HomeBecoming an Airline Pilot
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Becoming an Airline Pilot
Admin Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:01 pm
There are a few things that you should be familiar with, if you, or someone you know, has an interest in becoming an airline pilot. Most folks assume that one can simply apply for a pilot job at United or South West, and they will provide the training to become a pilot. Well, this is as far as it can get from the truth and reality. Becoming a pilot for a major airline takes years of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, persistence and determination. And, no there is no other way really.
Of course you can join the military and pay your dues that way, but that still is all of the above, and takes a few years to get one into an airline cockpit.
Most people follow the civilian route, simply because they don’t feel like joining the military, and there is a lot more flexibility if you do it on your own. The following pilot certificates and ratings are needed for one to succeed in this pursuit:
1. Private Pilot Certificate
If you want to become an airline pilot, you have to get a pilot’s license. (Read more about Pilot Certificate or Licenses) The first step is getting a private pilot license. During this training you will get 40-80 hours of flight time, and learn basic stuff about airplanes like takeoffs and landings, navigation, maneuvers, weather and basic instrument skills. In case you are wondering about your vision, airline pilots need to have vision of correctable to 20/20. There are about 250,000 private pilots in America.
2. Instrument Rating
An instrument rating is the next step after the private pilot certificate. During your instrument rating or IR training you will add at least another 40-50 hours of flight time. You need to have IR or instrument rating because airlines always fly in all weather, so the pilot should be able to navigate without ever looking outside, and solely by reference to the cockpit instruments.
3. Commercial Pilot Certificate
After getting the instrument rating, you’d continue on to get your commercial pilot certificate; which requires 250 hours of total flight time, along with additional training which will make you a professional, safer, and experienced pilot. The commercial pilot certificate allows one to work for a commercial operator (for instance an airline) and get paid. Many people get their multi-engine rating at this time as well.
4. Building Flight Experience
Now that you’ve got your commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating and multi-engine rating, it’s time for you to build some flight experience. You should read my post 10 Ways to Build Flight Time for Airline Pilot Job here. Since you probably have only about 300 hours of total time, airlines won’t typically consider you. Airline minimums are at least 1,500 hours, along with some other experience. Yes, there are always times when the demand is more than supply, and they end up hiring low time pilots as well, but it is rare, and very unpredictable. I will write more about it later in another post.
5. Instructor Certificate
So how do you get from 300 hours to the 1500+ that you need for the airlines? The most common way is flight instructing. By becoming a flight instructor, you are able to build hours and get paid to teach others. A good place to go get your CFI Training done is CFI Academy. There are other options besides being a flight instructor, and you can read about those here at Top 20 Career Options as a Pilot.
6. ATP certificate
Major airlines usually do not consider hiring a pilot unless he/she has an ATP certificate; ATP or an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate is a requirement for one to be a captain on an aircraft with an airline. Regional airlines may hire you without one, which is a good way to build experience.
7. Get a 4 year College or University Degree
At least a four year college or university degree is preferred to land a job with a major airline. The degree does not have to be in Aviation; you can major in just about any field you want. You can always apply for airline jobs without a 4 year degree, but you’ll be competing with others who already have one. When it comes to investing the time and resources to interview, hire, and train applicants, employers always look at the best qualified applicants.
8. Start Applying
Once you’ve got the flight time, a college degree, and an ATP, and are ready to see if you’ve got what it takes, apply to every airline you can! This way you can be picky when you get interviews.
Tags: airline job, aviation careers, cpl, Flight Training, flying, license, pilot careers, pilot jobs, Thinking about Flight Training
http://iflyasa.com/educational-information-aviation-training/flight-training/8-steps-airline-pilot-career-job/
November 28, 2009 By: av8er Category: Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Training, Learn To Fly
Of course you can join the military and pay your dues that way, but that still is all of the above, and takes a few years to get one into an airline cockpit.
Most people follow the civilian route, simply because they don’t feel like joining the military, and there is a lot more flexibility if you do it on your own. The following pilot certificates and ratings are needed for one to succeed in this pursuit:
1. Private Pilot Certificate
If you want to become an airline pilot, you have to get a pilot’s license. (Read more about Pilot Certificate or Licenses) The first step is getting a private pilot license. During this training you will get 40-80 hours of flight time, and learn basic stuff about airplanes like takeoffs and landings, navigation, maneuvers, weather and basic instrument skills. In case you are wondering about your vision, airline pilots need to have vision of correctable to 20/20. There are about 250,000 private pilots in America.
2. Instrument Rating
An instrument rating is the next step after the private pilot certificate. During your instrument rating or IR training you will add at least another 40-50 hours of flight time. You need to have IR or instrument rating because airlines always fly in all weather, so the pilot should be able to navigate without ever looking outside, and solely by reference to the cockpit instruments.
3. Commercial Pilot Certificate
After getting the instrument rating, you’d continue on to get your commercial pilot certificate; which requires 250 hours of total flight time, along with additional training which will make you a professional, safer, and experienced pilot. The commercial pilot certificate allows one to work for a commercial operator (for instance an airline) and get paid. Many people get their multi-engine rating at this time as well.
4. Building Flight Experience
Now that you’ve got your commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating and multi-engine rating, it’s time for you to build some flight experience. You should read my post 10 Ways to Build Flight Time for Airline Pilot Job here. Since you probably have only about 300 hours of total time, airlines won’t typically consider you. Airline minimums are at least 1,500 hours, along with some other experience. Yes, there are always times when the demand is more than supply, and they end up hiring low time pilots as well, but it is rare, and very unpredictable. I will write more about it later in another post.
5. Instructor Certificate
So how do you get from 300 hours to the 1500+ that you need for the airlines? The most common way is flight instructing. By becoming a flight instructor, you are able to build hours and get paid to teach others. A good place to go get your CFI Training done is CFI Academy. There are other options besides being a flight instructor, and you can read about those here at Top 20 Career Options as a Pilot.
6. ATP certificate
Major airlines usually do not consider hiring a pilot unless he/she has an ATP certificate; ATP or an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate is a requirement for one to be a captain on an aircraft with an airline. Regional airlines may hire you without one, which is a good way to build experience.
7. Get a 4 year College or University Degree
At least a four year college or university degree is preferred to land a job with a major airline. The degree does not have to be in Aviation; you can major in just about any field you want. You can always apply for airline jobs without a 4 year degree, but you’ll be competing with others who already have one. When it comes to investing the time and resources to interview, hire, and train applicants, employers always look at the best qualified applicants.
8. Start Applying
Once you’ve got the flight time, a college degree, and an ATP, and are ready to see if you’ve got what it takes, apply to every airline you can! This way you can be picky when you get interviews.
Tags: airline job, aviation careers, cpl, Flight Training, flying, license, pilot careers, pilot jobs, Thinking about Flight Training
http://iflyasa.com/educational-information-aviation-training/flight-training/8-steps-airline-pilot-career-job/
November 28, 2009 By: av8er Category: Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Training, Learn To Fly
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