CPL(A) – Career & Perspectives

The CPL(A) license allows the driving of single-engine engines and – according to appropriate type or Class rating – also more complex aircraft for commercial use. It thus represents a decisive step from private to professional flying and forms the basis for a large number of aviation activities.

Holders of a CPL(A) may be used, for example, as commercial pilots in business aviation, sightseeing and charter companies, flight training or specialised tasks such as surveying, cargo or surveillance flights.

Depending on your personal goal, the CPL(A) is an entry into various career paths – both in general aviation and towards the airline. In the latter case, it often serves as an important milestone on the way to the ATPL, as it enables the acquisition of further qualifications and flight experience.

Areas in which CPL(A) pilots can act directly:

• Aerial photography & Survey flights

• Circular & Charter flights

• Pilot services for company aircraft of smaller classes

• Ferry Flights & Transfer flights

• Parachutist dropping operation

• Flight training operation as a flight instructor (with FI(A) license)

These jobs often serve as Experience-gathering phaseto build up flight hours for later destinations.

Many pilots use the CPL(A) as Intermediate step to ATPL (“Airline Transport Pilot Licence”).
Important: For a cockpit at the airline, the following package is usually required:

• CPL(A)

• ATPL theory

• Instrument Rating (IR)

• Multi-engine rating (MEP)

• MCC course

• Later on, Type rating (usually by the airline)

With these components, the so-called ‘frozen ATPL’, which with growing flight experience becomes a fully-fledged ATPL.

Career objectives:

• Co-pilot for scheduled airlines

• Copilot / later Captain at Cargo Airlines

• Pilot in Business & Company jet operators

• Pilot on charter, regional and holiday airlines