The First Step: Making the Decision!

Before stepping into the world of aviation, you must be clear about your goals. Do you want to fly as a hobby or make it your career? Becoming a cadet pilot with Fly Dubai requires extensive training, financial investment, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Meeting the Eligibility Criteria

To become a cadet pilot under the Fly Dubai Cadet Pilot Program, you must meet specific criteria set by the airline and aviation authorities:

Educational Qualification: Minimum 10+2 or equivalent with decent marks in Physics, Maths and English.

Age Requirements:

Minimum entry age: 17–18 years (depending on intake)

Maximum age: Usually up to 30 years (based on program guidelines)

Medical Requirements: A Class 1 medical certificate from a GCAA-approved medical examiner is required for training. Good vision, normal hearing, and overall physical fitness are essential to qualify.

Specific Requirements for Female Pilots:

Pregnancy: Female pilots must be grounded during pregnancy and for a period after childbirth, according to GCAA regulations.

Gynecological Health: Regular check-ups are required to ensure overall fitness for flying duties.

Meeting these eligibility criteria is your first step towards becoming a pilot with Fly Dubai. It's essential to stay in good health and maintain the required physical fitness to ensure a long and successful career in aviation.

Choosing the Right Flight School

Selecting the right flight school is crucial. Look for GCAA-approved institutes with a strong training curriculum, experienced instructors, modern aircrafts and most importantly the student-aircraft as well as the instructor-student ratio in the flight school. The right training environment significantly impacts your skills and career progression.

Ground School – Building Theoretical Knowledge

Before you fly, you must be well aware of the aviation fundamentals. Ground knowledge includes:

• Meteorology
• Air Regulations
• Air Navigation
• Technical General
• Technical Specific
• Radio Telephony

A strong grasp of these subjects is essential for clearing GCAA exams and becoming a competent commercial pilot with Fly Dubai.

Flight Training – Logging Your Hours

Practical training is where the real journey begins. Depending on your career path, here’s what you’ll need:

Private Pilot License (PPL): Minimum 40 flight hours (most cadets complete 50-60 for proficiency).
Commercial Pilot License (CPL): Minimum 200 flight hours, including 185 hours on Single engine aircraft and 25 hours on Multi Engine Aircraft/Simulator.
Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL): Requires 1,500 hours, usually accumulated through working as a first officer or in line training operations.

GCAA Exams and Final Check

Clearing GCAA exams is mandatory at each stage which would require you to score at least a score of 70/100 for the GCAA exams and clearing Part 1 and Part 2 to obtain the Radio Telephony license. Once you’ve logged the required hours on Single engine as well as Multi engine aircraft and passed your exams, you’ll undergo a skill test (check) with a GCAA examiner. Passing this test earns you your license.

Type Rating – Specializing in a Commercial Aircraft

To fly for an airline, you must complete a Type Rating for a specific aircraft like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. This specialized training is conducted in full-flight simulators and is a significant investment in your aviation career.

Applying for Airline Jobs and Clearing Assessments

With your CPL and Type Rating, the next step is securing a job with an airline. Airlines conduct rigorous selection processes, including:

Written exams on aviation knowledge and basic aptitude
Compass/Adapt to assess the cognitive abilities, spatial awareness and multi-tasking skills.
Personal interviews and Group Discussions to evaluate decision-making and situational awareness