Qualifications & Training to Become an Airline Pilot

Canada’s Air Taxi operations represent the smallest size passenger and cargo-carrying operations. Medevac operations in Canada also fall under this category.

In these air carriers, small aircraft carry four to nine passengers, or their cargo equivalent, occasionally using only a single pilot. The Cessna 208, Beechcraft King Air, Piper Navajo, and Swearingen Metroliner II are examples of aircraft that fly air taxi operations.

The typical first officer candidate at these airlines has completed the requirements below but has yet to hold a pilot position previously.

First Officer Requirements for 703—Air Taxi Operations:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
• Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
• Have a Multi-Engine Rating if operating multi-engine aircraft
• Have an Instrument Rating if operating such flights
• Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams where a type rating is required
• An appropriate aircraft type rating, where required

Canada’s Commuter Operations includes passenger and cargo operations for aircraft that seat 10 to 19 passengers, almost exclusively with two pilots. The deHavlland Twin Otter, Beechcraft 1900, and Swearginen Metroliner 23 make up the backbone of Canada’s commuter operations.

A first officer candidate for these airlines typically has about a year of commercial flying experience (approx. 500 total hours) as either a flight instructor or 703—Air Taxi pilot, unless they’ve worked for the airline previously, where they may be hired with the basic licence requirements below, which are identical to the 703—Air Taxi requirements, except that the Instrument Rating and type rating requirements have, practically speaking, become mandatory:

First Officer Requirements for 704—Commuter Operations:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
• Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL)
• Have a Multi-Engine Rating if operating Multi Engine aircraft
• Have an Instrument Rating
• Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams
• An appropriate aircraft type rating, where required

Canada’s Airline Operations span a wide variety of companies and aircraft, ranging from the smaller Dash 8-100 series, accommodating 35 passengers, all the way to the Boeing 777-300ER carrying 450 passengers or more. Typically, a pilot candidate will reach an airline carrier as a second or third pilot job, though opportunities exist through pathway programs to achieve a first job at these airlines.

First Officer Requirements for 705—Airline Operations:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
• Have at least a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) or Frozen ATPL
• Have an Instrument Rating,
• Have completed the IATRA exam, or SAMRA and SARON exams

Regulatory requirements for captains in Canada are very straightforward. In 703—Air Taxi and 704—Commuter operations, there are no differences to the licencing requirements between first officer and captain. In the 705—Airline world, however, the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence is required:

Requirements for the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL), as outlined in CAR 421.34:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age
• Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
• Obtain a passing grade of 70% or greater in the SAMRA, SARON, and INRAT exams
• Hold valid Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings
• Meet the experience requirements outlined in CAR 421.34 (4)
  
  • 1,500 Hours of total flying experience, including:
    
    • 250 Hours Pilot In Command (PIC) time
      
      • 100 of these hours shall be obtained at night, and
      • 25 of the night hours shall be as PIC, during cross-country flights
    • 75 Hours of instrument time
    • At least 900 hours in aeroplanes

Captain Requirements for 705—Airline Operations:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age
• Hold a valid Category 1 medical certificate
• Have an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence