What Subjects are Needed to Become a Pilot in SA

On this page, we will explain thoroughly what subjects you will require in order to become a Pilot in South Africa. You must know that you cannot study towards being a pilot at any university in South Africa. None of South African universities offer this type of qualification as yet.

In terms of what subjects are required, we looked at several flight training colleges or schools in South Africa to determine what they actually list as their entry requirements. All the schools seem to prefer Mathematics and Science as their recommended grade 12 subjects.

Subjects are Needed to Become a Pilot Based on SA Flights Schools

1. Flight Training College (FTC)

At Flight Training College, they recommend having a background in Mathematics, Science, and English at the Senior/Matric level. While it’s not a requirement for everyone, it’s particularly useful if you plan to work with South African Airways, where having these subjects is a minimum requirement. Geography is also very useful, but not required.

Here’s a look at why these subjects are generally important:

• Mathematics: Helps with problem-solving and understanding the performance of any aircraft.
• Science (Physics): Important to understand the principles of flight and aerodynamics.
• English: Important to understand basic and advanced aviation terminologies and instructions.

For more information on what it takes to become a pilot through FTC, check out their official guide here.

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2. Flyfofa Aviation Training

Flyfofa Aviation offers various aviation courses, such as Private Pilot License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL). Here’s what you need for each:

• PPL: The educational requirement is basic—being able to read, write, and speak English fluently. While Grade 12 isn’t required, it’s strongly recommended that you have a good understanding of subjects like Maths and Science to help with flight theory.
• CPL: To move up to a Commercial Pilot License, you’ll need a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or an equivalent qualification. It’s important that you have Mathematics and Physical Science to a matriculation level for the advanced training involved.

For more information about Flyfofa and the educational requirements, you can visit their page here.

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3. Blue Chip Flight School

At Blue Chip Flight School, while there are no strict subject requirements, they do highlight the advantage of having Maths and Science knowledge. You’ll also need to be proficient in English and pass a medical fitness exam.

If you plan to continue beyond your Private Pilot License (PPL) into a more advanced license, having a good understanding of these subjects will help you later on.

To learn more about Blue Chip Flight School, you can visit their website here.

Therefore, it is safe to say that the following subjects will be very useful and make your journey toward becoming a pilot in South Africa, an easy one:

• Grade 12 Mathematics
• Grade 12 Physical Science
• Grade 12 Geography
• Grade 12 English

Aviation Schools in SA

Apart from the schools we have already listed above, here is a list of more aviation schools where you can study to become a pilot in South Africa:

1. 43 Air School – Located in Port Alfred
2. Aeronav Academy Limited – Based at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg
3. Blue Chip Flight School – Situated at Wonderboom Airport in Pretoria
4. Flight Training College – Located in George.
5. Madiba Bay School of Flight – Based in Port Elizabeth.
6. Eagle Flight Academy – Situated in Hartswater. Bloemfontein.
7. Paramount Aviation Academy – Located in Bethlehem, Free State.
8. Progress Flight Academy – Based in Port Elizabeth.