Commercial Pilot Training in South Africa (for Indian Students)

• Entry-level licence required before flight training.
• Requirements: Class 2 Medical + SACAA written exam + language proficiency.
• No minimum hours yet.

• First stage of actual flight training.
• 45 hours minimum flying:
o 25 hours Dual Flying (with instructor)
o 15 hours Solo Flight (including cross-country)
o 5 hours Instrument Flying (introductory)
• Night flying is optional at PPL stage (but usually included).
✅ By end of PPL: You can fly as PIC (Pilot-in-Command) of light aircraft, non-commercially.

• Mandatory in South Africa before CPL issue.
• 10 hours of night flying, including:
o 5 hrs dual night instruction
o 5 hrs solo (with minimum 5 take-offs & landings at night)
• 5 hrs of instrument flying can overlap.

• Required for airline-standard flying and DGCA conversion.
• 40 hours instrument time, of which:
o At least 20 hrs on aircraft
o Balance can be on simulator
• Covers IFR procedures, approaches, holding patterns, cross-country in IMC.

• Requires a total of 200 hours of flying (minimum).
Breakdown of hours (as per SACAA):
o 100 hrs Pilot-in-Command (PIC)
o 20 hrs Cross-Country (PIC) (at least 300 NM cross-country with 2 full-stop landings)
o 40 hrs Instrument Flying (20 in aircraft, 20 in sim)
o 5 hrs Night Flying (PIC) (with 5 take-offs & landings)
o Balance in dual & solo to meet 200 hrs total
✅ After check ride with a SACAA examiner, you are issued an SACAA CPL with Night Rating and Instrument Rating.

To work in India, you must convert your South African licence:
• Flying Hours: SACAA requires 200 hrs (same as DGCA) → already satisfied.
• DGCA Exams: Air Regulations, Meteorology, Navigation, Technical.
• Skill Test: DGCA flying check in India.
• RTR(A) Licence: Required for radio operation in India.
✅ After conversion, you hold an Indian CPL, valid for airline jobs in India.