How to

Be a Pilot

How to Be a Pilot
CONTENTS
Introduction.........................................3
A Typical Aviation Career Path...............4
Getting Started......................................6
Recreational Flying................................7
Becoming a Private Pilot........................7
Becoming a Commercial Pilot...............11
Becoming an Airline Transport Pilot......14
To Learn More.....................................15

Glossary
PPL Private Pilot Licence
CPL Commercial Pilot Licence
ATPL Airline Transport Pilot Licence

CAA Web Site

The CAA web site has a great deal of
information you will find useful.

Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this booklet is accurate and up-to-date at the time of
printing, but numerous changes can occur with time, especially in regard to legislation. Readers are reminded
to obtain appropriate up-to-date information. Current Civil Aviation Rules are on the CAA web site.

Introduction
Flying is fun. Flying is a challenge.
To y an aircraft capably and safely is a
huge achievement, and it can be a fast,
safe, and cost-effective way to travel.
Whether you want to y a small aircraft
during the weekends, or a Boeing 737 for
an airline, you will follow much the same
process initially. You will learn about
yourself, the aircraft, the weather, the
ying environment, and the rules pilots .
use to keep their ying safe. What kind of
pilot you want to be will determine how
much you need to learn.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

regulates civil aviation in New Zealand.
We establish and maintain the rules that
all pilots, engineers, aircraft operators,
airlines, air traffic controllers, and
aerodrome operators follow to keep
flying safe. We check these rules are being
complied with and have the power to .
take action if we find that they are not. .
We monitor safety performance
throughout the aviation community so
that we can direct our safety efforts where
they are needed most. We also produce
safety publications and run safety training
courses and seminars.

With a Pilot Certificate you can fly a

microlight, glider, paraglider or hang
glider. With a Parachutist Certificate you
can operate a parachute. With a Private
Pilot Licence (PPL) you can y throughout
New Zealand and carry passengers, but
you are not able to charge for your
services. With a Commercial Pilot Licence
(CPL) you can work as a pilot. With an
Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) you
can y as a captain on large aircraft.
These licences are like steps on a ladder
and must be worked through in the correct
order. First you become a private pilot,
then a commercial pilot, and nally an
airline transport pilot.

There are other organisations you will

encounter as you learn to fly. Air Traffic
Control and flight planning is run by
Airways New Zealand. Weather information
is supplied by MetService. Aviation
examinations are conducted by Aviation
Services Limited. The Aviation Security
Service (AvSec) carries out aviation
security requirements, and issues Airport
Identity Cards. There are links to these
organisations on the CAA web site.

There are also ratings to add to your

certificate or licence. These involve
learning additional skills, for example
instrument flying. When you demonstrate
competence on those skills you get a rating
added to your flying qualifications.

A Typical Avia
Start Learning
to Fly

Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

Aeroplane or Helicopter
With a PPL you can:

Fly for recreation

Take non fare-.

paying passengers

Airline Transport
Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Airline Captain

Learn to fly different

types of aircraft

Airline First Officer

4

tion Career Path

Pilot Certificate and Parachutist Certificate
Micolight, Glider, Parachute,
Paraglider, or Hang Glider
Fly for recreation

Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

Aeroplane or Helicopter
With a CPL you can fly under Visual Flight Rules and become a:

Agricultural Pilot

Flying Instructor

Scenic or .
Charter Pilot

Ratings for Instrument Flying and Turbine Powered Aircraft

Aeroplane or Helicopter
With these you can become a:

Rescue or Air .
Ambulance Pilot

Instrument Rating
Instructor
5

Charter, Scheduled,
or Freight Pilot

focus in a club atmosphere. It is a good

idea to shop around and choose the
training organisation that best meets your
needs. If possible, ask other pilots from
a variety of training organisations about
their flying experiences.

Getting Started
You can y right now. Most peoples rst
taste of ying is a trial ight at their local
aero club or ying school.
A trial ight usually lasts about 20 minutes.
You will sit in the pilots seat and be given
your first lesson by a ight instructor. You
dont need to know anything about ying
to take a trial ight, and there is normally
no obligation to continue with lessons.

What Does it Cost?

The cost of learning to y varies between
training organisations. It can vary with a
number of factors, including the type of
aircraft and location. The cost of ying
also changes in response to fuel prices .
and ination.

Throughout your training you will not be

asked to attempt anything you are not
ready for. There is no need to own an
aircraft. There are about 100 aero clubs
and ying schools around New Zealand
that operate aircraft and employ ight
instructors. You can hire these aircraft
with an instructor at an hourly rate while
you are learning, and hire them to fly .
solo when you have reached that stage.
You usually pay only for the time the
aircraft is taxiing and ying.

It is best to contact a range of ight

training organisations to nd out the .
latest costs and compare their prices to .
the services and facilities they provide.
It is important not to judge your choice of
training organisation solely on cost. You
should also look at how each organisation
can help you achieve your ultimate goals.
An aspiring airline pilot has different
training needs from an aspiring agricultural
pilot, or an aspiring tourist sightseeing pilot
who will be ying in mountainous terrain.

Some flying schools focus on professional

training, while others have a recreational

As well as the cost of

flight training, there are
costs for the medical
examination, theory
examinations, and flight
tests. All of these need
to be taken into account
in planning your flight
training programme.
Your flight training
organisation should help
you with this.

Recreational Flying

Becoming a Private Pilot

Most pilots in New Zealand hold a PPL.
There are about 4000 private pilots who .
y many different types of aircraft.

There are numerous options for

recreational flying, such as microlighting,
gliding, parachuting, hang gliding, and
paragliding. These aviation activities are
governed by the Civil Aviation Act and
Rules, but the day-to-day administration
is carried out by organisations certificated
for that purpose by the CAA.

A Private Pilot may not be paid or rewarded

to y, and may not fly an aircraft that is
being operated for hire or reward.
You can start learning to y an aircraft at
any age, but you may not y solo until you
are 16 years old. You can hold a Private
Pilot Licence when you are 17 years old.

To fly one of these aircraft you will need

to gain a Pilot Certificate or Parachutist
Certificate issued by one of the
organisations holding a Part 149 certificate
relating to the aircraft type.

You can hold a Private

Pilot Licence when you
are 17 years old.

To be issued with a Pilot Certicate you must:

Be at least16 years of age to hold a .
full certicate
Hold a medical declaration issued by
your General Practitioner

To gain a PPL, you must complete several

steps, including practical flying and
written examinations. The rst step is a
medical examination.

Pass written examinations

Medical

Pass a practical flight test.

All the requirements are included in

the Operations Manuals of the various
organisations. You can see these on their
web sites, as well as information about .
the location of branches or clubs.

Private Pilots must pass a Class 2 medical

examination. This examination can only be
carried out by designated Medical Examiners.
Your aero club or ying school will provide
you with a list of these doctors in your
area, and they are listed on the CAA web
site. During the Class 2 medical, your past
medical history and current medical status
will be assessed. Additional investigations
may be requested. It is a good idea to talk to
a designated medical examiner prior to your
appointment, as they will be able to explain
this in greater detail.

To find aviation recreation organisations,

see To Learn More on page 15.

If you are unable to pass your medical

examination, you can continue to y with

It can typically take around 40 hours .

ying to become competent and gain your
Pilot Certificate. This allows you to y
privately, under Visual Flight Rules (VFR),
by day. If you want to carry passengers
you require a passenger rating.

an instructor, but you cannot hold a PPL.

So to avoid possible disappointment, it is
a good idea to make sure that you obtain
your medical certificate before beginning
ight training.

to accompany your application, and your

flight training organisation should advise
you when to start this process. As with the
medical certificate, it is a good idea to make
sure you qualify as a Fit and Proper Person
before beginning flight training, to avoid
possible disappointment.

If you are aged under 40, you must renew

your medical every ve years. If you are
over 40 your medical lasts for two years.

You are required to remain a fit and

proper person person throughout the
operating life of your licence.

Fit and Proper Person

The Civil Aviation Act 1990 requires
the holder of a PPL (and other aviation
documents) to be assessed as a fit and
proper person. To be considered a fit and
proper person to hold an aviation licence
you must, among other things, have
demonstrated an acceptable respect for
the law, such that the Director may have
confidence in your ability to fly within .
the Civil Aviation Rules.

Flying Lessons
You will learn to y progressively. .
Early lessons cover the basics, like
controlling the aircraft in straight and
level ight. The structure and sequence of
lessons creates a building block process,
where previous learning is reinforced
and developed in succeeding lessons.
Eventually you will cover everything you
need to be a capable and safe pilot.

When you apply for your licence, you must

provide the Director of Civil Aviation with
information to make this assessment. There
is information on the applicable CAA forms
to guide you through the process. It can take
some time to get the information required

Learning about the ying

environment, and your
aircraft, is part of being a
safe and competent pilot.
Most students will y solo for
the rst time after about 10 to
15 hours of ying lessons. A PPL
requires a minimum of 50 hours
of ying, but many students have
about 60 to 70 hours before they
are ready to sit the flight test.
It is possible to exclude the crosscountry training and obtain your
PPL with a restriction that limits
you to ying near the aerodrome

at which you trained. This

restriction can be removed .
later by completing the crosscountry training. Your aero .
club or ying school will .
discuss these options with you.
Each ying lesson typically
lasts about 40 minutes. Your
instructor will usually give .
you a brieng before the .
ight so you will know what .
to expect and what is .
required of you. A debrieng .
after the ight helps to consolidate what
you have learned.

them with your instructor, as the exam

credits are valid for a fixed period. All the
examination passes are required before
you can y a solo cross-country flight.

You must log every ight. Your aero club .

or ying school will sell you a pilot logbook
to record the date of each ight, the
aircraft type and registration, the name .
of your instructor, the length of your
ight, where you went and what you did.
You can take your ying lessons as
frequently as time and nances allow, .
but it is advisable to plan for regular
sessions. One lesson every week or 10 days
will ensure cost effective training.

From March 2008 there will be an English

language proficiency test.

Air Navigation and Flight Planning

You will learn to calculate the distance
of your planned ight, what compass
headings you will need to y, how long .
it will take you, and how much fuel you
need to get there. You will also learn to .
use maps that are specically designed .
for aviation.

Private Pilot Licence Examinations

The six PPL examinations are set at about
the same level as Secondary School
examinations. Learning about the ying
environment, and your aircraft, is part
of being a safe and competent pilot. Your
aero club or ying school will help you
prepare for these examinations.

Aircraft Technical Knowledge

Understanding how your aircraft ies,
and its systems, enables you to make safe
ying decisions. As a trainee pilot, you
will learn about aerodynamics, engines,
electrical systems, ight instruments, and
loading your aircraft. Helicopter pilots
and aeroplane pilots sit different Aircraft
Technical Knowledge exams.

You do not have to pass these

examinations before you begin your ying
lessons, but it is advisable to plan for

Meteorology

Flight Radiotelephony

The weather has a major bearing on your

ying. Often ights will be cancelled or
delayed because of the weather. You
will learn about New Zealands weather
patterns, about cloud formations, and
about how different weather conditions
affect the performance of the aircraft.
With this knowledge, you will be able to
develop decision-making skills essential .
to safe ying.

Pilots keep in contact with air trafc

controllers, and with each other, by
radio. As a trainee pilot, you will learn
the terms and phrases pilots use to make
these communications clear and free from
misunderstanding. You will also learn how
to operate your aircrafts transponder and
emergency locator beacon.

Air Law
Everyone in aviation follows the same set
of standards when they are ying. These
standards are set out in the Civil Aviation
Rules. As a trainee pilot, you will develop a
working knowledge of many of these rules.

Human Factors
Human error is one of the most common
causes of air accidents worldwide. It is
important, therefore, to understand the
human element in aviation. Areas of study
include: aviation medicine and health,
stress management, and decision-making.

Licence Issue
When you have gained your medical
certicate, passed all the exams, have .
the required ying experience and can
demonstrate the competency standards, .
you will be ready to sit a flight test. Once
you have passed the ight test, you can
apply to the CAA for the issue of a PPL.

Keeping Your Pilot Licence

Getting your pilot licence is only the rst step.
To keep it current you must have carried .
out at least three takeoffs and landings in
the preceding 90 days in the aircraft types
that you wish to y.
Every two years, you will need to carry out
a Biennial Flight Review (BFR). This involves
demonstrating to a ight instructor that
your knowledge and ying skills are still
maintained at the required standard for the
type of licence you hold.

10

are available for training. These include

graceful old biplanes and some warbirds.
Gaining a rating in a new aircraft involves
practical conversion ying lessons and some
study of your new aircrafts systems and
performance. This is usually followed by a
final handling competency demonstration
to an instructor.

A BFR will also ensure that you remain

up to date with the current operating
environment. As well as the BFR, many
people continue to have occasional
refresher ights with an instructor.
Before gaining your PPL, it is advisable to
plan your ying beyond the initial issue of
your licence. Budgeting for sufcient funds
to allow you to y often enough to remain
both current and competent will help you
retain your licence.

Becoming a
Commercial Pilot

Ratings

Many very experienced pilots in .

New Zealand are content to y simply .
for fun. To work as a pilot, you must hold .
a CPL. There are about 3600 pilots with a
CPL in New Zealand.

Once you have your pilot licence you can

develop many more skills.
You can take specialist training in
mountain ying, formation ying,
competition ying, or night ying. While
not formalised with a rating, this training
is usually recorded in your log book.

Commercial Pilots can be paid to y. .

They may y as pilot-in-command on
aircraft with only one pilot, or as a copilot on a multi-crew aircraft. You can .
hold a Commercial Pilot Licence once you
are 18 years old.

You can also train for, and gain, additional

qualications called ratings. Examples are:
aerobatic rating, glider tow rating, and
parachute drop rating. Remember that you
cannot be paid or rewarded to fly with a
PPL, so many ratings are more applicable
to CPL holders.

The CPL includes both theoretical and

practical training. The rst step is your
medical certicate.

Medical

Aircraft Type Ratings

Commercial pilots must pass a Class 1

medical examination. This has more
requirements than the Class 2 examination
for a PPL. During the Class 1 medical,
your past medical history and current
medical status will be assessed. Additional
investigations may be requested. It is a
good idea to talk to a designated medical
examiner prior to your appointment. .

Pilots are only permitted to y the .

aircraft for which they hold type ratings. .
When rst learning to y, you will take
lessons in the same type of aircraft.
Once you have your pilot licence, you .
may choose to learn to y other types.
New Zealand pilots are lucky to have access
to a wide range of aircraft types that

11

Your aero club or ying school can provide

you with a list of designated medical
examiners in your area, and they are listed
on the CAA web site.
It is a good idea to obtain your medical
certificate before beginning flight training
for a CPL in order to avoid possible
disappointment.
A Class 1 medical certicate must be
renewed annually if you are aged less than
40. For single pilot air operations carrying
passengers, renewal is every six months if
you are 40 and over.

You can hold a

Commercial Pilot Licence
once you are 18 years old.
Flying
To be a commercial aeroplane pilot you
must have completed a minimum of 200
hours of ying training before you are
eligible to sit your ight test. Many people,
however, do not sit this test until they
have about 215 to 230 hours.

can train for your CPL in your own time,

advancing as you can afford the lessons.

To be a commercial helicopter pilot you

must have a minimum of 150 hours of
ying training, before you are eligible to
sit your ight test.
New Zealand has many aero clubs and
ying schools that offer different aircraft
types and training environments.

It is advisable, however, to maintain a regular

training programme to progress efciently.
This needs to coordinate theory examination
passes and their validity periods with relevant
flight training requirements. A personalised
training programme can be planned with your
instructor.

Some schools teach commercial pilots in

full-time courses that involve integrated
ight and theory training. Others provide
an on demand training process where you

You should talk to several training

organisations and choose the package which
best suits your needs and goals in aviation.
Your commercial ight training will follow a

12

Rules (VFR). This means that you must

be able to see the surface to navigate
you cannot y in cloud. Possible careers
include VFR charter, scenic flying, and
agricultural ying.

set syllabus and will include cross-country

ying and instrument ying. You will be
expected to meet a higher standard than
for your PPL.

Commercial Pilots must pass

examinations in Air Law,
Flight Navigation General,
Meteorology, Principles
of Flight and Aircraft
Performance, General
Aircraft Technical Knowledge
(Aeroplane or Helicopter),
and Human Factors.

When employed as a CPL you will have

ongoing competency checks at least
annually to ensure that you are flying to
the required standard.
The next step for many CPL pilots is to .
gain a number of ratings that will give
them more qualifications and opportunities
to work as a pilot.

Ratings
As well as ratings such as the Flight
Instructor Rating, many CPL holders will
want to obtain an Instrument Rating, .
and a Basic Gas Turbine qualification.

Examinations
Commercial Pilots must pass examinations
in Air Law, Flight Navigation General,
Meteorology, Principles of Flight and
Aircraft Performance, General Aircraft
Technical Knowledge (Aeroplane or
Helicopter), and Human Factors. These are
similar to tertiary level examinations.

Becoming a Flight Instructor

Once you are a commercial pilot, you can .
do further ight training and study to
become a career ight instructor. Newly
qualied ight instructors are called
C-category instructors. As a C-category
instructor you may teach trainee pilots,

From March 2008 the English language

proficiency test will be required if not
passed beforehand.

CPL Issue
When you hold a current Class 1
medical certicate, have passed the CPL
examinations, have the required ying
experience, and have passed the practical
ight test, you can apply to the CAA for
the issue of a CPL.
You can now seek employment as a pilot,
but you may only y under Visual Flight

13

These are different from the piston engine

aircraft you will train in. In order to
y a turbine-powered aircraft you will
need to pass a Basic Turbine Knowledge
examination. This is a prerequisite of a
type rating in your rst turbine-powered
aircraft.

although you will work under the supervision of an experienced instructor. There .
are several aero clubs and ying schools .
that offer C-category instructor training.

Agricultural Rating
To gain an agricultural rating you must
complete a course of ground and ight
training, and pass a ight test.

In order to progress to being an airline

captain, you can work towards your ATPL.

Instrument Rating

Becoming an Airline
Transport Pilot

If you want to expand your employment

options with a view to becoming an airline
pilot, you will need an Instrument Rating.
This allows you to y in cloud, navigating
with reference to the aircraft instruments.
Possible careers include freight and charter
operations, or you can y for an airline.

Type Rating on Gas Turbine

Powered Aircraft

To apply for an ATPL, you must be 21 years

old, hold a current instrument rating, and
have 1500 hours total ight time in an
aeroplane, or 1000 hours in a helicopter.
You must also pass seven written
examinations and a ight test with a .
ight examiner.

Airlines, some freight or charter

companies, helicopter, parachute, and
agricultural companies, operate aircraft
that are powered by gas turbine engines.

When employed as an airline pilot, you

will have ongoing competency checks to
ensure that you are continuing to fly to
the required standard.

14

and ACs are available free on the CAA

web site. The Part 61 Rules and ACs detail
what you will be examined on, as well as
the flight experience that you will need
to accumulate for each pilot licence.
There are also Flight Test Standard Guides
detailing the assessment factors used by
instructors and examiners.

To Learn More
To find out more, contact your local .
ight training organisation. To find
them, check the Yellow Pages, aviation
magazines, or search the world wide web.
It is a good idea to talk to pilots and ask
about their experiences.

The CAA produces a number of free

booklets that will help you as you learn to
fly. You will see these at your flight training
organisation, and they are on the CAA web
site. How to Navigate the Rules is one you
might like to read quite soon, as it will give
you an overview of the aviation system in
New Zealand. You can also request these
booklets by email from [email protected].

You can find lists of Part 141 certificated

training organisations, and Part 149
aviation recreation organisations, on
the CAA web site. Click on Index and
Certificated Organisations.
The requirements for becoming a pilot
are contained in the Civil Aviation Rules,
and the examination syllabuses are in
the Advisory Circulars (ACs). Rules are
divided into Parts and Part 61 is titled
Pilot Licences and Ratings. All Rules

15

PO Box 3555
Wellington 6140
Tel: +64 4 560 9400
Fax: +64 4 569 2024
Email: [email protected]
How to Be a Pilot was revised in June 2011.
See our web site, www.caa.govt.nz, for details of more CAA safety publications.