Professional Airline Pilot, Canada
for Indian students

ESTIMATED FULL COST: $79,550 USD

Full ATPL DGCA and TC pilot licenses Guaranteed international airline placement Rated as top program in India

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Summary

All you need to know about the program goals, and why this program is right for you.

Why is this the best program for Indian students?

FPAP-IND Program has been reviewed and selected as one of the Number One of the Top Ten fully integrated cadet programs in India! Read the full review here by Whizkey.com >>>

Why enroll with AeroCadet?

  • Strategic Approach: AeroCadet understands that simply having the minimum required pilot licenses is not enough to secure a position with top aviation companies. They emphasize the importance of standing out and being unique among other candidates. AeroCadet provides a strategic approach to help pilots differentiate themselves and make a lasting impression on airline recruitment teams.

  • Comprehensive Support: AeroCadet offers a personalized team of strategists, career mentors, and airline employment consultants who provide invaluable guidance and support throughout the pilot's career journey. These experts offer insights, advice, and mentoring to help pilots enhance their experience, knowledge, qualifications, and employment references, setting them apart from the competition.

  • Industry Knowledge: With their deep understanding of the aviation industry, AeroCadet is equipped to provide pilots with up-to-date information on airline hiring standards and requirements. This knowledge helps pilots align their efforts effectively and efficiently to meet these standards and increase their chances of securing their dream job.

  • Career Development: AeroCadet is committed to the long-term success of pilots in the competitive world of commercial aviation. They provide career development resources and assistance to ensure pilots are well-prepared and positioned for growth opportunities in their aviation careers.

  • Prestigious Airline Opportunities: By enrolling with AeroCadet and benefiting from their expertise, pilots can increase their chances of receiving job offers from prestigious airlines. AeroCadet's insights and support can help aspiring pilots fulfill their dreams of working for the world's leading aviation companies.

As a leading aviation training and airline pilot career development consulting agent serving the largest international market, AeroCadet offers a tailored approach, expert support, and valuable industry knowledge to help pilots maximize their potential, stand out from the crowd, and achieve their desired career goals in the aviation industry.

Why holding a commercial pilot license will not land you an airline job?

Let's face the truth: the top airlines have high pilot recruitment standards that go beyond the basic qualifications of a newly-graduated commercial pilot. The goal for student pilots is to attain the necessary flight time, licensing, and aeronautical experience to become employable by these airlines, which means gaining an edge over the vast applicant pool competition, not just satisfying the basic legal commercial pilot qualification requirements.

Most international student pilots aim for first officer positions with prestigious passenger carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, AHK, Fly Dubai, ANA, and more. These airlines hire pilots from diverse citizenship and ethnic backgrounds on multi-year contracts. However, securing these coveted positions requires meeting specific requirements that newly-graduated commercial pilots may not fulfill.

These requirements typically include holding a full, unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) issued by a recognized ICAO member state. Preferably, the license should be from a developed, English-speaking country like the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and others. This ensures a high level of English language proficiency, which airlines consider crucial. It also helps verify that the pilot has acquired their qualifications legitimately and not through fraudulent means, which unfortunately can be an issue in some developing countries' flight training industry.

Furthermore, significant aeronautical experience is necessary, usually exceeding 1500 flight hours, with a balanced combination of propeller and turbine/jet flight time. For a newly-graduated CPL holder with only 200 hours of flight time, achieving these qualifications and experiences can be a significant challenge, considering the high cost of acquiring flight hours. This is why many new pilots face the dilemma of gaining the required transitional aeronautical experience, leading them to search for underpaid and potentially risky jobs like bush-flying or banner-towing. Some even give up on their aviation dreams in frustration and let their pilot licenses expire, seeking employment in other industries. However, there are alternatives to this discouraging path.

Aerocadet, with its team of consultants who are experienced current (or retired) airline pilots, has developed fully-integrated flight training and internship programs to address this transitional experience challenge. These programs offer a comprehensive solution, taking students from zero experience or any other level they have already achieved to obtaining a full FAA (United States) and TCCA (Canada) ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licenses. In the process, students gain valuable propeller and/or turbine experience, meeting the pilot recruitment requirements of major airlines that hire contract pilots for long-term, well-paid positions.

By providing a structured training program and internship opportunities, AeroCadet equips its students with the qualifications and experience necessary to stand out and succeed in the competitive airline job market.

How does this program achieve top objectives?

The FPAP-IND program is totally unique. It was developed by AeroCadet consultants - all very experienced airline pilots - and designed in cooperation with several flight and ground school training providers, as well as internship and employment placement agencies. Our partners are located in India, Canada, United States, Caribbean and Hong Kong. Facilitation of FPAP-IND program is based on an unprecedented international partnership and cooperation to ensure that the Indian students get the quickest, most comprehensive and highly economical direct pathway from Zero experience level to the guaranteed airline employment.

FPAP-IND guarantees high quality, internationally recognized ICAO pilot licenses, and affords an opportunity to the program graduates to apply for internship as flight instructors for 12-18 months. Upon completion of the flight training and internship phases, students return to India (if they elect to do so) and complete their Canada (TC) to India (DGCA) ATP license conversion, and enter the hiring pool for the leading airlines in India.

Those students who specifially target Middle East airlines for their employment (Emirates, Qatar, FlyDubai, etc) and have to obtain at least 2000 jet hours to qualify for admission as DEFOs (Direct Entry First Officer) graduates will have a unique opportunity to apply for Canada's permanent residency using the Canadian Experience Class, allowing the graduates of this FPAP-IND program, who worked completed the first phase of internships as flight instructors, to be able to apply for a permanent residence status in Canada, which, if approved, would allow them to fly for regional and major Canadian airlines, such as Jazz, Rouge, WestJet and Air Canada, etc. Our FTP in Canada (DLI number O19304162252) has a special agreement with AIr Canada Jazz - a regional carrier operating CRJ-700/900 aircraft - to offer preferencial interview and hiring to the program graduates, so that they can quickly and efficiently achieve the 2000 jet hour requirement for Emirates and Qatar. (The Canadian Experience Class point-based system is discussed in detail on our blog here >>>)

Become airline pilot India

Full ATPL. High experience.

Program allows students to achieve full, unrestricted ICAO and DGCA Airline Transport Pilot Licenses, with over 2500 hours of total aeronautical experience and over 2000 hours of passenger jet experience. Watch this YT video for details.

Become airline pilot India

Airline Employment Ready

These licenses and experience will make you fully airline-employmen-ready. And not only for the Indian, but also for the Canadian and Middle-Eastern pilot employment markets, where the earning potentials are very high.


Key Program Features

The advantages are many. The benefits are immense. The pricing is surprising.

  • Unrestricted Canada & India ATP licenses
  • Over 2500 hours total time potential
  • Over 2000 hours jet time potential
  • Employment placement assistance
  • Flight Instructor license
  • Full-time salary during internship
  • Part-time work permit during study
  • Very competitive cost structure

Program Structure and Time-line

The absolutely fastest way to get from Zero experience level to the modern airline cockpit!

This program is structured in such a way that every segment leads our students to the ultimate goal: employment in the airlines. The program is divided into the following stages:

# Phase Duration Type Location
1 Enrollment 1 week Mandatory India
2 DGCA Ground School 3 months Mandatory India
3 TC PPL, CPL license 12 months Mandatory Canada
4 TC CFI license 4 months Mandatory Canada
5 Flight Instructor Internship 24 months Optional Canada
6 TC ATP license 1 week Mandatory Canada
7-A First Officer Internship 12-18 months Optional Canada
7-B Ferry Pilot Internship 12-18 Months Optional Caribbean
8 DGCA ATP License Conversion 3 weeks Optional India
9 Permanent Airline Placement Unlim. Optional India

Total duration of the flight training and the initial flight instructor internship is approximately 3 years. All stages of flight training are conducted in Canada to a very high standard by an accredited aviation college. After the completion of flight training phase, all eligible students will be offered an opportunity to apply for the internship phase in order to work as flight instructors, which, in turn, will give them an opportunity to build additional flight time. After pilots achieve 1500 hours of total flight time, students will be able to obtain their Transport Canada (ICAO) ATPL and apply for either airline pilot or ferry pilot internships by using the Canadian Experience Class Program. At the last stage, graduates will be provided permanent airline employment placement assistance service by our company with such airlines as Air India, IndiGo, Spice Jet, Air Aisa, GoAir, Fly Dubai, Emirates, Qatar, Cathay Pacific, Air Asia, Lion Air, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Chinese Airlines, Air Hong Kong, Malaysian Airlines, Jet Star, Tiger Air and many more. Those who elect to stay in Canada using the Canadian Experience Class Program, will be apply for apply for permanent employment with the regional and international airlines in Canada, such as Air Canada Jazz, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada, West Jet, and so on.

So, how does this program work?

  • Phase 1 - Enrollment

At this stage, student will be required to complete enrollment application form and provide documents for initial consideration by our company. After application details and document screening, student will be contacted for the initial interview to check his/her knowledge of English and conduct the initial screening for the program suitability. (The full list of enrollment requirements is published here >>>) Once all requirements are satisfied, the student will be furnished with the flight training agreement and allocated a ground school class start date. The student will need to make a payment of 5% of the full training cost (to ensure high visa approval rate) and pay all the related administrative fees. The enrollment is conducted with the assistance of our main Indian partner Hercules Aviation Training Schools (HATS).

Transport Canada Class I medical can be taken before or after arrival in Canada. It does not matter if you want to take the medical before or after taking the written exams. Aerocadet's FTP admin will book you an appointment with the medical examiner in the metropolitan or greater Toronto area. However, some countries allow pilots to take TC Class I medical locally. Please review this page to see if a TC medical examiner is available in your country/region. Please note: if your country of residence has a certified TC medical examiner, we recommend to pass your medical at your earliest opportunity due to longer than usual (6 months) processing times.

  • Phase 2 - DGCA Ground School

DGCA Ground School & Exams (3 months). In order to ensure that our graduates have a wide spectrum of domestic and international airline employment opportunities with a diverse number of air carriers, as well as to lay foundation for a swift Canadian visa approval process, the students will be required to take DGCA (ICAO-India) ground school and sit six DGCA theoretical CPL and ATPL exams. The following topics are all covered in the DGCA CPL Ground classes: Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical General, Technical Specific, Radio Telephony. The classes are conducted by our Indian partner Hercules Aviation Training Schools (HATS)

  • Phase 3 - PPL, CPL License

After arrival in Canada at our partner FPT training center, a student will undergo a short Transport Canada pilot medical (if you have not obtained one before arrival, as per phase 1). After this, student will start his/her theoretical and practical training: ground school and flying. The FTP aims to conduct at least 2 hours of ground school every day and 1-2 hours of flight training together with the ground school. The flight training segment will be subdivided into Private, Instrumen and Commercial courses, each giving the student a higher aeronautical license and grade. After completion of this training phase, the student will become a fully-certified Commercial Pilot holding a Transport Canada (ICAO) license, rated to operate single-engine and multi-engine aircraft, both in visual (VMC) and instrument meteorological (IMC) conditions. It takes approximately 200 flight hours to complete this stage.

  • Phase 4 - Flight Instructor Rating

Students who completed the phase 2 with the required standard of airmanship, safety and English proficiency, will then proceed to obtaining his/her Transport Canada Class IV Certified Flight Instructor rating. The Class IV Instructor Rating certifies the holder of a Commercial Pilot Licence or ATPL to conduct flight training under the supervision of a Class I or II Flight Instructor working within a Flight Training Unit leading to the issuance of the RPP, PPL, and CPL licenses and the Night and VFR-OTT Ratings. This rating is necessary to facilitate the internship phase of our program, which would afford the student an opportunity to work as a flight instructors and build valuable flight time, as well as get paid for this work. It takes approximately 30 flight hours to complete this stage.

  • Phase 5 - Flight Instructor Internship

Student, and at this point, a fully-qualified Transport Canada (ICAO) flight instructor, will be offered opportunity to apply for internship as a flight instructor with one of our Canadian FTPs, under the terms of the Canadain The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). Our flight centers in Canada are both registered DLIs (Designated Learning Institutions).This means that the students who graduate from this program are eligible to apply for the PGWP. The PGWP allows pilots who have graduated from an eligible Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) to obtain an open work permit (can work anywhere in Canada) to gain valuable professional aviation experience. Students will be offered priority hiring with our FTPs in Canada for the flight instructor position to build valuable flight time for the duration of up to 12 months. Alternatively, or in case that our FTP is full and can not hire any more instructors, Aerocadet will provide internship employment assitance with another flight school or air charter company in Canada. PGWP does not limit students to any one particular flight school or charter company in Canada, so graduates can work at any one of hundreds of aviation companies across the country. The only limitations being are that the employment must be full-time (30+ hours per week), as a pilot (field of study), and can not exceed 24-36 month. Pilots can expect to build way over 1500 hours of total flight time during this period - experience which is required to obtain an unrestricted Canadain ATPL. (Aerocadet will provide comprehensive administrative support for this stage of the program)

  • Phase 6 - Canadian ATP License

Upon completing 18-24 months and over 1500 hours of flight time under the PGWP, Students will be able to apply for the Canadian Airline Transport Pilot license. This license is a full, unrestricted ICAO ATPL and can be converted to any other ICAO ATPL, if needed. Practical and theoretical ATPL exams do not have any specific training pre-requisites, so pilots can take them as soon as they reach personal aeronautical experience of 1500+ hours. The minimum requirements for this licence are experience are: 1500 Flight Hours, incl. 250 PIC, 100 PIC Cross Country, 100 Night, and 25 Night Cross Country PIC, and 75 Hours Instrument; successful completion of a 2 Part Written Exam. There is no Flight Exam required for the issue of the Canadain ATPL.

  • Phase 7-A - Airline Pilot Internship

At this stage, qualified pilots will be able to obtain employment permit in Canada and apply for employment as a first officer in the regional airlines in Canada, such as Jazz , WestJet, etc. This stage is facilitated by taking advantage of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. CEC candidates become eligible for an unrestricted work permit, including airline employment, after they have built up at least one year of Canadian work experience as full-time employees (30 hours per month as flight instructor, as per PGWPP). Because the required documentation is minimal, CEC applications are normally processed within six months. As soon as the CEC application is submitted, pilots are allowed to continue employment under CEC/PGWPP until the CEC application is approved. (Applicants under the Canadian Experience Class are not required to show proof of settlement funds). When approved, student becomes eligible to apply for airline pilot internship with any Canadian airline. The work experience must have been obtained after graduating from the program of study. Aerocadet will provide comprehensive administrative support for this stage of the program. (The Canadian Experience Class point-based system is discussed in detail on our blog here >>>)

  • Phase 7-B - Int. Ferry Pilot Internship

This is a back-up option. In an unlikely event that student is unable to obtain Canada's permanent residency permit, our partner in the Caribbean Global Air BVI Inc, will offer him/her employment as an international ferry pilot. This position requires pilot to work on the charter pilot basis, performing 1-2 aircraft repositioning flights per month from various destination around the world to North America and Europe using the D-type crew visa. The company will provide all the necessary training and visa support. The student will be able to build over 500 hours of valuable international cross-country flight time on various types of light piston and turbine aircraft with MTOW below 7500kg. (Aerocadet will provide comprehensive administrative support for this stage of the program)

  • Phase 8 - Indian ATP License

At this stage student can convert his/her Canadian flight crew license to Indian flight crew license. The conversion process is fairly easy for those applicants who already passed their DGCA ATP exams with Hercules Aviation Training Schools (HATS), and is fully-supported by them. This phase is not required, but recommended to ensure that students can apply for airline pilot positions in the domestic employment market. Despite the Indian market being competitive, our graduates will have a huge advantage over the competition, not only because they would have both ICAO Canadian pilot licenses and ICAO Indian pilot licenses, but also because they would be fully airline employment ready: with high total flight time, high jet flight time, and valuable airline environment flying experience,as well as excellent recommendation letters from several companies (Aerocadet,Global Air, HATS and the internship companies).

  • Phase 9 - Airline Employment Placement

This option is offered to the graduates who have completed at least 2 years of employment with a regional airline in Canada flying CRJ-700/900 or EMB-175 or Q-400 aircraft as first officers (see stage 5a). At this point, our company will continue fostering your pilot career by offering a comprehensive airline employment support with the leading airlines in Indian, as well as most Asian and Middle Eastern countries. There is no limit to the assistance program: we will continue our support until the graduates get permanent airline employment. Of course, it is conditional on the graduate's passing the airline employment interview. Please note: this service is offered both to internship Option 6A and internship Option 6B graduates. However, internship Option 5A will be able to receive the fast-track placement, meaning that their employment placement should not take longer than 6 months. The graduates of Option 6B internship will receive a continues placement support, but the company will not be able to guarantee the total time it would take to place them with the airlines. (Aerocadet will provide comprehensive administrative support for this stage of the program).

Alternatively, graduates may opt to apply for Canadian permanent residency using the CEC immigration program, and continue working for Canadian airlines.

We are confident, that in view of growing pilot deficit in the World, and a unique and robust nature of our ATPL program, Students will be able to obtain airline employment within 2-4 months after completion of their internships.

FTP Selection: Canada East vs. Canada West

The flight training and internship phases are conducted by one of the two available FTPs in Canada: the Toronto Airways Inc (Canada East), or the Canadian Aviation College (Canada West). It is up to student to decide which FTP he/she wants to attend. Here is a short table which outlines main differences between the FTPs:

  Canada West Canada East
Designated Learning Institution? Yes. DLI number O110027361097, "Canadian Aviation College" Yes. DLI number O19304162252, "Toronto Airways Inc"
Estimated total training duration from Zero to Instructor 13-16 months. Vancouver has miler winter and good weather for training. 18-24 months. Toronto area is affected by the Great Lakes adverse weather affect.
Estimated total internship duration 24-36 months. Because it is a college, PGWP is longer. 12-24 months, because it is not a college, PGWP is shorter.
Estimated total cost, not including accommodation $77,750 USD $73,500 USD
College certificate upon graduation Certificate of college course completion in Aviation Human Factors (not a degree) No college certificate
Transport Canada certificates upon graduation PPL, CPL, Instructor 4 PPL, CPL, Instructor 4
Cost of living Medium-high Medium
Part-time employment availability Medium High
Aircrtfat-to-student ratio 1-to-4 1-to-5

Ultimately, it is up to each student to decide which FTP is right for them. However, here is a summary of our recommendations:

Canada-West FTP. Pros: Milder winters, which means more flying during this period. Cons: Higher cost of living, fewer part-time employment opportunities.

Canada-East FTP. Pros: Lower cost of living, more part-time employment opportunities. Cons: Colder winters, more frequent snowfalls and winds, which can disrupt training.

Recommendation. If you are looking to complete your flight training quickly and have a higher budget, we recommend Canada-West FTP. If you are more concerned with the cost of living and part-time employment opportunities, we recommend Canada-East FTP.

Additional Considerations. Weather: Canada-East FTP is subject to the weather patterns caused by the Great Lakes, which means colder winters, more frequent snowfalls, and wind. This can disrupt training during the winter time. Canada-West FTP has milder winters, which prevents frequent snow-falls and allows more flying during this period. Cost of living: The cost of living in Western Canada is higher than in Eastern Canada. This includes the cost of housing, food, and transportation. Part-time employment: There are more part-time employment opportunities in the Toronto area than in Pitt Meadows. This is because Toronto is a larger city with a more diverse economy.

Conclusion. Both Canada-West FTP and Canada-East FTP are excellent options for flight training. The best choice for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

 

Programs Terms & Conditions

The Flight Instructor internship is subject to PGWP appoval by Canadian Goverment and is limited to 12 months under PGWP and additional 6 months during the CEC application extension. There is no student obligation or training bonds. Pilots are free to leave internship at any time without penalties if they elect to do so. Conditions of internship include the following requirements: passage of all Transport Canada theoretical exams with the grades of 85% or higher; not more than one Transport Canada practical exam failure; no accidents/incidents or Transport Canada airspace violations during training phase; Transport Canada Commercial Pilot license, Transport Canada Flight Instructor license, English level of ICAO-5 or higher and ability to communicate in English clearly are required upon application for employment as Flight Instructor. The internship is subject to approval by the FTP (Toronto Airways), and authorization by Transport Canada. This Internship if offered ONLY to graduates of Aerocadet's Full Professional Airline Pilot flight training programs who studied in Canada from either Zero or PPL levels. The internship is conditionally guaranteed - meaning that the candidate must meet all the requirements set forth in the training and internship agreement in order to qualify for the employment offer. If the candidate does not meet the requirements, the internship may not be offered.
The Airline Pilot Internship is based on the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program and is subject to approval by the Canadian Government. Common initial experience aircraft types are: Bombardier CRJ-700/900 and Bombardier Q400. For candidates with outstanding achievements, options for employment with WestJet on Boeing 737CL and NG may be available. Type ratings are offered to candidates who passed the airline interviews and initial criminal background and aviation safety checks and hold an approved PR under CEC program. Type ratings are fully sponsored by the airlines. Training bonds and minimum term of service contracts may apply. Important CEC Information: In order to be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Canadian Experience Class, applicants must: [1] Have at least one year of full time (30 hours per week) work experience in Canada on a legitimate work permit (see Stage 4); [2] demonstrate their knowledge of English language with a minimum score of CLB 5 or IELTS 6 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. The internship is conditionally guaranteed - meaning that the candidates must meet all the requirements set forth in the training and internship agreement in order to qualify for the employment offer. Canadian Goverment approval is mandatory condition for this internship.
The International ferry pilot internship is limited to 18 months. There is no obligation or training bonds. Pilots are free to leave internship at any time without penalties. Conditions of internship include the following requirements: no accidents, accidents or FAA violations; English level ICAO-5 or higher. Completion of Canada PGWP internship or US CPT and OPT internships and at least 1500 hours of flight time with a valid TC or FAA ATPL. This Internship if offered ONLY to graduates of Aerocadet's Full Professional Airline Pilot flight training program or Aerocadet's Degree Program, who studied in Canada or US from either Zero or PPL levels. The internship is conditionally guaranteed - meaning that the candidate must meet all the requirements set forth in the training and internship agreement in order to qualify for the employment offer. If the candidate does not meet the requirements, the internship may not be offered.
Due to high demand and limited training facilities this program has a limited availability of annual training slots. Company has a right to refuse enrollment to students on selective basis. The basis taken into account are: pilot aptitude testing scores, academic transcript scores, English test scores and student’s character, motivation discovery conducted during the enrollment interview and financial standing. If Student is awarded this training program, this means that his/her training slot has been allocated, booked and guaranteed. This also means that some other student was displaced from the training slot in favor of this award. Students are asked to take into account this consideration and treat their training slot award as a valuable commodity.

 


Flight & Ground School Training

Summary of the estimated flight training hours

Students will receive the following amount of flight training hours during the licensing phases of the program:

Hour-by-hour program and cost breakdown in Canadain Dollars: View PDF

Flight Crew Licensing

Summary of the flight training licenses that the students will get

Students will receive the following Canadian and Indian flight crew licenses during this program:

License / Rating Minimum hour requirements
Private Pilot License 40
Instrument Rating 85
Multi-Engine Rating 95
Commercial Pilot 200
Flight Instructor License 225
Airline Pilot License 1500
CRJ-200/700 or ERJ-145 or Q-400 type-rating 25-40

Students will receive the following DGCA (India) flight crew licenses during this program:

License / Rating Minimum hour requirements
Airline Pilot License 1500

ICAO English certification

License / Certificate Transport Canada Aviation Language Proficiency
Please note: The Transport Canada Aviation Language Proficiency test is conducted by a certified Transport Canada Flight Test Examiner and the government fee for this is $175.00 CAN. The student must pass this test in order use the radio for ac communications (along with the radio certification test) for dual flights and will not be allowed to solo unless he/she has passed the test. If a student fails the test he/ she cannot do the test again for 3 months.

 


Academics

Summary of the academic courses that the students can take if they want to earn a degree

The Academic segment of the theoretical training is an important factor for those students who are planning on advancing their education to an Associate or a Bachelor's level. Although most airlines in the Middle East and Asia do not require a college degree for pilot employment, having such a degree certainly gives a candidate marginal advantage over other applicants in a competitive airline pilot employment market, and allows for significant expansion of his/her employment market spectrum. More and over, if a program graduate elects to stay in Canada as a permanent resident and to seek employment in the major Canadian airline, such as Air Canada (mainline), having at least a Bachelor's degree from any accredited North American university may become a mandatory requirement. (Please note, that as of June 2021, all other non-mainline Canadian airlines, such as WestJet, Transat, Air Inuit, Air North, and so on, have dropped the degree requirement for pilot applications.)

This is why we have partnered with a fully-accredited universities in the United States: Thomas Edison State University (New Jersey) and Liberty University, to provide 100% online admission and educational programs to our program graduates who have already earned their ATP licenses. The university issues fully-accredited Associate, Bachelor and Master level degrees via online-only academic programs, while giving maximum amount (of all US and Canadian Universities) academic credits for previously obtained pilot licenses such as CPL, CFI and ATPL, and certain aviation practicum, such as turbine type-ratings or airline experience as FO or CA. No student visa is required to continue studying for the Bachelor's degree with TESU. Studies can be conducted from any country in the world.

In additon, graduates of this program will be awarded a College Certificate of Completion in Applied Human Factors by our FTP, worth additional 4 academic credits. Other practical and theoretical PPL, Instrument, CPL, Instructor and ATPL courses taken and passed in a certified flight academy or college are worth (convertable into) the following academic college credits:

Canada license course name University academic credits
Private Pilot Ground 6
Private Pilot Airplane Flight 3-4
Commercial Pilot Ground B 4
Instrument Pilot Ground 4
Commercial Pilot Air Flight A 4
Instrument Pilot Air Flight 4
Airline Transport Pilot Ground 4-5
ATP Air Flight 6
Flight Instructor Ground 3
Flight Instructor Air Flight 3
Flight Instr. Instrument Ground 3
Fl. Instr Air Instrument Flt. 3
TOTAL 47-49

More information about pilot licenses/ratings conversion into academic credits may be found on TESU website here >>>

More information about pilot licenses/ratings conversion into academic credits may be found on Liberty University website here >>>

The listed above academic courses and their respective credit hour ratings may be converted into any college or university accreditation scale using the standard European Academic Credit Transfer System.

Please note: all academic credits are approximate and subject to admissions board review and evaluation by the target college or university. Normally, the level of education and practicum upon completion of the training and internship phases equals to Associate Degree in Aeronautical science. Hence, most pilots are able to obtain a full Bachelor's Degree in just 2 years after transferring the academic credits.


Accommodation & Part-time Employment

We are proud to provide the most comfortable environment for learning!

Six months of accommodation will be reserved for our students by Aerocadet, but Student will be required to physically view and approve accommodation, and sign an actual lease agreement after arrival in Canada.

British Columbia (Canada West) Location

In general, accommodation is readily accessible at our FTP Locations. Students can pre-view and select accommodation types. Most of our students live on or near the Durham College campus. This campus is located approximately 5 minutes drive (or 15 minutes walk or 7 minutes by bike) from the flight training center. The average cost to rent a private room in most on-campus properties is $550 USD per month, but can vary between $450 and $750 USD per month, depending on the property size and type.

Ontario (Canada East) Location

In general, accommodation is readily accessible at our FTP Locations. Students can pre-view and select accommodation types. Most of our students live on or near the Durham College campus. This campus is located approximately 5 minutes drive (or 15 minutes walk or 7 minutes by bike) from the flight training center. The average cost to rent a private room in most on-campus properties is $550 USD per month, but can vary between $450 and $750 USD per month, depending on the property size and type.

You can review various accommodation options near our flight training center by taking the following easy steps:

1. Visit this web site http://www.places4students.com/
2. Type in “Durham College” (for Ontario) or Canadian Aviation College (for British Columbia), or just click direct link >>>

Ontario Campus is located in the greater Toronto area. British Columbia campus is located in Vancouver area. Students are eligible for 20 hours p/w off-campus employment immediately after the program commencement.

Please note:we do not recommed that you prepay your accommodation before obtaining your Canadian Student permit visa.

Part-time employment

While studying full-time, the international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week at any off-campus employment. Most take entry-level unskilled minimum-pay jobs at local restaurants or supermarkets. The pay is normally enough to provide students with the basic living expenses. Once the training period is complete, students will be allowed to apply for a higher-paid flight instructor positions with the flight academy. 

The minimum salary for international students working part-time jobs in Canada is $11.06 CAN ($8.40 USD) per hour. Providing that a student works 80 hours per month, he/she can expect to earn approximately $884.80 CAN ($672.00 USD). There is no income tax on earnings below $8500 CAN per year. Earnings above $8500 CAN are taxed at 15%.

After graduating from the flight training program, pilots will be able to apply for the Flight Instructor employment with the Flight Academy. They can expect to fly 80 hours per month until they achieve 1500 hours of total flight time. They can expect to earn double the minimum wage salary (approx. $22-28 CAN) during this time-period, resulting in a salary of approximately $1760 CAN ($1335 USD) per month.


Tuition Cost

Our programs are not just competitively priced, they pay to students after licensing!

The Full Program Cost Estimate

Need a student loan? Review financing options for the Indian students >>>

The full program cost is an approximate estimate based on student's ability to complete flight training program in full compliance with the approved Transport Canada curriculum. The cost includes flight training, ground school, government fees, basic flight equipment, and British Columbia taxes, DGCA ground school, DGCA ATP license conversion, Canadian Visa support service. The base cost does not include airline tickets, normal living expenses, and additional training hours (if required due to low performance). Living expenses and additional accommodation can be paid by the student using part-time employment income, for which all students are eligible immediately after arrival. The prices are estimated in the USD.

Full estimated cost of FPAP-IND, Canada-West $84,950 USD
Full estimated cost of FPAP-IND, Canada-East $79,550 USD

What is Included in the Base Cost?

  • 3 months DGCA ground school
  • TC to DGCA license conversion
  • Optional campus accmmodation
  • HATS and Aerocadet administrative and consulting support
  • Optional visa consulting
  • Canada CPL, CFI, ATPL licenses
  • DGCA ATPL License
  • Canadian internship
  • Caribbean internship
  • Employment Recommendation letters
  • India airline placement
  • International Airline Placement

 

 

 

Discounts

Also, some students will be eligible to discounts. The discounts include the following items:

Type of discount Discount
Holder of current and valid ICAO PPL $10,000.00
DGCA Admit Card holder (completed DGCA Ground School) $1,500.00

Estimation of Living Expenses

Living expenses vary, depending on student's budget and lifestyle. Additionally, living expenses can be heavily supplemented or even completely covered by taking on part-time off-campus employment. We estimate living expenses at approximately $20.00 USD per day, over 30 days per months, over 18 months of training to be:

Living expenses for 6 months $3600 USD
Initial accommodation for 6 months $3600 USD

We do not include accmmodation and living expenses cost for the initial 6-month period, because students are allowed to live off-campus. Many students, almost immediately after arrival, elect to buy used cars for transportation, which allows them to be more flexible with the accommodation options and be able to rent private room and apartments within a reasonable driving distance from the flight center. The living expenses are difficult to estimate, as each student has his own level of lifestyle which may vary. However, a budget of $20 USD per day for food is a reasonable estimate for minimum living expenses during the training. Also, students are allowed to work off-campus immediately after arrival in Canada. Most living expenses, including accmmodation, can be covered by working part-time (up to 80 hours per week).

Estimation of Potential Earning as Pilot Intern

As Flight Instructor: if Student complies with the terms and conditions stipulated in section 9 FPAP-IND flight training and internship contract, Student will be eligible to apply for internship and receive compensation of $30.00 CAN per flight hour, or more. The total monthly income is estimated at $2280.00 CAN. Total income estimated at $27000.00 CAN per 12 month internship period;

As airline pilot: if Student complies with the terms and conditions stipulated in section 10 of FPAP-IND flight training and internship contract, if Student complies with the terms and conditions stipulated in section 9, Student will be eligible to apply for internship and receive compensation of $52.00 CAN (approx. $40.00 USD) per flight hour, or more. The total monthly income is estimated at $4420.00 CAN. Total income estimated at $79560.00 CAN per 18 month internship period.

Required Bank Balance for Canadian Student Visa Approval

Due to course duration of 18+ months prior to student's ability to work, applicant must demonstrate approximately $90,000 USD on his/her account upon applying for the Canadian Student visa. This is required to ensure that student has sufficient funds to pay for tuition, accommodation, living expenses (food, transport, etc). 

Please note: the aforementioned balance may be presented to the Canadian Consulate as a combination of two or more balances on the applicant's account/s or his/her sponsor's account/s.


Payment Schedule

We have a flexible payment schedule that does not require students to pre-pay for the program in advance.

Our academy does not require students to pay for the entire flight training program in advance. We have a payment structure that needs to be followed by all students, with some exception. Students must submit the following payments:

Enrollment security deposit may slighly vary, depending on the final contractual elections by the student. Enrollment deposit is comprised of the following items: [a] Raich Aerospace and CFA basic administrative fees $800.00; [b] Raich Aerospace 5% of program cost refundable security deposit $3887.50 (may change depending on contractual elections); [c] international commercial ferry pilot internship with Global AIr BVI: $1950.00; [d] all DGCA ground school training and TC ATP to DGCA ATP conversion cost, as well as Canadian Student Permit consulting and preparation service in India. $13,837 USD
First tuition installment of $20,800 USD paid to the FTP, for the PPL phase after Student receives Student Permit from Canadian Consulate, and at least 1 week prior to arrival in Canada. Additional fees must be paid by Student before completion of PPL training, should Student require extra-curriculum or additional training to pass all the required stage-checks. In some cases, Canadain consulate may require an applicant (Student) to pay the second tuition installment before applying for the student visa. In such case, the Canadian consulate may notify Student of such requirement. In all cases Student is expected to comply with the requirements of the Canadian Consulate.  $20,800.00 USD
Second tuition installment of $24,850 USD for the CPL course, after completion of PPL phase of training. $24,850.00 USD
Third tuition installment of $6,650 USD for the multi-engine course, after completion of CPL phase of training. $6,650.00 USD
Forth tuition installment of $5,500 USD for the Group 1 Multi-Instrument Rating after completion of multi-engine phase of training. $5,500.00 USD
Fifth tuition installment of $13,600 USD for Class 4 Instructor Rating after completion of Group 1 Multi-Instrument Rating phase. $13,600.00 USD
Sixth tuition installment for Flight instructor rating: $15,630 USD
Seventh installment for the remaining balance, if Student exceeded training hour requirements for any of the phases. Installments stiputated in above sections are subject to change and will be invoiced separately to the Student by the FTP, and do not include $3,600 USD of incidental and test/exam fees, books and equipment fees and application fees. Amounts are stipulated in USD and are subject to slight variations due to CAD-USD exchange rates. $ (optional)
SDS Process Installment - optional. SDS (Student Direct Stream) program allows students to get expedited visa processing by pre-paying for the first phase of their training before submitting the Student Permit visa application to the Canadian Consulate. The deposit is fully refunable by the FTP in an unlikely event of visa rejection. Normally, the FTP requires that Student pre-pays for the PPL phase only, which is $20,800 USD (approx 25,000 CAD). If a Student elects this option - First tuition installment of $20,800 USD will have to be paid to the FTP before apllying for the visa. $ (optional)

Please note: the aforementioned values are for general reference only. The exact values and conditions of deposits are outlined in the flight training agreement, which students are required to sign upon enrollment and before any payments are due. Flight training agreement will calculate exact deposit values based on the FTP election, accommodation types and upgrades/downgrades elections.


Student Loans & Financing

Eligible applicants can receive student loans to cover up to 100% of their tuition and living expenses.

Great news! Aerocadet can provide administrative support for students to obtain Financial Aid from their respective banks and financial institutions. Such support is offered by providing conditional employment offer letters and training bond contracts. Read the details here >>>

Many students from India successfully applied for student loans from the following banks, and got approved with the help of our SLAS package. (Contact us if you want us to forward to you Indian student reviews and recommendations)

Top Education Loans Providers in India for Studying Abroad

HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank is one of the largest private banks offering education loans abroad. The maximum loan amount offered by the bank it up to INR 20 lakhs. In order to avoid the last-minute rush, the bank offers study loans abroad even before the student has secured admission at the university.

Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs 

Processing fees - Up to 1.5% of the loan amount 

HDFC education loans can be availed before the student has secured an admission at the university. Borrowers enjoy flexible security collateral. Co-borrowers can be living in a different city than the borrower, but they can only be relatives of the borrower. 

State Bank of India

SBI offers a maximum amount of INR 30 lakhs as an education loan for studying abroad with a loan margin of 15%. The Interest rate charged on the loan amount is up to 2% on the current base rate of SBI. Further, the loan repayment tenure can be 1 year to 15 years.

Maximum loan amount - Rs. 30 lakhs 

Collateral security required - For loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs  

Loan margin - 15% for SBI education loan borrowers 

Interest rate - Up to 2% on the current base rate of SBI 

Repayment tenure – 1 year to 15 years 

SBI offers a moratorium period where the entire interest can be repaid so that when the actual loan repayment tenure starts the monthly installment can be just the principal amount.  The borrower has to submit college admission letter, completed loan application form, course costs, co-applicant details and other KYC documents to the bank.

Axis Bank

Axis bank offers study loans abroad at competitive interest rates. A margin of 15% has to be arranged by the borrower if the loan amount exceeds INR 4 lakhs. The bank offers a maximum of INR 20 lakhs and covers different costs like tuition, accommodation, and books.

Maximum loan amount - Rs. 20 lakhs  

Minimum loan amount - Rs. 50,000 

Interest rate - Ranges from 16.5% to 17.5% with special rates for women  

Loan margin - Not required for a loan below Rs. 4 lakhs. For loans above Rs. 4 lakhs15% has to be brought in by the borrower 

Processing fee - None 

Education loans require a parent or guardian to act as a co-applicant, with third party guarantee or collateral security, if applicable. Axis Bank might also consider LIC policy for 100% of the loan amount but it depends from case to case.

Punjab National Bank

PNB Udaan is the education loan scheme offered by the Punjab National Bank to students going to study abroad. The bank offers foreign education loans for students going to pursue graduate, post-graduate, job-oriented professional and technical courses. The borrower needs to show a loan margin of 15% for the loan amount of above INR 4 lakhs. Also, the bank offers the base rate as the interest rate on loans taken for pursuing an education at the top 200 universities across the world.

Maximum loan amount - PNB sanctions loans according to the requirement of the borrower,  

Loan margin - 15% for loans above Rs. 4 lakhs. For loan amount below Rs. 4 lakhs, the loan margin is not required. Assistantship and scholarships can be added to the loan margin. PNB offers the base rate as the  

Interest rate - Base rate for pursuing the education at the top 200 universities across the world  

Moratorium period - Up to a year with no prepayment charges levied by the bank 

Processing fees - 1% 

The tenure options available for PNB education loan borrowers is up to 15 years

Bank of Baroda 

Under the Baroda Scholar scheme, admission secured for professional and technical courses at reputed foreign universities are sanctioned for education loan.  

Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs 

Loan margin requirement - 15% 

Repayment tenure - Loans taken up to Rs. 7.5 lakhs can be repaid within 10 years and loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs can be repaid within 15 years 

Borrowers can get a holiday or moratorium period of six months to one year after getting employment. Security is not required for loans below the amount of Rs. 4 lakhs. Third party guarantee is required for loans between Rs. 4 lakhs and Rs. 7.5 lakhs and a tangible collateral security is required for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs. 

Canara Bank 

The Canara Bank education loan covers university fee, travel costs, exam fee, lab fee, library fee, book/equipment fee, and other related expenses. Education loan has to be taken with a co-borrower and 100% collateral security is required for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs. 

Maximum loan amount  Upto Rs. 20 Lakhs 

Loan margin - 15% for loans taken above Rs. 4 lakhs 

Repayment tenure - Can be up to 10 years for loans below Rs. 7.5 lakhs and up to 15 years for loans above Rs. 7.5 lakhs.  

Security - Not required for loans below Rs. 4 lakhs. Third party guarantee has to be given for loans from Rs. 4 lakhs to Rs. 7.5 lakhs.  

IDBI Bank 

The IDBI education loan covers university fee, travel, exam fee, lab fee, library fee, the cost of computers, book/equipment fee and other related expenses. IDBI Bank sanctions loan amount according to the requirement of the borrower, with no security on loans below Rs. 4 lakhs.  

Maximum loan amount - Up to Rs. 20 lakhs 

Repayment tenure - Up to 10 years for loans below Rs. 7.5 lakhs and up to 15 years for loans more than Rs. 7.5 lakhs 

Third party guarantee is required for loans between Rs. 4 lakhs and Rs. 7.5 lakhs. Education loan has to be taken along with a co-borrower. 100% collateral security is required for loans more than Rs. 7.5 lakhs. 

Avanse Financial Services 

Avanse offers various kinds of loans like pre-visa disbursement loan, fast-track loan, pre-admission loan, and certificate of availability of funds. Borrowers have to submit their KYC documents, course fee, collateral documents, income documents etc. when they avail an Avanse education loan.  

Minimum loan amount - Rs. 1, 00,000 with the  

Maximum loan limit - Customized according to the borrower’s requirement 

loan tenure can be taken between 12 months to up to 120 months 

Avanse education loan covers tuition fee, travel cost, living expense, books /equipment fee and other related expenses.

Study Abroad Education Loan from NBFCs (Non-banking financial companies)

Apart from the nationalized banks, student loans can also be availed from non-banking financial companies/institutions (NBFCs). Non-banking institutions offer complete tuition fees to the students. Borrowers need to provide collateral as security to the banks as the loan amount is generally more than INR 7.5 Lacs. Students looking for education loan for abroad studies can now have the option to secure a loan from NBFCs. Some of the NBFCs options are:

  • Credila: Credila is part of the renowned HDFC bank and provides loans to Indian students wishing to study abroad. The loans are given at a competitive floating rate of interest and can be repaid within a period of 10 years.
  • Avanse: Part of the DHFL group, it is considered as one of the most popular non-banking financial institutions in India. Student loans from Avanse cover tuition fees up to 100% and other expenses. Apart from this, the interest rates are floating and the processing fee can go up to 1 to 2 percent of the loan amount.    
  • International Student Loan Program (ISLP): This program is specially designed for international students who want to study in the US. Through this program, students can borrow an amount as little as $1500 and can extend the repayment period up to 25 years. The loan disbursed under this program covers tuition fees and other expenses.
  • Global Student Loan Corporation (GSLC): The GSLC offers loans to international students to pursue their higher studies in the US without the requirement of any co-signer.

 

Please contact each of these banks directly to inquire about their application process and eligibility requirements.


Enrollment Requirements

It is easy to enroll!

To enroll into this program, an applicant must have the following documents:

 Travel documents Student must hold a valid, unexpired Indian international passport, with at least 2 years remaining until expiration.
Education Student must be a high school graduate, and must have a full a certificate of secondary education with Science Stream (Math and Physics). The following certificates and their equivalents are acceptable:
English test Student must have taken an academic English IELTS test within the last 2 years. The acceptable test is IELTS Academic, with a minimum of 6.0 overall and no single test score under 5.5.
Maturity Enrolling student must be either of 17.5 years of age, or must be able to achieve 18 years of age by the time he is ready to take CPL check-ride.
Health Student must be able to qualify for the Transport Canada Categoty 1 medical. For the full list of medical criteria and disqualifying conditions please review this section >>>
Character Student must be free of any criminal history, such as criminal convictions or DUIs. If traveled to the Canada or the United States (Candian consulate cross-checks Canadian travel records with the U.S. travel records) in the past, student must have had no visa violations, such as illegal employment record or overstay.
Financial Standing Student must be Aable to demonstrate financial standing for the full amount of tuition fee by furnishing a personal bank account, or parent'ss bank account, or a student loan sanction letter, or an escrow account provided by a sponsor. If student is unable to demonstrate financial standing at the time of application, he, or she will need to furnish a SLAS Application number to show that the application for the student loan is in process.

Certified Program Consultants

Sit back, relax, enjoy the flight: we are here to help you through this process!

If you need a personal consultation regarding the flight training program, please email one of our highly qualified consultants with a full list of your questions, and receive a structured response within 24 hours.


Downloads

Take it home!

You can download the following materials below.

Please note: PDF materials may be out-of-date. Please refer to the website information for the current notifications and pricing.


Similar Programs

Don't think this program is for you? That's okay. We have several other program that might suit you better!

Frequent Questions

Got a question? Hang on, maybe we got an answer for you right here!

Can I enroll with my high school diploma, if I have low grades in physics and mathematics?

Yes, you can. We do not require you to high grades, just a full certificate of secondary education.

I have a Bachelors degree. Do I need to have my certificate of secondary education for enrollment?

Yes, you do.

Is the flight instructor internship guaranteed?

Flight instructor internship is offered on discretionary basis by the FTP: the students will be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to continue working in Canada after the completion of training. The flight academy will be the final authority in determining whether or not the applicant is a suitable candidate for the internship as a flight instructor. The main factors considered by the academy will be: his/her performance during the training phase, professionalism, safety orientation, level or English knowledge and determination.

Is the airline pilot internship guaranteed?

Airline pilot internship it is subject to approval by the Canadian Government: the foreign students who have studied at an accredited post-secondary school on a full-time basis, in a program of at least 2 years, may qualify to apply for a Permanent Canadian Residency status under the CAC program and, if approved, will be able to apply for an Airline Pilot Employment in any Canadian airline. To qualify, the foreign student must have completed the program on a Canadian campus at a Canadian FTP and achieved the educational and pilot licensing objectives required by the program. In addition, the foreign student must have worked for at least 12 months in a full-time, skilled position (see stage 4). The work experience must have been obtained after graduating from the program of study. (More details about this program can be located here >>>)

Is the ferry pilot internship guaranteed?

Yes, it is conditionally guaranteed: in case of unsuccessful application for the Canadian Experience Class (permanent residency), the students will be offered an internship as international ferry pilots with our direct partner, Global Air Holdings, operating out of Hong Kong SAR.

Is the permanent airline employment placement guaranteed?

Yes, it is conditionally guaranteed: upon completion of flight training and internship phases,our company will offer the internship graduates a fully guaranteed and comprehensive airline employment placement assistance support for those who aspire to work in the Middle East, S.E. Asia, Central America and Europe, rather than Canada..

I have an ICAO PPL. Can I get a discount?

Yes, you can! If you have a current and valid ICAO PPL, you can get a discount of $10,200 USD from either the FPAP-1 program or a full AAS degree program.

Can I work in Canada part-time on the student visa?

Yes, shortly after arriving in Canada students can apply for work off- and on-campus. Students are not allowed to work only 20 hours per week and only in entry-level, basic-pay jobs.

Can I work in the U.S. as airline pilot?

No, You can only work in Canada and many other countries that hire international ex-patriat pilots, but U.S. is not one of them. All U.S. pilots must have a current Green Card or U.S. passport.

Will my Canadian ATPL still be valid after conversion to DGCA ATPL?

Yes, you will have two valid and current licenses: Canadian ATPL and Indian ATPL. Theoretically, you can maintain an unlimited number of licenses in parallel with each other.

Do you have Piper Seneca?

We train on Piper Seminole while you are in Canada. However, despite a popular misunderstanding, this is not a problem for ICAO to DGCA converion. If an Indian student does his training in Canada on Seminole and holds a Canadain CPL or ATPL, upon converion to DGCA he will have to take just one additional written exam. Since Seminoles are not available in India, a student will have to clear a Technical Specific exam on either Seneca or DA 42 and fly the check rides on one of these a/c. Our flight center in India, which is in charge of the TC to DGCA conversion process, operates a DA-42 and all the conversion check-rides will be done on this aircraft. Doing a conversion this way is cheaper than flying a Seneca instead of Seminole throughout student's entire an-initio training. And we are all about saving you money!

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