3 answers
hannah
Student
Springfield, Missouri
1
Question
Asked
5252 views
how hard (in your own experience) is it to become a commercial aviation pilot coming out of high school and/or college?
i'm currently thinking of pursuing a career in aviation, and wanted to know how difficult pilots thought the process was.
Login to comment
3 answers
Richard Thornton
Aerospace Engineer
20
Answers
Robbinsville, New Jersey
Updated
Richard’s Answer
I hope I can add to this a bit coming from the aerospace industry and doing some pilot training myself. This is a great source that a friend who is actually a captain for Delta and who has flown since he was 16 sent me: https://www.aviator.nyc/career_pilot/.
It shows that the key number you will be looking for is about 1,500 hours of training before you can join a regional (or major) airline. That is based on a rule enacted by the FAA in the US to limit pilots who can join a major airline - this is called the ATP or Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Now it's important to mention, you only need a Commercial Pilots License to be able to make money while flying, and many people that are interested in commercial flying don't necessarily want to become a captain at an airline, so keep an open mind and find the opportunities that interest you the most.
Most pilot's I know accumulate their hours by training student pilots (again only once you get a CPL and in this case a Certified Flight Instructor or CFI license in addition). Depending on your location, this may be the easiest route, but you can also find opportunities like working for a sky diving business, towing gliders (which does require extra certification first), crop dusting, and even working for a radio or news station getting traffic reports.
This does all cost money, similar to any education, but it is often understood that being accredited with an ATP certificate is equivalent to a doctorate when it comes to the aviation industry, so it will naturally take time to achieve that level of proficiency.
For more information on the ATP license, this is a great overview: https://www.pilotmall.com/blogs/news/1500-hour-faa-pilot-rule-in-aviation-how-long-it-takes-to-get
Here is a cost estimate that lines up with other sources I have found through the years up to your CPL certificate: https://activepilot.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-become-a-pilot-get-your-atp-at-59999/
It shows that the key number you will be looking for is about 1,500 hours of training before you can join a regional (or major) airline. That is based on a rule enacted by the FAA in the US to limit pilots who can join a major airline - this is called the ATP or Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Now it's important to mention, you only need a Commercial Pilots License to be able to make money while flying, and many people that are interested in commercial flying don't necessarily want to become a captain at an airline, so keep an open mind and find the opportunities that interest you the most.
Most pilot's I know accumulate their hours by training student pilots (again only once you get a CPL and in this case a Certified Flight Instructor or CFI license in addition). Depending on your location, this may be the easiest route, but you can also find opportunities like working for a sky diving business, towing gliders (which does require extra certification first), crop dusting, and even working for a radio or news station getting traffic reports.
This does all cost money, similar to any education, but it is often understood that being accredited with an ATP certificate is equivalent to a doctorate when it comes to the aviation industry, so it will naturally take time to achieve that level of proficiency.
Richard recommends the following next steps:
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Hannah !
I have never been a pilot, just a passenger ! But I am moved to share some advice that may be something to think about as I am not sure that there are many commercial pilots here and maybe some advisors can contribute that have their pilot license. I have a friend who has her pilot license but she does not work as a pilot.
Straight out of high school, you can get a pilots license by taking flying lessons at a school that offers it. That would be a personal or student license. There is no way to be a commercial pilot without the needed education, both in classroom and flight hours. There's a lot to learn. You can take it step by step. It is a very demanding career and one must reach expert level.
First step is to go to flight school to obtain your private pilot certificate. You will start learning on single engine planes and that will be a good foundation to learn to fly larger planes. This would take about 40 hours of training and 20 hours of classroom instruction. Also, 20 hours of solo flight. A private pilot license is very expensive, by the way, so explore this on line and see about the current price for it.
Secondly, take a course on Meteorology and Instrument Flying. Perhaps your local community college or a University offers these courses. Once you are qualified to navigate a plane under the instrument flight rules, you go for an Instrument Rating.
You will be expected to fly for many hours in order to get a commercial pilot license. Approximately 450 hours of flight time. This would be using a powered aircraft as well as an airplane. They want to see you as a pilot in command also doing a cross country flight, as well as solo flight during the night and cross country. All of this will be presented to you with current information when you go to flight school. When you fulfill your flight hours, you than take a written and practical test. Than you get your Commercial Pilot License ! The license is very expensive. Today's information has it costing approximately $20,000.00 but definitely check on this before you get to that stage of preparation for more updated information. Once your license is in place, you can start working as a Commercial Pilot.
Your training and education will not stop at this point. There are various certifications that you can take advantage of and the more you obtain, the better it will be when it comes to applying for work. You can do this, but like all careers, it is a worthy process and you have time to think about it.
I wish you all the best !
I have never been a pilot, just a passenger ! But I am moved to share some advice that may be something to think about as I am not sure that there are many commercial pilots here and maybe some advisors can contribute that have their pilot license. I have a friend who has her pilot license but she does not work as a pilot.
Straight out of high school, you can get a pilots license by taking flying lessons at a school that offers it. That would be a personal or student license. There is no way to be a commercial pilot without the needed education, both in classroom and flight hours. There's a lot to learn. You can take it step by step. It is a very demanding career and one must reach expert level.
First step is to go to flight school to obtain your private pilot certificate. You will start learning on single engine planes and that will be a good foundation to learn to fly larger planes. This would take about 40 hours of training and 20 hours of classroom instruction. Also, 20 hours of solo flight. A private pilot license is very expensive, by the way, so explore this on line and see about the current price for it.
Secondly, take a course on Meteorology and Instrument Flying. Perhaps your local community college or a University offers these courses. Once you are qualified to navigate a plane under the instrument flight rules, you go for an Instrument Rating.
You will be expected to fly for many hours in order to get a commercial pilot license. Approximately 450 hours of flight time. This would be using a powered aircraft as well as an airplane. They want to see you as a pilot in command also doing a cross country flight, as well as solo flight during the night and cross country. All of this will be presented to you with current information when you go to flight school. When you fulfill your flight hours, you than take a written and practical test. Than you get your Commercial Pilot License ! The license is very expensive. Today's information has it costing approximately $20,000.00 but definitely check on this before you get to that stage of preparation for more updated information. Once your license is in place, you can start working as a Commercial Pilot.
Your training and education will not stop at this point. There are various certifications that you can take advantage of and the more you obtain, the better it will be when it comes to applying for work. You can do this, but like all careers, it is a worthy process and you have time to think about it.
I wish you all the best !
Wayne Johnson
Maintenance Programs at Alaska Airlines
76
Answers
Auburn, Washington
Updated
Wayne’s Answer
The process is not too difficult. If you look at everything that is required all at once it can be overwhelming. but your instructors will feed you a small amount of information at a time. Set aside about $600. This will allow you to take 3 to 4, 1 hour lessons. This should give you enough exposure for you to decide if this is something you want to do. You will need to study as there is a lot of new information you have to become familiar with.
For pilot training I would research what airline you would like to fly for:
Alaska Airlines has a partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy located in Oregon:
You can do a search using something like: "airline name" pilot program
Listed below are the internet addresses for Alaska and Delta Airlines.
https://careers.alaskaair.com/career-opportunities/pilots/pilot-training/
If you meet some requirements they will provide a stipend of up to $27,000 upon signing on to work for Horizon Air. Then after some years of experience you should be able to move to Alaska Airlines.
Delta Airlines for Pilot Training: https://www.delta.com/us/en/careers/pilots/propel
United Airlines: https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/united-airlines-aviate-pilot-program.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw6yuBhDrARIsACf94RVH8f0_kIoXltTkgna8TWBeHseKm-Fc1kWhCTxTU-rTOXN1PXUj2nUaAqLUEALw_wcB
Best wishes on your future endeavors.
For pilot training I would research what airline you would like to fly for:
Alaska Airlines has a partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy located in Oregon:
You can do a search using something like: "airline name" pilot program
Listed below are the internet addresses for Alaska and Delta Airlines.
https://careers.alaskaair.com/career-opportunities/pilots/pilot-training/
If you meet some requirements they will provide a stipend of up to $27,000 upon signing on to work for Horizon Air. Then after some years of experience you should be able to move to Alaska Airlines.
Delta Airlines for Pilot Training: https://www.delta.com/us/en/careers/pilots/propel
United Airlines: https://atpflightschool.com/airlines/united-airlines-aviate-pilot-program.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw6yuBhDrARIsACf94RVH8f0_kIoXltTkgna8TWBeHseKm-Fc1kWhCTxTU-rTOXN1PXUj2nUaAqLUEALw_wcB
Best wishes on your future endeavors.