at Mach1 Aviation Academy, we offer all of the courses you need to become a pilot. From PPL to ATPL, we’ve got you covered.
