An Aviation Milestone
Considered by many but attained by few, the Commercial Pilots Licence is seen as the licence to fly big jets. The reality is somewhat different. Commercial aviation has always been a difficult path to follow and some call it one of the worlds longest apprenticeships. Let's start with some good before discussing the hard reality.
It has been said that the man who loves his job never has to work a day in his life. The job of flying an aeroplane can be hugely rewarding, a whole heap of fun and an occasionally terrifying experience all coupled with enormous responsibility, sometimes with the whole lot rolled into one. Are you up for the task?
Commercial flying can take you all over Australia or all over the world. The choice is yours. Commercial aviation can take the form of anything from flying a crop duster to flying an airliner, working for a flying doctor service or simply showing tourists scenic location. You could also fly a commuter aircraft for a mining company or fly on to and off remote islands.
Two Routes to a CPL
Once upon a time the only route to a CPL was up through the ranks of general aviation starting out with a PPL, gaining hours then studying hard, passing the commercial pilots licence exams then doing a stint of intense training then passing the commercial pilots practical licence test. It has never been easy, it has always cost a lot of money and the end result of a dream job flying for a living has proved an impossible goal for quite a few who have gotten as far as a CPL.
Learning through an integrated course
These days there is another route that can be taken and that is through an integrated school, studying and training hard and full time both in a classroom and in an aircraft. Ariel Aviation offer no such integrated course. The cost of these courses can be very high, often in excess of $100,000. Often the course fee can be paid by a Higher Education Loan. Do you want to go on this path? If so there is a very good school right here in Tasmania that can train you in this curriculum, it is Par Avion at Cambridge Aerodrome. There are also numerous schools on the mainland that offer such courses. My advice here is carefully choose, carefully think about it and consider the amount of debt you will be burdened with upon completion. These courses require a minimum of 150 hours flying an aeroplane and many months in a classroom to go from start to completion. This course is called an integrated training course and is offered by schools with the facilities to take full time students.
Learning through an non integrated course
There is another route, you work hard and fund your aviation career as you go. You attain a RPC, and/or a RPL, then a PPL, you study for the exams at home, online or at a aviation theory school, you gain around 180 hours of flying experience (including training of around 70 hours then you do an intensive period of training specifically to help you pass the CPL flight test. This is usually around 20 hours. This course is called a non-integrated course and it is the only course Ariel Aviation offer.
There are some advantages to the non integrated course of training. Firstly the aviation industry highly values a "self starter" and someone who has studiously studied themselves and then funded and completed a non integrated course is seen as a highly motivated self starter. Secondly the longer period attaining a commercial licence this way gives the student the opportunity to meet and network with the aviation industry and get a real understanding of how it all functions. You also should gain your CPL with no debt.
The final reality
Okay, you have finally achieved your CPL. Sadly this is not a ticket to instant employment no matter what the integrated schools may tell you. The CPL is the start of an apprenticeship that can take years to finish. As a "newly minted" CPL holder your choices of a first job will be limited, you will no doubt start flying in general aviation, often in the tourism industry or as a beginner instructor.
No matter which path you take, becoming a successful commercial pilot involves a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice and some luck. Ariel Aviation feel honoured whenever we get the chance to take someone through to a commercial pilots licence and we try our hardest to get any student who completes a CPL course with us their first job in a difficult to break into industry.