Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)

If you love the idea of being the pilot that transports travellers to far-flung destinations across the globe, the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) will help close the gap between you and your dream career.

The Airline Transport Pilot Licence is the highest licence you can achieve as a civil pilot. With an ATPL, you are permitted to be the captain of a multi-crew aircraft; it’s the required licence commercial airlines like Air Canada or WestJet typically expect their applicants to hold. You can obtain your ATPL at 21 years old, having completed the requisite aviation courses and training qualifications including your Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).

And with a pilot shortage in Canada over the past few years, it’s an ideal team to train up and enter the workforce in the skies. According to the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace, the industry could require up to 7,300 additional pilots by the year 2025, based on trends as of 2018. Because the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the issuing of pilot licences – down from an average of 1,100 annually to just 500 in 2020, and 238 in 2022 – licensed airline pilots are now in even greater demand.

In Canada, the best flight schools provide extensive pilot training to help you obtain your ATPL, while supporting you on your journey to career pilot.