Once pilots have obtained their first licensed they will be put through further training courses on joining an airline. Such training in fact never ceases throughout their career as they have to retrain and attend refresher courses for each new aircraft type they fly and have to show regularly that they are competent and fit to fly. Training requirements for helicopters are similar to those for fixed wing aircraft in that a pilot must be licensed. This requires 1200 hours as pilot in command of a helicopter. The basic licence can be gained at a recognised flying school.
Sponsorships are occasionally available.
All licences are valid, with the proviso, a pilot can pass the required physical examinations and periodic tests of flying skills demanded by government and company regulations. In Malaysia, the national carrier MAS, sends its candidates for pilot training to local and foreign flying schools. The minimum qualification is the SPM with good grades in Mathematics and English. Women are not considered locally unlike in other countries. The employment situation for pilots generally varies with the sensitive cyclical swings in the economy.