Overview

The commercial pilot license (CPL) is the gateway to commercial flying. With this license you are allowed – in contrast to the private pilot license – to carry out professional and commercial flights (i.e. as a paid pilot). This means that you need this license whenever you want to transport passengers for a fee (e.g. with a flight company or airline), want to work as a flight instructor, work flights such as e.g. want to carry advertising banners or similar commercial activities.

Falcon 20 Businessjet beim Start (c) D.Tscholl

 Falcon 20 business jet taking off (c) D.Tscholl

The CPL entitles you to operate aircraft of all registered types as pilot in command (pilot in command), provided that the aircraft type may only be operated by one pilot. This means that aircraft licensed for multi-pilot operations only (e.g. all known Boeing, Airbus, Embraer airliners) may not be flown by a CPL holder as pilot-in-command ("captain"). However, CPL owners may work as First Officers in these aircraft. There are other restrictions related to weather conditions and flight experience.

With an airline pilot license (ATPL/Airline Transport Pilot License) these restrictions do not apply – with the appropriate flying experience.

The training includes both theory and flight training.

Theory training

The training includes both theory and flight training. The theory training teaches you everything you need to know for commercial flying and builds on the theory of private pilot training.

Important hint: The theory training for the CPL corresponds in terms of content and scope in many areas to the theory training for the airline pilot license (ATPL/Airline Transport Pilot License). This means that in many cases it makes sense to complete the theoretical training for the airline pilot's license right away, as this is also fully valid for the CPL and is only slightly more extensive. This has the advantage that you do not have to complete the theoretical training for the airline pilot license (ATPL), which is similar in many areas, at a later point in time, which is associated with a great deal of learning effort and costs. We would be happy to advise you on this decision.

For theoretical training, we use a combination of face-to-face training in our modern and conveniently located seminar hotel (InterCity Seminarhotel, 1070 Vienna, Mariahilfer Strasse 122 or, if necessary, at other training locations) and computer-aided self-study accompanied by our teachers. Of course, there is also the possibility of individual theoretical training.

EICAS

  Engine Indication and Crew Alert System (EICAS)

The curriculum includes:

  • Air Law,
  • Aircraft General Knowledge,
  • Mass and Balance
  • Performance
  • Flight Planning and Monitoring,
  • Human Performance,
  • Meteorology,
  • General Navigation,
  • Radio Navigation
  • Operational Procedures,
  • Principles of Flight and
  • Communications

The theoretical test takes place after a preliminary test at our flight school at the Austrian aviation authority Austrocontrol.

flight training

The flight training can be started at the same time as the theoretical training. The scope and content of the training depends on the student pilot's existing authorizations. For example, training in commercial visual flight forms a comprehensive focus, which - depending on previous experience - is also supplemented by a training block with instrument flight procedures. In addition, training on complex and high-performance aircraft is another part of flight training.

requirements

What you need for the start of the training:

  • a valid PPL or higher license
  • night vision rating
  • a class or type rating for single or multi-engine airplanes
  • We will discuss minimum flight experience and training opportunities with and without an existing instrument flight license with you before the start of the training

duration of training

The duration of the training depends heavily on your personal time budget and usually lasts between 3 weeks and 6 months. The more time you reserve for the theoretical and practical training, the faster you will progress in the training. If you wish, we can always offer you the shortest possible training period.