Flight training in Australia

Pilot licensing in Australia is governed by Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR), with practical flight standards in the Part 61 Manual of Standards. CASA says training for a licence must be done with a Part 141 or Part 142 flight training operator; Part 142 operators run intensive integrated courses and Part 141 operators run non-integrated courses, and integrated courses carry lower minimum hours. Licences carry aircraft category ratings (aeroplane, helicopter, and others) plus class or type ratings and endorsements. All applicants for a licence must complete an aviation security status check, and those using a radio need an Aviation English Language Proficiency assessment.

Source: casa.gov.au/licences-and-certificates/pilots/pilot-

• Civil Aviation Safety AuthorityAustralia's aviation safety regulator: issues flight crew licences, ratings and medical certificates under Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, and authorises flight training operators under Parts 141 and 142.
• Department of Home Affairs (aviation security and student visas)Aviation security regulator administering the aviation security status check (ASIC) rules, and the department that handles Student visa (subclass 500) applications.

Listing here does not imply affiliation. Flight School Atlas is independent of every aviation authority.

• Recreational flying

  The recreational pilot licence lets the holder fly a light, single-engine aircraft as pilot in command without supervision, with limits on passengers, night and international use.

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• Private pilot

  Theory exam, training with a Part 141 or 142 operator, minimum flying experience, flight test and a security check lead to a PPL for private operations.

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• Commercial pilot (integrated or non-integrated)

  Training for the CPL is through Part 142 integrated courses or Part 141 non-integrated courses, with lower aeronautical experience minimums for integrated courses.

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Names and privileges are local to Australia. Similar names in other countries are not interchangeable.

A regulatory minimum is a legal floor for the qualification. It is not the number of hours most students need, and not a guarantee of cost or completion time.

Part 61 / MOS

CASR Part 61 governs flight crew licensing; the Part 61 Manual of Standards holds practical flight standards and detailed requirements.

Part 141 / Part 142

Flight training operator approvals: Part 142 for integrated courses and Part 141 for non-integrated courses.

Category / class rating

A category rating covers aeroplane, helicopter and similar groups; a class rating covers a class within a category (for example multi-engine aeroplane).

AELP

Aviation English Language Proficiency assessment for pilots who use an aeronautical radio.

ASIC / AVID

Aviation security status checks: ASIC from Home Affairs issuing bodies, AVID from CASA.

ARN

Aviation reference number, a customer number needed to interact with CASA.

CASA issues aviation medical certificates: Class 1 or Class 2 (and Basic Class 2 for a PPL flight test); the RPL can use a Class 5 self-declaration or a recreational aviation medical practitioner's certificate. Official medical information

PPL and CPL applicants must be able to speak and understand a certain level of English, and those using a radio need an Aviation English Language Proficiency (AELP) assessment at level 4, 5 or 6; AELP 4 and 5 must be retaken after 3 and 6 years.

Languages of instruction among researched schools: English.

A foreign student typically needs to look into a Student visa (subclass 500) from the Department of Home Affairs, which has new application rules from 2 October 2026. CASA requires every licence applicant to complete an aviation security status check (an ASIC through Home Affairs or an AVID from CASA), and an AVID needs the applicant to hold or be applying for a Part 61 licence. A licence applicant must also hold an aviation reference number (ARN) with CASA. Nothing here promises a visa or admission.

• Student visa (subclass 500), Home Affairs
• CASA: Security requirements for pilots
• CASA: Learning to fly and flight training operators

Training approval does not establish immigration permission or international-student eligibility. Verify current rules with the official sources above.

CASA lets overseas licence holders either convert a foreign licence (for stays over 12 months), obtain a Certificate of Validation for short-term work, or, for New Zealand licences, verify under the trans-Tasman arrangement. Converting a PPL needs form 61-4a only; converting a CPL, MPL or ATPL needs Australian conversion exams and a flight test, and a current level 4 AELP assessment is required.

• CASA: Converting an overseas flight crew licence
• CASA: Exams to convert overseas licences
• ABLIS: Certificate of Validation