How long does it take to get a pilot license?

Hi Nina!
I would suggest you go to your local airport and ask the flight school if they can do a discovery flight where you will get a chance to fly for the first time.

To answer your question, in the USA you can obtain a Private Pilot Certificate in 40 hours. America is one of the few countries in the world to call it a Certificate rather than a license, as they have decided that the term license means you are granted permission where a certificate is a document stating the truth saying that you have fulfilled the requirements to practice. I have included a link below to the nuances of the terminology.

If you are looking to become a pilot and work in another career field, a private pilot certificate would allow you to do this. As an ambitious student, you could fly the 40 hours required (completing the required training tasks as well) in a month or two if you have the time and resources to go full time. If you are flying part time on weekends, it will take longer. Although there is a minimum hour requirement, the average nationwide is about 60 hours flight time, as not only do you have to meet the hour requirement, you must also be proficient for the exam. I have listed links to ATP a flight school which produces pilots at a very quick pace, and AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association). Schools like ATP are good options for people who already have a college degree.

On the other hand if you are considering a path to professional piloting, you will need to go beyond a private pilot certificate - either a Commercial Pilot Certificate or an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Within the realm of being a professional pilot there are multiple paths: Airlines, Corporate, Military, etc. Once you have decided that you would like to do more than just be a pilot recreationally (hold a private pilot certificate) your options to land your dream job, are: 1. find a four year University with an aviation program - like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota, Purdue, etc. 2. the military which has the advantage that it will pay for your flight training 3. a high paced flight school like ATP 4. your mom and pop flight school. Out of the four options listed there if you are looking to fly for an airline they weigh the quality of your primary training in the application process, so a local flight school (Part 61 in aviation jargon) may be appealing, but a university program or military training is much better as they have a set structure.

Going to a four year university with an aviation program will be the fastest path from no flight experience to the flight deck of an airliner. The advantage comes from being able to fly and study at the same time, so although airlines require 1000 hours from select universities - reduced from the 1500, you will be accruing time over your 4 years (might take 5 years to get to 1000 hours including some time to flight instruct). Joining the military as an officer is a great option, but the time frame will possibly be longer - to be an officer you must have a college degree, then once you have completed the degree you will go to officer training, flight training, and then serve out the rest of your commitment to Uncle Sam.

If you pursue the civilian track there are scholarships available to help fund your dream. I will provide links to some of the organizations like OBAP, NGPA and WAI.

Best of luck in your flight path to success! There are ups and downs, but it is a very rewarding career.

http://www.aviationtoday.com/am/categories/bga/License-or-Certificate_31478.html#.Vy7Od6t7C8E

https://atpflightschool.com/airline-career-pilot-program/flight_training.html

https://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/ready/time/options.html

https://www.wai.org/education/scholarships.cfm

http://www.ngpa.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=189069&module_id=134881

http://www.obap.org/scholarships-list

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/

Nina,

To be a pilot for hire, you need a commercial pilot certificate. You earn your certificate by passing commercial pilot ground school and logging at least 250 flight hours, with allotted time dedicated to certain conditions and maneuvers. After you have logged your hours and passed your written ground school test, you will need to pass a check-ride. A check-ride is something like the driving test we take to get our driver's licenses.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examiner asks you to plan a flight, quizzes you on aviation matters and then accompanies you on a flight. As in a driver's license test, the examiner requests that you execute certain maneuvers and directs your flying throughout the entire flight. If everything goes well, the examiner issues you a commercial pilot's certificate.

Additionally, a commercial pilot needs an up-to-date first- or second-class medical certificate, an instrument rating and a multi-engine rating. For you to receive a medical certificate, an Aviation Medical Examiner must verify that you meet the health and fitness requirements to be a pilot. You need to get an instrument rating to fly with low visibility (in adverse weather and in clouds). You receive an instrument rating by passing instrument ground school, logging a specified amount of instrument flight time (flying without visibility) and passing an instrument rating check-ride.

To fly planes with multiple engines (most of the planes in commercial use), you need to have some lessons and pass a multi-engine check-ride. At some point, most airline pilots also get an airline transport pilot certificate. This highest pilot certificate allows you to be the pilot in command (the captain) of a large commercial aircraft. It requires that you pass a written test, have a first-class medical certificate, are a high school graduate and have logged 1,500 flight hours including 250 hours as the pilot in command.

To be hired, you need flight experience. Your level of experience is based on the number and complexity of aircraft you have flown, the quantity and complexity of the flying you did (jet or propeller, day or night, local or cross-country, flying with visibility or flying using only instruments, etc.) and which crew positions you've held.

In: http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/pilot2.htm

Good luck!