How to Become a Pilot After Graduating College
Being a pilot has many perks. Experienced commercial pilots get reduced and free airfare, hotel rooms and rental cars, have good benefit packages and a salary of around $100,000 per year. Private pilots enjoy the freedom to fly themselves and passengers to destinations around the world. If you're a recent college graduate and want to become a pilot, there are several steps you need to take to get your license.
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Instructions
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Visit an aviation medical examiner to have an FAA medical exam done. He will determine if your overall health and vision are good enough to become a pilot.
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2
Decide what kind of license you want. A private pilot license allows you to carry passengers in an aircraft to any destination in the United States, as well as in foreign countries so long as you comply with the regulations of the country. If you want to make flying your career, you need to qualify for a commercial pilot license.
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Choose a flight school. You will be working with the same instructor for nearly all of your training, so visit several different aviation schools and choose the one where you feel most comfortable.
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4
Complete your minimum flight hours. For a private pilot license, the FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours. Commercial pilots have to log 250 flight hours. You will likely complete more hours than the minimum requirement.
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Pass a combination oral and flight test with an FAA Designated Examiner.
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Complete a solo flight. Between your 20th and 35th logged flight hours you will be required to complete a flight without your instructor.
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Receive your pilot's license.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to pay over $5,000 for your flight training. It typically costs $60 to $120 an hour to rent an airplane and $25 to $65 an hour for an instructor.
References
Resources
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