| Have you always dreamed of being an airline pilot? | | | | full-time program, look for a school that is a good fit for |
| The glamor and romance of flying big iron to exciting, | | | | you and your budget. Most big flight schools are in |
| far-away destinations appeals to many but becomes | | | | sunny locales like Arizona and Florida where time in the |
| reality to a select few. The road to a career as an | | | | air is easy to come by. Visit several before you |
| airline pilot is long and it takes years to reap any | | | | choose one. Interview instructors, students, and former |
| significant financial rewards. Like any professional | | | | students if possible to get their take on the quality of |
| career, it requires a substantial financial investment, | | | | the training provided. |
| hard work, and dedication. | | | | Step by Step |
| When you think of flying for an airline, you probably | | | | You will accumulate a series of licenses and ratings |
| picture yourself as a captain on a jumbo jet. There are | | | | along the path to your first airline job, starting with a |
| a few unique things about airline careers that you | | | | private license, followed by an instrument rating, |
| should know. First, it will take years to make captain at | | | | commercial license, multi-engine rating, and at least a |
| a major airline. Depending on your age and fluctuations | | | | basic and instrument flight instructor certificate. Training |
| in the industry, you may never get there before you | | | | from hour zero through multi-engine instructor can take |
| reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. Many pilots | | | | as little as a year if you jump in with both feet and |
| reach retirement as a first officer rather than as a | | | | make flight training a full-time endeavor. On the other |
| captain. | | | | hand, it can take several years if you can only commit |
| Second, life is centered around seniority. Schedules, | | | | a few hours a month. |
| pay, base location, layoffs (furloughs) and return to | | | | The First Job |
| work after a furlough, equipment flown, and the | | | | A flying career is a Catch 22: you have to have |
| opportunity to upgrade to a captain position are | | | | experience before you can get a job, but it's hard to |
| typically based entirely on seniority rather than merit. | | | | gain said experience without a job. Unless you are |
| Third is the usual route to flying for a major airline. | | | | independently wealthy, your first job after completing |
| More than likely your first paid flying job will be as a | | | | training will likely be as a flight instructor. Other options |
| flight instructor, then as a first officer at a regional | | | | exist-banner towing, glider towing, flying skydivers up to |
| (commuter) airline, then upgrading to captain at the | | | | altitude, and the occasional but rare corporate or |
| same regional. Once you log the required number of | | | | charter job that requires very little experience. But |
| hours as pilot-in-command (PIC), you may land your | | | | teaching others to fly is the most widely available path |
| first job at a major airline, either as a flight engineer or | | | | and airlines view flight instruction as quality flight time. |
| second or first officer, depending on the aircraft. | | | | While some of the other jobs enable you to log time, |
| Prerequisites | | | | instructing adds knowledge and skill to your arsenal as |
| The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all | | | | well as the requisite number of hours. |
| US certified pilots to be able to read, speak, and | | | | The number of hours required to land your first |
| understand the English language. Additionally, all pilots | | | | regional airline job varies greatly, both by airline and |
| must possess a valid and current medical certificate. | | | | with the economy and the cycle of the industry. When |
| Since an airline captain must hold a First Class medical, | | | | pilots are in demand, airlines lower their minimum |
| you should make sure you meet those standards early | | | | requirements; when pilots are in excess, the standards |
| in your flying career. | | | | go up. When deciding which airlines to apply to, you |
| Most major airlines require a four-year college degree | | | | should consider the airlines' domiciles or bases, pay and |
| while regional airlines require at least a two-year | | | | benefits, work rules, and time to upgrade. You may not |
| degree (some regionals want to see a four-year). | | | | care where you live or how little you'll earn if you can |
| Your education does not need to be related to | | | | make captain in six months, get your time, and move |
| aviation. Completing your pilot training means you have | | | | on. Or, if you have a family to provide for, you may |
| learned (theoretically, at least) all the required aviation | | | | care more about where you'll be based, the starting |
| knowledge for the job. An unrelated degree gives you | | | | pay, and insurance benefits. |
| a wider range of job possibilities in the event you | | | | Moving Up |
| encounter a medical disqualification at some point | | | | Some pilots make a career out of flying for a regional |
| during your career. | | | | airline. Many regionals fly jets and pay fairly well |
| Where to Start | | | | toward the upper end of the scale. But many pilots |
| There are several types of flight schools, ranging from | | | | dream of flying the "big iron" on long domestic or |
| the fixed-base operator (FBO) at your local airport to | | | | international flights. If this is your goal, by now you will |
| a degree program at a college or university. | | | | have thought about which airline you want to fly for. |
| Regardless of your ultimate training choice, it may be | | | | Remember that seniority is everything, so job-hopping |
| wise to take your first few lessons at a local FBO. | | | | is not a viable option. Where you start is likely where |
| The advantages are many, the biggest being that you | | | | you'll end up, so do your research. Considerations |
| can find out if you actually like flying before investing | | | | include domiciles, pay, benefits, scheduling, work rules, |
| your life savings. You might discover that you get | | | | and equipment among other things. While commuting is |
| violently airsick or that you simply lack an aptitude for | | | | common among airline pilots, you want to make sure |
| flying. Once you earn your flight instructor certificate, | | | | that your commute is manageable for you. Your |
| you might find yourself seeking employment at the | | | | choices may be limited by the state of the industry |
| local flight school; your chances of getting hired will be | | | | and which airlines are hiring at the time. |
| much greater if the owner and staff know you. | | | | After years of hard work, diligence, patience, and luck, |
| I encourage interested fliers to earn at least their | | | | you have finally achieved your goal of flying the |
| private pilot license close to home. If you need to keep | | | | friendly skies at a major airline. Finally, you reap the |
| your current day job while pursuing flight training, most | | | | benefits of a comfortable salary, a flexible schedule, |
| if not all of your training can be completed at your local | | | | and extensive travel benefits to share with your family |
| flight school. If you feel you would benefit from a | | | | and friends. |