Academy news

A letter from the Principal: our year in numbers, and what comes next

Pass rates, placements, new courses and new campuses: the Principal reviews 2187 and sets out plans for the coming intakes.

Licence, type rating, endorsement: how pilot certification actually works

The question I hear most often is how to get certified to fly a particular ship. The answer depends on three different kinds of qualification, and here is how they fit together.

Intake announced: Outer-System Ice Runner Rating

Lumen Pilot Academy has confirmed a new Advanced cohort for Outer-System Ice Runner Rating, starting in February 2188.

Why train on Deep Explorer Command?

Pilots often ask what separates Deep Explorer Command from other Advanced training. The short answer is small cohorts and real flying: 8 students per intake, guided by 4 instructors.

Updated handbook for the Flight Instructor Rating

We have published a revised handbook for the Flight Instructor Rating, awarded by the Interplanetary Flight Standards Board (IFSB) in the endorsement category.

What our 2187 First Solo results tell us about learning to fly

Four intakes, 64 students and a 91 per cent first-time pass rate. Here is what we learned from a year of first solos at Tasman Field.

Inside the simulator hall: 60,000 hours a year of things going wrong

A tour of the Lumen simulator centre at Kepler Yards, where 14 full-flight simulators let students rehearse every emergency before it can happen for real.

Save the date: Mars Flight Careers Expo

Mark 24 December 2026 in your calendar. Mars Flight Careers Expo comes to Olympus Ring Exhibition Deck, Olympus Ring.

Your route to the Basilisk Salvage Tug Type Rating

Many pilots ask how to obtain the Basilisk Salvage Tug Type Rating. It is issued by the Halcyon Type Certification Office, co-signed by the IFSB in the type rating category. Scope: Pilot or co-pilot of the Basilisk…

Three pilots, one deck: teaching crew cooperation on the Atlas

The Atlas Heavy Freighter needs three pilots working as one. After 14 years flying it and five teaching it, here is how we build that teamwork.

Six seats and a small moon: learning to fly the Leviathan

The Leviathan Ore Hauler is the largest ship in regular civilian service and needs six pilots at once. Our Ceres outstation is where they learn to work together.

Why train on Passenger Liner Command?

Pilots often ask what separates Passenger Liner Command from other Advanced training. The short answer is small cohorts and real flying: 8 students per intake, guided by 4 instructors.

Now enrolling: Medevac Flight Operations

Applications are open for the next intake of Medevac Flight Operations, a Advanced-level course at Lumen Pilot Academy. The cohort begins in November 2187.

Coming up: Tasman Field Open Day on 15 November 2026

Join us at Tasman Field Ground School, Hangar 2 in Oceania for Tasman Field Open Day. This expo is open to students, pilots and anyone curious about flight training.

Your route to the Atlas Heavy Freighter Type Rating

Many pilots ask how to obtain the Atlas Heavy Freighter Type Rating. It is issued by the Halcyon Type Certification Office, co-signed by the IFSB in the type rating category. Scope: Captain, first officer or systems…

What it takes to earn the Gas Giant Atmospheric Flight Endorsement

Holders of the Gas Giant Atmospheric Flight Endorsement, granted by the IFSB, on recommendation of Lumen Pilot Academy in the endorsement category, are certified as follows: Atmospheric skimming passes at Jupiter and…

How much does it cost to become a Starliner captain?

A frank breakdown of the tuition, time and experience needed to go from complete beginner to captain of a Halcyon Starliner, and how sponsorship changes the numbers.

Preview: Deep Explorer Command Selection Day

Deep Explorer Command Selection Day takes place on 1 January 2027 at Titan Lakeside Training Annex, Titan.

Flying for someone else's life: inside Medevac Flight Operations

Rescue pilots fly fast, but the hardest part of the job is flying gently. Our medevac course lead explains what makes Seraph crews different.

What to expect at Simulator Night Challenge

On 21 November 2026, Kepler Yards Simulator Hall in L5 Lagrange Station hosts Simulator Night Challenge.

Intake announced: Ore Hauler Type Rating

Lumen Pilot Academy has confirmed a new Advanced cohort for Ore Hauler Type Rating, starting in February 2188.

Coming up: Heavy Crew Resource Management Workshop on 7 January 2027

Join us at Ceres Outstation Simulator Deck in Ceres for Heavy Crew Resource Management Workshop. This meetup is open to students, pilots and anyone curious about flight training.

Diving into Jupiter: a beginner's guide to gas giant skimming

What actually happens when a Nimbus Gas Skimmer dives into Jupiter's atmosphere, and how we train pilots to do it safely from our Ganymede detachment.

Sponsored seats: how operators pay for your pilot training

Most Lumen students do not pay full tuition. Here is how sponsored seats work, who offers them and what you commit to in return.