Becoming a Pilot (Criteria, Application & Selection)

lao-admin
Feb 20, 2025
5 min read

Updated: 5 hours ago

First Officer Lapsitthipone, aka Moss - CAFTC 2024 Graduate (ATPL Course)

Updated April 24th, 2026

To become a pilot, you will need to meet certain age, medical, and training requirements.

Age

To receive student pilot authorization (SPA), you must be at least 16 years old.
To receive a private pilot license (PPL), you must be at least 17 years old.
To receive a commercial pilot license (CPL), you must be at least 18 years old.
To receive an airline transport pilot license (ATPL), you must be at least 22 years old.
To enroll into a pilot cadet training course, you must be at least 18 years old and normally not older than 25 (depends on the particular airline).

Medical

You will need to pass an aviation medical examination and get a medical certificate.
A class 2 medical certificate is required for the SPA and PPL.
A class 1 medical certificate is required for the CPL and ATPL.
If you enroll into our Professional Pilot Training Course (Int. CPL/MEIR + ATPL Theory), you must have a class 1 medical certificate.
You will need to have 6/6 vision (in meters), or able to correct it with glasses or contacts.
Airlines may impose more strict requirements, such as 6/6 vision without corrective lenses.
For a list of what needs to be checked for an initial class 1 medical, download the following document.

If you enroll into our Professional Pilot Training Course, we will set up a medical appointment for you as part of the assessment.
Expect to pay two fees:
- ~ LAK 2,000,000 to the hospital/clinic for all the tests.
  - DCAL has approved 2 hospitals and one clinic: Mithaphap, Mahosot and the IMDC
- LAK 1,500,000 to the Lao aviation medical assessor Dr. Khamsouk Haophommasaeng. +856 20 22222892.

Training

To become a commercial pilot, you will need to pass several knowledge and skill tests from the regulator, the Department of Civil Aviation - Laos (DCAL).
To prepare you for these tests, you will need to complete ground school and flight training at an approved training organization (ATO). The CAFTC is an approved ATO.

English

You will need to be fluent in spoken and written English.
To obtain a pilot license you must score 4 (Operational) or above on your ICAO Aviation English examination (on a scale of 1-6). For more details about the rating criteria look here.
A certificate with a score of 4 expires after 4 years.
A certificate with a score of 5 expires after 6 years.
A certificate with a score of 6 is valid for lifetime.
You will be required to complete this test in the early stages of your flight training before you can receive the Student Pilot Authorization (SPA), which you need prior to your first solo-flight, your first flight being alone in the airplane.
We will help you prepare for this test, but you must have a minimum level of English to be enrolled into our pilot training courses.
Minimum acceptable English level for enrollment: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent (CEFR B2, TOEFL IBT 62, Duolingo 90, ...)
- This is to ensure that you will be ready for the fast-paced aviation training in the English language.
- You must be fluent and have good understanding to read and comprehend aviation texts in English.
- You must be able to write and communicate in English with your teachers and flight instructors.
- The test must have been done within the previous 12 months at the time of application.
- If you don't have an official test result, contact us and we can help you schedule one.
  
  English Testing Score Comparison

Licensing

The most affordable license is a pilot license for very light or ultra-light aircraft (UPL). We do not offer such a license.
To fly privately, you will need to get a Private Pilot License (PPL). This license enables you to fly airplanes for "fun", but not to earn a salary. However, the PPL is a first step towards other pilot licenses and ratings.
To work as a pilot, you will need a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). This license enables a pilot to act as first officer (or co-pilot) and as a captain of any airplane certified for single-pilot crew.
To become a captain in air transport operations on aircraft requiring a two-pilot crew pilot, you will need to have an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
- To qualify for an ATPL, you must meet the experience requirements (1,500 flight hours total time and other hour requirements) and have passed the ATPL knowledge and skill tests. Pilots who wish to be in command typically upgrade their CPL to an ATPL within 4-10 years of joining the airline.
- If you wish to fly for an airline, we recommend that you enroll into a course that includes the ATPL theory. The ATPL examinations, once completed, are valid for 7 years. This gives you 7 years to obtain the experience (hours) required. Without this you will then have to enroll into a course and write the ATPL examinations on the side.

Requirements for Airline Cadets

Being accepted into a cadet program, by passing the selection process, is a great opportunity to receive airline funding for your training. In return you sign a contract for (x) number of years (you will need to negotiate this with the airline). Being bound to an airline can have positive aspects in that it gives you job security.

Make sure to understand the terms of your contract well.

Pre-Selection Criteria
- Lao nationality
- Min. 18 years old
- For maximum age and height requirements, see Lao Airlines or Lao Skyway below.
- Good health
- Good English: minimum score IELTS 5.5 or equivalent (TOEFL PBT 513, TOEFL IBT 65, Duolingo 100, ...)
- Good Math and Science grades: 7/10 or more
Application
- You will have to submit your application to the airline plus supporting documents.
- Ask the airline directly or monitor their social media to see if they have an upcoming cadet program and inquire how to apply.
- Here is a list of documents you should prepare. This is not an exhaustive list. There may be others. The airline will let you know.
  - Cover letter
  - Copy of your passport
  - Test Results - English Proficiency
  - Grade Card & Graduation Certificate
  - Reference letter from a teacher
  - A valid "Criminal Record Certificate" // ໃບແຈ້ງໂທດ(ຍັງບໍ່ຫມົດກຳນົດ)
    - Please provide a copy of a recent check, not older than 6 months. You can obtain this document from your provincial office or the Vientiane criminal court (aka. the office of the supreme prosecutor).

Selection
- The CAFTC and the airline will conduct a joined selection to find the best candidates of those who can be enrolled into a flight training program.
- Expect the following:
  - Background Check
  - Health and fitness tests
  - Aptitude tests, including math and physics
  - Psychological test
  - English tests
  - Self-study test
  - Simulator lesson
  - Flight lesson
- Lao Airlines requirements
  - Minimum age 18, maximum age 26 when joining.
  - Able to meet flight deck reach requirements:
    - Height between 160 cm and 180 cm for females and between 165 cm and 185 cm for males.
  - Uncorrected 6/6 vision (no corrective lenses)
- Lao Skyway requirements
  - Minimum age 18, maximum age 24 at start of training
  - Able to meet flight deck reach requirements:
    - Height between 165 cm and 180 cm and a standard BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. See below.
    - The calculation for the body mass index divides your weight (kilograms) by your height (meter squared).
  - Uncorrected 6/6 vision (no corrective lenses)
  - No tattoos
  - “No Hepatitis B”
  - “A college, university or aviation degree will be an advantage.”
  - “Work experience preferred.”