How to become a pilot

Step 2: Get a qualification

Bachelor degrees

Delivered in accordance with CASA requirements, the Bachelor of Aviation, alongside the Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting) - which you’ll study concurrently - will set you on the path to become a commercial or professional pilot. 

If you’re an international student with your sights on an Australian piloting education, you’ll need to complete the three-year Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting. 

Our piloting courses will provide you with a thorough understanding of what it takes to fly an aircraft, with flying training starting in the third week of your degree. This includes knowledge of the aviation industry, basic flight operations and attaining key analytical skills. 

Be sure to check the entry requirements, study structure, fee and application details. You can also book a one-on-one consultation with a course advisor to discuss questions about this course.

Access the Aviation Simulation Lab

As a piloting student you’ll gain access to Swinburne’s Aviation Simulation Lab, equipped with systems such as the A320 Flight Simulator, that simulate flight and airline operations centre scenarios. The lab provides immersive learning experiences for students, researchers and aviation professionals looking to further their training and development in industry. 

Looking to explore other ways to study aviation?

The Bachelor of Aviation Management is a great choice if you’re interested in remote piloting and uncrewed aircraft systems, or managing the complex world of aviation operations.  

Pathway courses 

Swinburne’s UniLink diplomas provide an alternative study pathway to become a pilot if you: 

• did not get the ATAR needed for your preferred bachelor degree

• did not complete high school in Australia

• prefer extra support from your teachers as you learn.
   

Why study UniLink diploma?

If you think a Bombadier Global 8000 is fast, you can complete a UniLink diploma in just eight months. Successful completion provides advanced entry into the Bachelor of Aviation (domestic students) and Bachelor of Aviation and Piloting (international students).

With seven UniLink diplomas to choose from, you’ll find a course that suits your career interests and abilities. UniLink courses span arts to engineering, business to health science, design to information technology. 

Additional entry requirements

Entry requirements include a maths requirement, plus the pilot aptitude test that assesses your English and Physics abilities. Study support is available for these subject areas, but we encourage you to talk to a course advisor discuss your needs before applying.

Step 3: Gain flying experience and licences

With our piloting degrees, you’ll undertake flying training and complete the required hours to gain your private pilot licence (PPL) and  the 150 hours you need for your commercial pilot licence (CPL).

All of our flying training is undertaken at CAE Melbourne Flight Training, Moorabbin Airport, with access to over 45 aircraft and state-of-the-art flight simulators. And with over 250,000 aircraft movements each year, it’s one of Australia’s busiest airports. What this means for you - train here, be ready to work anywhere.  

Gain your licences

Once you’ve completed your Bachelor of Aviation, you’ll have earned all the relevant licences to get you flying.  In fact, the course is designed to take you beyond the requirements for the CASA Commercial Pilot Licence to include the Multi-engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement, and Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory and exams. 

This means you can graduate with what is referred to in industry as a “frozen ATPL”, that is, a pilot who has completed all the exams but has not yet met the flying experience requirements to hold a full ATPL. Once you've logged the required 1,500 total flight hours, you can receive the full ATPL.

You’ll also get to choose between undertaking either a Flight instructor rating (FIR) or a Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) Certificate as part of your course. These are both extremely useful qualifications for your career; an FIR qualifies you to instruct student pilots, offering valuable flight hours as well as professional teaching experience. On the other hand, an MCC Certificate- required by some airlines- aligns you with the airline pilot environment by focusing on jet aircraft handling and the multi-crew operating mindset and standard operating procedures.  

But this does not mean you’ll be flying with big commercial airlines … yet! You’ll need to complete flight hours detailed in Step 4.

Explore opportunities with our aviation industry partners

Swinburne has partnered with Qantas to offer the Qantas Aviation Career Enrichment Program, accelerating aviation careers with real industry preparation. Students who complete this program and meet minimum direct entry pilot recruitment requirements will be invited to attend a Qantas Group Assessment Centre, subject to operational needs.

Step 4: Complete your flight hours

 To apply for QantasLink or Jetstar, you’ll need 500 hours of flight time after completing your degree. For Qantas mainline and other major carriers, the requirement is typically 1,500 hours or more. These standards are set to make sure pilots are fully prepared for the responsibility of carrying passengers safely.

How do you build those hours? Many new pilots start with charter companies, flying scenic routes or skydiving runs. Another popular option is becoming a Flight Instructor at CAE, where you’ll accumulate hours while sharpening your own skills and training the next generation of pilots. You can even get a head start during your degree by choosing the Flight Instructor Rating Practicum (AVF80006) as an elective.