PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Syrianair & FlyCham & the Saudi-Syrian carrier possible Cadet Program
Old 9th February 2026 | 15:35
  #7 (permalink)  
CuriousTimes
 
Joined: Feb 2026
: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: England
If you do successfully obtain your ATPL, then you theoretically can start applying for low experience first officer positions. What happens next depends on personal circumstances and luck. You might need to consider a non-piloting job while you are looking for your first position, which is not uncommon with self-funded pilots, particularly if you are restricted in the regions of the world in which you have the right to work as a pilot. The EU, USA, and UK all have strict requirements regarding who qualifies to work as a commercial airline pilot, so you might find that, despite the global pilot shortage, the number of positions available to a minimum experience Syrian pilot are rather limited. It is your bit to do the research required to find the places where you have a shot at getting the crucial first few thousand hours that allow you to become a more competitive hiring proposition elsewhere.

Usually, the airline that hires you will enrol you on a type rating course based on their needs. The cost of obtaining a type rating is significant and would be a major investment on your part if it is not tied to secured employment. Most traditional airlines pay for your type rating as part of a training bond during which you will not be allowed to leave the airline unless you pay back the cost of your training. There are variations though, depending on the airline and industry practices. Historically speaking, if you get hired by Syrian Airlines then they will pay for your type rating, the down side is that resignation is not regarded as an automatic right even though a training bond period might not be formally mentioned. If they hire you, the assumption will be that you stick around until your retirement.

As far as civil aviation jobs in Syria go, unfortunately, there is a severe lack of data that makes planning a personal career extremely difficult. I am not aware of any publicly available reliable statistic for the number of professional pilots in Syria, the number of Syrians currently holding ATPLs and seeking employment, or those working professionally abroad. These would have provided at least some guidance about future projections.

Nevertheless, I will say that the Syrian aviation sector is witnessing rapid change, for example, the launch of the new Saudi Syrian low-cost airline “Flynas Syria” was confirmed last Saturday, with a rather speedy first flight expected in the last quarter of this year. That is very fast by civil aviation standards. Consider Riyadh Air and how long it has been since we first heard about them until they do start their regular service. The number of aircraft Flynas Syria are hoping to operate hasn’t been directly mentioned in the announcement, 8 to 12 has been the rumour going around. This tells you something about the number of new crew they will be looking for.

Another promising indicator is the huge expansion in airport capacity if the current plans come to fruition, with planned jumps in capacity from around 2 million to 31 million in Damascus and from 1 million to 12 million in Aleppo over the next 4 years or so. Such an expansion is likely to be matched with the emergence of new opportunities in aviation through new airlines or expanding the existing ones. Hence, if you are thinking of investing in becoming a civil pilot and understand the risks and potential pitfalls, then now is as good a time as it has ever been for a Syrian to go down that route.

Good luck and have a safe journey.
CuriousTimes is offline  
Reply