• International Airline Pilot Training Program
• Integrated ATPL
• Modular ATPL theory
• Modular Practical Trainings
• Multi-Crew Coordination
• Instructor training
• Private Pilot training
• Registration

International Airline Pilot Training Program

The International Airline Pilot Training Program is an ab-initio flight training course offered by Ben-Air Flight Academy in cooperation with FlightSafety International in Florida. This training aims to train students without any flying experience in one continuous cycle to become skilled professional pilots with the necessary qualifications for a position as “First Officer” (Co-pilot) in commercial aviation. This high intensity training is to be completed in about 20 months, the first part of the flight training will be conducted from Vero Beach (KVRB) in Florida (USA).

Candidates

This course aims to attract students who have recently graduated from high school or higher education and who aspire becoming an airline pilot. Also for older students (with or without work experience) who are seeking a new professional challenge in aviation this is an interesting training. This course is designed with the primary objective of training high quality pilots at the highest speed: from zero to airline pilot in just 20 months.

Prerequisites

The student should be at least 17 years old at the start of the course, and preferably not older than 32 years old, exceptions can be made. The student should hold at least a high school diploma (Belgian or foreign), preferably with the emphasis on mathematics and science. The student should prove a sufficient knowledge of the English language. All competences will be checked during a selection process. Previous flight experience is not required.

Selection process and registration

1. The candidate has to pass the following individual selection process, for time efficiency international students can perform these three tests on a single day:

• COMPASS-test: this test determines the student's aptitude to spatial orientation, multi-tasking, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination. Also his/hers knowledge of English, mathematics and physics will be tested.

• Simulator check ride: seeking for a positive learning curve and quick adaption/assimilation we will check the student during a short test flight on one of our simulators.

• Personal interview: during the personal interview our CEO and the HoT (Head of Training or one of his deputies) will find out more about the student's motivation and personal attitude. This is the ideal time to discuss your last concerns or pose your final questions regarding your training.

2. Upon successfully passing the selection process the student can be officially accepted into the training, after signing the training agreement.

3. With the aid of BAFA and Flight Safety international we start the process to obtain an American visa and to complete all the official documents.

 4. Passing the TOEFL test, where the knowledge of English as a foreign language is tested. (can also be done earlier)

 5. Passing the medical tests to obtain a FAA-class 2 & JAA-class 1 medical certificate. (can also be done earlier)

To be allowed into the United States of America a student needs to hold a M-1 visa, the procedure to obtain this visa can take up to six weeks. BAFA will help you with this lengthy administrative process.

Course Overview

The full course will be conducted as a uninterrupted modular training program, taking between 18 and 20 months to complete.

During the first week at BAFA Antwerp, an introduction on the PPL part will be given and there will be time to complete the final paper work for the flight training in the USA.

After the introduction week the student will set off for Vero Beach, Florida. There we work together with our flight training partner FlightSafety International, a well-known flight school having trained over 13.000 pilots over the last 45 years. At the moment FlightSafety International employs more than 4.000 people worldwide.

The Private Pilot License training consists of a theoretical and a practical section, both will be completed at Vero Beach. The full training including individual time building up to approximately 75hrs of totale flight time will take 16 weeks. After this you will possess an American FAA-PPL license.

Upon your return to Belgium the FAA-PPL license will be used as a basis to obtain the European JAA-PPL license. This will take approximately three weeks (10hrs of additional flight training + 1,5hrs of skill test).

Subsequently the theoretical ATPL course will commence, the lessons times and study methods have been optimized so that it should be completed within six months. The course is conducted according to the JAR-regulations with at least 750hrs of teaching, both class room teaching and a larger part on CBT "Computer Based Training". The subjects are divided into two blocks:

The CBT lessons can be completed from any internet equipped computer worldwide. Classroom teachings are organized in Antwerp, Belgium (Antwerp Airport - EBAW). After successful completion of the internal exams you will be allowed to attend the official theoretical exams at the Belgian CAA in Brussels. These exams are to be completed in at least two blocks (as explained above).

After passing all the theoretical exams the training will continue with the following training modules: IR (Instrument Rating), CPL (Commercial Pilot License) and the ME (Multi-Engine). These modules are completed on our modern fleet of full glass cockpit Piper Warriors & Seminoles, and our two FNPTII-simulators, all according to the JAR-regulations. The course ends with the MCC course (Multi Crew Coordination) on our Boeing 737 FNPTII/MCC simulator.

Start of the training program

The International Airline Pilot Training Program starts twice a year at the end of August and half way January. Registering for the training program can be done up to approximately six weeks before the course, this is to ensure enough time to arrange the American M-1 Visa.
The exact starting dates can be found in the online calendar on this website or on request via the BAFA secretary. The duration of the full course is only 20 months!

First upcoming start date: August 27th 2011

Rates & Payments

The rate for the course as described above is € 86.500,- including VAT. Included are flight tickets to and from the US, student accommodation at Vero Beach, all theoretical and practical training, all theoretical and practical exams (both in the USA and in Belgium, except retakes!), all the necessary study equipment such as books, TM’s (Training Manuals), AOM’s (Aircraft Operation Manuals), a complete set of charts for both VFR and IFR (Jeppesen) and all the software licenses for the CBT section, a TPS-2 navigation computer and your uniform.

This price has been determined with fuel prices being at a maximum of € 1,90 per liter without VAT. When fuel prices increase by over 5%, students will receive a quarterly fuel surcharge calculated on hours flown. Also unexpected increases in other variables such as insurances, government taxes or other costs following legal obligations can be charged separately. 

Not included in the course price are possible fuel surcharges, possible retakes, passenger and landing charges (included in the US), meals in the US, accommodation, meals and transport in Belgium.

For the total amount of € 86.500,- we have designed the following payment plan:

At the end of the course BAFA administration will make a final bill which includes hours that have been flown more/less. Course completion documents are only handed over after complete payment has been arranged for.

Foreign students

Foreign students need to ensure that they have the right to live and study in the kingdom of Belgium for the full duration of the course. This right can be obtained through the belgian embassy or consulate only! As stated before BAFA will assist in obtaining the American visa.

Modes of financing

There are modes to help financing the training, although BAFA currently only has connections to assist Belgian or Dutch students. For these students KBC and BNP Paribas Fortis have developed individual loans to help with the financial aspect of a pilot license course. Contact BAFA for more information via +32 3 280 47 00 or via info@bafa.be 

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