If you’re hoping to become a pilot, it’s likely that you’re doing lots of research on the best countries to carry out your pilot training in.
You may be torn whether to stay at home or study abroad, and you’re also likely wondering where the best schools are.
We’ll be discussing all this, and more, in this article.
So, which country is best for pilot training?
U.S.
As the birthplace of aviation, it’s only right that the U.S. features at the top of our list, with its prestigious flight schools such as Epic Flight Academy and San Diego Flight Training International (SDFTI).
United Kingdom
The U.K. is also an obvious choice. It’s home to the over 100-year-old Royal Air Force, has a rich aviation history, and some of the best flight schools in the world.
Greece
Greece offers warm weather and is home to the Global Flight Academy - the oldest pilot training program in Greece.
Philippines
The Philippines offers world-class facilities and light traffic density combined with an optimal aviation climate for disruption-free flying - perfect while you’re getting your license. In general, aviation is booming in South East Asia.
Spain
Spain offers FLYBYSCHOOL located in Leon, Spain on an ILS Category 1 airport and the other great thing about this location is that you can easily reach the major European hubs - London, Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid - either by high-speed train or flight.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has a comprehensive and intensive pilot training program, and the AIS Flight Academy also offers free visa support for international students.
Kenya
Home to the Kenya School of Flying, this prestigious academy boasts Africa’s first Redbird FMX - a state-of-the-art, twin-engine, full-motion and full-vision simulator.
Maldives
You’ll find the Asian Academy of Aeronautics on the southernmost atoll in the Maldives archipelago, and this school is not only located against a breathtaking setting, but you can choose from a range of courses, including the Flight Instructor Course (FIC), Private Pilot’s License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License.
Sri Lanka
As Sri Lanka’s only flying school, the Asian Aviation Centre (formerly CDE Aviation), is a superb one - offering approved multi-engine rating training.
It’s no surprise that the school’s graduates go on to work in countries such as the UK, USA, Middle East, Australia, and the Maldives.
What is the best flight school?
All of the countries above feature a range of prominent flight schools and any of these would be a great choice. There are also several that are not on this list.
Different sites are going to have different opinions when it comes to which school is the best, as they’ll consider different aspects - from student satisfaction to job prospects and the academic ranking of the school.
According to the Aviation Voice, Lufthansa Aviation Training is the highest-ranking flight school, followed by the CAE, BAA Training, ATP Flight School, and the Ethiopian Airlines Aviation Academy.
You can see Aviation Voice’s full list of top-rated schools, here.
Where is the best place to be a pilot?
If you’re thinking ahead to where you might want to be based once you’re a qualified pilot, the following countries and regions are the best places to live and work as a pilot:
The Middle East
The Middle East is one of the most luxurious regions to be a pilot in, especially given the fact that it’s equally as dominant in the business world.
Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways offer some of the highest quality services and are continually striving to be the best.
East Asia
Aviation is booming in East Asia, particularly in countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. These airlines also offer high standards of service, seen in the likes of China’s Hainan Airlines and Japan’s All Nippon Airways. Pilots in these countries also gain great contract terms due to the shortage of pilots in the region.
South East Asia
Singapore Airlines is synonymous with luxury air travel, and there’s also Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, EVA Air, and one of the world’s Airbus A380 operators - Thai Airways - all based in South East Asia.
Which country is best for commercial pilot training?
When it comes to training to become a commercial pilot, all of the schools and countries we mentioned above are great places to do this program.
As we said, it’s not only about the best-ranking schools, but also the location of the schools, and the cost of the course, too. CAE offers locations all over the world for the ATPL course - from Oxford to Arizona.
Most schools offer programs in multiple locations, and one thing to bear in mind is that it’s a great idea if you can train in a region where there is a high demand for pilots - such as South East Asia.
