Flight training in Philippines

Pilot licensing in the Philippines is governed by PCAR Part 2 (Personnel Licensing, July 2026 edition), which sets age, knowledge, medical, experience and skill requirements for student pilot, private, commercial, multi-crew and airline transport licences in airplane and helicopter categories, plus instrument and instructor ratings. Training organisations are certified under PCAR Part 3 as Aviation Training Organizations (ATOs), and a reduced-hour route for the commercial licence applies to training completed in an approved course at an ATO. Medical certificates are issued in Class 1, 2 and 3 under Part 2. CAAP issues memoranda and notices of proposed rulemaking that amend these parts from time to time.

Source: caap.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PART-02-%E2%

• Civil Aviation Authority of the PhilippinesNational civil aviation regulator: issues pilot licences, ratings and medical certificates under the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR) and certifies Aviation Training Organizations under PCAR Part 3.

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

• Private pilot

  Student pilot licence, ground training from an authorised instructor, a knowledge test and flight training toward a PPL for airplanes or helicopters.

  Source

• Commercial pilot via approved training

  A CPL applicant may use fewer total hours when the experience is completed during an Authority-approved training course at an Approved Training Organization under Part 3.

  Source

Names and privileges are local to Philippines. 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.

PCAR

Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations; Part 2 is Personnel Licensing and Part 3 is Approved Training Organizations.

ATO

Aviation Training Organization certified by CAAP under Part 3.

Authority

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (the Licensing Authority).

AME / DAME

Aviation Medical Examiner / Designated Aviation Medical Examiner who perform aeromedical examinations.

PCAR Part 2 sets Class 1 medical certificates for CPL, ATPL, MPL, flight engineer and navigator licences, and Class 2 for student and private pilots (and gliders and free balloons); AMEs and DAMEs conduct the examinations. Official medical information

Pilots using the radiotelephone must show the ability to speak and understand English to the level in PCAR Part 2 (Operational Level 4 minimum, with periodic re-evaluation below Expert Level).

Languages of instruction among researched schools: English.

The PCAR parts read do not set a separate process for foreign students. A foreign student should check Philippine student visa rules with the Bureau of Immigration and confirm with the ATO that it is CAAP-certified. Foreign licence holders may be able to obtain a validation certificate instead. Nothing here promises a visa or admission.

• Bureau of Immigration (Philippines)
• CAAP Approved Training Organizations list page

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

PCAR Part 2 subpart 2.2.4 allows holders of pilot licences from ICAO Contracting States to apply for validation for use on Philippine-registered aircraft, and also covers conversion of foreign licences with appendices describing the procedure. A validation with PPL/IR, CPL, CPL/IR or ATPL privileges is valid for one year while the foreign licence remains valid; ratings are validated only together with a licence.

• PCAR Part 2 Personnel Licensing (July 2026)