Future Pilots

General Qualifications All pilots are certificated by their national regulatory authority—the FAA in the United States and Transport Canada in Canada. In the...See more » General Qualifications All pilots are certificated by their national regulatory authority—the FAA in the United States and Transport Canada in Canada. In the United States, a certificate can be refused or revoked if the individual is determined not to be of good character; this stipulation does not apply in Canada. Physical requirements vary with the level of the license, but all pilots must be able to pass a physical examination at regular, frequent intervals. An airline pilot needs a good educational foundation in mathematics, science, English, and geography. Most airlines prefer a four-year college or university degree. Experience Requirements In aviation, experience is judged in two ways: hours of flying and kind of flying. Most airlines require at least 1,000 hours of flying time, preferably in multiengine turbine aircraft. The average new-hire at regional airlines has more than 2,000 hours; the average new-hire at the major airlines has almost 4,000. Although flight instruction and similar work are good ways to build up the first hours of commercial flying experience, once a pilot has recorded 2,000 to 3,000 hours of flying, additional time confers no competitive advantage unless it is flown in large transport-type aircraft. A pilot with 6,000 hours as a crop duster is probably a very good crop duster—but the airlines want multiengine, and specifically turbine, experience. Some pilots today are staying with small-aircraft airlines because the pay is becoming more attractive and quality-of-life conditions can be the same as, if not better than, the majors. A growing number of pilots obtain their college degrees and flight ratings simultaneously at schools that offer such curricula. A few airlines have internship programs established at some of these schools that enable pilots trained there to be employed by that airline after graduation. These programs can reduce the amount of time and money needed to obtain an airline pilot job. Training More than half of the pilots currently flying for U.S. airlines have had military training, with the percentage slightly lower in Canada. In both countries, however, the military services are training fewer pilots and requiring longer service commitments. You may reach your goal of becoming an airline pilot sooner through civilian training, much of which is geared to airline flying. Pilot training can be obtained in colleges through aviation courses or from privately operated flight schools. FLYING THE LINE Personal Requirements * Age * Physical Condition * Education * Health Learning to fly an aircraft requires training and experience, but because pilots are in command of equipment valued at millions of dollars and are responsible for hundreds of lives, they must also have good judgment and a good attitude. Certification On the way to becoming an airline pilot, there are four levels of pilot certificates: * student, * private, * commercial, and * air transport pilot (U.S.) or airline transport pilot (Canada). Except for the pilot holding only a student certificate, a certificate holder may have different ratings or types of certification. For instance, a pilot may have ratings for single-engine, multiengine, land, sea, helicopter, or instrument flying. A type rating for the specific aircraft model is required before a pilot may fly a large aircraft that requires a two-pilot crew. All categories of certificates require recency of experience. All pilots must pass a flight review with an instructor at least every two years. In addition to taking regular six-month FAA/Transport Canada and company flight checks, and simulator and medical exams, an airline pilot is subject to unannounced spot checks by federal inspectors. Films, booklets, and brochures are available from a variety of sources, including the airlines, the government, aircraft manufacturers, libraries, schools, and associations. Many home study courses are available, including visual and taped presentations. Aviation supply shops and some airports offer training books for sale. Where you prepare for your aviation careerSee less »