Emirates plans to recruit 5,000 pilots over eight years
Strong travel demand is behind the hiring plan. The report covers who can apply.
Read the report →
Aviation guidance · Kuwait & the GCC
From zero to pilot.
من الصفر إلى طيار
Straight answers on flight schools, licences and airline pathways, plus a community of aspiring pilots and simmers across the Gulf.
DeparturesZero to Pilot
A1كيف تصبح طيارًا؟Open
A2Flight School GuidanceOpen
B1WhatsApp CommunityOpen
B2GCC Sim CommunityOpen
Kuwait · GCC · All times local
My story · قصتي
Who is Capt Yousef?
من هو الكابتن يوسف؟
I started this website because there was a time I wanted to become a pilot and had nobody to help me. I only knew of a few companies, and they were asking for more than 40,000 KWD.
I spent days researching which systems were available and what the requirements were. By the end, I had information I could use to help others.
I was rejected more than once by major companies in the aviation world. By God's grace, I got into an aviation college and became a pilot in training.
بدأت هذا الموقع لأنني أردت في يوم من الأيام أن أصبح طيارًا، ولم يكن لدي أي شخص يساعدني. كنت أعرف بعض الشركات فقط، وكانت تطلب مبلغًا يفوق 40 ألف دينار كويتي.
قضيت أيامًا أبحث عن الأنظمة المتاحة والشروط المطلوبة، حتى توصلت إلى معلومات أستطيع أن أساعد بها غيري.
رُفضت أكثر من مرة في شركات كبيرة في عالم الطيران، وبفضل من الله تمكنت من الالتحاق بكلية طيران، وأصبحت طيارًا تحت التدريب.
Why this website exists
Aviation is a vast ocean, and what you are looking for is out there.
عالم الطيران بحر كبير، وما تبحث عنه ستجده فيه.
Aviation news
What the airlines are doing
Headlines link to the original reports.
126 cadets join Emirates' national pilot programme
The February 2026 intake shows how Gulf carriers are growing their own pilot pipeline.
Read the report →Gulf airlines struggle to staff their growing fleets
An analysis of the recruitment challenge facing regional carriers as fleets expand.
Read the analysis →Community updates
Where to join in
Live now
GCC Flight Simulator Discord
A place for everyone and everything aviation: group flights, MSFS support and a place to find a copilot. Join the community.
Live
WhatsApp Community
New pilot openings as they appear, plus questions and answers on flight training.
Free
Your free list of flight schools
Answer four questions and get the schools that fit your needs. Acceptance letters are 30 KWD.
Coming soon
Study notes and a home flight simulator store
Exam preparation material and cockpit hardware for your desk.
Live now
GCC Flight Simulator Community
The Discord for everyone in the Gulf who loves flying. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilots, real-world pilots, student pilots and plane spotters all share one server. Fly together, get technical support, share routes and talk aviation.
GCC Community
Members from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman in one server.
MSFS Support
Settings, add-ons, frame rates and controllers. Ask pilots who run the same sim.
Group Flights
Pick a route, set a time and fly together with voice chat. Anyone can host.
Find a Copilot
Looking for someone to share the flight deck? Find a crewmate for your next route.
Discuss Aviation
Real-world aviation, airlines, training and the stories behind your favourite routes. Every topic and every level is welcome.
How a group flight runs
Briefing to touchdown
- BriefingHost posts the route, aircraft, weather and meeting time.
- Join voiceEveryone connects to the Discord voice channel and checks in.
- Sync and startLoad into the same session at the stand, ready for pushback.
- Fly the routeHold the briefed altitude and speed, and keep radio calls short.
- Land and debriefShare screenshots and notes on the stand.
Example route ideas
Gulf city pairs
| From | To | Airports |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwait | Doha | OKBK → OTHH |
| Dubai | Abu Dhabi | OMDB → OMAA |
| Riyadh | Jeddah | OERK → OEJD |
| Bahrain | Muscat | OBBI → OOMS |
| Doha | Dubai | OTHH → OMDB |
Starting points only. Scheduled flights are posted in the server.
Come fly with us
New to the sim or flying for an airline, there is a seat for you. Join, say hello and find your next flight.
Join the Discord
Flight training guide · دليل التدريب
كيف تصبح طيارًا؟
The route from your first lesson to the right-hand seat of an airliner, and what each step takes in hours, exams and money.
المسار من الدرس الأول حتى مقعد الطيار المساعد في شركات الطيران، وما تتطلبه كل مرحلة من ساعات واختبارات وتكاليف.
بلا نسب أو عمولاتNo percentages or commissions
إرشاد وفق ميزانيتكGuidance matched to your budget
إرشاد وفق ظروفكGuidance matched to your circumstances
I do not take any percentage or commission from any flight school. My role is to guide you to the pathway that suits your budget and your personal circumstances.
لا أتقاضى أي نسبة أو عمولة من أي مدرسة طيران. يقتصر دوري على إرشادك إلى المسار الأنسب لميزانيتك وظروفك الشخصية.
Choose a route
Three ways in
Typical time
Typical cost
Best for
Costs are rough ranges in euros for EASA training and change by school, country and aircraft. Always get a full written quote before you pay anything.
Licences and ratings
What each one means
PPL(A)
Private Pilot Licence
Minimum 45 flight hours under EASA. Fly for pleasure with passengers, with no pay. Needs a Class 2 medical.
CPL
Commercial Pilot Licence
Lets you work as a pilot. 200 hours on the modular route, 150 on the integrated one. Needs a Class 1 medical.
IR · MCC
Instrument and multi-crew
Instrument rating for flying in cloud, then multi-crew cooperation for airline-style crew work.
ATPL
Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Theory exams are done during training. The full licence needs 1,500 hours, which airline flying builds.
Rules differ outside EASA. If you plan to train in another country, check that its licence converts for the airlines you want to join.
Airline route
The path to First Officer
- Get a Class 1 medicalDo this before you spend on training.
- Choose a school and routeCompare approved training organisations on price, fleet, instructors and results.
- Earn PPL, CPL and instrument ratingPass the theory exams and flight tests for each.
- Complete MCC and a jet orientationPrepare for airline assessments and simulators.
- Apply and get type ratedAirlines test skills and aptitude, then train you on their aircraft.
Before you pay
Questions for every school
- Is it an approved training organisation, and which authority approved it?
- What does the quote include: exams, medicals, landing fees, accommodation?
- How many students per instructor and per aircraft?
- What is the weather like for training, and how often are lessons cancelled?
- Where do graduates go, and does the airline accept this licence?
- What happens to your money if you stop or the school closes?
Not sure which route fits you?
Answer the four questions above and get a free list of flight schools matched to your budget and situation.
See how the free list works
Live now
WhatsApp Community
انضم الآن إلى مجموعة واتساب لتصلك فرص الطيارين وأخبار برامج التقديم في دول الخليج فور ظهورها.
Join the group to receive new pilot openings faster than anyone. Our AI bot searches the internet every 5 minutes, so you hear about a new opening as soon as it appears.
5min
AI openings monitor
Always searching, so you do not have to
An AI bot searches the internet every 5 minutes to check whether any new pilot openings have appeared. When it finds one, you can hear about it in the group straight away.
يبحث روبوت ذكاء اصطناعي في الإنترنت كل 5 دقائق للتأكد من ظهور أي فرص جديدة للطيارين، وعند العثور على فرصة يصلك الخبر في المجموعة مباشرة.
What you get · ما الذي ستحصل عليه
Inside the group
تحديثات فورية
Instant updates when applications open.
برامج الطيارين
Cadet and pilot programmes across the Gulf.
فرص في دول الخليج
Opportunities from airlines and academies in the GCC.
نقاشات ومساعدة
Questions answered by people on the same path.
معلومات موثوقة
Clear information, not rumours.
Good things to ask
What the group is for
- Which flight school or country should I train in?
- How do the medical and the theory exams work?
- What are airlines looking for in cadet selection?
- How did you fund your training?
- What should I study before my first lesson?
Ground rules
Keep it useful
- Be respectful. Everyone here is at a different stage.
- Search the chat before you ask. Your question may be answered.
- No school adverts or paid promotions.
- Share your own experience, and say when you are guessing.
- For a list matched to your own situation, ask for your free school list.
Join the conversation
The group is the quickest way to get your first questions answered by people on the same path.
Join the WhatsApp group
Free list · acceptance letters · guidance
Flight school guidance
Choosing a flight school is the biggest money decision of a pilot's career. Start with a free list matched to your needs.
اختيار مدرسة الطيران من أهم القرارات المالية في مسيرة الطيار. ابدأ بقائمة مجانية تناسب احتياجاتك.
Step 1 · الخطوة الأولى
Free
Your list of flight schools
We give you a list of the flight schools that best describes your needs, based on your answers.
نزوّدك بقائمة بأنسب مدارس الطيران لاحتياجاتك، بناءً على إجاباتك.
- Matched to your budget and your life
- No payment and no obligation
- Takes four short questions
Step 2 · الخطوة الثانية
30 KWD one fee
More details and your acceptance letter
Want more details on the schools, and want us to get you the acceptance letter? That step costs 30 KWD.
إذا أردت تفاصيل أكثر عن المدارس وأردت أن نحصل لك على خطاب القبول، فالرسوم 30 دينارًا كويتيًا.
- Detailed guidance on the schools on your list
- We help you obtain your acceptance letter
- Acceptance is always the school's own decision
How it works
Three steps
- Answer four questionsTell us where you are from, your qualification, your budget and whether it covers living costs.
- Receive your free listWe send the flight schools that best match your needs, at no cost.
- Go further if you want toPay 30 KWD for more details and for us to get your acceptance letter.
More from Zero to Pilot
Courses and tools
Coming soon
Study notes
Clear exam notes for aspiring pilots, written for the EASA PPL(A) syllabus.
Coming soon
Home flight simulator store
Cockpit hardware and desktop simulator gear for your own setup.
Open
Free community help
Not ready for a consultation? Ask the WhatsApp group or follow the sim community.
Good to know
Questions
Are you a flight school?
No. Zero to Pilot gives guidance and education. Flight training happens at an approved training organisation, and you choose which one.
Do I pay for the list?
No. The first step is free. You pay 30 KWD only if you want more details and want us to get your acceptance letter.
What does the 30 KWD cover?
Detailed guidance on the schools on your list and our help to obtain your acceptance letter. It is a service fee. We take no percentage or commission from any flight school.
Who is this for?
Anyone thinking about pilot training, from students finishing school to adults changing careers, and parents helping a child decide.
Will you guarantee a place or a job?
No. Schools and airlines make their own selection decisions. Guidance helps you choose well and prepare properly.
Should I get my medical first?
Yes, if your plan is an airline career. A Class 1 medical confirms you can hold the licence before you spend on training.