Cody
How much education needed to be a Pilot?
How much education is needed to be a Commercial Pilot? #aviation
2 answers
Andrei Levcovici
Andrei’s Answer
Hello Cody,
The Federal Aviation Administration has the Federal Regulations that specify the requirements for pilot certification. You can go to FAA.gov and check FAR 61. To get your pilot's license you need to fly and acquire flight time. For a private pilot (which means that you can fly yourself and family) you need a minimum of 40 hours of flight plus ground training and pass your tests, written and practical. For a commercial pilot (which means that you can get paid for teaching or flying customers), you need a minimum of 100 flight hours. Notice that these are minimums, most people on an average get it done in almost double these numbers. As far as education, as in college, you are not really required any. However, I would highly advise that you try to get at least a bachelors degree. A pilot does a lot more than just drive the bus from point A to point B. They serve a customer service, they manage the aircraft and its crewmembers, and have a great deal of decision making tasks. A commercial pilot also has to pass a medical check up every year. As you get older, that gets harder to do, and you may need to change you title. That is when the additional education really pays off, You should always have a back-up plan. Consider the higher education as an insurance policy. Eventually you may want to move into management, which always requires a college degree. Knowledge is power, the more you know, the better equipped you will be to make decisions. So, you might want to ask yourself, Do I want to just be a pilot, or do I want to be a pilot with options to do more. Good luck with your journey.
True points. While the degree isn't NEEDED (to get started technically), depending on the market at any given point in time it can seem almost mandatory. One doesn't have to proceed the other though.
Terry Smith
Carlos "Danny" Azara
Carlos "Danny"’s Answer
Education vs Training. I would say education is mostly learning the theory. General speaking education could give you a concept or a foundation. Training on the other hand gives you is more than just knowing something, training gives you the skill.
With that said, as how much “education” you need it all relative. You could go to an aviation college for example and learn not only how to fly but also Other subjects related to aviation. This will be the same as any other college (usually about 4 years). Although this is not required to become a pilot its highly recommended. Another option is just go to a flying school and do your flying at a flight school. I see Andrei already touched on The general hours requirements so I won’t write the same again....
Mainly what I am trying to say, is that there is not so much as “education” to become a pilot but there is a LOT of training to be one.