How much does it cost to become a pilot in South Africa?

Training for a Commercial Pilot Licence costs about R800,000 or more. You pay as you go for each licence and flying hour. This is the biggest challenge for most people.

How long does it take to become a pilot?

About 18 months to 2 years for a Commercial Pilot Licence, if you train full-time. You then build flying hours to get an airline job.

How much do pilots earn in South Africa?

Fresh pilots with few hours earn little, sometimes R15,000 to R30,000 a month while they build hours. Airline first officers earn more, and captains earn a lot.

Do I need a degree to become a pilot?

No. You do not need a university degree. You need pilot licences from the SACAA and a Class 1 aviation medical. Matric with Maths and Science helps a lot.

Do I need matric to become a pilot?

You can start some training without matric, but you really need matric, with Maths and Science, to pass the commercial exams and to get an airline job.

Can I become a pilot for free in South Africa?

Not by yourself, but there are funded ways. There is no public flight school, but the Air Force trains pilots for free (you serve in the military), and the SACAA and SAA run bursaries that can pay for your training. You can also get your PPL first and pay for the CPL over time. These funded routes are competitive.

How to become a pilot in South Africa

A pilot flies aeroplanes or helicopters. To fly for a living in South Africa, you do not need a university degree. You train at a flight school approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), and you earn your licences step by step: first the Private Pilot Licence (PPL), then the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). The big challenge is money, because training costs about R800,000 or more. There are a few ways to train without paying it all yourself, like the Air Force and airline cadet programmes.

You must sign up with the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) to do this work.

What does a pilot do?

Pilots fly aircraft safely from one place to another. Before a flight, you check the weather, the route, and the aircraft. In the air, you fly the plane, talk to air traffic control, watch the instruments, and keep the passengers safe. Airline pilots work with a co-pilot and cabin crew. The hours can be early, late, or over weekends.

Where you can work

Airlines
Charter and cargo companies
Flight schools (as an instructor)
Game lodges and tourism
The Air Force
Private aircraft owners

Kinds of this work

Airline pilot (passengers)Cargo (freight) pilotCharter and private flyingFlight instructorBush and game flyingHelicopter pilotAir Force (military) pilot

Is this job right for you?

This job is good for you if

You stay calm and think clearly under pressure
You are careful and follow checklists exactly
You are good with Maths and machines
You have good eyesight and health
You can handle early starts, late nights, and time away
You keep learning and stay sharp

The hard parts

Training is very expensive
Getting your first flying job (with few hours) is hard
The hours are long and often unsocial
You carry big responsibility for people's lives
You must pass health checks again and again
You start on low pay while you build hours

How you can grow

Your job can get bigger over time. This is a common path.

1
Student pilot
You start your training and your first flying hours.
2
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
You can fly for yourself, but not yet for money.
3
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
You can fly for a living, often by instructing to build hours.
4
First officer (co-pilot)
You fly for an airline next to a captain.
5
Captain
With the ATPL and enough hours, you command the aircraft.

Steps to become a pilot

1
Finish matric, with Maths and Science if you can
You can start some training without matric, but Maths and Physical Science make the exams much easier, and airlines want matric.
2
Pass a Class 1 aviation medical
A special doctor checks your health, eyesight, and hearing. Do this early, because it decides if you can fly for a living.
3
Get your Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
At a SACAA-approved flight school, about 45 hours of flying.
4
Get your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
Build to at least 200 hours and pass the exams. Now you can fly for money.
5
Build hours and get ratings
Add an instrument rating and a multi-engine rating, and build your flying hours.
6
Work towards the ATPL
With 1,500 hours you can get the Airline Transport Pilot Licence and captain an airliner.

Questions people ask

Written and checked by the NavyBlue Editorial Team. Last updated 2026-07-15. Pay numbers are a guide only. Where we got this: SACAA (Civil Aviation Authority), South African Air Force