How to Become a Commercial Airplane Pilot

Boeing 747

Becoming an airline pilot is a challenging but rewarding process. You must complete a series of courses and licensing procedures and gain a great deal of experience in the cockpit. In addition, you must be in good physical condition. As of 2010, commercial airline pilots' annual salaries generally ranged from about $45,000 to about $89,000.

Instructions

1. Attend a flight school and earn your private pilot's license. Flight school will teach you the basics of aviation, including navigation and the principles of aircraft handling. A good resource for flight school information is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Alternatively, consider a military track. Complete your bachelor's degree in a science-related field such as physics or aviation and participate in your school's ROTC program, designed to train officers in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines. Those who serve as pilots in the Air Force or Navy gain flying time and the experience needed to enter the job force as commercial pilots.

2. Continue flight school and move on to advanced instruments courses if you choose not to join the military. You'll need to obtain your instruments flight rules license, which requires 250 hours of classroom and flying time.

3. Obtain your transport pilot's license. This requires 1,500 hours of flying time and includes training in nighttime and bad-weather flying.

4. Get a job as a pilot for a commuter airline. Doing so will give you the experience necessary to land a position with a more competitive national or international airline.

Tips & Warnings

• The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all commercial pilots be at least 18 years old and be able to read, write and speak English. If English is not your native language, take English as a Second Language classes to bring your skills up to the level required.

• Being an airline pilot requires that you be physically fit. If you are overweight or in otherwise poor physical condition, consult your doctor about how to begin a diet and exercise plan.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics

Resources

• Aerospaceweb.org
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association