How To Become A Pilot

How To Become A Pilot So, you have your sights set on becoming a pilot, eh? We cant blame you. The lifestyle does seem pretty alluring, at least in theory the adventure That office airplane view The joys of breaking glass ceilings inpreviously male dominated fields And thats without even mentioning all thetravel perksfor both youandyour loved ones. Its all so exhilarating, right?Of course, becoming a pilot ansicht days doesnt always involve the sort of glamor that Hollywood has probably impressed upon you (thinking Catch Me if You Can here). Its a lot of work, to be sure, as many airlines are dealing with increasingly limited staff, and the hours arent exactly many peoplesdefinition of ideal.So, is it hard to become a pilot? Yes. But if you truly do want to fly, then there are a few steps you should be taking in order to break into the pilot profession.1. Understand what youre getting into.As touched on above, many aspects of piloting nowadays are a pretty far cry from glamorous. The pay is often mediocre, with starting salaries of $30,000 andopportunities for raisesand promotions few and far between (read youre likely going to work at an entry-level rate for a hot minute). Though the pay may be trifling, the workload fruchtwein certainly is not.Airlines today are intent on operating in the leanest fashion possible (farewell, free food and single-use blankets), and that means stretching the schedules of their staff to max capacity, with most newer pilots flying a minimum of 50 hours a week. And those are just the hours spentin air you know all that time you spend waiting for flights to board, take off, and finally de-board?Yeah, pilots arent actually paid for any of that, which means that in the case of, say, a significant weather delay, you could wind up stuck on the tarmac getting paid literally nothing for it. Plus, seniority is slow to be gained, meaning theres a good chance youll work the very worst of those 50 hours (overnights, weekends, holidays, etc.) for an indefinite amount of time.But what about all those travel perks? Those mora than compensate for the subpar hours, right? Like other airline employees (includingflight attendants), pilots get free tickets for themselves and their families to fly on standby around the world.But when youre spending so much of your time away from your own bed, you have to honestly ask yourself in yourtime offas an airline pilot,wouldyou actually travel? Or, ironically, are you mora likely to travel of your own volition working in another profession? Its certainly something to consider.And yet if flying is really and truly yourdream job, the above inconveniences may feel nominal (readthis firsthand accountof life as a pilot for proof of that).2. Get a four-year bachelor degree (if you dont have one already).So what qualifications do you need to be a pilot? Four-year college degrees are not required in order to fly U.S. regional airlines, but they are required for major (read transcontinental) on es. And as with most professions, having a degree from a respected institution will up your chances of being hired, too.What your degree is actually in isnt overly essential (though a bachelor of science is often considered preferable), as youll have to receive no shortage of special training on top of your traditional schooling regardless.3. Choose what font of pilot you want to become.You should know the answer to this before proceeding any further with specialized training, as the type of pilot you want to become will affect the licenses and instrument ratings (or specific areas within piloting you become qualified for) that youll need to obtain, as well as what type of aircraft you can fly if you want to fly for Boeing, for instance, you likely wont need the same ratings as a prospective helicopter pilot.The categories you can choose from areSport Pilot These certifications are the easiest to obtain, though youd be hard put to turn a Sport Pilot license into a career. Thats beca use theyre only meant for pilots flying locally, in light aircraft, during daylight hours, and in low altitudes. Plus, youre only permitted to have one passenger. Only 20 logged hours of training time are needed for this certification, and a medical certificate (more on this later) is not required, making it comparatively way more attainable than the other classifications of pilots.Recreational Pilot This certificate requires at least 30 logged hours of flight time, including 15 hours with an instructor. This classification is pretty limited, too recreational pilots arent permitted to fly more than 50 nautical miles from their departure airport, at night time, or within controlled airport space. You can fly slightly heavier aircraft than sport pilots, but again, neither of these are the certifications to pursue if youre interested in being a pilot as a career.Private pilots The private pilot certificate is the most common one. It involves much more intensive training than the above two categories, meaning those with private pilot licenses get to fly at night and in and out of controlled airports, using whatever type(s) of aircraft they became licensed for in flight school.However, this isalsonot the certification you want to pursue if youre interested in piloting as a career since those with private pilot licenses are forbidden from receiving compensation for their services. At least 40 hours of logged flight time is required for this certification, with 20 of those hours being with an instructor.Commercial pilot Finally, the moment you prospective pilots-for-pay have been waiting for. Commercial airline pilotsarepaid for their flying services and know how, which isnt inconsiderable. In addition to fixed schedule flights (what most of us are accustomed to), they can also fly charter flights, emergency planes, rescue operations, and crop dusters? Regardless of what specific aircraft youre flying, its going to be complex, and the amount of precise knowledge req uired in order to earn a commercial pilot license is considerable. Youll also need to be at least 23 years old have a logged a minimum of 250 logged flight hours.Flight instructor You must already have your commercial pilot license in order to be a flight instructor, which is precisely why many pilots receive this additional certification as a means of making some side money or easing into retirement. However, some people do obtain their commercial license with the precise intent of instructing all along. Pay runs the gamut, but those in the industry recommend charging about $50/hour as you get started. That said, commercial pilots who fly schedule flights with major airlines are generally better compensated, though the freedom to make your own schedule as an instructor is especially appealing to some.Airport Transport Pilot The most advanced certification of them all, airline transport pilot licenses are now required by all commercial airlinesin additionto the general commercial pi lot license for anyone interested in flying schedule commercial aircraft for a living. To earn this certification, you must have at least 1,500 logged flight hours, including 250 hours acting as pilot in command (or PIC), and you must be at least 23 years old, though restricted licenses are occasionally given to pilots aged 21 and 22.4. Get a student pilot certificate and a Class 1 medical certificate.These are both required by the Federal Aviation Administrationbeforeyou can begin any real training. The medical certificate will need to be obtained through an FAA-affiliated medical examiner. The student pilot certificate, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily have to be from an FAA-affiliated school. If there are any well-reviewed flight schools or flight instructors in your area that arent FAA affiliated, they may even prove to be slightly more cost-effective.Just make sure youre not skimping on the quality of instruction, as youll ultimately still need to pass a series of tests an d examinations with the FAA before you can receive the necessary licenses and accreditations. There (thankfully, from a passengers perspective) is no way to cut corners here.5. Go to flight school.How many years will it take to become a pilot? That depends on the type of program you choose. There are a few different options you have here, and it can feel a little overwhelming to choose the best option for you. The three main training program options you have here areFast-Track Airline Programs This is going to be your quickest and most affordable option if youre interested in getting your commercial pilot certificate. These programs allow pilot hopefuls with no prior flight experience logged to gain the necessary FAA-dictated experience in a very condensed amount of time. Often, theyll involve fairly intensive daily training, so this route likely isnt for anyone wishing to keep a steady day job while training. You may be able to complete your training at these programs within a year (depending, of course, on how much time you put into it), but some additional hours and flight experience may still be required outside of a fast-track program before youre ready for your wings.Traditional colleges Some colleges and universities do offer accredited aviation programs, meaning youll get flight training in conjunction with a regular bachelor degree. Understandably, this tends to be the most expensive option, and as a four-year degree, its also the longest program to complete.Your local airport Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) Many provide training, and you get to set your own pace, a convenience not necessarily found with the above two options. Youll fly in and out of a small, local airport (not a major controlled one), and therefore theschedule is more flexible, but this also means youre less likely to fly as regularly as your peers in the fast-track and collegiate programs. Thus, itll take you longer to finish, and youll also have less control over who your flight instr uctor is.After you choose a flight school, youll be able to rack up all the necessary FAA certificates and ratings youll need to actuallystart interviewingfor commercial pilot jobs (if this is, indeed, what youre after). Hopefully, you now feel a little closer to achieving your dream of becoming a professional pilot. Bon voyage