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Oceania · Authority: CASA

Flight training in Australia

56 researched schools and 119 verified programs so far. This is the research done to date, not a complete list of every provider in Australia.

State or territory:Australian Capital TerritoryNew South WalesNorthern TerritoryQueenslandSouth AustraliaTasmaniaVictoriaWestern Australia

119 programs

Country: Australia Reset all

Results are listed alphabetically; there is no price ranking because prices in different currencies, price types and bases are not comparable. Schools marked Sponsored are paid placements and never change approval status or order.

About training in Australia

How pilot training is regulated

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-

Relevant aviation authorities

  • 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.

Training pathways

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Qualification terminology

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

CodeOfficial nameMinimum ageRegulatory minimum flight timeSource
RPLRecreational pilot licenceAllows flying a light single-engine aircraft as pilot in command; it is not an ICAO licence and other countries do not recognise it.1625 hAt least 25 hours flying time, including 20 hours dual and 5 hours as pilot-in-command.official
PPLAPrivate pilot licence (aeroplane category rating)Allows command or co-pilot of an aircraft in a private operation, and flying training.1735 hAeronautical experience 35 hours for an integrated course and 40 for a non-integrated course (up to 5 hours in a simulator); 10 hours solo and 5 hours solo cross-country in an aeroplane.official
PPLHPrivate pilot licence (helicopter category rating)Private licence with a helicopter category rating, with its own experience table.1735 hAeronautical experience 35 hours for an integrated course and 40 for a non-integrated course; 10 hours solo and 5 hours solo cross-country in a helicopter.official
CPLACommercial pilot licence (aeroplane category rating)Allows flying for private and commercial operations under Subpart 61.I, with exceptions for multi-crew air transport and large single-pilot aeroplanes unless the holder has 750 hours.18150 hAeronautical experience 150 hours (integrated course) or 200 hours (non-integrated); up to 10 hours may be in a flight simulation training device.official
CPLHCommercial pilot licence (helicopter category rating)Commercial licence with a helicopter category rating; non-integrated CPLH may carry a note that it does not meet international standards if basic instrument flying was not done.18100 hAeronautical experience 100 hours (integrated course) or 150 hours (non-integrated, or 105 under MOS Schedule 9).official
ATPLAAir transport pilot licence (aeroplane category rating)The highest licence; allows acting as pilot in command or co-pilot in any operation, and requires a CPL or MPL, an approved MCC course and Part 142 training.211500 h1500 hours aeronautical experience (up to 100 hours in an FSTD), 1400 as pilot, with cross-country, night and instrument sub-minimums.official
ATPLHAir transport pilot licence (helicopter category rating)Helicopter ATPL with the same age, medical and training prerequisites.211000 h1000 hours aeronautical experience, 900 as pilot, with at least 750 hours in a helicopter among flight time as pilot.official
IRInstrument rating (with aircraft instrument endorsements)Needed to fly under IFR; requires a PPL, CPL or ATPL with a relevant aircraft rating, an exam, training and a flight test, with endorsements per aircraft type.n/pn/pCASA's web page says minimum experience is set in Division 61.M of CASR but gives no hour figure.official
MECRMulti-engine aeroplane class ratingAdded to a private, commercial, multi-crew or air transport licence after training with an instructor holding a multi-engine aeroplane training endorsement, plus a flight test.n/pn/pNo hour minimum is stated on the CASA page.official
FIR-AFlight instructor rating (aeroplane)Required to conduct flight training; holder must have a PPL, CPL or ATPL, pass the PIRC exam, train with an approved operator and pass a flight test.n/p200 hBefore starting flight instructor training: at least 200 hours flight time as pilot and 100 hours as pilot in command (some exemptions).official
FIR-HFlight instructor rating (helicopter)Helicopter flight instructor rating with its own experience prerequisite.n/p250 hBefore starting flight instructor training: at least 250 hours flight time as pilot and 100 hours as pilot in command (some exemptions).official

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.

Terms you will meet

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.

Medical, language and instruction

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.

International students

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.

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

Foreign licences and conversion

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.

Country information last reviewed 16 October 2026. 9 official sources consulted.