How To Become A Pilot In South Africa

A pilot is someone who is in the aviation industry, and who is able to operate aircraft in order to transport passengers or goods from one location to another.

Is pilot study hard?

“Training to be an airline pilot is hard,” Chloe added, “and a certain level of intelligence is needed but my advice to all those that may feel discouraged upon hearing this: we’re all normal, yet diligent and motivated people. There are also presentations from major airlines and trainers.

Why do student pilots quit?

The reasons can almost be anything, from not seeing any progress in their flying, to losing their Instructor to an airline job, or even something happening that’s caused them to have to take some time away from flying. Some students lose their motivation because they haven’t soloed yet.

Why do student pilots quit?

The reasons can almost be anything, from not seeing any progress in their flying, to losing their Instructor to an airline job, or even something happening that’s caused them to have to take some time away from flying. Some students lose their motivation because they haven’t soloed yet.

Below is How To Become A Pilot In South Africa

Aviationfly has helped many aspiring pilots just like you become a pilot with our step-by-step guide below. In this page, we will walk you through all the steps that you need to take into consideration when pursuing your dream of becoming either a private pilot, commercial pilot, or an airline transport pilot.

Step 1. Do research on the available flight training options in South Africa

You need to know what pilot training programs are being offered in the country and which among those is the most suitable for you. This is where you should take into account what your aviation goal is.

Do you want to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) or a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)? Are you seeking to work for an airline? If yes, then an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) is for you. Do you aim to attain a college degree at the same time too? Or do you see yourself joining the military, particularly the Air Force? 

Did we lose you? Don’t panic! If you’re not familiar with the terms or can’t choose which license is right for you, you can send in your questions and our team will be happy to help you out.

Here are your options

Flight School

There are over a hundred flight schools in South Africa that offer pilot training programs that you can choose from. It is important that you create a list of your preferred flight school/s so you can compare which is fitting for you.

Each school has its own procedures, enrollment requirements, and depending on which pilot training courses you decide to take, the tuition fee also varies. 

Aviation-related college degree program

However, if you’re interested in obtaining a college degree accompanied by flight training, you should consider aviation-related college degree programs. These programs allow students to combine a college degree with flight training.

With this kind of program, you will earn a college degree together with a pilot license such as Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in most cases. This will give you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.

Step 2. Look up the Basic Requirements

What is the minimum age to become a pilot in South Africa

You need to be at least 17 years old to start your pilot training in South Africa.

What do I need to start pilot training in South Africa

In order to start your pilot training, you will need to secure a medical certificate. The best way to do this is to speak with the flight school you would like to enroll in and they will help arrange it for you.

What are the minimum educational requirements to become a pilot in South Africa

Potential students must be at least a high school (Class 12) graduate.

What level of English do I need to become a pilot in South Africa

Since the language of aviation internationally is English, it is recommended to have at least a level 4 English standard before receiving your pilot license. If you are looking to improve your English, you can send us a message and we will give you tips on what courses to take.

Step 3. Decide on which training stages you will have to undergo

In general, there are five (5) different pilot training stages in which students need to complete depending on what their goal is. The stages of pilot training are as follows:

  • Student Pilot License (SPL)

The first pilot license you will need to obtain is a student pilot license. This license allows you to start your flight training.

  • Private Pilot License (PPL)

The private pilot license will allow you to fly solo, passengers, or cargo but without monetary compensation. 

  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

To start earning from flying, you will need to obtain a commercial pilot license. This license allows you to become a paid professional pilot. 

Both 4 and 5 are add-ons to your pilot license…

  • Instrument Rating (IR)

Being instrument-rated means that you can fly the aircraft in any weather condition (for example low or zero visibility) using just the instruments. Flight schools offer Instrument Rating along with their commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.

  • Multi-Engine Rating (MER)

The multi-engine rating will allow you to fly multi-engine aircraft. Flight schools offer Multi-Engine Rating along with their private pilot training and commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.

  •  Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)

ATPL is the highest level of Aircraft Pilot Certificate that allows you to act as a pilot in command on scheduled air carriers.

If you have any questions with respect to the How to become a Pilot in South Africa 2021 Guide, feel free to use the chat messenger to send us a message.

Step 4. Choose a flight school

After doing your research on the type of license you would like to obtain, the next step is to choose which flight school is the most suitable for your budget.

So, how much does pilot training cost?

It is important to note that becoming a pilot requires a certain budget. Your flight training cost depends on the country you do your training, the flight school you pick, and a number of other factors.

If you decide to do your flight training within the country, there are over a hundred pilot schools in South Africa for you to choose from. You can find a list of all flight training institutes in South Africa by registering with us on Aviationfly.com.

Our flight school directory has a list of all the latest active flight schools in South Africa including their brief background, pilot training courses being offered, the school’s fleet details, what they can offer to you, and other information.

On the other hand, if you decide to do your flight training abroad, there are a number of popular countries to choose from. One important thing to note is that after your training, you will have to convert your license to the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

As mentioned above, another alternative on how to become a Pilot in South Africa 2021 is to enroll in an airline pilot program. Once you have successfully passed your pilot training, you will be employed by the airlines that have set up the program.

Below are Career Options to consider as a Pilot In South Africa

Many aspiring pilots have a defined career path they would like to pursue, while others don’t. Below is a list of options for what you can potentially do with a pilot license.

Airline pilot for large airlines or smaller regional ones

Corporate or business aviation pilot

Cargo pilot

Charter / Air taxi pilot

Flight instructor

Medical/ Air ambulance pilots

Agricultural pilot and many more options

How much does it cost to become a pilot in South Africa?

It takes around 18 months and costs around R 729361.00 to get your CPL in South Africa. Keep in mind though that you will need further training and certificates to get a job in an airline, like instrument rating and type rating, for example, type rating alone would cost you another R 729361.00 .

Where can I study to become a pilot in South Africa?

Where can I study to become a pilot in South Africa?

Lanseria Flight Centre.

Johannesburg School of Flying.

Eagle Flight Academy.

Cranfield Aviation Training.

Progress Flight Academy.

U-fly Training Academy.

Are pilots in demand in South Africa?

First-year salaries at South African Airways (SAA) for instance are R900,000 a year, rising over time to a level on par with those of C-suite corporate executives.Given premium salaries, it is therefore surprising that there is a worldwide shortage of pilots.

What qualifications do I need to become a pilot?

You’ll need to:

be over 21 years of age.

hold a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

pass the Civil Aviation Authority medical before you can take a course – the medical includes tests on your fitness, hearing and vision.

pass enhanced background checks.

What is the pilot salary?

The median annual salary for the pilot of a large jet is an impressive R 1771005.218. For a small jet, the median annual salary is R 1520265.49 Non-jet aircraft pilots make significantly less. The pilot of a large non-jet aircraft earns a median annual salary of just R 1153936.63.

Can I become a pilot without maths and Science?

ANSWER (1)

In most of the Flying Academies, the Physics and Maths are the mandatory requirements at class 12th level for CPL. However, other courses like Student pilot and PPL can be done on the basis of class 10th. However, other courses like Student pilot and PPL can be done on the basis of class 10th.

Do pilots have time for family?

Yes, being a pilot more than often means that you’ll have to spend a night or two or a couple away from home, but it also means that when you are off you will be there all the time, from waking up in the morning to going to bed at night.

How much do pilots earn in a month?

The average salary for an Airline Pilot is ₹46,87,900 per year (₹3,90,650 per month), which is ₹43,00,400 (+1110%) higher than the national average salary in India. An Airline Pilot can expect an average starting salary of ₹11,25,100. The highest salaries can exceed ₹1,00,00,000.

Do pilots fly for free?

Yes, as a perk of the job most pilots have access too heavily discounted or even free flights. It varies between airlines and across countries but it is generally accepted that pilots and their friends or family get access to cheap flight tickets.