Commercial Pilot Program
for international students

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) or EASA (European Union)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 Your career objectives?

This integrated ab-initio fast-track FAA Commercial Pilot Program (coded "FCPP-US") offers flight students a unique and efficient path to complete their flight training and obtain multiple licenses. The program begins with training in a designated Flight Training Provider (FTP) in Florida, following a time-efficient efficientpart-61 curriculum, which requires no intermediate stage-checks. There, Students will work towards achieving an FAA/ICAO Commercial Pilot License (CPL) with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. They will also accumulate 250 hours of total flight time during this phase. However, as noted above, getting merely 200 hours of flight time and commercial pilot certification is unlikely to result in a direct airline employment. This is because your credentials at this point will not be competitive. You need to enroll into a full professional airline pilot program with guaranteed to your internship after completion of training in order to build a competitive résumé and have a guaranteed airline employment option after graduation.

Some students from certain countries are able to obtain conditional employment offers from airlines in their home country, contingent upon obtaining a commercial pilot license. Only these students are advised to enroll in this program, as they have a guaranteed employment pathway after completing their training. For all other applicants, it is important to understand that securing airline employment with only a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and 200 hours of flight time is extremely unlikely. Therefore, we strongly recommend enrolling in a Professional Pilot License Program that provides over 1500 hours of flight time and includes guaranteed airline placement with leading international carriers.

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:

Mandatory stages:

The mandatory duration of this integrated ab-initio fast-track FAA Commercial Pilot Program program is approximately 6 months in the United States. During this period, the pilot will undergo training to obtain the FAA Private Pilot License (PPL), followed by the Instrument Rating (IR), Single-Engine Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, and finally, the FAA Commercial Pilot License (CPL).

More details about the program and its phases:

At this phase student will be required to complete enrollment application form (here >>>) 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. Our requirements are simple: high school diploma (or higher), English knowledge on upper-intermediate level or better, international passport and good health with no disqualifying conditions (see full list of enrollment requirements here >>>) Once all requirements are satisfied, student will be furnished with the flight training agreement, visa support paperwork, preliminary aviation training study materials and TSA security clearance. 

Upon arrival at the flight training center, Sunrise Aviation, the student will undergo a brief FAA pilot medical examination. Following this, they will commence their theoretical and practical training, which includes both ground school and flying. The training program aims to provide 3-4 hours of ground school instruction per day, focusing on the theoretical aspects of aviation. Additionally, the student will engage in 2-3 hours of flight training sessions, which will be combined with the ground school lessons. This integrated approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered in ground school and their practical application during flight training.

The flight training segment is divided into three courses: Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot. Each course progresses the student to a higher aeronautical license and proficiency level. Upon completion of this phase, the student will be certified as a Commercial Pilot with FAA/ICAO licenses. They will be qualified to operate both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft, and will have the necessary skills to fly in normal (VMC) and limited visibility (IMC) conditions. To complete this stage of training, the student will accumulate 250 flight hours. Out of these, up to 15 hours will be conducted in a flight training device, specifically allocated towards the Instrument Rating. The flight training device allows for simulated instrument flight training, providing valuable experience and practice in instrument flying procedures.

Overall, this phase focuses on providing comprehensive theoretical knowledge, practical flight training, and the necessary flight hours to attain the desired licenses and ratings, ultimately preparing the student for a successful career as a commercial pilot.

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

During the primary stages of training, flight students are required to stay near the flight training center. The accommodation is provided by our FTP via a contract with Integra Shores Apartments. Because students will not be able to work for the initial 6 months of this program (the flight training phase), we have to include the cost of accommodation in the program cost estimate.

Improvised campus apartments are located only a few minutes bycicle ride from the airport and approximately 10-15 minutes drive from the beach. Bicycles will be provided to students upon request. A dedicated student shuttle will be availble at no charge several times per day to transport students from their accommodation location to the flight training center and back.

6 months of standard shared accommodation is included in this program. In case Students are not able to complete the phase 2 of the program during the designated 6-month time-frame, they will be able to extend it by paying monthly rent fees, which will include utilities and gym.

Please note: accmmodation contracts frequently change. FTP may elect to drop and pick-up other accommodation contractors depending on price-hikes and availability. Although Integra Shores Apartments is the currently contracted provider, due to student volume, other contractors may be used to accommodate student overflow.

The Full Program Cost Estimate for the Mandatory Phases

The full cost estimate is based on student's compliance with the FAA flight training curriculum, 6-month accommodation costs, and all estimated government fees. The cost is broken down into the following segments: [a1] estimated cost of training Zero to FAA CPL/AMEL/ASEL/IR (Cessna 152 for single-engine training and Piper Seneca for multi-engine training): $51,999.00; 6 month accommodation, shared: $4050.00; [c] government fees (medical, visa, TSA): $1120.00; [c] Aerocadet admin fees: $550.00; [d] ferry pilot internship: $1950.00

Cessna 172 Upgrade Fee

Studernts can upgrade Cessna 152 to Cessna 172 for any portion of flight training or hour-building by paying additional $41.91 USD per flight hour.

Additional Expenses

It is important for students to understand that if they fail any of the required check-rides or do not adhere to the curriculum set forth by the flight school, they will be responsible for additional fees resulting from the additional training hours. These fees will be billed separately and will depend on the type of additional training required and the type of aircraft or Flight Training Device (FTD) used.

Furthermore, it's important to note that living expenses, excluding accommodation, are not included in the cost estimate provided. Living expenses typically encompass food and entertainment expenses. We recommend that students allocate a budget of at least $20 per day for food expenses. Considering that students may not be eligible for employment for the first 6 months, it is advised to include a minimum of $3650 USD in the living expenses budget.

By being aware of these potential additional fees and budgeting for living expenses, students can better prepare themselves financially for the duration of their flight training program. It is essential to plan and manage finances effectively to ensure a smooth and successful training experience.

Indian CPL Add-on

For students enrolling from India and intending to work in India after graduation, we have established a partnership with Hercules Aviation Training School (HATS) DGCA CPL certification and license add-on program in Hyderabad. This program allows students to obtain both FAA and DGCA licenses, providing them with enhanced employment opportunities in India.

The program begins with the DGCA ground school training in India, which spans a duration of 3 months. During this phase, students will receive comprehensive theoretical training to prepare them for the DGCA ATPL theoretical exams. Upon successful completion of the exams, students will then proceed to the United States for their flight training and internship as outlined in phases 1-6 of the program.

After completing the training and internship, and obtaining the ATP certification, students will return to India to undertake the FAA CPL to DGCA CPL license add-on phase. This phase will be conducted by Hercules Aviation Training School and is expected to last for 2-3 weeks. During this phase, students will undergo the necessary procedures to convert their FAA CPL to DGCA CPL, ensuring compliance with Indian aviation regulations.

At the conclusion of this program, students will possess two separate ICAO CPL: one from the FAA and the other from the DGCA.

For more detailed information about this specialized program for Indian students, please refer to the dedicated resource provided by Hercules Aviation Training School.

The cost of this add-on will include: DGCA Ground School: $2500 USD; DGCA CPL: $4500 USD.

Discounts

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

So, What is Included in the Base Cost?

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:

Please note: conditions of deposit refund are outlined in the flight training agreement, which students are required to sign upon enrollment and before any payments are due.

Our company 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 >>>

Please note: Aerocadet does not provide flight training sponsorships. Please read the student loan information located via the above link thoroughly before applying for enrollment. 

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

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.

Download program base structure and pricing break-down here: