Qualify for a career as a Commercial Pilot

Airspeed Aviation and CQ University announce Commercial Pilot Training partnership

December 20, 2021:

Airspeed Aviation is excited to announce a partnership with Central Queensland University (CQU) to deliver practical flight training for their CL17 Graduate Diploma of Aviation program. This course combines with either the CL09 Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations) or the CL06 Associate Degree of Aviation (Flight Operations) to offer an aviation education that is geared toward creating an employable professional pilot. This program is eligible for VET Student loans to help you make your career objective a reality.

Practical Flight Training for UCQ Courses will be delivered initially from Scone and Tamworth - Read more HERE.

How much training is required for the CPL?

• Some flying schools offer a 150-hour CPL course for full time students, but Airspeed Aviation trains to the more flexible (and more comprehensive) 200-hour CASA syllabus. (Even on the full-time 150-hour integrated CPL course, most people need 180-200 hours to meet the CASA flight test standards.)

• If you already have a Private Pilot Licence, you will do a flight assessment with our Chief Flying Instructor so we can give you Recognition of Prior Learning for your existing skills

• There are 7 x 2-hour written examinations required before you complete the flight training and attempt your Commercial Pilot Licence flight test

What do I need to take the Airspeed CPL course?

• To be at least 15 years old to go First Solo

• To be 18 years old to hold a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

• To be able to speak English clearly (and pass a CASA English Language assessment)

• Some Airlines require Year 12 Advanced Maths and Physics (most not)

If you wish to fly professionally, we recommend that you see a CASA-approved doctor for a full Class 1 Medical Examination before you commit.

What does the CPL course cost? 

CPL Flight training starts at about $370 per flying hour in the Grob.

While some flying schools offer a 150-hour ‘Integrated’ CPL course, in reality most students require over 200 flight hours before graduating to acquire the skills, maturity and additional Commercial Pilot qualifications that make them more attractive to employers. We make it our mission to ensure that when you leave our Flight School you are fully ready for a career as a ,Commercial Pilot.

The total cost of our Single-engine CPL course, with night and instrument qualifications, starts at $83,875 ex GST.

Do I need a degree to be a Commercial Airline Pilot?

No, there are no commercial airlines in Australia that require pilots to have a degree. Many Commercial Airline Pilots do go back to University once they are working however.

QANTAS is the only airline in Australia that sets an academic requirement for its pilots and that is at the HSC level not university level.

What happens after I graduate with a Commercial Pilot Licence?

Once you have a full Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) you can either:

• Obtain additional qualifications

• Get a job as a Commercial Pilot