Commercial Pilot Programme
We prepare you for your first commercial pilot role in just 18 months
At Green Flight Academy, you receive the comprehensive training, practical flight experience and personal guidance you need to progress from complete beginner to commercial pilot. You train in real Nordic conditions, live alongside other students in central Skellefteå and prepare for the day you apply for your first position with an airline.
This is where former GFA students work:
Make the world your workplace
Imagine watching the sun rise above the clouds on your way to a new destination. Looking down at snow-covered mountains, illuminated cities and coastlines stretching towards the horizon. Landing at a familiar airport one day, then encountering a new city, culture or language the next.
As a commercial pilot, you can build a career filled with travel, new perspectives and encounters with people from all over the world. You work alongside crew members with different backgrounds and experiences. You see places others dream of visiting and experience the world from a perspective few people ever get to see.
But what makes the profession special is not only the view or the destinations. It is the feeling of mastering a highly skilled profession that few people ever do. Staying calm when conditions change. Making well-considered decisions together with your crew. And after every landing, knowing that your knowledge, precision and judgement brought everyone on board safely to their destination.
Green Flight Academy’s
pilot programme is for you if you want to…
Has your dream of becoming a pilot remained just a dream for long enough? Ready to find out whether you truly have what it takes? And are you looking for a clear path to a career as a commercial pilot?
Turn your dream of becoming a pilot into reality
You have imagined life in the cockpit more times than you can remember, and now you want to turn that dream into reality.
Complete a programme that prepares you for employment
You want to choose a high-quality programme with a strong focus on safety that prepares you to become a capable and employable commercial pilot.
Achieve something few people can
You are not looking for the most predictable path through life. You want to pursue an uncommon career that requires courage, commitment and a significant investment in yourself.
Grow into a role that demands your best
You want to develop more than technical knowledge. You want to become better at making decisions, handling pressure, working with others and taking responsibility when it truly matters.
Experience the world through your work
You long for a career with new destinations, international colleagues and people from different cultures. You do not want travel to be limited to your holidays. You want the world to become part of your everyday life.
Gain more than flight hours
You are looking for more than flight hours and a licence. You want to train in real Nordic conditions, become part of a strong community and develop the judgement, self-leadership and pilot competencies that airlines look for.
9 out of 10
students in Green Flight Academy’s first graduating class in 2024 secured a First Officer position within eight months.
Why aspiring pilots choose Green Flight Academy
Green Flight Academy gives you more than a route to a licence. You receive an education and study environment that prepare you for the life and responsibilities of a commercial pilot.
Training designed around your future career
You develop the technical skills, pilot competencies and professional behaviours that airlines look for. Nine out of ten students in Green Flight Academy’s first graduating class in 2024 secured their first position as a First Officer within eight months of graduating.
Personal support throughout your training
Our instructors get to know you, follow your progress and are available when you need support. You receive clear feedback, personal guidance and help developing both as a person and as a pilot.
Flight training in real Nordic conditions
You train in snow, winter darkness, bright summer nights and weather that can change across all Nordic seasons. This develops your ability to plan, adapt and make sound decisions in different conditions.
Sustainability begins with the people in the cockpit.
At Green Flight Academy, electric aircraft are not only a way to reduce emissions from training. They are also a tool for teaching you to think, plan and make decisions like a professional pilot.
When you fly electric aircraft, you need to understand how every decision affects the flight. You learn to plan your energy use, assess the weather and conditions, think several steps ahead and use the aircraft’s resources as efficiently as possible. This develops a more deliberate approach to flying, where you understand both what you are doing and why every decision matters.
You carry these habits with you into larger aircraft and commercial aviation. The aviation industry of the future needs more than technology that produces lower emissions. It needs pilots with sound judgement, a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to understand their own role in the bigger picture.
That is why we do not only prepare you to operate the aircraft of the future. We prepare you to help shape the future of aviation.
How the programme takes you from beginner to commercial pilot
Over 18 months, theory, simulator training and flying are combined in a clear progression. Each phase builds on the one before it and prepares you for the next level of responsibility.
1. Build your foundation and start flying
The first phase focuses on basic flying and the core knowledge you need to understand the aircraft and conduct a flight safely. Theory and practical flight training are combined from the outset, and many students complete their first flight during the first or second week.
During the later phases, ATPL theory is gradually integrated into each stage of flight training, so you study it as it becomes relevant to your practical development.
2. Take your first steps in the air
During basic flight training, you learn to operate the aircraft and conduct a flight safely and systematically. You train with an instructor and gradually build the knowledge and confidence required to fly independently.
3. Complete your first solo flight
Once you have demonstrated that you can operate the aircraft safely, it is time to fly without an instructor for the first time. You then develop your independence through longer flights and navigation between different airports.
4. Practise navigation in real conditions
You learn to plan and conduct flights under visual flight rules. Training across changing seasons and weather conditions develops your ability to adapt each flight to the situation while you continue building your ATPL knowledge.
5. Progress to instrument and multi-engine flying
You learn to fly using instruments and operate aircraft with multiple engines. Flying, simulator training and continued ATPL theory prepare you for more advanced operations and the procedures used in commercial aviation.
6. Prepare for work in a commercial cockpit
You complete A-UPRT and learn to prevent, recognise and recover from unexpected aircraft states. Towards the end of the programme, APS MCC brings your technical skills together with communication, decision-making and teamwork in a multi-pilot crew.
What you will leave Green Flight Academy with after 18 months
When you complete the programme, you will have built a complete foundation for applying for your first position as a commercial pilot.
A European Commercial Pilot Licence
You graduate with an EASA Commercial Pilot Licence, CPL(A), with an Instrument Rating, IR, Multi-Engine Piston Rating, MEP, and Night Rating, NR, as well as completed ATPL theory.
The ability to manage unexpected aircraft states
Through Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, A-UPRT, you learn to prevent, recognise and recover from unexpected situations in the air.
Experience of working in a multi-pilot environment
Through Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation, APS MCC, you learn to work in a commercial cockpit where communication, teamwork and shared decision-making are essential.
The pilot competencies airlines look for
Alongside your technical skills, you develop your judgement, communication, safety awareness and ability to lead and make decisions under pressure.
Preparation for your first airline application
You practise for airline interviews and use the simulator to prepare for recruitment processes. This helps you present both your competence and yourself as a professional pilot.
We are not for everyone
Wanting to travel, see the world and work above the clouds is a strong starting point. But it is not enough to become a pilot.
The programme is intensive and requires your focus, time and commitment. You need to be prepared to study hard when the theory feels difficult, accept clear feedback, learn from your mistakes and keep practising until the knowledge is firmly in place. You will be challenged both technically and personally.
Green Flight Academy is right for you if you want to become truly skilled and are prepared to do the work required. If you take responsibility for your development, have the courage to ask for help and want to grow through both successes and setbacks.
However, the programme is not right for you if you are looking for an easy shortcut to the cockpit, believe that time in the cockpit does all the work or expect graduation to lead automatically to employment.
We will support, coach and guide you throughout the journey. But you are the one who has to put in the work.
How our students describe their time at Green Flight Academy
“It became a part of my life that I will never forget. The programme was worth the investment, the quality was high and the sense of community was strong.”
“The best part is the fantastic sense of community among the students. Most of us are far from home and come to rely on one another. It creates a special bond and a feeling that we are truly making this journey together.”
“The location makes the programme unique. Here, you get to train through all four seasons, fly under the midnight sun and experience real winter conditions.”
“The instructors helped me develop my confidence, knowledge, decision-making and the pilot competencies required in the real world.”
“The programme was of a high standard and prepared me well. Living in another country for almost two years also gave me experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.”
“I would recommend GFA for the high standard of its flight training and the opportunity to study alongside people from many different countries.”
“I had experiences that developed me both as a person and as a pilot, in the air and on the ground.”
“The instructors always had time to help when we had questions, whether they concerned theory or flying.”
“The instructors are available, knowledgeable and willing to help whenever needed.”
“By sharing both technical knowledge and real flying experience, the instructors helped me build confidence and become better at making decisions.”
“The instructors gave me valuable advice and clear feedback that helped me improve my performance.”
“The best part is the community among the students and all the support we give one another. Living together makes it easier for the students to get to know one another and form close relationships. Because many of us are far from home, the bonds become especially strong.”
“Here, you experience many different types of weather. It is a good way to prepare for the conditions you may encounter as a pilot.”
“The opportunity to train through all four seasons, fly under the midnight sun and experience snowy winter conditions makes the programme unique.”
“Price was an important factor, but I also chose GFA because of the location. The opportunity to train in challenging weather conditions is a major advantage.”
“GFA is open, enjoyable and focused on its students.”
“There is a culture here where you can make mistakes without being blamed. The feedback after lessons helps you understand both what you need to improve and what you are already doing well.”
“There is open communication with the flight instructors, without a strong sense of hierarchy.”
“The application process felt personal. I was treated like a person, not a number.”
“What made the difference for me was the school’s honesty and openness. I was able to speak freely with a student before making my decision, something the other schools I considered did not offer.”
“I chose GFA for the combination of the location, its commitment to sustainability and the school’s strong reputation among both current and former students.”
“The sustainable approach to pilot training, together with the international community, modern aircraft fleet and positive culture, makes GFA a very good choice.”
“When I tell captains that we trained in electric aircraft, they are always interested and want to know more about how it works.”
An investment in your future career
Training to become a commercial pilot is one of the biggest decisions you will make. That is why we want the cost of the programme, what is included and how payment works to be completely clear.
EUR 104,220
Payment is divided into 18 monthly instalments of EUR 5,790.
You are not simply investing in flight hours and licences. You are investing in a complete training environment and 18 months of focused preparation for your future career as a pilot.
The programme fee includes:
- Theory and instructor-led classroom teaching
- Flight training in accordance with applicable EASA requirements, including instrument and multi-engine training
- Simulator training
- Aircraft, fuel and instructor time
- Navigation and landing fees
- Transport between the campus and the airport on flying days
- An iPad to use during the programme, pilot uniform and navigation kit
- English Language Proficiency assessment (EASA ELP)
- Loss of Licence insurance
- Preparation for airline interviews and access to a simulator ahead of recruitment processes
Download brochure
Frequently asked questions about the pilot programme
Do I need any previous flying experience?
No. The programme is designed to take you from beginner to commercial pilot. You therefore do not need any previous flight experience or a Private Pilot Licence when you apply.
How long is the programme?
The programme is full-time and lasts 18 months. During this time, instructor-led theory is combined with simulator training and practical flight training.
What language is the programme taught in?
All teaching is conducted in English. You therefore need to be able to speak, read and write English fluently.
Do I need a Class 1 Medical when I apply?
No, you do not need to have the certificate when you submit your application. However, you must be eligible for a Class 1 Medical and have obtained it before the programme begins.
What entry requirements do I need to meet?
You must be at least 18 years old when the programme begins, have completed upper secondary education or an equivalent qualification, and have passing grades in mathematics and physics at upper secondary level.
How much does the programme cost?
The total programme fee is EUR 104,220. You can pay the full amount at once or divide it into 18 monthly instalments of EUR 5,790.
Where does the training take place?
Theory teaching and part of the simulator training take place at Campus Skellefteå. Flight training takes place at Skellefteå Airport, and transport between the campus and the airport is included on flying days.
How many flight hours does the programme include?
The current programme includes a total of 217 hours of flight training, of which 122 hours are instrument flight training and 22 hours are multi-engine flight training. It also includes 770 hours of instructor-led theory. The number and distribution of hours may be adjusted in accordance with current EASA regulations and Green Flight Academy’s approved training manual.
Which licences and qualifications will I receive after the programme?
You graduate with an EASA Commercial Pilot Licence, CPL, with ratings for instrument flying and multi-engine aircraft, ME/IR. The programme also includes ATPL theory, A-UPRT and APS MCC.
Is the programme difficult?
Yes, pilot training is demanding and fast-paced. You need to be prepared to study with focus, accept feedback and take responsibility for your own development. At the same time, our instructors are available to coach you, explain difficult concepts and provide extra support when you need it.
Am I guaranteed a job after the programme?
No, no reputable training provider can guarantee employment. However, we prepare you for airline requirements through technical training, Pilot Core Competencies, commercial awareness and interview preparation. Nine out of ten students in our first graduating class secured their first position as a First Officer within eight months of graduating.
Can international students apply?
Green Flight Academy accepts international applications, and the programme is taught in English. The requirements for studying in Sweden vary depending on your citizenship and whether you need a visa or residence permit. If you are applying from outside the EU/EEA, we recommend contacting us before submitting your application. You are responsible for your own visa application, while Green Flight Academy can provide documentation relating to the programme.
Is the application binding?
No. The application and admissions test are free of charge. Your place only becomes binding once you have been admitted, signed the training agreement and paid the registration fee.
Which aircraft are used during the programme?
During the programme, you fly several different aircraft, each selected for specific training exercises. You begin your basic flight training in the fully electric Pipistrel Velis Electro. You then progress to the Tecnam P2010 TDI, which is used for navigation and instrument training. Multi-engine training is conducted in the Diamond DA42-VI, and during A-UPRT you fly the American Champion 7ECA.
This gives you step-by-step experience of different aircraft types and the systems, characteristics and challenges you need to master as an aspiring commercial pilot.