Airbus A320 Type Rating
The Airbus A320 family is the highest selling commercial aircraft program in history. Earn your A320 type rating at AeroStar in as little as 10 days with multiple program options designed for every experience level.
What is an Airbus A320 Type Rating
A type rating is a specific authorization added to your pilot certificate that qualifies you to operate a particular aircraft type. The A320 type rating certifies you to fly the entire A320 family, including the A318, A319, A320, and A321 variants.
The A320 is a fly-by-wire aircraft with a fundamentally different cockpit philosophy from conventional aircraft. Instead of a traditional control yoke, pilots fly with a sidestick controller. The aircraft’s flight computers interpret pilot inputs as requests and apply flight envelope protection to prevent exceeding structural or aerodynamic limits. Learning to work with this automation rather than against it is central to A320 type rating training.
Airbus designed the A320 family with Cross-Crew Qualification (CCQ) in mind. The sidestick logic, flight laws, ECAM system, and cockpit layout are shared across the entire Airbus narrowbody and widebody fleet. An A320 type rating builds the foundation for transitioning to other Airbus types with reduced differences training.
A320 Training Programs
AeroStar offers multiple A320 programs to match your experience level, timeline, and career goals.
Premium Type Rating
3 to 3.5 weeks on-site • Kissimmee, FL
$12,900.00
- CPAT distance learning (completed before arrival)
- 4 days of ground school (40 hours)
- 6 Level D full flight simulator sessions including LOFT (24 hours per crew)
- Oral and practical exam in Level D sim with FAA approved in-house evaluator (4 hours per crew)
- iPad based training materials
Classes start: 1st Friday of every month
Fast Track Type Rating
12 to 14 days on-site • Kissimmee, FL
$9,900.00
- CPAT distance learning (completed before arrival)
- 6 Level D full flight simulator sessions including LOFT (24 hours per crew)
- Oral and practical exam in Level D sim with FAA approved in-house evaluator (4 hours per crew)
- iPad based training materials
- Must meet eligibility requirements
Classes start: 2nd Friday of every month
Upgrade / Foreign License Conversion
3 to 4 days on-site • Kissimmee, FL
$6,900.00
- CPAT home study (completed before arrival)
- 4 hours Level D full flight sim including LOFT (8 hours as crew)
- Oral and practical exam in Level D sim with FAA approved in-house evaluator (4 hours per crew)
- iPad based training materials
Dates: Every Tuesday and Saturday
CCQ From A330 / 340
3 to 4 days on-site • Kissimmee, FL
$6,900.00
- CPAT home study (completed before arrival)
- 4 hours Level D full flight sim (8 hours as crew)
- Oral and practical exam in Level D sim with FAA approved in-house evaluator (4 hours per crew)
- iPad based training materials
- For pilots currently typed on A330 or A340
Dates: Every Tuesday and Saturday
PIC Recurrent Proficiency Check
1 to 2 days • Kissimmee, FL
Contact for Pricing
Tailored programs available from 2 to 5 days
- 2 FFS warm up sessions
- 2 FFS oral and proficiency check
- iPad based training materials
- Custom recurrent programs available on request
Every Tuesday until class is full
A320 ATP CTP
6 to 7 days • Kissimmee or Miami
$3,650.00
- 3 to 4 days of ground school
- 10 hours Level D flight sim per multi-crew in A320
- iPad based training materials
- Also available as Virtual ATP CTP at $3,900
Kissimmee: Every Wednesday and Saturday. Miami: 1st and 3rd Monday of every month
*All training is iPad based. iPad required for training material software and simulator events. All prices are per pilot unless noted. CPAT provides distance learning courseware.
Prerequisites
Commercial License
Must hold at least an FAA Commercial Pilot License with an instrument rating. An ATP certificate is not required to begin type rating training.
Multi-Engine Rating
Must hold a multi-engine class rating since the A320 is a multi-engine aircraft.
FAA Medical
Must hold a current and valid FAA medical certificate. 1st Class medical required to exercise airline privileges.
English Proficiency
Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English per FAA requirements.
What You Will Learn
A320 type rating training focuses heavily on Airbus philosophy, fly-by-wire logic, and automation management alongside core systems and procedures.
- Airbus fly-by-wire philosophy and flight control laws (Normal Law, Alternate Law, Direct Law)
- Sidestick handling, flight envelope protection, and the differences from yoke based aircraft
- ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor) system monitoring and abnormal procedure management
- FMGC (Flight Management and Guidance Computer) programming and autoflight operations
- A320 aircraft systems: hydraulics, electrics, fuel, pneumatics, pressurization, and flight controls
- Normal procedures including flows, callouts, and Airbus standard operating procedures
- Abnormal and emergency procedures: engine failures, fires, rapid decompression, dual hydraulic failures
- Auto thrust system operations and management
- Crew resource management and workload distribution in a two crew Airbus environment
- Dark cockpit philosophy: understanding Airbus panel logic where unlit means normal
- Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) simulating a complete flight from gate to gate
How Training Works
The B737 type rating follows a structured four phase process.
- 1Distance Learning
Complete CPAT computer based training at home covering A320 systems, Airbus philosophy, and procedures before arriving at AeroStar.
- 2Ground School
Attend instructor led ground school at the Kissimmee campus. Master the ECAM system, FMGC programming, flight control laws, and Airbus SOPs.
- 3Simulator Training
Train in AeroStar's A320 Level D full motion simulator. Practice normal and abnormal procedures, sidestick handling, automation management, and complete a LOFT session.
- 4Checkride
Pass your oral exam and practical test in the Level D simulator with an FAA approved in-house evaluator. Walk away with an A320 type rating on your certificate.
Why Earn Your Airbus A320 Rating at AeroStar
One facility, every program, from ATP CTP through your type rating checkride.
Level D Full Motion Simulator
Train and complete your checkride on AeroStar's A320 Level D full flight simulator. The highest fidelity simulator certified by the FAA, replicating every system and flight characteristic of the actual aircraft including full fly-by-wire sidestick response.
In-House FAA Evaluators
AeroStar has FAA approved in-house evaluators, so your checkride happens at the same facility where you trained. No scheduling an outside examiner or traveling to a separate location.
ATP CTP & Type Rating at One Location
Complete your ATP CTP in the A320 simulator and continue directly into your type rating at the same campus. AeroStar is one of the only facilities that offers both under one roof.
Gateway to the Airbus Fleet
An A320 type rating builds the foundation for transitioning to other Airbus aircraft. The sidestick logic, ECAM system, and cockpit philosophy are shared across the A320, A330, A340, and A350 families through Airbus Cross-Crew Qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an ATP certificate before starting a type rating?
No. The minimum requirement is a Commercial Pilot License with instrument and multi-engine ratings. Many pilots complete their type rating with a commercial certificate and earn the ATP during or after the type rating process. If you need the ATP CTP course, AeroStar offers it in the A320 simulator at the same facility.
What is the difference between Premium and Fast Track?
The Premium program includes 4 days of on-site ground school (40 hours) in addition to the CPAT distance learning and 6 simulator sessions. It runs 3 to 3.5 weeks and is the most comprehensive option. The Fast Track program skips the on-site ground school and goes directly into the 6 simulator sessions, completing in 12 to 14 days. Fast Track requires meeting eligibility requirements, typically prior jet or type rating experience.
What is a sidestick and how is it different from a yoke?
The A320 uses a sidestick controller mounted to the side of each pilot instead of a traditional control yoke between the legs. The sidestick is part of the Airbus fly-by-wire system where pilot inputs are interpreted by flight computers rather than being directly connected to the control surfaces. The two sidesticks are not mechanically linked, meaning one pilot cannot feel the other’s input, which requires clear communication between crew members. Most pilots adapt to the sidestick within the first few simulator sessions.
What is ECAM?
ECAM stands for Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor. It is the Airbus system that monitors aircraft systems and provides pilots with guided checklists during abnormal situations. When a failure occurs, ECAM displays the nature of the problem and walks the crew through the corrective actions step by step. As pilots complete each action, the item disappears from the checklist. This is fundamentally different from Boeing’s EICAS system, which alerts pilots to failures but requires them to access separate checklists manually.
What is Cross-Crew Qualification (CCQ)?
Cross-Crew Qualification is an Airbus design philosophy that makes the cockpit layout, flight control logic, and systems philosophy consistent across the entire Airbus fleet. A pilot with an A320 type rating shares the same sidestick logic, flight laws, and ECAM system as the A330, A340, and A350. This allows pilots to transition between Airbus types with reduced differences training rather than a full new type rating course. AeroStar offers a CCQ program from A330 / 340 to A320.
Does the A320 type rating cover all A320 family variants?
Yes. The A320 type rating covers the A318, A319, A320, and A321 variants. These aircraft share the same type certificate and cockpit design, so a single type rating qualifies you to fly all four. Differences between variants are primarily in dimensions, engine options, and performance characteristics, not in cockpit procedures or systems logic.
What is the crew discount?
AeroStar offers a $500 discount per pilot when two pilots enroll together as a crew. Since simulator training is conducted in pairs, enrolling with a crew partner means you train together throughout the program. If you do not have a crew partner, AeroStar will pair you with another student.
Do I need prior jet or Airbus experience?
Prior jet or Airbus experience is not required for the Premium program. The Fast Track program has eligibility requirements that may include prior jet or type rating experience. The CCQ from A330 / 340 program is specifically for pilots currently typed on those Airbus widebody aircraft. Contact AeroStar’s admissions team to determine which program is right for your background.
Does the type rating expire?
No. The type rating itself does not expire once it is added to your certificate. However, there are currency requirements to exercise the privileges of the rating. If operating under Part 121 or 135, your employer will require recurrent training and proficiency checks, typically every 6 to 12 months. AeroStar offers tailored A320 Recurrent Proficiency Check programs from 1 to 5 days.