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BECOME A PILOT

Are you dreaming of becoming a pilot? Can you envision yourself wearing an airline pilot uniform, traveling to the furthest parts of the world? Or maybe you see yourself flying celebrities around in a private jet? Perhaps you don’t care either way, as long as you’re soaring through the air while watching sunsets at 40,000 feet?

Becoming a pilot doesn’t have to be a dream. While the path to get there may seem elusive at first, learning to fly is a surprisingly attainable goal – and it can be a lucrative one. But how do you get there? What are all of these certificates and ratings? How do you choose a flight school?

In this guide, we’ll discuss what it takes to be a pilot, including commercial pilot career paths, becoming an airline pilot, which pilot certificates and ratings one needs to become a commercial pilot, how to choose a flight school, and what happens once you’ve mastered your pilot career and want to move to the next level.

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    Why become a pilot?

    There are many benefits to becoming a pilot. At the peak of their careers, most commercial pilots enjoy a job that is fun and dynamic- and with the best views! In addition, most commercial pilot jobs offer travel benefits, schedule flexibility, rewarding retirement options, and financial stability.

    Career Satisfaction & Prestige

    If you’re reading this, you probably know that flying is exhilarating. Most pilots would agree that even if flying is their job, it’s still a lot of fun. Many pilots enjoy that the workday is sometimes fast paced and other times slow - like taking in the view while in cruise flight or sitting by the pool at the hotel. Working in and around airports means seeing a variety of different workers from ramp agents to dispatchers to mechanics. Every day is different, and while much of the job is predictable, many pilots appreciate that it’s very different from an eight-to-five desk job.

    Travel Opportunities

    Practically speaking, flying takes you places. One day you’re in Boston, Massachusetts; the next you could be in Shanghai. For those who want to travel and explore the world, being a commercial pilot is an obvious choice. Being able to travel while getting paid at the same time is one of the main benefits of becoming a pilot.

    Competitive Compensation & Benefits

    Financial growth and stability is one of the largest benefits of being a pilot – specifically in the current industry environment. Pilot demand is at an all-time high due to a higher than anticipated demand in the post-Covid era along with an unusually large number of retiring pilots. In order to recruit pilots, commercial operators have increased wages and benefits, including signing bonuses. This has resulted in large wage increases and contract improvements across the industry. Pilots today are getting paid more than ever.

    Job Stability & Growth Potential

    The aviation industry continues to face a global pilot shortage, creating strong demand and long-term job stability for aspiring commercial pilots. With this increasing need, pilots benefit from clear career advancement opportunities, progressing from co-pilot to captain and even into management or training roles. As airlines expand and more flights are needed, the career growth potential for well-trained pilots remains robust and promising.

    Work-life Balance & Flexibility

    Pilot work schedules have a wide range of possibilities depending on the type of job. A corporate pilot might be on call for several days out of the week (often in eight- or 12- hour shifts), but they may only actually fly one or two of those days. A cargo pilot might fly two weeks on, exclusively at night, and then enjoy two weeks off. An airline pilot might fly three days on and then have four days off. And sometimes pilots can choose their schedules and often end up with more days off per month than they work.

    Commercial Pilot Career Paths

    Becoming a commercial pilot means getting paid to fly – and there are many commercial pilot career paths to choose from! While the term “commercial pilot” often brings up images of airline pilots, commercial pilots are just pilots who have earned a commercial pilot certificate and can legally fly aircraft in exchange for money. Airline pilots are one type of commercial pilot, but there are many others to consider when looking at pilot careers.

    The Benefits of Airline Cadet Programs - CAU

    Transportation & Infrastructure

    The world moves people and products through many forms of transportation – boats, trains, vehicles, and, of course, airplanes. The aviation industry provides a transportation network around the globe, impacting businesses and travel in every country. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), “aviation transports close to 2 billion passengers annually and 40% of interregional exports of goods (by value).”

    And forty percent of the world’s tourists travel by airplane, according to ICAO.

    We do this primarily through international and domestic cargo operations and airline operations. As possibly the world’s most essential industry, cargo pilot jobs and airline pilot jobs are abundant in this sector.

    Popular Careers: Airline Pilot, Cargo Pilot

    The Airline Pilot Career

    While airline pilots are commercial pilots who provide varying types of transportation (see previous section), they are also required to obtain their Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certification in order to fly for an airline. A pilot who obtains a commercial pilot certificate through a standard flight training program typically has about 250 total flight hours. To obtain an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, one needs 1500 hours of various types of flight time. To bridge that gap between hour requirements, commercial pilots typically gain experience and hours through one of the other commercial pilot jobs above to qualify for an ATP certificate. You can think of the ATP certificate as a higher level of career training beyond commercial pilot training.

    In addition to the ATP certificate, any aircraft over 12,500 pounds (max certificated takeoff weight) requires the pilot to have a type-specific rating for that aircraft, called a “type rating.” A Boeing 737 pilot, for example, requires an ATP certificate plus a Boeing 737 Type Rating, among other hiring requirements that may vary per airline.

    Once an ATP certificate and any required type ratings are obtained, pilots usually fly first for a small charter company or regional airline before gaining the required experience for a major airline.

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    Pilot Career Advancement

    If you’re on the path to achievement, why stop at flying airplanes? The aviation industry needs pilots in advanced roles and managerial positions, too. Most companies have advancement opportunities for those who wish to take their pilot career to the next level.

    Many of these opportunities will require further education, including graduate level education and research, and/or extensive on-the-job experience.

    Becoming a Pilot

    Now that you know the types of pilot career paths there are and how you might advance in your career, how do you actually become a pilot?

    Becoming a pilot is a big decision – but once you’ve decided to take the leap, the rest is a simple step-by-step process. First, you’ll want to research and learn about the process, and potentially think more about your career goals. Perhaps you have an exact path in mind. Or perhaps you’re excited about more than one path. 

    You don’t have to know the answers right away, and you can always change your mind, but it helps to have some background information on which path to take. When it comes to charting your course, there are a few more things to consider: your specific career path, the aircraft available to fly, which certificates and ratings to get, and how to choose a flight school.

    Choosing Your Pilot Career

    So you want to be a pilot? What kind of pilot? Are you a thrill-seeker and will only be happy if the flying is fast and versatile? Do you want to race airplanes or do aerobatics at an air show? Or do you want to drink your coffee and read the paper while cruising along in a predictable, managed flying environment?

    Do you want to fight fires for the Forest Service for months straight in the summer and take all winter off to snowboard? Or do you want to work two weeks on and have two weeks of rach month off while flying on a corporate jet to the Bahamas to golf while waiting on your private passengers?

    Do you want to chase down criminals in a highly dynamic environment and a highly dynamic helicopter, or do you want to fly straight and level chartering businesspeople in and out of New York City?  

    Do you want to get a college degree (sometimes required to be competitive at most major airlines) or is higher education not for you and you want to just get straight to work flying an agricultural aircraft for farmers?

    As you can see, there’s a bit more to choosing a pilot career path than just deciding to be a pilot and beginning flight training. Think about the pilot jobs listed above. They are all very different. Between quality of life, salary, benefits, work schedules, risk level, workplace environment, pace, skill level, and job entry requirements, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a pilot career.

    Consider also your own personality, skills, and needs, and if your personality will fit better with one of these job types better than another.

    Choosing Your Aircraft

    While your career choice may dictate the aircraft you want to fly, sometimes your aircraft choice will dictate your career. If you absolutely love helicopters and must fly one, you might look at medical jobs, helicopter tours, or the Coast Guard.

    But there are more than just helicopters and airliners. The Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge outlines the following types of aircraft:

        • Airplane
        • Glider
        • Lighter- than -air (airship, balloon)
        • Powered-Lift
        • Powered-Parachute
        • Rocket
        • Rotorcraft (gyroplane, helicopter)
        • Weight-Shift Control

    Most, but not all, of the pilot career opportunities will lie within the aircraft and rotorcraft classifications. But don’t discount that there may be opportunities for careers in the hot air balloon or blimp sectors.

    Earning Your Pilot Certifications & Ratings

    Once you’ve identified a career path, you can begin to look at the certificates and ratings you’ll need to get there. In general, most career pilots will need a commercial pilot license, whether that’s in a helicopter, balloon, or airplane. You’ll start with a student pilot certificate and work your way up to commercial and possible ATP certificates.

    It’s important to note that there are pilot certificates (not licenses – that’s a term the common man uses but there’s no such thing in FAA language) and then there are ratings, which are basically privileges that are added on to an already-earned pilot certificate. You can’t just get an Instrument Rating, for example, without having a certificate to attach it to. In this regard, ratings come after you get the certificate. You can attach an Instrument Rating to a Private Pilot Certificate or a Commercial Pilot Certificate, for example.

    Student Pilot Certificate

    A student pilot certificate is required before you fly solo, and allows you to fly with a flight instructor or under the supervision of a flight instructor for solo flight. To obtain a student pilot certificate, you must be 16 years old and read, speak, write, and understand English.

    Sport Pilot Certificate

    The creation of the sport pilot certificate was a way to make flying more affordable for those who don’t want to invest all of the hours required to become a private pilot, and who want to fly locally in only light sport aircraft and with limitations. The sport pilot certificate also allows pilots to fly without the full aviation medical exam that is normally required - again with limitations.  

    Recreational Pilot Certificate

    The recreational pilot certificate requires fewer hours to complete than the private pilot certificate, and has more restrictions, such as having to stay with 50 miles of the pilot’s home base. Before the Sport Pilot Certificate, it was a good option for hobby pilots but it’s an uncommon certificate today.

    Private Pilot Certificate

    To obtain a private pilot certificate, one must be 17 years of age, read, speak, write and understand English, pass a written exam, and complete at least 40 hours of flight training, although the average is more like 70 hours. 

    The private pilot certificate has fewer restrictions than the sport pilot or recreational pilot certificate, and is a prerequisite for further training, so most people who want a pilot career will start with a private pilot certificate. Private pilots can carry passengers but are not allowed to accept payment for flying services.

    Commercial Pilot Certificate

    The Commercial Pilot Certificate is an advanced pilot certificate that involves advanced study topics and more precise maneuvers training. The commercial pilot certificate also allows a pilot to fly for hire – they can be legally compensated to fly passengers or cargo.

    Pilot Ratings

    Pilot ratings are different from certificates. They require additional training and are attached to an already-earned certificate. The instrument rating and multi-engine ratings discussed below can be attached to either a private pilot certificate or a commercial pilot certificate. 

          • Instrument Rating – A private pilot certificate is somewhat restrictive with regards to weather, allowing a pilot to fly in only visual meteorological conditions. An instrument rating (IR) allows a pilot to fly under less-than-favorable weather conditions (marginal or instrument meteorological conditions). An instrument rating allows a pilot to fly in fog or clouds, depending solely on aircraft instrumentation for navigation. 
          • Multi-Engine Rating – Anyone who wants to fly an aircraft with more than one engine is required to obtain a multi-engine rating, which include specific training for engine failures.
          • Type Rating – Aircraft over 12,500 pounds, turbojet powered aircraft, and any other special aircraft that the FAA deems necessary all require a specific aircraft type rating. These are required for jets, airliners, and specialty aircraft that for obvious purposes require their own specific training.

    Flight Instructor

    For most career pilots, the step after earning a commercial pilot certificate is the certified flight instructor certificate. Pilots will typically earn their commercial certificate with about 250 total hours. To get most entry-level commercial pilot jobs, however, more hours and experience are needed. One way to obtain those hours is to become a flight instructor.

          • Certified Flight Instructor (CFI): The CFI certificate is one of the most intensive and difficult certificates to earn. It’s extensive, covers every topic in training that exists, and enables you to teach student pilots and commercial pilots. Instrument flight training, however, requires an additional rating- the Certified Flight Instructor Instrument rating (CFII).
          • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII): The CFI- Instrument rating allows an already-certificated instructor to teach instrument students.
          • Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI): The MEI allows an already-certified instructor to teach multi-engine students in multi-engine aircraft. It’s a sought-after rating since hiring qualifications for many commercial jobs include a certain number of multi-engine hours.

    Airline Transport Pilot Certificate

    If you want to become an airline pilot, the final pilot certificate you’ll get is the airline transport pilot certificate. All airlines require it, and some other commercial operators may require it, too. Except for additional type ratings for each aircraft you fly, the ATP certificate is highest and final certificate you’ll get. 

    To obtain an ATP, one must be 23 years old (20 years old for military members), have a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating, have 1500 hour of flight time (there are certain exceptions, take the ATP course and pass the FAA ATP knowledge test.

    Choosing Your Flight School

    Before choosing a flight school, it’s important to look at the different options and types of training environments. When it comes to pilot training, not every school is the same. The FAA has divided flight training schools and training centers into three main categories for flight training: Part 61 and Part 141 schools, which are initial training programs, and Part 142 flight training academies, which are mostly simulator-based, airline-focused training academies for advanced training.  

    The “parts” discussed here come from Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), titled “Aeronautics and Space” and are comprised of all of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) surrounding pilot certification, airspace, and operating an aircraft.

        • FAR Part 61 is titled “Certification of Airmen”
        • FAR Part 141 is titled “Pilot Schools”
        • FAR Part 142 is titled “Training Centers”

    From your time as a student pilot through your commercial and CFI certificates, you’ll be primarily involved with either Part 61 or Part 141 schools.

    Both types teach the same material, and each has advantages and disadvantages. You can think of Part 61 fight training as flexible, at-your-own pace training at your local airport. Part 141 schools are often larger, fast-paced programs with more structure and continuity.

    Part 142 Flight Training Academies

    Flight training academies are high-level simulator training academies that prepare airline pilots and corporate pilots for advanced training and aircraft type ratings. Airlines often have their own simulators, and as such, their own training academies. Other academies, such as FlightSafety International, have simulator training programs for a variety of aircraft from business jets to airliners. These training programs are highly regulated by the FAA.

    Part 141 Flight Schools

    Part 141 flight schools submit to a lengthy application process with the FAA to become certified as a Part 141 flight school. They are then approved by the FAA at a higher standard, and they are required to provide continuity, making sure aircraft and instructors are available to students. They have an FAA-approved standardized training program for each student, and must meet a certain pass rate.

    Part 141 schools often have a hierarchy, with multiple instructors, a chief pilot, check airmen, dispatchers, training standards, and other support personnel. Students who train under a Part 141 program are allowed to complete certain certificates and ratings with fewer hour requirements based on the structured environment.

    Disadvantages to Part 141 training include:

          • The direct costs can be higher than Part 61 training, although some of the program can be done in fewer hours, saving some of those costs.
          • The pace is set for the student and often doesn’t allow for enough extra training time if a student falls behind.
          • There’s little or no flexibility in when a student flies – some training programs expect you to fly when they schedule you.

    Part 61 Flight Schools

    Part 61 flight schools are operating under the original flight school standards, which just outline the hours a student needs and the topics that need to be covered. It’s up to the instructor and the student to determine how and when it all gets accomplished. This can allow for more flexibility, especially for students who can’t accommodate a traditional full-time school schedule due to jobs, family, etc.

    Disadvantages to Part 61 flight training include:

          • Lack of structure: While the same material is covered under Part 61 that’s covered under Part 141, the structure can vary wildly under Part 61. It’s up to each individual instructor how they want to structure their lesson plans
          • Training delays: If the instructor is unavailable or the aircraft breaks down, there may be significant delays.
          • Lack of continuity and standardization: Inside of a Part 61 school, each instructor may have a different syllabus, if they use one at all. A student who changes instructors may experience setbacks and frustration.

    If that’s not enough, it can get even more confusing when the same flight school offers both Part 141 and Part 61 training! This is either because they want the flexibility to market toward every type of student and/or only portions of their program were approved by the FAA for Part 141 training. 

    It’s important to know what type of student you are, as both of these programs have advantages and disadvantages. Either program can work for you, but one may be preferable to the other depending on your learning style, schedule, and need for structure.

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