Additional Information
The key to becoming a pilot is getting practice in the air. It's primarily
the number of hours you spend in the air that allows you to progress to larger
planes, and to be allowed to carry passengers.
Of course, you must first take flying lessons, with an instructor at the
controls (at first). You can get flying lessons by registering in a flight
school, by taking individual lessons at a small local airport, or by joining
the military.
The first step in the process is earning your private pilot's license.
This involves getting flying experience and passing a written exam.
Many aspiring pilots take flying lessons while (or before) they earn a
diploma from a technical college. Aviation flight technology or airline and
flight operations are examples of programs aspiring pilots may take at college.
The other main way to become a pilot is to join the military. This gets
you a very high level of training at no cost to you.
"Some people join the military, and the military pays for their whole training,"
says Russell Yuen. He's a flight instructor. "The only downside is you do
have to serve in the military for a certain number of years afterwards. It's
actually really intensive because they only take the best of the best for
their flight training."
It takes 40 hours of flying time, in addition to written exams, to get
your private pilot's license in the U.S. That's according to the Federal Aviation
Administration. Some of that time will be spent flying with an instructor,
and some of it will be on your own (solo practice).
After earning a private pilot's license, if you want to make your living
flying, you still have to get a commercial license.
Getting a commercial license requires more experience, more training and
more money. In the U.S, all commercial pilots have to be certified by the
Federal Aviation Administration.
"It's all about flight hours," says Yuen. "Nowadays, airlines require you
to have about 2,000 hours of multi-engine experience if you want to enter
[a major airline]. So where can you get that 2,000 hours of multi-engine experience?
Through commuter (short distance) airlines.
"But commuter airlines don't want you to join them unless you have 1,500
hours of single engine experience. And where can you get single engine experience?
Through flight instructor experience. It's pretty much a step-up process.
As you get more experience and more flight hours, people move up."
A physical exam is required to become a commercial pilot. Pilots must have
20/20 vision with or without glasses, good hearing and no physical disabilities
that would impair performance.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, pilots at major airlines
usually have about 4,000 hours of flight experience under their belts at the
time they're hired.
The lifestyle of a pilot isn't for everyone, especially if you work for
a major airline. You'll be away from home a lot, and your schedule is irregular.
Don't expect to become an airline pilot right away. It can take 10 or more
years to obtain enough qualifications and experience to have a chance of being
hired by a major airline.
Most cities have flight schools. You can find a school near you by searching
online, or by checking the phone book under airports, flight or aviation.