In this article I would like to share with you my personal opinions about becoming a pilot in 2024 and what are the advantages and disadvantages of starting flight training in Belgium. The post is divided in 5 sections:
Is becoming a pilot worthy in 2024?
Licensing
Flight training in Belgium: PROS
Flight training in Belgium: CONS
Conclusion
1. Is becoming a pilot worthy in 2024?
''When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” (Leonardo DaVinci)
Travel demand kept doubling every 15 years over the past 50 years, despite black swan events such as: the Asian financial recession, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the financial crisis or the COVID-19 epidemic. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing estimates that there are 28.000 commercial jets in service. (Boeing- Pilot and technician outlook, 2023)
On average,12 pilots are required for every aircraft. According to Boeing, 649.000 new pilots will be required over the next 20 years, especially in Eurasia, China and North America.
Boeing suggests that 61% of the airline transport certificate holders will reach the maximum retirement age of 65 years old by 2042. After considering the higher aircraft utilization rates, pilot attrition rates, early retirements, and career changes due to medical unfitness or personal reasons, it looks like the industry will require many new pilots in the following years.
Boeing also estimated that during 2023, following the COVID-19 recovery, the crew cost (second main airline operating cost after fuel) will register the highest increase since 2010 . It might feel like the ideal time to become a pilot. ✈
2. Licensing
Modular or integrated, in-class or distance learning, multi-pilot license (MPL), commercial pilot license (CPL) or airline transport license (ATPL)? What's the difference between these licenses and trainings?
The MPL has been introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2006 - it allows the holder to act as a co-pilot of a multi-crew and is often tailored to a specific airline during an airline-sponsored training. The MPL syllabus is competence-based and comprises lots of synthetic training devices time.(Wikander, Dahlstrom,2014) It is presented as an alternative to conventional pilot training.
A CPL allows the holder to exercise its rights as Pilot in command (PIC) of a small piston aircraft. However, to exercise the rights of acting as a PIC of aircrafts having a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of more than 5.700 kg , an ATPL is required.
After understanding the different licenses and choosing the right one, a future cadet should make some preliminary research on the following topics: approved training organizations (ATOs), possible sponsorships, course duration, training schedule, employment prospects etc.
Here comes the next dilemma: which COUNTRY offers the best ATOs? The well-known European* ATOs are in countries such as: the UK (L3 Harris Airline Academy, Cranfield Flying school, CAE Oxford), Spain (Barcelona Flight school, FlyBy Aviation Academy, FTE Jerez), Poland (Bartolini Air) or Lithuania (Baltic Aviation Academy).
Next step is comparing all available options and choosing the most convenient country and corresponding ATO. The country where the ATO is located is important as it will determine indirect costs such as: relocation, accommodation, food, authority fees, medical examination fees, entertainment etc.
Personal tip: consult other cadets who already graduated or are still enrolled to get some reliable data regarding your favorite ATO and a list of pros and cons about pursuing flight training in a particular country.
In the following sections, I will share my own insights about flight training in Belgium, the country where I obtained my Private Pilot License (PPL).
3. Flight training in Belgium: PROS
Belgium Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA)
This is a very debated subject so I will only talk about my personal experience with the BCAA. Although their aviation website might look outdated and even confusing at times, the BCAA offers prompt and accurate replies by e-mail. (I never waited more than 72 hours for a reply - a huge improvement compared to 2017-2019, when I started my flight training)
The license fees are regulated and can be consulted online. For CPL holders, after successfully passing the skill test, the examiners will extend the validity by signing the license. (no need to reissue a brand new license during yearly revalidation) These gives candidates peace of mind and justifies the initial license issue costs, that are high.
Overall, I personally believe that the BCAA benefits of a good reputation compared to other EASA licensing authorities.
International environment
Known as the ''heart of Europe'', the tiny kingdom of Belgium is divided into 2 regions (Flanders to the North and Wallonia to the South). Between these 2 distinct regions lies a 3rd one: the Belgium capital Brussels, where French, Flemish and English unite, hosting the European Parliament and its large international community. (Study.eu, 2024) Additionally, the federal state has 3 communities: French-speaking, Flemish-speaking and German-speaking. Despite its limited size (30. 689 km2), Belgium has not less than 10 different provinces plus Brussels region. Really impressive! 🤩👌
With more than 35 flight schools, the kingdom of Belgium has a lot to offer when it comes to flight training.
Because of Belgium's multicultural and multilingual character, some ATOs propose PPL courses exclusively in French or Dutch. I wouldn't personally recommend this option, although I can understand the benefits of it, especially at the initial phases of the training.
In 2013, there were 41.000 international students in Belgium out of a total population of 11.4 million! This suggest that, while attending flight training in Belgium, cadets have the opportunity of being fully immersed in an international collectivity that mimics perfectly the airline environment.
Training quality
Yes- flight training in Belgium is tough! Especially for those completing it in one of the 5 main Belgian civil aviation airports. Dense traffic, hard to secure touch-and-go slots, adverse weather conditions or intense military traffic, the process of becoming a pilot risks to be very slow! However, these conditions are perfect to tailor a rigorous and well-trained professional. These qualities will be easy-to-spot and highly appreciated during the airline selection process.
4. Flight training in Belgium: CONS
Training duration
An EASA PPL includes at least 45 hours of flight instruction (out of which 25 hours are dual instruction and 10 supervised solo including 5 hours of solo cross-country navigation)
An EASA integrated CPL should include at least 150 hours, while a modular CPL should include at least 200 hours.
It took me the same amount of time to complete my PPL in Belgium as completing the entire CPL in a different country. Sounds a bit disproportional, isn't it? Let's check what were the reasons!
Weather
Flying following Visual Flying Rules (VFR) at PPL level in different classes of airspace requires specific ceiling and visibility minimums that trainees should comply with.
Belgium has a temperate maritime climate, characterized by low ceiling and frequent precipitations, especially in July and December. Belgium gets more rainfall than the UK and is generally cooler than France, so planning to fly in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) can be a challenge and should be continuously monitored.
It is not rare to cancel a navigation or a touch-and-go session 4-5 consecutive times! Weather is crucial especially during PPL and it might considerably increase the time required to complete the training.
Nevertheless, Belgium can be the ideal country to train basic handling skills during PPL, especially in windy/gusting conditions. Completing the instrument rating (IR) training phase in Belgium can be also very rewarding, as it actually allows trainees to experience the real Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), and not only simulates them under a hood.
Airspace
In 2023, the Belgian Armed Force had 52 F-16s, regularly utilizing half of the country's airspace for training purposes. On top of the military activity, Belgium has 5 civil aviation airports offering passenger services: Brussels-Zaventem, Ostend, Charleroi, Luik-Bierset and Deurn. (Belgium.be, 2024)
Prohibited, Dangerous or Restricted areas are widespread over the entire territory, making VFR navigation planning a really challenging exercise. In the case of touch-and-goes, slots are hard to secure when flying from one of the busy civil airports (if not completely prohibited). After finally securing a slot, it is not rare to be asked by the air traffic controller to circle on downwind and wait after 3-4 airliners in order to log one single landing!
These factors are summing up and might quickly increase the training costs and duration.
5.Conclusion
In this post I have shared : reasons to become a pilot in 2024, licensing requirements and my personal opinion regarding the pros and cons of completing flight training in Belgium.
Let me know if you can remember any other pros and cons about flight training in Belgium that you would like to share with the aviation community. 😎
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