Pilot licensing in Australia

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In Australia, pilot licences are issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Licences are issued for different categories of aircraft, including aeroplanes and helicopters.

Contents

Recreational pilot licence

The recreational pilot licence (RPL) is unique to Australia, and is not a standard ICAO licence. It replaced the General Flight Progress Test (GFPT).

The minimum age for an RPL is 16. It requires 25 hours experience, a written exam and a basic flight test.

The RPL is equivalent to the RA-Aus pilot certificate, which is issued by Recreational Aviation Australia. It can be converted to a CASA-issued RPL. [1]

Private pilot licence

Requirements

In order to gain a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) in Australia, the minimum requirements are:

For an integrated course, only 35 hours flight experience is required.

Privileges

The PPL allows private pilots to operate single engine aircraft in VFR conditions throughout all Australian airspace classes in daylight. For students upgrading from a Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL), it removes the 1500 kg Maximum Takeoff Weight limitation, allowing pilots to fly any Australian registered aircraft as pilot in command, providing they hold appropriate endorsements for that specific type.

PPL holders may go on to gain a night VFR rating, Private Instrument Rating (PIFR) to fly under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), including at night and in adverse weather, Multi Engine Aeroplane (MEA) Class Ratings, and other operational privileges and endorsements such as aerobatics and aircraft design features. [2]

PPL holders may operate Australian registered aircraft in foreign airspace, subject to the regulations of the relevant government aviation authorities.

Under a PPL, Australian pilots are limited to 5 passengers onboard their aircraft, regardless of aircraft seating capacity.

Commercial pilot licence

The minimum experience required for a commercial pilot licence (CPL) is 200 hours for a non-integrated course, or 150 hours for an integrated course. [4]

Air transport pilot licence

The minimum experience required for an air transport pilot licence (ATPL) is 1500 hours for aeroplanes, or 1000 hours for helicopters. [5]

Military pilot licences

Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with a military flight crew qualification and sufficient experience can convert it into an Air Transport Pilot Licence by completing a flight test. [6]

Conversion

Holders of a foreign (ICAO) pilot licence may fly temporarily in Australia for up to 12 months using a Certificate of Validation. [7]

To gain a permanent Australian licence on the basis of an ICAO licence, the applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency. For licences more advanced than the PPL, the applicant must pass a conversion exam and sometimes a flight test. [7]

Australia and New Zealand recognise each other's licences. [7]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glider pilot license</span> Type of pilot license

In most countries one is required to obtain a glider pilot license (GPL) or certificate before acting as pilot of a glider. The requirements vary from country to country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private pilot licence</span> Type of pilot license

A private pilot licence (PPL) or private pilot certificate is a type of pilot licence that allows the holder to act as pilot in command of an aircraft privately. The basic licence requirements are determined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), but implementation varies from country to country. According to ICAO, an applicant must be at least 17 years old, demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skill, and hold at least a Class 3 medical certificate. Different PPLs are available for different categories of aircraft, such as aeroplane, helicopter, airship, etc., and are not interchangeable, although experience from a PPL in one category may be credited towards the issue of another.

The airline transport pilot license (ATPL), or in the United States of America, an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate, is the highest level of aircraft pilot certificate.

A commercial pilot licence (CPL) is a type of pilot licence that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft and be paid for their work.

Pilot licensing or certification refers to permits for operating aircraft. Flight crew licences are issued by the civil aviation authority of each country, which must establish that the holder has met minimum knowledge and experience before issuing licences. The licence, along with the required class or type rating, allows a pilot to fly aircraft registered in the licence issuing state.

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Pilot licensing in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

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The light aircraft pilot licence (LAPL) is a pilot license allowing the pilot to fly small aircraft. It is issued in EASA member states and the United Kingdom. Unlike most other licences, it is not covered by the ICAO framework and is usually not able to be used in other states or regulatory areas.

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Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is a combination of theoretical and practical training given to aircraft pilots to enable the pilot to prevent, recognise and recover from unusual attitudes and unexpected situations.

Aviation in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association is regulated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EASA specifies common standards for the licensing of aircraft pilots. EASA does not issue licences, rather licences are issued by member states. However, because the same standards are used, EASA licences are recognised by all member states.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/getting-recreational-pilot-licence-rpl
  2. 1 2 "Day VFR Syllabus (Aeroplanes) - Civil Aviation Safety Authority". Civil Aviation Safety Authority Official Website. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "Day VFR Syllabus (Helicopters) - Civil Aviation Safety Authority". Civil Aviation Safety Authority Official Website. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  4. ↑ https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/commercial-pilot-licences/getting-commercial-pilot-licence-cpl
  5. ↑ https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/air-transport-pilot-licences/getting-air-transport-pilot-licence-atpl
  6. ↑ https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/military-and-international-licences/use-military-flight-crew-qualification
  7. 1 2 3 https://www.casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-licences/military-and-international-licences/converting-overseas-flight-crew-licence#
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