Air France Pilot Requirements 2026: Hours, Licence and Hiring Process
At the last check, on 25 August 2026, Air France’s direct-entry vacancy was open on its own portal: a permanent contract at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, with a desired start date of 1 January 2027. Air France sets no minimum total hours for this Pilote professionnel stream (its FAQ says you may apply with fewer than 500), and the only hours condition on the vacancy is 70 hours PIC, with an EASA Advanced UPRT certificate, for pilots without a CS-25 type rating. The filters are elsewhere: EEA or Swiss nationality, fluent French (FCL 055 level 6 in French if it is not your first language), an ATPL or a CPL with a multi-engine IR plus ATPL theory from an ATO certified in an EU member state, MCC, a Class 1, a TOEIC score of at least 850 and English at FCL 055 level 5. Air France provides the type rating and publishes no bond; recruits start as First Officers on medium-haul, and no direct-entry Captain route is published. The fully funded cadet stream closed its 2026 window on 31 July.
Always confirm on the airline’s own careers page before applying. Every figure here is what the airline published at the date shown against it on our jobs board; entries marked Unconfirmed are ones whose requirements we found but whose current vacancy status we could not establish from the airline’s own pages. Vacancies open and close without notice.
Is Air France hiring pilots now?
Recruiting at the last check on 25 August 2026 — First Officer seat: Recruiting; Captain seat: Not offered. Direct-entry FO open, no hours minimum — but EEA/Swiss and fluent French are hard gates
What we found at the last check: Air France’s direct-entry vacancy, “Pilote de ligne F/H” at Roissy CDG with a desired start of 1 January 2027, was open on 25 August 2026, with no closing date shown. The 2026 cadet window ran from 15 June to 31 July and has closed; that campaign’s selection runs into early 2027.
How we checked
The direct-entry stream is open. A vacancy 'Pilote de ligne F/H' (reference 2026-23622, CDI, desired start date 01/01/2027, Roissy CDG) was loaded on Air France's own recruitment portal on 25 August 2026 with a working 'Je postule a cette offre' submit button. The portal shows no publication or closing date for this vacancy, so the evidence for 'hiring' is that the offer was live and applyable on the date checked, not a dated announcement. The cadet (ab-initio) stream is closed: Air France's own press release of 15 June 2026 states applications ran 'from June 15 to July 31, 2026', that window has passed, the cadet vacancy URL now returns 'L'offre que vous essayez d'afficher n'existe pas ou plus sur ce site', and Air France's pilot page tells cadet candidates to create a job alert to be told when the next selection opens. The 2026 cadet campaign is now in its selection phase: Air France's pilot page gives PSY0 on the first weekend of September, PSY1 during the Toussaint school break (17 October - 2 November 2026) and PSY2 'at the beginning of next year' (i.e. early 2027).
Requirements, as published
| Requirement | As published by the airline |
|---|---|
| Licence | Valid ATPL OR CPL/IRME, PLUS a theoretical ATPL issued by an ATO certified by an EU member state. Also required: a certificate of satisfactory completion of crew cooperation (MCC) training, and a UPRT training certificate for applicants who do not hold a CS-25 type rating (QT CS25). |
| Minimum hours | Not published - Air France publishes NO minimum total flight hours for the direct-entry stream. Its own FAQ asks 'Can I apply with less than 500 flying hours?' and answers 'Yes, you can apply.' The only published hours condition appears on the vacancy itself: 'Depuis le 20/12/2019, les pilotes non-detenteurs d'une premiere QT CS 25 doivent etre en possession d'une attestation de la formation EASA Advanced UPRT et de 70H PIC ou equivalents EASA' - i.e. pilots without a first CS-25 type rating need an EASA Advanced UPRT certificate and 70 hours PIC (or EASA equivalent). Applicants must also submit a copy of the last 2 pages of their logbook certified on their honour plus an employer certificate validating those hours. |
| Hours on type | Not published |
| Type rating | Provided by Air France; no bond or training cost is published for the direct-entry stream. On joining, the pilot completes the SADE course (Stage d'Adaptation a l'Exploitant / operator conversion course), then simulator training (either a Type Rating or NAF - Air France standardisation), then line flying under instructor supervision ending in a final line check. Duration varies with prior experience. For cadets, training is fully funded by Air France; the published FAQ states that in the event of failure during training the contract is terminated 'without penalty' and 'the training completed is reimbursed' - Air France's wording does not make clear who reimburses whom, so cadets should confirm this directly (see the points we could not confirm). |
| Right to work | Must be a national of a European Economic Area member state or of the Swiss Confederation. No visa sponsorship route is published. |
| Medical | Valid 'class 1' medical certificate (direct entry). Cadet stream: valid Class 2 medical licence, in addition to a Class 2 without exemption issued by an EASA/DGAC or CEMA approved physician; Class 1 and Class 1 with exemption are also accepted. A Class 1 medical examination is required before entering the training school if selected. |
| English | Direct entry: TOEIC (Listening & Reading) score of at least 850, less than 2 years old at the time of selection, AND a currently valid FCL 055 / 055D language proficiency level of 5 or above. The TOEIC may be added later, on receipt of the PSY1 invitation, but all other documents must be uploaded to the applicant area to be called to selection. Cadet stream: from the 2026 cadet offer onwards the TOEIC is NO LONGER required - an enhanced English test (listening, reading, speaking) is integrated into the PSY0 assessment and all cadet candidates must take it. |
| Age | No age limit is published for either stream. Note on sourcing: the explicit statement 'There is no age limit for selection' - together with the caution that the probability of passing the pre-selection and PSY1 tests is lower for older candidates and that after 35 the risk of difficulty progressing during training increases significantly - appears in the FAQ of the CADET section of Air France's pilot page, not in the direct-entry FAQ. For the direct-entry 'Pilote professionnel' stream, no age limit is stated anywhere, but neither is there an explicit 'no age limit' assurance. |
| Also | The most important points for candidates: Air France publishes NO minimum total flight hours for the direct-entry 'Pilote professionnel' stream, and its own FAQ confirms applicants with under 500 hours may apply. No age limit is published for either stream, though the explicit 'no age limit' assurance appears only in the cadet FAQ, not the direct-entry one. The binding filters are instead nationality (EEA or Swiss only, no visa sponsorship), fluent French (FCL 055 level 6 in French for non-native speakers), the theoretical ATPL from an EU-certified ATO, a Class 1 medical, MCC, TOEIC LR of at least 850 dated within 2 years, FCL 055 level 5 or above, and - for applicants without a first CS-25 type rating - an EASA Advanced UPRT certificate plus 70 hours PIC. The type rating is provided by Air France with no published bond. There is no published direct-entry Captain route; the published career path is First Officer on medium-haul, then long-haul, then Captain. Note also the deferral rules: two PSY2 deferrals eliminate a candidate from the Professional Pilot stream, though a candidate with fewer than 500 hours at the time of the second PSY2 deferral may apply a third time after a three-year wait and with at least 1,500 flight hours. |
Reading the requirements line by line
- No hours minimum, but proof of the hours you have. Air France sets no total-time floor, yet asks for a copy of the last two pages of your logbook, certified on your honour, and an employer certificate validating those hours. A pilot without a CS-25 type rating also needs 70 hours PIC (or the EASA equivalent) and an EASA Advanced UPRT certificate.
- ATPL theory from an EU-certified school. An ATPL, or a CPL with a multi-engine instrument rating, is not enough on its own: the theoretical ATPL must come from an ATO certified by an EU member state, with an MCC certificate alongside it.
- Two English tests, and one can wait. A TOEIC Listening and Reading score of at least 850, less than two years old at selection, and FCL 055 level 5 or above. The TOEIC can be added when the PSY1 invitation arrives; every other document must be in your applicant area before you can be called to selection.
- French is the hard gate. Candidates whose first language is not French need FCL 055 level 6 in French, the vacancy gives French at level 5, “Bilingue / C2”, and the CV and cover letter must be written in French.
- Nationality, not residence. You must be a national of an EEA member state or of Switzerland, and no visa sponsorship route is published.
- Your record with Air France counts. You must not have failed PSY2 twice in an Air France Professional Pilot selection, nor failed an Air France or Transavia training course. The vacancy also gives “Niveau Bac” as the minimum education.
- No age limit is published for direct entry. The explicit “no age limit for selection” sits in the cadet FAQ, not the direct-entry one; for the Professional Pilot stream no limit is stated either way.
Selection is valid for Air France and Transavia only, not for HOP!, which runs its own selection. Air France assigns successful candidates to Air France or Transavia according to company needs, and the aircraft type with it; the two airlines’ pilots are managed on one seniority list.
Entry routes
- Direct entry First Officer (filiere 'Pilote professionnel' / Professional Pilot) - currently open
- Cadet / ab-initio (filiere 'Pilote Cadet') - fully funded training, applications closed (2026 window ran 15 June - 31 July 2026)
The cadet stream: who can apply, pay and the 2026 calendar
The Pilote Cadet stream is fully funded by Air France and runs on an open-ended professionalisation contract. Its 2026 window ran from 15 June to 31 July and is closed; that campaign is now in selection, with PSY0 on the first weekend of September, PSY1 during the Toussaint school holidays (17 October to 2 November 2026) and PSY2 at the beginning of 2027. Air France publishes no date for the next window and asks candidates to create a job alert.
- Who can apply. Candidates who do not hold a CPL(A) at the closing date (the theoretical ATPL and a PPL are accepted), with a clean criminal record and one of four academic routes, from the baccalauréat with a theoretical ATPL to a validated Master 1. The English version of Air France’s page understates that last option; the French original is the one that counts. Holders of a military aeroplane licence apply through the Professional Pilot stream instead.
- Fee, medical and English. A €200 registration fee, waived for French government scholarship holders on social criteria; a Class 2 medical, with a Class 1 examination before the school if you are selected. From 2026 cadets no longer need the TOEIC: an English test is part of PSY0.
- PSY0. A remote online test of about three hours, taken within a 36-hour window on Paris time, covering logic, reasoning, aeronautical general knowledge and English; it needs a webcam and proctoring software. PSY1 and PSY2 follow as for direct entry.
- The training. Air France’s pilot page gives 2 to 2.5 years at a partner school: 9 months of ATPL theory, then 15 to 21 months of flight and simulator training (CPL, IR/ME, MCC), about 150 flight hours and 80 simulator hours. Its FAQ and its 15 June 2026 press release say 24 months, so the published figures do not quite agree. It is full time.
- Pay while training. 65% of the SMIC, the French minimum wage, under 21, 80% from 21 to 26 and 100% over 26, with accommodation throughout the initial school phase and five weeks of compulsory holiday a year. Air France gives an in-training failure rate of around 5%.
- The job at the end. An Air France contract on the medium-haul network (A220 or A320), or secondment to Transavia (737 or A320neo). Neither the airline nor the type can be chosen.
One point is not clear from Air France’s own wording: its FAQ says a cadet who fails in training leaves “without penalty” and that “the training completed is reimbursed”, without saying who reimburses whom. Ask before you sign.
Selection process
- Admissibility phase - review of CV and cover letter, both written in French
- PSY1 - psychotechnical and psychomotor tests, held at ENAC. Candidates are then placed on a main list (all invited to PSY2), a secondary list (invited to PSY2 according to company needs), or not admitted
- PSY2 - two personality inventories, group exercises and an individual interview, held at Roissy/CDG in the Air France selection department; candidates sign a confidentiality charter on the group exercises. Air France states that paid commercial group-test preparation courses have shown no added value in its selections
- Possibly an assessment session on a flight simulator
- Recruitment committee - reviews the files of candidates who reached PSY2 and decides pass, deferral or definitive elimination. Each stage is valid for 2 years
- CADET STREAM adds a PSY0 online pre-selection before PSY1: a remote ~3 hour test taken within a pre-defined 36 hour window (Paris time), covering logic, reasoning, aeronautical general knowledge and enhanced English, used to rank candidates for the next phase. Requires a webcam and secure proctoring software
Bases and fleet
Bases: Paris-Charles de Gaulle (Roissy)
Fleet: Airbus A220-300 · Airbus A320 family · Airbus A330 · Airbus A350 · Boeing 777 · Boeing 787-9
How to prepare
New pilots start on the medium-haul network, which Air France flies with the A320 family and the A220, so the A320 bank and the A220 bank are the type preparation; selection is also valid for Transavia, which flies the 737 and the A320neo, and Air France, not you, decides the airline and the type, so a look at the B737 bank is not wasted. The selection itself tests capacity and personality before systems knowledge. PSY1 at ENAC is psychotechnical and psychomotor testing, so practise timed reasoning and multitasking tests well before the invitation; PSY2 at Roissy is two personality inventories, group exercises and an individual interview, and Air France says paid commercial group-test courses have shown no added value in its selections. Use the ATPL theory banks for the technical side of the interview, and write your CV and cover letter in French, because both are read first.
For what candidates report about each stage, and the technical questions to expect, read our Air France pilot interview guide. Air France’s selection is valid for Air France and Transavia only; KLM, in the same Air France-KLM group, publishes its own requirements, so compare KLM’s pilot requirements. The Library covers airline pilot recruitment and selection and upset prevention and recovery, the subject of the Advanced UPRT certificate the vacancy asks for. Check Air France’s entry on the jobs board for the latest status.
What we could not confirm
- Whether the direct-entry vacancy 2026-23622 has a closing date. The portal displays a reference number and a desired start date (01/01/2027) but no publication or closing date. It was confirmed live and applyable on 25 August 2026; candidates should re-check the portal before relying on it.
- Who bears the cost if a cadet fails during training. Air France's FAQ says the contract ends 'without penalty' and 'the training completed is reimbursed' (French: 'la formation realisee est remboursee'), without stating the direction of the reimbursement. This is a material financial question and is not unambiguously published.
- Whether Paris-Orly is a base for pilots on the Air France mainline seniority list. Only Roissy Charles de Gaulle is confirmed, as the vacancy location and the PSY2 venue. Transavia France (to which some pilots are seconded) is Orly-based, but this was not confirmed from an Air France recruitment source.
- The number of pilots Air France intends to recruit in 2026 - not published on any Air France page found.
- Salary, roster and contract terms for direct-entry pilots - not published on the recruitment pages reviewed. Only cadet in-training pay (65/80/100% of SMIC by age band) is published.
- Whether any separate type-rated First Officer stream exists. None is published - there is a single 'Pilote professionnel' selection, and the type rating is provided by Air France after joining.
- Whether any direct-entry Captain route exists. None is published. Air France's page states the career path is First Officer on medium-haul, then long-haul, then Captain, and the vacancy states recruits begin as First Officers on the medium-haul network, which implies external entry is at First Officer level only - but no explicit statement excluding direct-entry Captain was found.
- The exact current Air France fleet composition. The list above is given at family level only. It was assembled from the Air France-KLM group fleet page plus individual press releases rather than an official current-fleet page, and the fleet is in transition: the A318/A319 have been withdrawn or are nearly so, the A330-200 and Boeing 777-200ER are being retired, and the A350-1000 is entering service. Sub-variants were not individually confirmed and should not be relied on.
These points are not published clearly by the airline. Treat them as leads, not facts, and confirm them on the careers page: careers page.
Common questions
How many hours do you need to fly for Air France? No total: Air France publishes no minimum flight hours for its direct-entry Professional Pilot stream, and its FAQ says you may apply with fewer than 500. The one hours condition on the vacancy applies to pilots without a CS-25 type rating, who need 70 hours PIC (or the EASA equivalent) and an EASA Advanced UPRT certificate.
Do you need to speak French to fly for Air France? Yes. Candidates must express themselves fluently in French, and those whose first language is not French must hold FCL 055 level 6 in French; the vacancy gives French at level 5, “Bilingue / C2”. The CV and cover letter must also be written in French.
Can non-EU pilots apply to Air France? Only nationals of a European Economic Area member state or of Switzerland. Residence is not enough, and Air France publishes no visa sponsorship route.
What is the Air France pilot selection process? An admissibility review of your CV and cover letter, both in French; PSY1, psychotechnical and psychomotor tests at ENAC; PSY2 at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, with two personality inventories, group exercises and an individual interview; possibly a simulator session; then a recruitment committee that decides pass, deferral or elimination. Each stage is valid for two years, and two deferrals at PSY2 end your candidacy in the Professional Pilot stream. Cadets sit an online PSY0 test first.
Does Air France provide the type rating? Yes. Air France provides it and publishes no bond or training cost for direct entry. On joining you complete the SADE operator conversion course, then simulator training (a type rating, or NAF, Air France’s standardisation course), then line flying under supervision ending in a final line check.
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