GACA aviation
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GACA · Licence Compatibility

One licence.
Direct entry to Saudi Arabia.

Train under GACA at Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam — the prerequisite for Saudia, flynas and Riyadh Air direct-entry — then convert into DGCA, FAA, EASA, CASA, GCAA or SACAA when you're ready.

Issued under
GACAR Part 61
General Authority of Civil Aviation · Saudi Arabia
Recognised across
ICAO Annex 1
Plus bilateral conversion partners
Issued to
Career-Track Cadets
PPL · CPL · ME-IR · ATPL
Foundations

Pump up your skills — supercharge exam-passing with foundational classes on every GACA subject.

Air Law · Navigation · Meteorology · Tech-Gen · Performance · Human Factors · Comms · Instruments. Live, instructor-led foundations from Aerovate Global — bridge gaps, lock concepts, walk into your GACA written with confidence.

Enrol in foundations
Chapter I · The Selector

Select your destination CAA to see how your GACA licence converts.

Pick the regulator where you intend to fly commercially. We'll show you exactly what's required to convert a GACA CPL/IR into the licence issued by that authority — exams, flight test, medical, hour credit, timeline.

Destination regulator
Supporting 25+ destinations across DGCA, FAA, EASA, UK CAA, GCAA, CASA, SACAA & more.
Destination regulator
India
DGCA
GACA
From
GACA
GACAR Part 61 · Saudi Arabia
To
DGCA
India
India
Your GACA licence converts cleanly into the DGCA system in India.

GACA GACAR Part 61 is recognised under ICAO Annex 1 and accepted by every major regulator with a defined conversion path. Below is the typical pathway from a GACA CPL/ME/IR into the DGCA system.

Timeline
4–6 months
Hour credit
Full credit.
For pricing, please contact Aerovate Global.
Theory exams
DGCA CPL papers: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General + Specific, RTR(A) — 6 exams.
Flight test
DGCA CPL skill test + RTR(A).
Medical
DGCA Class 1.
Plan my GACA → DGCA conversion
Chapter II · The Network

GACA hubs where we deliver pilot training across Saudi Arabia.

320 flying days a year, modern training fleets and direct cadet pipelines into the region's flagship carriers.

Riyadh cityscape
RUH

Riyadh

GACA Hub
Jeddah cityscape
JED

Jeddah

GACA Hub
Dammam cityscape
DMM

Dammam

GACA Hub
Madinah cityscape
MED

Madinah

GACA Hub
Tabuk cityscape
TUU

Tabuk

GACA Hub
Aviation interlude
Interlude · Saudi Arabia

"Saudi Arabia is investing in pilots faster than any nation on earth — Vision 2030 wants 20,000 new flight crew."

320 flying days per year — efficient training airspace and a direct line into regional airline cadet programmes.
№ Field Notes · From the GACA flight line

From the apron, the cockpit, the cloud deck.

Real frames from real cadets across our partner flight lines — the kind of training GACA candidates do every week.

01 / 37
Twin-tail at last light
Apron · Dusk
Twin-tail at last light
№ 01 · Civil Aviation Authority

General Authority of Civil Aviation (Saudi Arabia)

GACA — Saudi Arabia
gaca.gov.sa
ICAO Annex 1

GACA regulates Saudi civil aviation. Closely aligned with EASA standards; serves Saudia, flynas, flyadeal.

Training standards

200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory + Saudi Air Law.

Where GACAR Part 61 meets the line.
Plate № 01
Where GACAR Part 61 meets the line.
№ 02 · Pathway

PPL → ATPL under GACA

PPL — Private Pilot Licence
Flight hours
45 hrs
Theory
GACA PPL papers
Medical
Class 2
CPL — Commercial Pilot Licence
Flight hours
200 hrs
Theory
13 ATPL theory (EASA-aligned)
Medical
Class 1
IR — Instrument Rating
Flight hours
50 hrs IFR
Theory
Within 13 ATPL
Medical
Carried over
ME — Multi-Engine Rating
Flight hours
6 hrs ME
Theory
—
Medical
Carried over
ATPL — Airline Transport Pilot Licence
Flight hours
1500 hrs
Theory
13 ATPL + Saudi Air Law
Medical
Carried over
№ 03 · Fleet

Aircraft accepted by GACA for training

Single-engine trainers
  • Cessna 172
  • Diamond DA40
Multi-engine trainers
  • Diamond DA42
  • Piper Seneca
Approved simulators
  • FNPT II MCC
  • Level D
"Saudi Arabia is investing in pilots faster than any nation on earth — Vision 2030 wants 20,000 new flight crew."
— Captain A. Al-Harbi · B777 Captain, Saudia
№ 04 · Type rating

GACA type rating requirements

Minimum entry
CPL + ME/IR + APS MCC
Pathway
Approved Saudi & international type-rating providers.
Aircraft types accepted
A320A330B777B787Embraer
CockpitCharts
№ 05 · Admission

Eligibility & admission requirements

Age
18+
Education
10+2 with Maths & Science
English
IELTS 5.5+ for overseas training
Medical
GACA Class 1 (or destination Class 1 for ab-initio)
Documents required
  • Passport
  • Education certificates
  • Class 1 medical
  • Family permission letter
  • Bank statements
№ 06 · Visa

Visa process & requirements

Visa type
Destination-country student visa (M-1 / Section 13 / etc.) — re-enters KSA on Iqama for conversion phase
Duration
Per destination
Work rights
—
Processing time
6–12 weeks
All visa documentation is processed end-to-end via Aerovate Global — appointment booking, embassy submissions, biometrics and approvals.
Key documents
  • Destination school acceptance
  • Saudi exit clearance
Visas, medicals & paperwork — handled.
Plate № 02
Visas, medicals & paperwork — handled.
№ 08 · Compatibility

Where a GACA licence converts most easily

These are the regulators that recognise GACA training closest to their own standards — usually requiring only an air-law paper, a skill test and a medical re-issue. Click any destination to apply for training there.

India
DGCA
200 hrs CPL · 6 theory papers · RTR(A) · skill test with DGCA examiner.
United States
FAA
190–250 hrs CPL · written + oral + checkride per certificate.
Poland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Europe (EASA)
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL papers + UAE Air Law · 330 flying days/yr.
Greece
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
France
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Netherlands
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Spain
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Italy
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Switzerland
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
Norway
EASA
150–200 hrs CPL · 13 ATPL theory papers · skill test + APS MCC.
№ 07 · Licence conversion

Convert GACA licence to DGCA · FAA · EASA · CASA · GCAA

Below is the typical conversion path from a GACA licence into each major regulator. All routes assume an ICAO Annex 1-compliant CPL/IR, valid logbook, and a Class 1 medical from the destination state. Numbers are indicative — confirm with the receiving authority before booking exams.

→ FAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
FAA written exams: Private (PAR), Commercial (CAX), Instrument (IRA) + IACRA application.
Flight test
Practical with DPE.
Medical
FAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ EASA9–14 months
Theory exams
EASA ATPL theory — 13 papers (Air Law, AGK Airframe & Systems, AGK Powerplant, AGK Instruments, Mass & Balance, Performance, Flight Planning, Human Performance, Meteorology, Gen Nav, Radio Nav, Operational Procedures, Principles of Flight, Communications).
Flight test
ME-CPL/IR skill test.
Medical
Class 1 medical re-issued in destination state (~USD 250–400, 1 day).
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ DGCA4–6 months
Theory exams
DGCA CPL papers: Air Navigation, Aviation Meteorology, Air Regulations, Technical General + Specific, RTR(A) — 6 exams.
Flight test
DGCA CPL skill test + RTR(A).
Medical
DGCA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
→ GCAA6–10 weeks
Theory exams
GCAA CPL/IR licence verification + Air Law UAE paper, plus skills assessment at an AS-approved ATO.
Flight test
UAE ATO assessment.
Medical
GCAA Class 1.
Hours credit
Full credit.
100% compliance promise

Aerovate's conversion advisors handle exam booking, document apostille, AME scheduling and skill-test prep end-to-end — guaranteed to meet the receiving regulator's Annex 1 standards.

Plan my conversion
№ 08 · FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Saudi Arabia

Can Saudi nationals get sponsored?+
Yes — Saudia and flynas both run sponsored cadet programmes; competition is intense (~5% acceptance).
Best route for self-funded Saudi cadets?+
FAA in the US (M-1 visa, 12–14 months), then GACA conversion at home — total ~USD 85k including travel.
World map at night
Chapter III · The Global Network

All supported regulators across our global network.

From Riyadh to the world — one team handles every conversion, every approval, every embassy stamp.
India
DGCA
South Africa
SACAA
United States
FAA
Poland
EASA
Europe (EASA)
EASA
Philippines
CAAP
Australia
CASA
United Arab Emirates
GCAA
Saudi Arabia
GACA
Qatar
QCAA
Kuwait
CAA-Kuwait
Oman
CAA-Oman
Bahrain
CAA-Bahrain
Singapore
CAAS
Malaysia
CAAM
Thailand
CAAT
Japan
JCAB
South Korea
MOLIT
Indonesia
DGCA-ID
Greece
EASA
France
EASA
Netherlands
EASA
Spain
EASA
Italy
EASA
Switzerland
EASA
Norway
EASA
Foundations · FAQ

Before you enrol.

The questions cadets ask before signing up for the Aerovate Global foundations programme — prerequisites, schedule, and how it lifts your GACA pass-rate.