Become an airline pilot

The whole path, before you spend a euro on it

From the first medical to the first line flight: what each phase asks of you, how long it takes, and what it costs. Written for the European route, and kept free of the recruitment gloss.

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Phase by phase

From first medical to first airline job

Eleven phases, each with the time it takes, what it costs, and what it actually asks of you. The figures are ranges observed across European schools — treat them as planning numbers, not quotes.

  1. 01

    Entry & Medical

    Admissions, EASA Class 1 and your paperwork

    0–3 monthsDuration €500–€1,800Typical cost 17+Age (18 for CPL)

    To do

    • Class 1 first — vision and colour vision, ECG, audiogram. Ask the AeMC for its checklist.
    • Build your digital file (ID, criminal record, insurance) and keep paper copies.
    • Start at ICAO L4 and work towards L5–L6 during training.

    Pitfalls & budget

    • Paying a school deposit before the medical is a real risk.
    • Add a 10–15% buffer for extra trips and retests.
    • Choose modular, integrated or cadet on cashflow versus timeline.

    Start a training log on day one — cloud and paper.

  2. 02

    ATPL Theory

    The EASA theoretical syllabus and its exam cadence

    6–12 monthsDuration €3k–€8kTypical cost 6 / 4Sittings / attempts

    Method

    • 40 minutes of notes, 20 minutes of MCQs, one mixed review a week to break the silos.
    • Front-load the heavy subjects: Performance, AGK, Instrumentation.
    • Keep an error log tagged formula / concept / trap.

    Checkpoints

    • Concise notes aligned to the question banks, with formula memos.
    • Mixed-block simulations for fatigue and time management.
    • Monthly cross-subject reviews to connect the concepts.

    This is the phase the notes were written for — condensed sheets cost less and stick better.

  3. 03

    PPL + hour building

    PPL(A) and structured hours towards the CPL minimum

    6–12 monthsDuration €15k–€28kTypical cost 150–200 hTotal time target

    Programme

    • Book in blocks and protect your weather windows.
    • Fly routes that teach: terrain, controlled airspace, cross-border.
    • Keep a skills log — crosswind, R/T, nav precision, abnormals.

    What drives the bill

    • Eastern European bases, off-peak slots, fuel deals.
    • Legal cost-sharing where it is allowed.
    • Fewer cancellations means fewer trips, which means lower cost.

    Record the audio, with consent, and debrief the parts that hurt.

  4. 04

    Night Rating

    Optional, and worth doing before the IR

    1–2 weeksDuration €800–€1,500Typical cost 5 hNight time

    Objectives

    • Circuits, navigation, emergencies and the visual illusions that come with them.
    • Pick well-lit aerodromes and hold to solid procedures.
    • Set personal minima, alternates, and a plan for night fatigue.

    Timing

    • Winter gives you far more natural night hours.
    • Pair it with R/T practice at an active airfield.

    Night scan discipline is what sets you up for instrument flying.

  5. 05

    CPL(A)

    The Commercial Pilot Licence

    1–2 monthsDuration €6k–€10kTypical cost ≥ 200 hTotal time

    Skills

    • Precision on heading, time and power, and early stabilisation.
    • Abnormal procedures and decision-making under load.
    • Fly the full test profile in a mock, with a different instructor.

    Organisation

    • Multi-day blocks mean fewer cancellations.
    • Standardise your callouts and flows; keep the trim discipline.

    Debrief every flight: one thing that worked, one to improve.

  6. 06

    IR(A) + PBN

    Instrument Rating, single or multi-engine, with PBN

    2–3 monthsDuration €12k–€20kTypical cost 40–55 hInstrument time

    Procedures

    • SIDs and STARs, holds, ILS, VOR, RNAV(GNSS) and circling.
    • One brief, always in the same order: threats, minima, nav aids.
    • Jeppesen fluency, descent planning and alternates.

    Efficiency

    • Split sim and aircraft time deliberately, not by default.
    • Use the same personal IFR checklist on every flight.

    The ME-IR costs more, and it mirrors airline operations.

  7. 07

    MEP

    Multi-Engine Piston class rating

    1–3 weeksDuration €3k–€5kTypical cost ~10 hOn type

    Techniques

    • Asymmetric flight, EFATO, single-engine go-around.
    • Know Vyse cold, and drill engine failures on the ground first.

    Planning

    • Bundle it with the ME-IR modules when the schedules line up.
    • Review the QRH and the limitations until they are automatic.

    Chair-fly daily: flows, memory items, profiles.

  8. 08

    Advanced UPRT

    Upset Prevention and Recovery Training

    3–5 daysDuration €1.5k–€3.5kTypical cost Pre-typeWhen

    Content

    • High angle of attack, unusual attitudes, startle management.
    • Recovery by flow: energy, then attitude, then power.

    Getting through it

    • Hydration, rest, and short debriefs rather than long ones.
    • Carry the GA habits across into airline SOPs.

    It is the confidence step before the MCC and APS sims.

  9. 09

    MCC / APS MCC

    Multi-Crew Cooperation — the APS version is worth it

    3–6 weeksDuration €5k–€8kAPS cost FNPT II / FFSDevice

    Crew skills

    • PF and PM roles, strict SOPs, abnormals and emergencies, time management.
    • Iterate your callout sheet: brief, do, debrief.

    Why APS

    • Jet standards and a stricter evaluation — it shows in selection.
    • It shortens the type rating learning curve.

    Use airline-style checklists from the first session.

  10. 10

    Selection & Type Rating

    Airline assessments, then the aircraft

    6–12 weeksType duration €20k–€35kTypical cost B737 / A320Usual types

    Selection

    • HR interview, group exercises, COMPASS / Cut-e / ADAPT, psychometrics.
    • Sim profile: raw data ILS, holds, workload management.

    Type rating

    • CBT, fixed base, full flight sim, base training — and clear financing clauses.
    • Keep the training log current: LOFT, abnormals covered.

    Some airlines reimburse part of it once you are on the line.

  11. 11

    First job and the line

    Line flying, recurrent checks, and the upgrade

    1–5 yearsFO to Captain 1,500–2,500 hTypical upgrade LPC / OPCEvery six months

    Routine

    • Line training, continuous CRM, faithfulness to the SOPs.
    • Track your flight-time limitations and the variety of your sectors.

    Looking ahead

    • Keep the logbook highlights a recruiter would care about.
    • Aim at TRI or SFI in the medium term if that appeals.

    Two lines after every flight, factual and actionable.

  12. Σ

    The whole thing, added up

    Totals and the planning rules that hold across phases

    18–30 monthsModular route €45k–€90kPlus the type rating ICAO L5–L6English target

    Budget & planning

    • Hold a 10–15% buffer and track your cost per hour.
    • Blocks buy continuity; anticipate season, instructor and aircraft availability.

    Learning & career

    • Spaced repetition, mixed blocks, and an error log you actually reread.
    • Make the IFR, cross-border, abnormal and leadership hours visible.

    Treat it as a living plan — adjust it to your hours, your budget and the opportunities.

Two licences, two packs

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PPL theory and ATPL theory are different exams with different demands. Each pack is written for one of them — so nothing you read is wasted.

Step 1 · Private Pilot Licence

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  • Memo boxes for the numbers you have to know cold
  • Communications (090) added free when it is released
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