How to Obtain a Pilot License

Have you always dreamt of flying in the skies? Does this thought bring a huge smile to your face? Maybe that’s what you’re meant to do - get your pilot license now!

There are various aspects when researching how to obtain a pilot license - type of license, purpose of flying, pilot license requirements, availability to complete flying hours, age requirements, and much more.

Let’s start by explaining the meaning and purpose of the types of licenses available:

Feature	Student Pilot License (SPL)	Private Pilot License (PPL)	Commercial Pilot License (CPL)	Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)	Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL)
Purpose	Required to obtain a PPL and CPL	Fly for fun in single-engine airplanes	Pilot in command of small piston aircraft	Fly privately or commercially and be captain or co-pilot of any flight	Fly specific aircraft for a particular airline
Minimum Age	16	17	18	21	18
Completion Time	-	4-6 months	8-10 months	18-24 months	16-18 months
Flying Hours Needed	-	35-45 hours	200-250 hours	1,500 hours	240 hours

Now, let’s dive into how to get a pilot license.

Process of Getting a Pilot License

The steps to get a pilot license are mostly the same for all types of pilot certification, and they are:

Select a Recognized Flying School

It is essential to enroll in a flying school that is recognized by the issuing authority of your country. Without recognition, the course is a waste of time.

Now, when you select your flying school to obtain a pilot license, you have to choose your course. This is when you research and think about the choices. Among all the options in the table above, you have to decide on one choice that suits your career goals.

Ask yourself these questions when you apply for pilot license:

Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Do you want a professional aviation career or is it just for fun?
Do you want to earn through flying or use the skill to fly your friends around?
If you want to fly commercially, how much do you want to earn?
Do you want to be a captain or a co-pilot?
Is there a particular aircraft that you want to fly?

Once you have clarity about what you want to do, you will be able to select a flying course. Enrol in the preferred course and start the classes.

Get Required Medical Certificates

Medical certificates are important to obtain a pilot license as they represent that your health is good enough to fly. As a pilot, in most cases, you are responsible for many lives and expensive equipment. You have to be mentally and physically fit to fly a plane.

For most flying licenses, you require a Class 1 Medical Certificate. The Aeronautical Medical Examiner (AME) checks your physical health and the tests include:

Hemoglobin
Electrocardiogram
Audiometry
ENT exam
Sight exam
Lipid profile
Pulmonary peak flow
Urine test
Digestive Tract Test
Posturometry
Cholesterol level
Psychological test
Neurological test

Make sure you are fit enough and prepare your body before going for these tests.

Start Your Flight Training

It is time! Time to start flying.

This is the most exciting part of the process - the moment you've been waiting for!

Whichever license you choose, the in-flight classes start with the presence of an instructor. Depending on your country's norms and the selected license type, you have to complete a few hours with the instructor before moving on to solo flying.

After completing the necessary flying hours with an instructor, some courses require you to obtain instrument flying training, and then it is time for flying solo!

There are different pilot license requirements for different types of courses. Some require you to complete a few cross-country flying hours, night flying hours, or instrument training hours.

Enjoying the article?

Aviation Theory Test

When it comes to theoretical knowledge of flying, many theory subjects are taught in the courses. Most of these examinations are multiple-choice questions.

Here are some subjects that are usually involved in the theory classes:

Air Law
Aircraft General Knowledge
Communications
Flight Planning and Performance
Human Performance and Limitations
Meteorology
Navigation
Operational Procedures
Principles Of Flight
Aerodynamics
Power Plants

You have to score a minimum of 70% on these exams to pass them.

Practical Flying Test

The answer to how to get your pilot license boils down to this step! It’s the moment of truth. Passing this test will get you your pilot certification!

For the flying examination, you have to take a skill test along with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) in the relevant aircraft type according to the license you have chosen to earn. The check-ride includes an oral assessment and an in-flight flying evaluation.

The oral assessment is mostly conducted in a classroom and has questions based on pilot job scenarios to check your response in such situations. If you clear the oral evaluation, you move to the practical in-flight assessment.

From the pre-flight checks to the post-flight inspections, you are assessed on all the steps during the in-flight evaluation. You have to demonstrate that you can fly the aircraft safely and understand how the flight operates. You will be judged on your ability to take off, land, maneuver, navigate, and plan, especially in the case of an emergency.

Depending on the choice of pilot license, the intensity of the tests will change. For example, in the case of a CPL, you need to demonstrate various take-offs, maneuvers, and more, with a higher tolerance.

Conclusion

Figuring out how to get a pilot license and deciding which one to choose depends on many factors. But once you choose, earning a license is almost the same either way.

Pilot training is rigorous and time-consuming. But in the end, a pilot career rewards you in many ways. When you see the view from the cockpit, the entire process is worth it!

How to get a Pilot License