Let me educate you a little bit about what Grade 10 subjects needed in order to become a pilot in South Africa.
Many people just assume that to become a pilot, you will specifically need to have mathematics and science subjects. Well, that’s not a reality.
Will you be shocked if i tell you that there are no specific subject choice required or needed to study courses that qualify you as a pilot? Yes, thats true. Many aviation schools, including the Flight Training College, that we have researched in South Africa, do not have a set of Grade 12 subject requirements, in stead, they simply require you to:
- Be medically fit – a medical certificate will be required
- Be 17 years and above
- Be a South African Citizen
- Be good in English
Before you get too excited, many aviation schools would recommend student to be able to understand the basics of physics, know how to read geographical maps, and be good with numbers. Therefore, if you are a Grade 10 student who wants to become a pilot, you should have the following recommended subjects that will make your career journey a little bit easy:
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy – to understand the numbers and aviation calculations
- Geography – to understand maps and weather patterns
- Physical Sciences – to understand the basics of aviation and motion laws.
- English – to be able to communicate with the crew members and passengers (when needed)
Unlike typical universities and colleges, aviation schools believe in training you until you become a qualified pilot. Even if you didn’t do mathematics and science subjects in high school, most aviation schools will train you practically and theoretically using their our curriculum which will make you a pilot.
However, don’t get fooled – pilot exams are hard. At least thats what many pilot students say. In order to pass pilot exams, you will need to pass with 75%.
Types of Pilot Licence and Requirements
There are two types of pilot licences, which are Private Pilot Licence, and Commercial Pilot Licences. The requirements for each type of licence are different. Let’s look at what is required below:
| Category | Private Pilot Licence (PPL) | Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Fly for personal or recreational use | Fly commercially (paid work) |
| Requirements | Medical exam, 17–18+ years old, English proficiency | 200+ flying hours, radio licence, theoretical exams |
| Training | Theoretical + practical flight training | Theoretical + practical flight training |
| Typical Timeline | 6–8 months | 12–18 months |
| Benefits | Fly single-engine planes for fun or travel | Earn income flying, travel professionally |
Schools to Study Towards Becoming a Pilot in South Africa
Eastern Cape:
Gauteng:
KwaZulu-Natal:
Western Cape: