Verified answer

Where are from that you cannot study to be a commercial pilot at home?

Pretty much to get to this level the only way you can study and live here is as a student. This means you cannot just rock up to any old flight school and study. It needs to be a recognised institution. The following is a link to one such place: http://www.australianaviationtraining.com/pilot_tr...

As you have stated it is quite expensive, but other than the cost of visa the price is no different to an Australian student. This is because flight training is privately run and receive little or no assistance from the government, which means citizens and PR's have no advantage as far as fees are concerned. If it did make a difference I'd go for it. Generally speaking it will cost you over $A100000 to get commercially qualified, before you even get anywhere near being rated for an airliner, if that is what you wanted....otherwise charter is the way left open for you. Most commercial pilots in Australia actually start off on small cargo/mail runs and charter runs as for most airlines you need plenty of experience. For example Rex (Regional Express a small regional based airline) requires the following:

• Australian Commercial Pilot Licence or Australian Air Transport Pilot Licence

• Command Multi Engine Instrument Rating

• Civil Aviation Safety Authority Class 1 medical certificate

• Minimum of 2000 hours total flight time

• Minimum of 500 hours command or ICUS flight time on multi-engine aircraft under the I.F.R

• Australian citizen or permanent residence status.

Your best bet is to get the lessons and experience in your own country, then into applying for an Australian based airline and see if they'll sponsor you. There is a pilot shortage at the moment (nobody can afford to get their license) but only for qualified and experienced pilots. If you meet the requirements, and again depending on where you are from, many of world's defence forces will train you to fly and help you obtain international qualifications. Also most airlines prefer military trained pilots.

There is one possibility that maybe open for you and that is as a Cadet Pilot with Rex (as mentioned above). The only detail is that you are required to work for Rex for 5 years (basically to pay back your training) and require a deposit of $A5000. Also you will be living and working in Wagga Wagga about 6 hours drive from Sydney. I'll provide a link for you below about this program, though I strongly suggest you contact Rex directly in regard to international applicants to the program.

Rex Cadet Pilot Program: http://www.rex.com.au/CadetPilot/default.aspx

Edit:: Thanks Ozmaniac I was looking for that exact info. So in a nutshell for the OP, unless you are an experienced and qualified pilot already and an Australian airline is willing to sponsor you then no you cannot go for PR.

You can't just become an Australian Permanent Resident because you feel like moving here. You must have formal qualifications and experience in an occupation in which we need workers and we don't need either cyclists or translators. In any case, by far the most expensive component of pilot training is getting your hours and that costs the same here for everyone with no government subsidies for PRs or citizens. BTW, Pilots aren't needed here either.

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule3.... The Skilled Occupations List

EDIT:

arokh72 and OP - the Rex program is not CRICOS registered and international students can only get student visas for CRICOS registered courses. It is not possible to do a 32 week course in Australia without being on a student visa.

It won't be any cheaper if you're a permanent resident ...anyway , didn't you see the No Vacancy sign ? We're full....only admitting squillionaires & reffos on boats!