How to Become a Pilot in Nigeria

Do you have an interest in learning how to become a pilot in Nigeria, and do you want more information about the required courses and costs? If you read this page carefully and follow the steps outlined in it, you should be able to successfully complete your pilot training.

Learning to fly an aeroplane, whether it be a private jet or a commercial airliner, is one of the tasks required to become a pilot, and it is also one of the professions that requires the least amount of difficulty.

Being in control of an aircraft, which encompasses the cabin crew, cargo, and passengers you’re taking to wherever you’re going, is the most challenging part of becoming a pilot. This includes the fact that you are responsible for their safety.

You absolutely must be aware of the fact that the primary responsibility for the lives and safety of everyone on board rests with the pilot.

In addition, this real-life scenario is not nearly as straightforward as it may appear to be to the majority of people, who have only seen pilots in action shown in films. This goes against conventional wisdom.

Let’s go into all the important information and training that you need to consider when making that unique idea a reality, shall we?

Who Is a Pilot?

An individual in any aviation company, whether it be commercial, private, or military training, who is qualified to operate an aircraft for the purpose of transporting people, goods, or military personnel are referred to as a pilot. Pilots can be found in commercial aviation, private aviation, or military training programs.

How to become a pilot in Nigeria and the processes involved

The majority of the time, pilots are used.

In Nigeria, government institutions, private corporations, and commercial airlines are the most common types of organizations that hire pilots.

If you are successful in completing your flight training and becoming a licensed pilot, then you will be eligible for employment with any of the leading regional airlines in Nigeria.

The majority of private pilots in Nigeria are either self-employed or supply their services to individuals in Nigeria who own private jets and use them as a mode of transportation.

The aviation business is a fairly vast one, and as a result, there are a lot of job opportunities in Nigeria, both in the commercial and public sectors of the industry.

There are additional career opportunities available in the military, where pilots are needed to transport soldiers, other military people, equipment, or supplies on behalf of the government.

Pilots in the military are responsible for flying combat aircraft, such as fighter planes, bombers, and helicopters, as well as conducting reconnaissance.

Other responsibilities of a Pilot include the following:

• Additionally, they are responsible for transporting members of the military to conflict zones.
• They deliver private things, business products, and various other forms of cargo to the specified locations.
• They are responsible for delivering customers for either professional or personal reasons.
• Before taking off, pilots look at the forecast and double verify their flight plans.
• In addition to this, they carry out pre-flight inspections and check the flight logs just before takeoff.

During the duration of a flight, the pilots are accountable for ensuring the well-being of the entire crew as well as the passengers.

How One Can Meet the Prerequisites to Become a Pilot in Nigeria

Students in Nigeria who have dreams of one day taking to the skies must be aware that becoming a pilot involves fulfilling a long list of qualifications before they can begin their training.

It is impossible for you to fulfil that long-held goal of flying if you do not first fulfil these prerequisites. But you have nothing to worry about because this article will walk you through all that you need to know.

The following is a list of prerequisites that you need to fulfil before you may become a pilot:

• You need to be at least 18 years old to participate: This is the minimum age required for entry into any of the aviation schools in Nigeria, which must be reached before a person can be hired in the industry.
• You must be completely proficient in the native languages in addition to English: To put it simply, English is the language used in all official communications in Nigeria. It is necessary for you to not only be able to speak English fluently but also accurately.
• You are required to obtain a certificate of completion from secondary school with a minimum of five credits, which must include at least one of the following: mathematics, English, physics, geography, or any other science topic.
• You need to have a degree from an accredited university, which is not required but will increase your chances of finding employment.
• You are required to have a Certificate of Commercial Pilotage: This is the last condition that must be met before you will be considered for employment by any airline in Nigeria.

Qualification for the Pilot Course

It is necessary to hold a commercial pilot certificate in order to work as a professional pilot in Nigeria and fly aeroplanes.

The qualifications necessary to fly for Nigerian airlines are listed below:

1. You have to enrol in one of the best aviation schools in Nigeria in order to earn your commercial pilot certificate. This is a requirement.
2. It is important to be aware that aviation schools typically demand extremely hefty tuition fees, which can be anywhere from N5-7 million.
3. The reason for this is typically due to the fact that the course is a practical intense course in which you will be required to either drive test planes or participate in a simulation.
4. You can receive training in a variety of aviation courses by enrolling in any one of these aviation schools, such as the Private Pilot License course, the Instrument Rating course, the Multi-Engine Rating course, the Night Rating course, and so on.
5. In addition to these classes, you will also have to complete training in order to become qualified to pilot an aircraft. This training may involve simulations or actual test flights.
6. In order to become a licensed pilot, you will need to demonstrate that you have done very well on all of the required quizzes and examinations, in addition, to having flown for at least 40 hours without incident.
7. After that, you will be granted a license for private piloting.
8. You need to successfully complete the required 1,500 flying hours in order to be eligible for a commercial pilot license.
9. You need to have a minimum of 4,000 hours of flight training under your belt in order to be eligible for employment with any airline firm in Nigeria.
10. Additionally, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA is the body that bestows upon you this license once your training has been successfully completed.
11. Those who are interested in learning how to become a pilot in Nigeria, more specifically for the Nigerian airforce, should just enrol in the Nigerian Defense Academy. This is the only requirement (NDA).
12. Once you are accepted into this school, things tend to get simpler from then on out, despite the fact that admittance into this institution is typically highly difficult due to stringent screening standards that may encompass your physical attributes in addition to your cerebral abilities.
13. As a result of the involvement of the government, the cost of education for Military Pilot Training is far more affordable when compared to Commercial Pilot Training.
14. It’s interesting to note that at the same time as some people are eager to learn how to pilot a plane, others are enrolling in driving schools to acquire the skills necessary to operate a motor vehicle.

What Is Pilot Type Rating?

Obtaining a Pilot Type Rating is analogous to earning a driver’s license that allows you to operate any type of aircraft.

The process is frequently compared to that of obtaining a driver’s license in order to provide a clearer explanation.

Let’s say getting your driver’s license only gave you the right to drive automobiles in general, and that after you got your license, you still had to earn something called a “type rating” in order to be able to drive a certain type of car, let’s say, Nissan. This would be a fun thought experiment (if that is the car you are going to drive).

However, with this “type rating,” you would only be permitted to drive Volvos. If you wanted to drive a BMW or a Ford, you would need to obtain a different “type rating.” That is the way that type ratings for pilots are determined!

To put it another way, once you have attained the certifications and ratings necessary to apply for jobs as a First Officer, you will be able to fly ANY aircraft. This is because you will be able to fly ANY aircraft. All that is required of you initially is to earn a type rating on the specific aircraft in question.

Relevance of Pilot Schools in Nigeria 

Pilot schools in Nigeria help to train experienced pilots, who then assist in the transportation of passengers both inside Nigeria and to other nations.

By conducting business with several other international organizations, Nigeria’s Pilot Schools help to boost the country’s foreign exchange trading.

An Outline of the Pilot’s Wage Structure in Nigeria

It is reasonable to assume that someone who is particularly interested in learning how to become a pilot in Nigeria will also have an interest in the benefits that come with holding that position.

One possible explanation for this is that the cost of education is prohibitively expensive in Nigeria.

Someone who has recently graduated from a Nigerian aviation school and holds a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) but does not have a Type Rating can find it challenging to find work in Nigeria.

If the airline wants to send you on training to earn your type rating, it is conceivable for them to do so, despite the low likelihood of it happening.

The average monthly salary for a Commercial Pilot license holder in Nigeria without a type rating is between N250,000 and N500,000, whereas a Commercial Pilot license holder with a type rating can make up to N800,000 per month depending on the airline and the amount of experience they have.

The amount of money that a Nigerian pilot who is also a Captain makes each month also depends on the airline that they work for and can reach up to N1.5 million if they are the authority of the aircraft.

Earnings for local airline captains can reach up to N1.2 million per month, while earnings for international airline captains can approach N2 million per monmont

Summary of the Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Nigerian Pilot 

Do you believe that you, as a student, are up to the challenge of becoming the pilot of your dreams, especially considering the fact that you are a student?

If that is the case, then you will find this article on how to become a pilot in Nigeria to be an enlightening guide that will help you get there.

There is a great deal that can be learned through the training courses that you are going to enrol in, just like there is through any other type of educational program.

To realize that priceless dream of yours will require diligent study, focused attention, and unwavering determination.

We are aware that you find this to be an interesting line of work, and as a result, we are confident that you have the drive to complete all of the necessary training in order to become a pilot.

The more you study the courses, the better your chances are of passing the class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of pilot commands the highest salary overall?

The salaries of pilots working for major airlines are significantly higher than those working for regional airlines. According to a survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2020, the annual earnings of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can range anywhere from less than $80,920 to more than $208,000, with the richest 10 per cent earning more than the latter amount.

How Many Different Kinds of Pilots are There to Choose From?

Pilots come in a wide variety of specializations, including Helicopter Pilots, Commercial Pilots, Military Pilots, and others. Candidates need to have passed their Class 12 board exams with a necessary subject combination of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in order to be qualified to become a Pilot. Failing to do so will disqualify them from becoming a Pilot.

Which Nation Offers the Most Affordable Options for Pilot Training?

The Philippines, which is one of the countries in the world with one of the lowest costs for obtaining a pilot’s license, charges between 9 and 10 crore rupees. The cost of training at one of Australia’s many academies ranges between 16 and 18 lakh Australian dollars.

How Many Years of Schooling are Required to Earn a Pilot’s License?

Becoming a pilot should ideally take no longer than three to four years, which is the amount of time required to earn a Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Because receiving an education is beneficial to maintaining a consistent level of training, it is recommended that you postpone the beginning of your journey until you are enrolled in an accredited institution such as LETU.