How to Become a Pilot in Panama in 2024

You need to know what pilot training programs are being offered in the country and which among those is the most suitable for you. This is where you should take into account what your aviation goal is. Do you want to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) or a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)? Are you seeking to work for an airline? If yes, then an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) is for you. Do you aim to attain a college degree at the same time too? Or do you see yourself joining the military, particularly the Air Force? 

Did we lose you? Don’t panic! If you’re not familiar with the terms or can’t choose which license is right for you, you can send in your questions and our team will be happy to help you out.

Here are your options

• Flight School

There are only two (2) flight schools in Panama. Should you consider doing your pilot training abroad, it is important that you create a list of your preferred flight school/s so you can compare which is fitting for you. Each school has its own procedures, enrollment requirements, and depending on which pilot training courses you decide to take, the tuition fee also varies. 

• Aviation-related college degree program

However, if you’re interested in obtaining a college degree accompanied with flight training, you should consider aviation-related college degree programs. These programs allow students to combine a college degree with flight training. With this kind of program, you will earn a college degree together with a pilot license such as Commercial Pilot License (CPL) in most cases. This will give you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds.

• Airline cadet pilot program

Meanwhile, if your greatest childhood dream is to become an airline pilot, you should consider airline cadet pilot programs. Airlines often sponsor these programs and students are guaranteed employment upon course completion. In this pilot program, you will obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). You can reach out to us to get an insight into the options currently available.

• Join the military

Finally, if you’re interested in serving your country, you can join the Panama Air Force. The Government will sponsor your flight training but you will have to stay with the military for around 12 years after completion before you can apply to commercial airlines. 

• What is the minimum age to become a pilot in Panama?

  • You must be at least 17 years old.

• What do I need to start pilot training in Panama? 

  • In order to start your pilot training, you will need to secure a medical certificate. The best way to do this is to speak with the flight school you would like to enroll in and they will help arrange it for you.

• What are the minimum educational requirements to become a pilot in Panama?

  • Potential students must be at least a high school graduate.

• What level of English do I need to become a pilot in Panama?

  • Since the language of aviation internationally is English, it is recommended to have at least a level 4 English standard before receiving your pilot license. If you are looking to improve your English, you can send us a message and we will give you tips on what courses to take.

• What is the maximum age for airline pilots in Panama? 

  • The retirement age for airline pilots is 65 years old.

In general, there are six (6) different pilot training stages in which students need to complete depending on what their goal is. The stages of pilot training are as follows:

• Student Pilot License (SPL)

The first pilot license you will need to obtain is a student pilot license. This license allows you to start your flight training. To get a Student Pilot Certificate, you should be:

(a) At least 17 years old;

(b) Have completed or be studying the studies corresponding to the middle or secondary education;

(c) Be in possession, at least, of an aeronautical medical certificate Class 2.

• Private Pilot License (PPL)

The private pilot license will allow you to fly solo, passengers, or cargo but without monetary compensation. To get a Private Pilot License, you must be:

(a) At least 18 years old;

(b) Read, speak and understand the Spanish language;

(c) Demonstrate proficiency in speaking and understanding the English language;

(d) Have completed high school or equivalent;

(e) Be in possession, at least, of a Class Aeronautical Medical Certificate 2;

(f) For Flight Experience in a:

Single-engine aircraft: A total of forty (40) hours of instruction and solo flight, which must include at least:

(i) Twenty (20) hours of instruction in dual command;

(ii) Ten (10) hours of flight only during the day on the appropriate aircraft for the class qualification to be obtained, including five (5) hours cross-country flight;

(iii) A cross-country flight of a minimum of one hundred (100) nautical miles [two hundred seventy (270) km] between two (2) airports, during the which two (2) complete landings will have been made in two (2) different aerodromes.

Multi-engine aircraft: A person applying for a private pilot license with a rating multi-engine, you must log at least forty (40) hours of flight time in category – Airplane, which include at least twenty (20) hours of flight training on a multi-engine with landing gear retractable, high lift and propellers with controllable or propelled pitch by turbine. Post-flight procedures shall include:

(i) Two (2) hours of instrument training on an airplane multi-engine;

(ii) A cross-country flight in a multi-engine aircraft of, a total distance in a straight line of more than one hundred (100) nautical miles [one hundred and eighty (180) km] from the original starting point;

(iii) One (1) hour of night maneuvers;

(iv) Three (3) hours of flight training in a multi-engine aircraft in preparation for the practical test within sixty (60) days prior to the date of said test;

(v) The twenty (20) hours of flight time in multi-engine aircraft can be reduced to ten (10) hours, if the holder of the license private pilot has accumulated a minimum of two hundred (200) total flight hours in category – airplane

• Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

To start earning from flying, you will need to obtain a commercial pilot license. This license allows you to become a paid professional pilot. To get a Commercial Pilot License, you must be:

(a) At least 18 years old;

(b) Be able to read, speak and understand the Spanish language;

(c) Demonstrate proficiency in speaking and understanding the English language;

(d) Have completed high school or its equivalent;

(e) Possess a valid Class 1 aeronautical medical certificate;

(f) For Flight Experience in a:

Single-engine aircraft: A total of at least two hundred (200) flight hours as a pilot in plane. In the event that the applicant has accumulated said hours in an instructional course in an Aeronautical Educational Establishment, the total required is one hundred fifty (150) hours of flight. Total flight time as a pilot must include at a minimum:

(i) One hundred (100) hours of time as pilot in command or seventy (70) if a recognized course of instruction has been followed;

(ii) Twenty (20) hours of cross country flight as pilot-in-command, including a cross-country flight of a minimum of five hundred forty (540) kms [three hundred (300) nautical miles], during which he will have made complete landings at two (2) different aerodromes;

(iii) Ten (10) hours of instrument flight instruction, of which A maximum of five (5) hours can be of time on a device of instruction for flight simulation;

(iv) Five hours of night flight instruction, including:

A. A cross-country flight of more than fifty (50) nautical miles of total distance [one hundred and eighty (90) km];

B. Ten (10) takeoffs and ten (10) landings to a stop fully, each landing will involve a flight pattern of traffic in an airport;

C. The CAA will determine if the instruction received on a device Flight simulation instruction is acceptable as part of the total flight time. Credit for this experience is limited to a maximum of ten (10) hours.

Multi-engine aircraft: The applicant must have registered at least 200 flight hours or 150 hours if accumulated during a course of instruction recognized as Airplane Pilot in a certified Aeronautical Educational Establishment, and 10 hours of flight training in a multi-engine aircraft with retractable landing gear, hypersustainers and controllable pitch or turbine driven propellers. Post-flight procedures shall include:

(i) Five (5) hours of instrument training on a multi-engine aircraft;

(ii) Ten (10) hours of training in a multi-engine airplane that has a train retractable landing gear, high lift and pitch propellers controllable or turbine-powered;

(iii). A cross-country flight in a multi-engine aircraft of at least two (2) hours in duration, a total straight-line distance of more than 100 miles nautical from the original point of departure and that occurs in conditions Daytime VFR;

(iv) A cross-country flight in a multi-engine aircraft of at least two (2) hours in duration, a total straight-line distance of more than 100 miles nautical from the original point of departure that occurs in conditions Night VFR;

(v) Three (3) hours in a multi-engine aircraft in preparation for the practical test within 60 days prior to the date of said proof

Both Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine Rating are add-ons to your pilot license…

• Instrument Rating (IR)

Being instrument-rated means that you can fly the aircraft in any weather condition (for example low or zero visibility) using just the instruments. Flight schools offer Instrument Rating along with their commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.

• Multi-Engine Rating (MER)

The multi-engine rating will allow you to fly multi-engine aircraft. Flight schools offer Multi-Engine Rating along with their private pilot training and commercial pilot training. But this can also be obtained separately.

•   Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)

ATPL is the highest level of Aircraft Pilot Certificate that allows you to act as a pilot in command on scheduled air carriers. To get an Airline Transport Pilot License, you must be:

(a) At least 21 years old;

(b) Be able to read, speak and understand the Spanish language;

(c) Holds at least a commercial pilot license with flight rating for instrument;

(d) Demonstrate proficiency in speaking and understanding the English language;

(e) Have completed high school or equivalent;

(f) Possess a current Class 1 medical certificate;

(g) A total of at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) flight hours as a pilot aircraft, including:

(i) Five hundred (500) hours as pilot in command under supervision or two hundred fifty (250) flight hours either as pilot in command, or a minimum of one hundred (100) hours as pilot in command plus flight time additional necessary as a co-pilot performing, under the supervision of a pilot-in-command, his duties and functions, provided that the method employee supervision is satisfactory to the CAA;

(ii) Two hundred (200) cross country flight hours, of which a minimum of one hundred (100) hours as pilot in command under supervision;

(iii) One hundred (100) hours of night flight time, as pilot-in-command or co-pilot;

(iv) Seventy-five (75) hours of instrument flight time, of which a maximum of thirty (30) hours can be performed in a training device for flight simulation

If you have any questions so far, feel free to use chat messenger to send us a message.

After doing your research on the type of license you would like to obtain, the next step is to choose which flight school is the most suitable for your budget.

So, how much does pilot training cost? 

It is important to note that becoming a pilot requires a certain budget. Your flight training cost depends on the country you do your training, the flight school you pick, and a number of other factors.

If you decide to do your flight training within the country, there are only two (2) options for you. You can get more information about the flight training institute in Panama by registering with us on Aviationfly.com. Our flight school directory has a list of all the latest active flight school/s in Panama including their brief background, pilot training courses being offered, the school’s fleet details, what they can offer to you, and other information. 

On the other hand, if you decide to do your flight training abroad, there are a number of popular countries to choose from. One important thing to note is that after your training, you will have to convert your license to the Panama Civil Aeronautical Authority (PCAA).

As mentioned above, another alternative is to enroll in an airline pilot program. Once you have successfully passed your pilot training, you will be employed by the airlines that have set up the program.

Many aspiring pilots have a defined career path they would like to pursue, while others don’t. Below is a list of options for what you can potentially do with a pilot license.

• Airline pilot for large airlines or smaller regional ones
• Corporate or business aviation pilot
• Cargo pilot
• Charter / Air taxi pilot
• Flight instructor
• Medical/ Air ambulance pilots
• Agricultural pilot and many more options

Tip 1. Decide on your pilot goals

Firstly, ask yourself – what are your long-term aspirations in aviation? Do you want to become a pilot in your free time (Private Pilot License)? Or do you want to fly in General Aviation (Commercial Pilot License)? Do you want to become an airline pilot through an airline pilot cadet program? Additionally, which airlines are currently hiring? What type of aircraft will be utilized by airlines in the next few years? Which flight schools do the airlines usually hire from? Best to ask flight schools if they have partnerships with airlines. These are critical questions you should list and get answers to when asking yourself “how will I become a Pilot”.

Tip 2. Determine how much you can afford to spend

Secondly, different flight schools have different costs (due to location, number of students, aircraft type and several other factors), and find out the reasons for the price difference. Moreover, do these programs have financial assistance/loan programs? Might a part-time program work for you?

Tip 3. Determine how much free time you have

Each flight training school has its own training schedules with some offering flexibility while others want the cadets to train full time and on campus. Note that delaying flight training usually increases your training costs.

Tip 4. Find out what type of aircraft the flight school uses and information of its aircraft maintenance center

This is important from a training point of view, but even more importantly, from a safety aspect. Furthermore, you should also take into consideration the equipment preference of airlines. Aircraft age does not always relate to safety, this is dependent on the aircraft maintenance – ask the flight school in detail about their aircraft maintenance department and safety features of the aircraft.

Tip 5. Visit your shortlist of flight schools

Finally, when possible, speak to the instructors and flight school management teams to learn about the training, safety policies, history, and graduates of the flight school.

Do you still have questions? Send us a message!

You can also check out How to become a Pilot in other countries by navigating on our platform or simply just reach out to our team through chat.