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Last updated: April 2026
Becoming a commercial pilot is one of the most rewarding career decisions you can make, but it also raises a lot of questions before you start.
Below you’ll find honest, specific answers to the most common questions about pilot requirements, based on EASA regulations that apply across all 27 EU member states. If you’d like to talk through your personal situation, our admissions team is available for any doubts you have.
What is the minimum age to become a pilot?
Under EASA regulations, you must be at least 18 years old to be issued a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). You can begin ATPL ground school studies at 17 with parental authorisation.
Is there a maximum age to become a pilot?
There is no maximum age to begin pilot training under EASA regulations.
Many successful pilots have started their training in their 30s and 40s and gone on to full airline careers.
The mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots in Europe is 65.
As a practical guide, starting before your mid-40s gives you a longer active career to recoup the training investment, but it is not a regulatory limit.
Quality Fly currently trains students ranging from 18 to their 40s.
What English level do you need to become a pilot?
ICAO Level 4 is the regulatory minimum required for the issuance of your licence and to fly commercially. However, most European airlines require Level 5 or 6 for employment.
“At Quality Fly, 100% of the pilot training is performed in English, the only school in Madrid to do so.”
At Quality Fly, 100% of training is conducted in English — which actively develops your aviation English throughout the 20-month programme rather than treating it as a one-off prerequisite. Use our free English self-assessment to check your current level. You should be scoring at least 80% before applying.
Do you need a university degree to become a pilot?
No. A secondary education diploma, such as A-Level, Bachillerato or equivalent, is all that EASA regulations require to begin commercial pilot training. No university degree is necessary. That said, a background in maths and physics is a practical advantage, since ATPL theory covers subjects including aerodynamics, meteorology, and navigation.
Quality Fly’s free Maths & Physics self-assessment lets you benchmark your level before applying. You should be getting more than 80% to apply.
Do you need to be good at maths to become a pilot?
A solid foundation in maths is genuinely helpful. The 13 ATPL theory subjects include Navigation, Flight Planning, Performance, Mass & Balance, and Meteorology — all of which require mathematical reasoning. You do not need to be a mathematician, but you should be comfortable with arithmetic, basic algebra, and unit conversions.
Quality Fly’s free Maths & Physics self-assessment is calibrated to the standard required for ATPL study — use it to assess where you stand before applying.
How many exams do you need to pass to become a pilot?
Under EASA regulations, you must pass 13 ATPL theoretical knowledge examinations at an official examining authority. The pass mark for each exam is 75%. You have a maximum of 4 attempts per subject, and all 13 exams must be passed within an 18-month sitting period. At Quality Fly, our specialist ground school delivers a +95% first-time pass rate on official EASA ATPL examinations.
What medical certificate do you need to become a pilot?
Commercial pilots require an EASA Class 1 Medical Certificate, issued by an AESA-approved Aeronautical Medical Centre (AMC).
The examination covers vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, lung function, and a general physical assessment, which typically takes half a day.
The Class 1 medical is valid for 12 months if you are under 40, and 6 months if you are 40 or over.
Get your medical before committing to any training programme — approximately 3–5% of applicants are deferred or denied.
Quality Fly students benefit from a preferential rate at our partner medical centre in Madrid, with a full refund of deposit given if the medical is failed.
Full details: EASA Class 1 Medical.
Can you become a pilot if you wear glasses or contact lenses?
Yes.
Vision correction is permitted under EASA Class 1 medical standards, provided your corrected vision meets the required thresholds.
Both glasses and contact lenses are accepted.
The exact limits are assessed during your medical examination by an authorised examiner. If you have any concerns about your vision, it is worth getting a pre-medical assessment before committing to training.
Quality Fly’s admissions team can refer you to our partner medical centre in Madrid for an initial assessment.
You can also find out more in EASA’s easy access rules.
How long does it take to become a commercial pilot?
On the integrated route, Quality Fly’s programme takes 20 months from zero experience to a frozen ATPL with APS MCC, the fastest and most direct path to an airline cockpit.
On the modular route, completing all phases typically takes 3 to 5 years depending on how quickly you progress between modules and how long gaps between phases are.
The integrated route is faster because training is continuous and skills are never left to deteriorate between phases.
How much does it cost to become a pilot in Europe?
Total costs vary significantly by route and country.
In Spain, pilot training costs range from approximately €80,000 to €167,000 depending on the pathway chosen.
Quality Fly’s 2027 Integrated ATPL Programme costs €96,000 all-inclusive covering all flight phases, 13 ATPL exam preparation, APS MCC with 40 hours in an A320 Full Flight Simulator Level D, UPRT, gliding, and career coaching, with no hidden extras.
Spanish residents can access financing of up to €150,000 through Quality Fly’s CaixaBank partnership. Swedish residents can use CSN government funding — Quality Fly is registered with the Swedish student finance authority.
Full details: Price & Payment.
What is the difference between EASA and FAA pilot licences?
EASA governs pilot licensing across all 27 EU member states. FAA governs licensing in the United States.
They are not mutually recognised. An FAA licence requires a full conversion process to work as a pilot in Europe, and vice versa.
One critical practical difference: under EASA, an integrated ATPL graduate can fly as a First Officer with just 205 flight hours, whereas the FAA requires a minimum of 1,500 hours to work as a First Officer at a US airline.
For anyone targeting a worldwide airline career, EASA training is the unambiguous choice as it is the licence that carries the most weight in the world. Full comparison: EASA vs FAA licence →
What personality traits and soft skills do pilots need?
Airlines assess candidates on non-technical competencies as rigorously as on flying ability.
The core traits that matter are:
- Situational awareness (processing multiple inputs simultaneously under pressure)
- Decision-making (choosing the right action quickly and confidently)
- Communication (precise, unambiguous language in the cockpit and with ATC)
- Crew resource management (working effectively as part of a two-pilot team)
- Resilience (performing to a high standard under stress or in unexpected situations).
Quality Fly’s APS MCC phase, conducted in an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 Full Flight Simulator Level D, is specifically designed to develop and assess these competencies in a realistic airline environment before you face them in an actual assessment day.
How does Quality Fly’s Integrated ATPL Programme meet all these requirements?
Quality Fly’s 20-month Integrated ATPL Programme is designed to meet and exceed every EASA regulatory requirement for commercial pilot certification, in a single all-inclusive course at our Madrid campus:
- Age: Open from 17 (theory) and 18 (flying phases)
- English: 100% English training throughout; free pre-admission assessment available
- Medical: Partner AMC in Madrid with preferential rates for Quality Fly students; EASA Class 1 required before course start
- Qualifications: Secondary education sufficient; free Maths & Physics assessment available
- ATPL exams: All 13 subjects covered by specialist teachers in our theory before flight structure; +95% first-time official pass rate
- Flight training: 210 hours covering all EASA requirements including UPRT, night flying, and multi-engine
- Gliding: Included as standard — unique among European integrated schools
- APS MCC: 40 hours in an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 Full Flight Simulator Level D — the highest certification level of simulator available. You will also fly with current airline Captains.
- Cost for 2027: €96,000 all-inclusive; CaixaBank financing up to €150,000 for Spanish residents; CSN eligible for Swedish students
- Nationality: Open to 45+ nationalities; all training in English
Explore the full Integrated ATPL Programme → Book your place at the next Open Day →
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