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Tips on Becoming an Airline Pilot Congratulations! You have decided to pursue a challenging and rewarding career field. As with any worthwhile goal, the road to becoming an airline pilot may have its ups, its downs, and a few detours. Along the way, there is help, guidance, and encouragement. To assist you on your journey, we prepared this booklet full of tips. (To those of you who are not receiving your flight training in the United States, these tips may not apply to you.) To download the booklet as an Adobe PDF document, you will need the Adobe reader. If you don't have that, download it now.
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Getting Started Most airlines are looking for qualified individuals with a college education and an extensive flying background. Specific qualifications vary among airlines and are influenced by the supply of pilots and the positions available. Before deciding to pursue a career as an airline pilot, there are several things you should consider first. You must decide if this is the lifestyle you want. Airline pilots are typically away from home more than other careers. You may do three, four, or even up to 12 day trips. Expect to work holidays, fly at all hours of the day and night and through multiple time zones. This type of lifestyle can be fun and exciting, but may be hard on family life and children. Also, you have to look objectively at your physical health. Airlines want individuals in good physical condition with good eyesight. You must be able to keep a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) First Class Aviation Medical throughout your airline career. You may want to check with an FAA designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) if you want to make sure you are medically qualified to fly as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Some medical conditions could make you ineligible. You can locate an AME from the Yellow Pages under Physicians, Aviation, or contact a local flight school. Also, although several airlines will hire you with less than 20/20 eyesight, if yours is less than 20/70, it may be more difficult. Airline pilots are usually based (domiciled) in major cities and you may not be able to choose which city initially. If you prefer to live where there is no domicile, you will need to commute several times a month. Most airlines offer the cockpit jumpseat to airline pilots, which helps in the commute. Military vs. Civilian - Which way to go? Now, you must decide how you want to obtain the necessary training and experience. Some things to consider are your finances. Can you afford a specialized four year college or would you rather train at a local aviation flight school? Or are you thinking of getting your training through the military, where all your training is paid for? MILITARY CIVILIAN You need to decide if you want to go to an FAA approved school or go the home study route. There are several two and four year colleges offering degrees in aviation related fields that will also train you for a pilot career. One advantage to There currently are two governing FAA regulations for flight schools. FAR Part 141 is what most colleges and more structured schools are governed under. FAR Part 61 usually is a less structured curriculum and allows the flight instructor more discretion in his or her training. This is also referred to as the home study route, since you will be doing most of your studying on your own. However, in both schools the same information must be covered. Most people are unaware there are various levels of pilot certificates and training required to become an airline pilot. They are: 1. Private Pilot Certificate: Must be 17 years old, have an FAA third class medical, a minimum of either 40 flight hours, of which 20 hours must be solo (FAR Part 61) or 35 hours ground school plus 35 hours flight training with 20 dual and 15 solo hours (FAR Part 141). You must successfully complete a written test before you can take a flight test with an FAA examiner. Now you can carry passengers, but may not be compensated. 2. Commercial Pilot Certificate: Must be 18 years old, have a second class medical, a minimum of either 190 hours (FAR Part 141) or 250 hours (FAR Part 61) of flight time, of which you must have 10 hours in a high performance aircraft, 100 hours solo, and 40 hours cross country. You must successfully complete a written exam and an FAA flight test. Now you may fly for hire. However, you will have restricted privileges if you do not have an instrument rating. 3. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP): Must be 23 years old, a high school graduate or equivalent, possess a commercial certificate, first class medical (if your eyesight is worse than 20/200, you must obtain a waiver), 1500 PIC hours, pass a written exam and an FAA flight test. Now you may perform Pilot-in-Command (PIC) duties in airline and other transport operations 4. Certified Flight Instructor Certificate: Must hold a Commercial Certificate and an instrument rating, pass two written exams, and an FAA flight test. Now you may instruct private or commercial students. ADDITIONS TO PILOT CERTIFICATES: Multiengine Rating - Usually around 10 hours multiengine training and an FAA flight test. Now you can fly smaller aircraft with more than one engine. Type Ratings - Usually specialized training in one specific aircraft. Required for all jets and large propeller aircraft. ADDITIONS TO THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE: The only certificate necessary to fly for the airlines is the Commercial Certificate with instrument rating. However, most airlines will not hire you until you have at least 2000 flight hours, consisting of at least 500 hours instrument (flying in instrument weather conditions), 1000 hours cross-country, 500 hours Pilot-in-Command, 500 hours multiengine experience, and an ATP certificate. Now that I have my Certificates, where do I go from here? As previously stated, most airlines will not hire you straight out of flight school. Many military pilots also find they need more experience before they can get hired, especially those who chose to fly helicopters while in the service. So your next step is to gain that necessary experience. 1. Instructing : This will probably be your next step in the process to achieve that elusive airline position. Instructing is an excellent way to built up time, but the pay is usually low. At first you will probably teach private pilots and build up only single engine time. However, as your career progresses, you can train instrument students and multiengine students if you have the necessary instructing certificates. 2. Building time on your own : You may choose to build up your flying hours by owning or renting an airplane and flying it on your own. Several people can go in together to purchase a single engine aircraft to build up flight time or an advanced aircraft to build up multiengine and/or instrument time. Once you have achieved the desired minimum flight hours, you are ready for the next phase. Here is where you build up the necessary flight hours in order to apply 1. Charter : This may be the next logical step up from instructing. Several flight schools also have charter departments that rent out various aircraft to individuals or companies and usually supply the pilots as well. You can gain valuable experience in several different types of aircraft. Charter departments vary greatly in the types of aircraft flown, compensation and working conditions for their pilots, so do your homework. Ask pilots who work for them currently about the department. At several flight schools, once you have instructed for a set period, you may become eligible to move over to the charter department. 2. Commuter and Regional Airlines : Hopefully, during your instructing, you built up enough time to be able to fly for a commuter or regional airline. They usually require a minimum of 1000 hours, but are not as restrictive as the major airlines on the type of hours you have, e.g., instrument, PIC, cross country, or multiengine flying. Most commuters fly larger and more complex aircraft, and this will help you build up your overall flying time as well as experience in larger aircraft. You can also build up your PIC time if you are able to become a captain and fly from the left seat. 3. Corporate : Several corporations and businesses own aircraft to fly their personnel around. They fly anything from a small single engine aircraft to large jets. This is another way to build up your time. However, you should research each businesss flight department before choosing this route. Many departments are large with several jets and scheduled flying. But just as many own only one small airplane and may not fly it often. If your goal is to build up your time to get that job with the airlines, some corporate departments may not be the way to go. 4. Other Flying : There are several smaller avenues to building up your flying hours. They can be crop dusting, air ambulances, helicopter flying, or aircraft delivery and ferrying for aircraft manufacturers. However, there is not as much of a demand for these services. Therefore, there aren’t as many jobs available. Whatever route you choose, you must realize that there are many other very qualified individuals who also want that airline job. You are attempting to get into a highly competitive field, so you need to make yourself as desirable a candidate as possible to the airlines. 1. Get your college degree : It may look better if it is in an aviation related field. However, many individuals get hired with other degrees. Having any four year college degree puts you ahead of other candidates without one. 2. Build up good flight hours : By this we mean get as much experience as possible in more than single engine aircraft. Work on multiengine, cross country, instrument, and night flying. Build up time in high performance aircraft, such as turbo props and jets. Build up your Pilot-in-Command time, especially in larger and more complex aircraft. Get a type rating in a complex aircraft or jet. This will all go a long way in making you stand out from the other candidates. 3. Be a good citizen : Volunteer your time to worthy organizations such as Flying Samaritans, EAA Young Eagles Program, and non-aviation related organizations, such as helping Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts with their Aviation badges. 4. Become and stay informed : Join organizations that can help you stay abreast of the aviation community, such as the Ninety Nines, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Women in Aviation, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and the Civil Air Patrol. Read up on topics of interest. Subscribe to related magazines and periodicals such as Flying Careers Magazine. If you are computer literate, there is a wealth of information on aviation at your fingertips. You can go Aviation or go AVSIG on CompuServe, go to Aviation Forum on America On Line, or search the internet for websites related to aviation. 5. Continue your education : Attend FAA or other seminars on aviation related topics or take courses to enhance your aviation knowledge. Attend conventions, such as Women in Aviation, EAA Fly-ins such as Oshkosh, and local fly-ins. Talk to others in the aviation field, especially those individuals who have the positions to which you aspire. 6. Keep an accurate, neat logbook : Your logbook will be reviewed by many individuals including prospective employers and the FAA before all checkrides. It is your record of all your flying experience. You will make a much better impression if it is well organized. 7. Wear hearing protection when flying : Airplanes can be very noisy and prolonged exposure could permanently damage your hearing. You may be rejected by the airlines if your hearing doesnt meet certain requirements. In this handout, we have tried to help you get started on your career in aviation. As you can see, there is much work involved in becoming an airline pilot. We can not give you that magical formula to guarantee you achieve your goals. You have to make your own decisions on where you want to go from here. No matter which road you choose, expect to put in years of hard work and dedication to your goal. But ask anyone sitting in that seat now if it was worth it and you will most likely get a resounding Yes! Airline Pilot Magazine Airline Pilot Association Airline Pilot Career Magazine (800) JET-JOB Airliners Magazine (800) 875-6711 Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine (800) 525-5003 Flying Careers Magazine (800) 492-1881 Flight Training Magazine - National Assoc. of Flight Instructors, 99NEWS Magazine International Organization of Women Pilots' Professional Pilot Magazine Woman Pilot Magazine Books and Videos Airline Pilot Starter Kit From AIR, Inc. (800) JET-JOBS Airline Pilot Career Development Systems: From AIR, Inc. (800) JET-JOBS Airman's Information Manual (AIM). FAA Becoming A Professional Pilot. Robert Mark Checklist for Success: A Pilot's Guide to the Successful Airline Interview. Collegiate Aviation Scholarship Listing University Aviation Assoc. (UAA) Collegiate Aviation Guide University Aviation Assoc. (344)844-2432 Flight Training Handbook. FAA Flying the Big Birds - On Becoming an Airline Pilot. Sylvia Otypka. Flight Plan to the Flight Deck: Strategies for a Pilot Career. Judy A.Tarver Flight Guide for Success, Tips and Tactics for the Aspiring Airline Pilot. How to Become a Pilot: The Step by Step Guide to Flying. FAA, N. Wexler Job Hunting for Pilots-Networking Your Way to a Flying Job. G.N. Brown Videos-Sporty's Pilot Shop 'Get Started' Series: Learning to Fly, Choosing the Right Flight School and Finding the Best Flight Instruction. Organizations and AssociationsAircraft Owners and Pilot's Association Alpha Eta Rho - A Coed International Aviation Fraternity. Executive Director, Civil Air Patrol - Aerospace Education Division, Experimental Aircraft Association Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Director of Education, DOT-FAA, 800 Independence Ave., SW, Washington DC, 20590. (202) 366-4000 International Society of Women Airline Pilots Ninety-Nine's - International Organization of Women Pilots. Organization of Black Airline Pilots (OBAP) University Aviation Association Women in Aviation, International Air, Inc - Aviation Career Counseling Cage Consulting - Universal Pilot Application Service (UPAS) - Air Transport Pilot - Pilot authorized to act as Pilot-in-Command of aircraft weighing more than 12,500 lb. or jet powered. Complex Aircraft - Any aircraft having more than 200 horsepower or retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller. Cross Country - Any flight from one airport to another of 50 nautical miles distance FARs - Federal Aviation Regulations governing flying and flight training. Federal Aviation Administration - The branch of the federal government which has jurisdiction over all air transportation. Dual - All flight time while receiving instruction from a certified flight instructor. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) - Rules governing the operation of aircraft flying in less than VMC or on an IFR flight plan. Solo - All flight time acquired while flying alone, not with an instructor. Type Rating - Pilot aircraft rating required to act as Pilot-in-Command on aircraft weighing over 12,500 lb., or with jet engines. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) - Rules governing the operation of aircraft flying in VMC. Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) - Visibility must be greater than three miles and ceiling higher than 1,000 feet above ground level.
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