I realize this is a long shot but I figure I’ll post anyways and maybe I’ll get lucky
I’m wanting to go for my commercial pilot’s license and work for a major airline based out of Japan. But as of right now my Japanese is pretty poor (probably around N3 level) so I know my prospects don’t look great.
I’m starting a 2 year language school this October that should take me up to N1, so I’ll certainly have more options at that point.
But I’m an impatient little shit and I want to start getting my flight hours in so that I’ll hopefully already have enough hours accumulated to meet the minimum requirement for major airlines.
Even if it’s Tokyo that’s fine
6 comments
Do you already have a PPL? Most aspiring pilots go to Philipines and take the classes/flights at **significantly** lower cost than doing it domestically. Reference: https://www.google.com/search?q=private+pilot+license+site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fjapanlife
Japanese airlines send their pilots overseas to do it for many reasons, and you’d be better off doing so, too. I did my PPL in the US and my school was next to one that specialized in Japanese pilots. They said it was infinitely cheaper and better to train in the US compared to in Japan.
All of my pilot friends did their license stuff in the US.
Vietnam or Philippines. You get your license in a 3 months intensive course with hotel and full board package included for only a fraction of what would cost in Japan.
Not to crush dreams or anything, but just to let you know the chances of you being hired by a Japanese airline as a pilot is going to be extremely slim as they hire direct from university and then train new pilots themselves.
There is also a HUGE amount of candidates in any given year. Not to mention the requirement to fly domestic routes for the majority of their career before being given the opportunity to move up to international flights.
My friend who spoke native level Japanese and was of Japanese descent, but american born and raised, couldn’t even get into one of their programs.
Your best bet is going to be working for a foreign airline.
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Also, to note, even if you get your pilots license abroad, you still need to pass the conversion test in Japan to be able to fly for a Japanese company. This requires certification in Japanese radio transmissions, knowledge of Japanese geography and airports, and will be completely in Japanese and written. There is obviously also a practical portion of the test as well.
[https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001394466.pdf](https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001394466.pdf)
[http://www.hobun.co.jp/ginou/gaikoku.html](http://www.hobun.co.jp/ginou/gaikoku.html)
Further more, you’re going to need better than N1 certification (they will want you to be fluent in writing, reading and speaking)
So, TLDR. Becoming a pilot in Japan for a Japanese airline as a foreigner is like winning the lottery. Not impossible, but extremely extremely rare. On top of that, getting you license abroad and converting to anything other than personal/private aviation, means going through a bunch of rules and examinations.
I have no answer just wow and goodluck with pursuing your dream job 🤍
(felt like i lost my passion so i admire people like u)