Real airline line training,
paid the right way.

What is line training?

Line training is the final, real-world phase before a commercial pilot can fly revenue flights as a First Officer. It bridges the gap between simulator-based type rating and unsupervised line operations, typically 200–500 sectors flown alongside a Line Training Captain (LTC) on the actual aircraft and route network.

For low-hour ATPL holders without an airline placement, line training is where careers stall. Most candidates pay providers directly without contractual leverage, and money disappears when an operator fails to deliver. PilotsGate exists to fix this.

Why escrow-protected line training matters

Line training packages range from $30K to $50K USD. In a typical "pay-to-fly" market, candidates wire the full amount upfront to a broker or directly to an operator with minimal due diligence. When the operator goes bankrupt, loses its AOC, or simply refuses to start training after payment, the candidate has no recovery path.

Under the PilotsGate / Sky Aviation Group model, your training funds are held in a group-controlled escrow account at Vakıfbank (Türkiye, regulated). Funds are released to the airline operator only when each milestone is verified:

• Stage 1, Booking ($5,000): released after KYC, license verification, and provider matching
• Stage 2, Pre-contract ($25,000): released after the candidate signs the operator contract and ground school starts
• Stage 3, Training ($10,000): released milestone-by-milestone as sectors are flown and the line check is signed off

A separate $499 refundable application fee covers KYC review, license verification and provider-matching workload. It is fully credited toward Stage 1 when you progress, or refunded at 80–95% if we cannot match you with a vetted provider within 60 days.

Aircraft we line-train on

• Airbus A320 family, narrow-body Airbus operators in TR, EU, MENA
• Boeing 737NG / 737 MAX, Boeing-fleet operators globally
• ATR 42 / 72, regional turboprop, lower-cost entry path for fresh CPL/ATPL holders

Provider vetting, what "authority-approved" means

Every airline operator on the PilotsGate network is verified against the candidate's license authority before matching:

• FAA license holders → Part 121/135 operators with FAA approval
• EASA license holders → EASA AOC operators in EU member states
• UK CAA license holders → UK Part 21/121 operators
• SHGM license holders → Türk Hava Kurumu, MNG, Pegasus group operators (SHGM 145 / 147 approved)

Operators with active enforcement actions, recent AOC suspensions, or pending insolvency filings are excluded. The vetting database is updated quarterly via cross-checks against the relevant authority registers.

The candidate journey, six steps

1. Application & screening, account creation, license + medical KYC, hours verification
2. Assessment & interview, Sky Aviation Group operations team validates eligibility, runs operator outreach
3. Contract & onboarding, anonymous package preview, then operator identity revealed at signature; Stage 1 escrow paid
4. Simulator check, Stage 2 paid, ground school + LOFT sessions begin with the matched operator
5. Line flying with LTC, Stage 3 paid milestone-by-milestone as you log real sectors
6. Final line check, sign-off by LTC, logbook stamped, candidate released to the operator's first-officer pool

Frequently asked questions

Is PilotsGate a broker?

PilotsGate is not a third-party broker; it is the escrow-protected pilot training platform owned and operated by Sky Aviation Group. Your contractual counterparty is a Sky Aviation Group entity (TR / UK / USA) chosen by your license authority.

Can I cancel after Stage 1?

Yes, refund schedule depends on the cancellation point. See our refund policy for the full matrix. If we cannot match you within 60 days, Stage 1 is refunded 80–95% (operational fees deducted case-by-case).

What payment methods do you accept?

Card payment via Paddle (operated by Sky Aviation Group's authorized merchant) is the default. For installments above $2,000 USD, EFT/SWIFT bank transfer to our Vakıfbank escrow account is also available, admin and finance approval is required for the bank transfer flow.

Are payments protected by KVKK / GDPR?

Yes. Your KYC documents are encrypted at rest, audit logs are immutable, and we comply with KVKK (Türkiye), GDPR (EU) and applicable US state privacy laws. See our privacy policy and KVKK aydınlatma metni.