Getting your commercial pilot licence

To obtain a commercial pilot licence (CPL) in Australia, you must be at least 18 years old and complete a series of requirements including both theoretical knowledge and practical flight training. You can conduct a variety of flying operations, but must hold specific ratings for the aircraft you intend to fly. Additionally, you need to meet certain aeronautical experience standards and pass relevant exams and flight tests.

Key points

• Minimum age requirement is 18 years.
• Complete theoretical and practical flight training at an approved organisation.
• Licences require specific ratings based on aircraft type.
• Passing a CPL theory exam and flight test is mandatory.
• A class 1 medical certificate is necessary for testing and flying with a CPL.

*Plain-English summary of Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Australia) guidance — always consult the official source (linked above) for current, authoritative requirements.*