CPL Job Opportunities

What can you expect after your CPL? As we said, obtaining a CPL is the first step in pursuing the career in aviation you've always dreamed of.

1) Charter Pilot

As a commercial pilot without further training in more specialised areas, you can expect employment mainly in the charter area. Jobs in air charter, whilst being highly sort after, are definitely available with minimum qualifications. Several Civil graduates have gained employment throughout Australia as charter pilots of both single and multi engine aircraft and enjoy the benefits of a lifestyle where they are being paid to do what they enjoy doing most.

2) Agricultural Pilot

The life of an agricultural pilot is very challenging, exciting and will test your flying skills to the limits. In order to fly as an agricultural pilot, you will need to complete an Agricultural Pilot Rating. This will enable you to use your licence for operations such as crop dusting and cattle mustering. 

3) Flight Instructor

Teaching people to fly can offer almost incomparable job satisfaction. Civil offers an instructor rating course which runs for approximately two months, full time. The emphasis is on both deepening your aviation knowledge, and acquiring teaching skills. You'll be surprised by how much there is to learn and how rapidly your flying skills improve when you're in the position of having to demonstrate your flying and briefing skills to your own potential students. An excellent way of broadening your knowledge, sharpening your skills and advancing your aviation career. Pre-requisites : CPL + (NVFR or Instrument Rating).

4) Corporate Pilot

Find yourself in command of aircraft owned by major corporations, business people or celebreties, flying both domestically and even internationally. A CPL + Multi engine endorsement + Command Instrument Rating with some charter experience would be the very minimum requirement. Gaining this kind of employment is unlikely with minimum qualifications but achievable with several years experience as either a charter pilot or instructor.

5) Air Ambulance

Landing on a road lit by flares in the dark of night, landing in the field of an agricultural accident, or assisting medical staff with patients - these are just some of the challenges you can expect to face as an Air Ambulance Pilot. Before even being considered for an Air Ambulance Pilot position, you must have gained a CPL, Command Instrument Rating, and have a lot of flying experience operating in and out of marginal airstrips, in all sorts of weather. Also the pilot must have the right temperament to calmly assist with medical emergencies when required.

6) Airline Pilot

Imagine being in command of a Boeing 747 bound for Los Angeles ? Airline pilots lead extraordinary lifestyles, whilst being entrusted to fly passengers in aircraft boasting some of the world's most sophisticated technology. Spend a week in Europe followed by a stop over in Singapore whilst still being based in your home country of Australia.

Various international airlines have different minimum requirements. These requirements should be sourced from the particular airline in question.

Both of the Australian airlines, Qantas and Ansett have strict minimum requirements which must be met before applying. A CPL + Command Instrument Rating with 1,500 hours in command would be the bare minimum. It's well known that significant multi engine command time is highly looked upon. ATPL (Airline transport pilot licence) theory must also be successfully completed. The two most common means for Civilian pilots to build this type of experience is via charter work and / or instructing for a period of five years or so. Obviously, airline positions are highly competitive. Interviews are conducted where the candidates' aptitude, as well as qualifications are considered.

How you are trained makes all the difference.

There's a big difference between schools. Our course is designed to better equip you, in every way, to achieve a stimulating career in flying. Personal development is a keynote. However we have built in money-saving features to match today's tight budgets. For example, use of the synthetic trainer for instrument and navigation training.

The academic side may appear daunting to some. However, Civil is a leader in this field. We provide theory classes conducted by fully qualified commercial pilots where the emphasis is on learning in an environment where individual attention is assured. Via our sister company, the Australian College of Aviation, we believe we have set the standard for Australian Aviation theory and actually provide our own text books to over 150 schools.

Your qualifications will be automatically recognised throughout Australia and be widely accepted around the world. Civil is proud of its reputation for providing commercial flight training of the highest standards and we believe that our training methods will put you in the strongest position possible when you apply for the job you're seeking.