The city's first commercial pilot course took off at the Warrnambool Airport this week.

It was the long-time dream of a local flight instructor, who said the course was the first step to a career as a pilot.

The one-year program offered through Air Warrnambool would allow pilots to fly chartered or scenic flights independently.

Student Liam Fitzgerald, 21, had his sights set on domestic or regional flying.

"I'd would love to get onto an airline," he said.

"That would be the ultimate goal -- to get out there and play with the big toys."

Two students were accepted into this year's program. Mr Fitzgerald said it was only one of two courses offered in the south-west -- the other being in Hamilton.

"It's great to be able to study a flight course locally. It would be a lot more expensive if I had to do the same thing in Melbourne, you would have to pay for landing fees and be flying in controlled airspace."

"You would probably be looking at in excess of $60,000."

Ben Hurlestone, 19, was the other student accepted into the course. Both he and Mr Fitzgerald have been guaranteed work at the Warrnambool Airport piloting scenic flights.

The course was the brainchild of chief flying instructor Tony Franc. He said a considerable amount of theory needed to be done before the learner pilots earned their wings.

They have to do a variety of subjects, including meteorology and aeronautics.

"The have to spend about 180 hours in the air and also learn to fly at night," he said.

"Probably the best thing about the course is there is a job waiting for them at the end.

"The hardest thing about being a pilot is getting the experience needed for a job in the industry and this course aims to do that."