Pilot Licences
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Similar to driving licences, there are many different categories and classes of pilot licences which one can hold, with each category having different associated ratings, requirements and varying entitlements and abilities in the operation of aircrafts. In light of our target audience and for ease of understanding, Pilot Kaki will be focusing solely on flight crew licences in Singapore only.
In Singapore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is responsible in the issuing of flight crew licences, in which there are five categories. These are the definitions as set by CAAS:
Holding a CAAS licence would mean that you will only be allowed to operate Singapore-registered aircrafts, with the same rules applying with licences issued by the aviation authorities of other nations. It is possible to concurrently hold one or more licences in Singapore, with each licence entitling you different privileges in flying.
Military Licence
First mention goes out to the military pilots, even though a military pilot license technically doesn't exist. As military aviation operates vastly differently from civil aviation, there is no need for a pilot in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to obtain a valid license that their commercial counterparts require to operate an aircraft.
The privileges and entitlements in flying falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the RSAF, and not CAAS. This can be attributed to the extremely niche nature of military aviation, ranging from the type and nature of the aircrafts which the RSAF flies, to the unique and distinct nature of the flight missions. As a result, an RSAF pilot who is not holding a civil pilot license is essentially not a licensed pilot in civil aviation terms, and can only pilot aircrafts that are registered under the military.
It is common for military pilots to make a switch to commercial flying after leaving the RSAF, and in which case they would be required to obtain a valid flight crew license from CAAS, or other relevant authorities from the respective countries which they would be working in. There is a possibility in transferring the number of hours flown during their air force stint to the CAAS flight crew license, depending on the type of aircraft operated in the RSAF, which may lead to an expedited process in the obtaining of the civil license.
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Student Pilot Licence (SPL)
Definition
Allows you to fly a Singapore-registered aircraft under the supervision or authority of a CAAS-approved flying instructor. It also allows you to carry out flying activities while undergoing flying training to attain higher classes of pilot licences.
Requirements
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Class 2 Medical License
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At least 16 years old
Description
The name Student Pilot Licence (SPL) by itself is probably already self-explanatory, in which it is a license granted to trainee pilots who are embarking on their flying journey. It is the flying equivalent of the provisional driving licence, whereby it is technically a licence without any privileges or benefits.
Fun fact - there is a minimum age requirement of 16 years old, which is surprisingly younger than the legal age of driving in Singapore.
As the purpose of obtaining the SPL is supposedly to train student pilots, there is also no requirement needed for any sort of flying experience or completion of the knowledge examinations administered by CAAS for the initial issuance or renewal of a SPL.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
Definition
Allows you to fly as a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) or co-pilot of a Singapore-registered aircraft (not operated for hire and reward), for the aircraft types or groups as endorsed in your licence.
Requirements
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Class 2 Medical License
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At least 17 years old
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Able to speak and understand English used for radio-telephony communications
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Pass theoretical knowledge examinations at PPL level
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Complete approved flight training programme that meets minimum flying experience requirements
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Pass flight test
Description
The Private Pilot Licence (PPL) is arguably the most basic flight crew licence available for endorsement, aside from the SPL. It is commonly pursued by people who have an interest in and would like to have a taste of flying.
Holding a PPL would allow you to operate an aircraft for leisure purposes only. This can refer to renting an aircraft for a couple of hours to go for a joyride with your family or friends, or even crossing the borders to Malacca just for lunch before heading back home (with the appropriate clearances, of course).
There are programmes in Singapore which lead to the eventual award of the PPL. One popular programme is the Singapore Youth Flying Club, which allows high school students to undergo flight training, with the carrot at the end of the course being a CAAS PPL. The other well-known programme would be the cadet pilot programmes for both Singapore Airlines and Scoot, in which cadets will be subjected to a PPL test during the latter stages of their training in Jandakot, Australia.
It is also possible to obtain a PPL through your own financial means at select aviation clubs in Singapore, although the substantial costs may be a prohibitive or stumbling block for certain individuals. This have hence led to a large number of aspiring pilots or flight hobbyists to pursue a PPL overseas at lower costs, with Australia and the USA being popular options.
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Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
Definition
Allows you to fly as a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) of a single-crew aircraft or co-pilot of a multi-crew aircraft of a Singapore-registered aircraft for the aircraft types as endorsed in the licence – for the purpose of public transport and aerial work.
Requirements
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Class 1 Medical License
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At least 18 years old
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Able to speak and understand English used for radio-telephony communications
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Pass theoretical knowledge examinations at CPL or ATPL level
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Complete approved flight training programme that meets minimum flying experience requirements
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Pass flight test
Description
The Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) is the flight crew licence that is minimally required to operate an aircraft in return for remuneration, or basically to work for an airline in Singapore.
Should a candidate not be sponsored by a local airline, the CPL is the only available licence option for the training programme. A CPL candidate will be required to fly a minimal of 200 hours on training aircrafts, and undergo a CPL flight test by a qualified examiner.
It should be noted that having a CPL usually broadly mean that the pilot is qualified to only fly single engine aircrafts. A multi-engine rating will be required to operate aircrafts with two or more engines and a pilot with a CPL and the multi-engine rating would thus be acknowledged as holding a CPL-ME licence. A CPL-ME licence is what most candidates will strive to have in order to fly commercially as the vast majority of airlines operate aircrafts with minimally twin engines.
The CPL technically has its own set of theoretical knowledge examinations, but are less comprehensive than those set for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). As a result, choosing to take the CPL papers would only give an individual the privilege to operate in the capacity of a co-pilot and would be required to sit for the ATPL papers further down the road in order to become a commander.
However, this can be avoided if the candidate opts to take the ATPL examinations at the beginning in place of the CPL papers, and which is more commonly practiced in recent times. This would award the candidate a frozen ATPL licence alongside the CPL.
To move on from the CPL and 'un-freeze' the ATPL, the candidate will be required to have the following:
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Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
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Passed all ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations
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1,500 hours
In countries outside of Singapore, say Australia or the USA, the obtaining of a CPL is always the first step in becoming a potential airline pilot. It is common for candidates who have successfully obtained their CPL to start off as flight instructors at flying schools to clock up their hours, before eventually making the jump to the airlines.
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Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)
Definition
Allows you to fly as a Pilot-In-Command or co-pilot of a Singapore-registered aircraft, for the aircraft types or groups as endorsed in the licence. You may also fly as a co-pilot for public transport or aerial work, if you meet certain regulatory and licensing requirements.
Requirements
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Class 1 Medical License
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At least 18 years old
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Able to speak and understand English used for radio-telephony communications
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Pass theoretical knowledge examinations at ATPL level
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Complete approved flight training programme that meets minimum flying experience requirements
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Pass flight test
Description
The Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) is a very niche flight crew licence that is only available for candidates who are sponsored by airlines who have met the stringent requirements in carrying out the MPL training programme by their respective aviation authorities. For the local context, Singapore Airlines and Scoot have the green light from CAAS to offer the MPL programme to their sponsored cadets.
The MPL was only adopted recently in 2006 by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and which focuses on ab-initio airline pilot training. The training is meant to be emphasise operations in a multi-crew environment and threat and error management right from the outset.
Based on CAAS' requirements, an MPL candidate will be required to fly a minimal of 80 hours on training aircrafts, and will be subjected to various flight tests at specific stages of the programme. Should you wish to know more about the MPL training programme, you may refer to the Cadet Experience as faced by SIA and Scoot cadets.
MPL candidates are required to sit for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theoretical knowledge examinations and are not allowed to sit for the CPL equivalent. Similarly, upon graduating from the MPL training programme, they will be awarded with a frozen ATPL licence alongside the MPL.
As the MPL training programme is airline-specific and only specific airlines are approved by the relevant authorities to conduct such training, candidates with a valid MPL will only be able to fly for the airline sponsoring their training until the frozen ATPL have been 'un-frozen'.
To move on from the MPL and 'un-freeze' the ATPL, the candidate will be required to have the following:
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Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)
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Passed all ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations
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1,500 hours
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Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Definition
Allows you fly as a Pilot-In-Command of a Singapore-registered multi-crew aircraft for the aircraft types as endorsed in the licence – for the purpose of public transport and aerial work.
Requirements
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Class 1 Medical License
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At least 21 years old
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Able to speak and understand English used for radio-telephony communications
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Pass theoretical knowledge examinations at ATPL level
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Complete approved flight training programme that meets minimum flying experience requirements
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Meet minimum flying experience requirements
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Qualify for multi-crew aircraft rating endorsed in licence
Description
The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) can be said to be the crown jewel of all flight crew licences. It is the only licence that allows the operation of multi-crew aircraft in the capacity of the Pilot-In-Command (PIC). To be eligible for command upgrade in multi-crew aircraft operations, a pilot must possess a valid ATPL and is thus the minimum or eventual requirement set by most airlines.
It is possible to convert an existing CPL or MPL and 'un-freeze' an ATPL, but the candidate will be required to have the following:
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Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)
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Passed all ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations
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1,500 hours
If all conditions are met except the flight hours requirement of 1,500 hours, the pilot can be referred to as holding a 'frozen' ATPL.
The ATPL is an internationally recognised licence and endorsed by numerous major aviation authorities around the globe. Possessing an ATPL will generally allow pilots the freedom to fly for various airlines in different countries just by doing a conversion of the ATPL. In order to convert an ATPL from one authority to another between countries, pilots will only need to retake specific theoretical knowledge examinations and pass the medical test as set by the country.
Due to the perceived ease of switching carriers, airline who sponsor cadets in the obtaining of an ATPL will typically subject them to a training bond for a set number of years in a move to justify their 'investments' in the training costs and prevent attrition once the pilot has obtained the ATPL.
Conclusion
Different flight crew licences apply for distinct flight objectives, and also for the various stages of flight training. Should you be a general hobbyist or aspiring pilot trying to find out more about the beauty of flight, a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) would more than suffice and feed your interests. However, if you are seriously considering a career as a pilot in an airline, you will obtain either a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) with the goal of achieving the pinnacle of an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) subsequently during your career.
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