If you are keen on pursuing the Commercial Pilot career, the Philippines is the perfect country for you. Here’s your guide to the licenses you need to take to become a commercial airline pilot.
Student Pilot Authorization (SPA)
Your key to officially start your pilot dream is to have the Student Pilot Authorization (SPA). This is the initial license that will allow you to learn to fly an aircraft and build hours to be eligible to apply for the Private Pilot license.
Private Pilot License (PPL)
A Private Pilot License will allow you to fly for leisure but prohibits you to fly and get paid for it. To acquire this license, a cadet must have a PPL Ground School, pass the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) written exam and fly the required 40 hours flight time before you will be scheduled to a practical flight test by a CAAP check pilot.
Requirements:
- Class 2 Medical Certificate
- Flight Log Book with 40 flight hours recorded (in the 40 hours, applicant should have minimum of 20 hours dual and 10 hours solo).
- Passed CAAP-ATO Knowledge Exam
- NTC Radio Telephony License
- NBI Clearance
- CAAP Practical Flight Test and Oral Examination
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
The Commercial Pilot License will allow you to fly as pilot in command of an aircraft and get paid for it. The license needs a CPL ground school, total 150 hours accumulated flights, CPL Knowledge Test and Practical Test with a CAAP Check Pilot.
Requirements:
- Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Flight logbook with 150 flight hours recorded. The 150 hours should include 70 hours PIC Time broken down to 50 hours Local flights and 20 hours Cross Country Time with at least 1 Cross-country flight should cover 300nm (540k) distance with full stop landings at 2 different aerodromes. The 10 hours instrument time wherein not more than 5 hours may be instrument ground time not less than 25 hours of dual time
- Passed CAAP-ATO Knowledge Exam
- English Language Proficiency Test Level 4
- NTC Radio Telephony License
- CAAP Practical Flight Test and Oral Examination
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
ATPL is the topmost pilot license that is issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). This type of license can only be acquired by pilots who have earned a total of 1500 flight hours. This license allows the holder to fly as a pilot-in-command of a multi crew aircraft with the commercial airline company,
Requirements:
- Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Flight Logbook with 1500 flight hours recorded
- Passed CAAP-ATO Knowledge Exam
- English Language Proficiency Test Level 4
- NTC Radio Telephony License
- ATPL Ground Training
Instrument Rating
The instrument rating will teach the pilots new skills such as various instrument reading techniques, IFR regulations and policies, and mastery of controlling the aircraft using the instruments as your sole reference. This rating will enable you to navigate the aircraft during poor weather or bad visibility.
Requirements
- Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Private Pilot License
- Passed CAAP-ATO Knowledge Exam
Multi Engine Rating
The multi-engine rating gives the pilot privilege to fly twin engine aircrafts a pilot in command. An equipment qualification course is needed for the additional rating and total of 12 hours flight time to be able to apply for a knowledge and practical exam.
Requirements
- Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Private Pilot License
- Passed CAAP-ATO Knowledge Exam
