How To Become A Pilot In Zimbabwe
Pilot is a person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.
n this article Dashboardlogins.com tries to answer the question by publishing How To Become A Pilot In Zimbabwe
Below are How To Become A Pilot In Zimbabwe
Step 1. Do research on the available flight training options in Zimbabwe
You need to know what pilot training programs are being offered in the country and which among those is the most suitable for you. This is where you should take into account what your aviation goal is. Do you want to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) or a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)? Are you seeking to work for an airline? If yes, then an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) is for you.
Here are your options
- Flight School
There are four (4) flight schools in Zimbabwe. Should you consider doing your pilot training abroad, it is important that you create a list of your preferred flight school/s so you can compare which is fitting for you. Each school has its own procedures, enrollment requirements, and depending on which pilot training courses you decide to take, the tuition fee also varies.
- Aviation-related college degree program
However, if you’re interested in obtaining a college degree accompanied with flight training, you should consider aviation-related college degree programs. These programs allow students to combine a college degree with flight training. With this kind of program, you will earn a college degree together with a pilot license such as Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in most cases. This will give you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.
- Airline cadet pilot program
Meanwhile, if your greatest childhood dream is to become an airline pilot, you should consider airline cadet pilot programs. Airlines often sponsor these programs and students are guaranteed employment upon course completion. In this pilot program, you will obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). You can reach out to us to get an insight into the options currently available.
- Join the military
Finally, if you’re interested in serving your country, you can join the Air Force of Zimbabwe. The Government will sponsor your flight training but you will have to stay with the military for around 12 years after completion before you can apply to commercial airlines.
Here are your options
- Flight School
There are four (4) flight schools in Zimbabwe. Should you consider doing your pilot training abroad, it is important that you create a list of your preferred flight school/s so you can compare which is fitting for you. Each school has its own procedures, enrollment requirements, and depending on which pilot training courses you decide to take, the tuition fee also varies.
- Aviation-related college degree program
However, if you’re interested in obtaining a college degree accompanied with flight training, you should consider aviation-related college degree programs. These programs allow students to combine a college degree with flight training. With this kind of program, you will earn a college degree together with a pilot license such as Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in most cases. This will give you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.
- Airline cadet pilot program
Meanwhile, if your greatest childhood dream is to become an airline pilot, you should consider airline cadet pilot programs. Airlines often sponsor these programs and students are guaranteed employment upon course completion. In this pilot program, you will obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). You can reach out to us to get an insight into the options currently available.
- Join the military
Finally, if you’re interested in serving your country, you can join the Air Force of Zimbabwe. The Government will sponsor your flight training but you will have to stay with the military for around 12 years after completion before you can apply to commercial airlines.
Step 3. Decide on which training stages you will have to undergo
In general, there are five (5) different pilot training stages in which students need to complete depending on what their goal is. The stages of pilot training are as follows:
- Student Pilot License (SPL)
The first pilot license you will need to obtain is a student pilot license. This license allows you to start your flight training.
- Private Pilot License (PPL)
The private pilot license will allow you to fly solo, passengers, or cargo but without monetary compensation.
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
To start earning from flying, you will need to obtain a commercial pilot license. This license allows you to become a paid professional pilot.
Both Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine Rating are add-ons to your pilot license…
- Instrument Rating (IR)
Being instrument-rated means that you can fly the aircraft in any weather condition (for example low or zero visibility) using just the instruments. Flight schools offer Instrument Rating along with their commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.
- Multi-Engine Rating (MER)
The multi-engine rating will allow you to fly multi-engine aircraft. Flight schools offer Multi-Engine Rating along with their private pilot training and commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.
- Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
ATPL is the highest level of Aircraft Pilot Certificate that allows you to act as a pilot in command on scheduled air carriers.
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Step 4. Choose a flight school
After doing your research on the type of license you would like to obtain, the next step is to choose which flight school is the most suitable for your budget.
So, how much does pilot training cost?
It is important to note that becoming a pilot requires a certain budget. Your flight training cost depends on the country you do your training, the flight school you pick, and a number of other factors.
If you decide to do your flight training within the country, there are four (4) options for you. You can get more information about the flight training institute in Zimbabwe by registering with us on Aviationfly.com. Our flight school directory has a list of all the latest active flight school/s in Zimbabwe including their brief background, pilot training courses being offered, the school’s fleet details, what they can offer to you, and other information.
On the other hand, if you decide to do your flight training abroad, there are a number of popular countries to choose from. One important thing to note is that after your training, you will have to convert your license to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.
As mentioned above, another alternative is to enroll in an airline pilot program. Once you have successfully passed your pilot training, you will be employed by the airlines that have set up the program.
Step 5. Consider your Career Options
Many aspiring pilots have a defined career path they would like to pursue, while others don’t. Below is a list of options for what you can potentially do with a pilot license.
- Airline pilot for large airlines or smaller regional ones
- Corporate or business aviation pilot
- Cargo pilot
- Charter / Air taxi pilot
- Flight instructor
- Medical/ Air ambulance pilots
- Agricultural pilot and many more options
A frequently asked question with our How to become a Pilot in Zimbabwe in 2021 Guide is: How much does an Airline Captain in Zimbabwe make? The short answer is around US$1,000 (ZWD 405,000) per month plus benefits
How many years does it take to be a pilot in Zimbabwe?
To get a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in Zimbabwe, you will need an average of 1 to 2 years (in some extreme cases 3 years). Whereas you will need around only 3 to 6 months to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL). Not all pilot licenses allow you to get paid for your service.v
Where are pilots trained in Zimbabwe?
Based at Charles Prince Airport in Harare, Guthrie Aviation has been Zimbabwe’s leading pilot training institution since 1995. We offer Private Pilots training, Commercial Pilots training, Conversion training, Instrument ratings, Multi-engine ratings, Night ratings, CRM, SEP, 1st aid, Advanced Avionics and renewals.