How to Become a Pilot

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Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Most of the major airline companies typically mandate candidates to possess a bachelor’s degree in aviation or a related field when seeking airline pilot positions. Thus, if your aspiration is to pursue a career as an airline pilot, a common route students opt for is to attend a Federal Aviation Administration-approved institution. At these institutions, you can concurrently undertake aviation-focused coursework leading to a degree while receiving pilot training.

Do I Need an Aviation Degree to Become a Pilot?

An aviation degree is not an absolute prerequisite to becoming a pilot. While many major airlines do require a bachelor’s degree or a related field for their pilot candidates, this requirement doesn’t apply universally.

Some smaller regional airlines, private operators, or cargo carriers may have more flexible educational requirements, and individuals with diverse educational backgrounds can pursue careers as pilots.

For those who choose not to pursue an aviation degree, there are alternative pathways to becoming a pilot, such as attending a flight school independently or seeking out a certified flight instructor to provide the necessary training. These routes typically involve more direct flight training without the comprehensive academic coursework that comes with an aviation degree.

It’s essential to research the specific requirements of the airline or type of flying job you’re interested in and tailor your education and training accordingly. Ultimately, while an aviation degree can be advantageous, it is not the only way to achieve your goal of becoming a pilot.

How Long Does it Take to Get an Aviation Degree?

A bachelor’s degree in aviation or a related field typically takes about four years of full-time study to complete. This degree provides a more comprehensive education in aviation and may include flight training as part of the program. It’s often chosen by those aspiring to become airline transport pilots or pursue aviation management, aviation technology, or aviation safety careers.

How Much Does it Cost to Get an Aviation Degree?

The cost of getting an aviation degree varies depending on the school you choose and your location. However, you can expect to pay between $8,910 and $23,129 for an aviation degree program. In addition to tuition, you will also need to factor in the cost of flight training, which can be quite expensive. The cost of flight training will vary depending on the number of hours you need to fly to obtain your pilot’s license.

Can I Become a Pilot Through Online Education?

While you can learn theoretical aviation knowledge through online education, becoming a pilot typically requires hands-on flight training that cannot be fully accomplished online. For instance, many aspects of aviation, such as aerodynamics, navigation, regulations, and meteorology, can be learned online through ground school courses.

However, flight training, which includes actual flying in an aircraft, is a critical component of becoming a pilot. This part cannot be done online. Flight training requires physical presence in an aircraft with a certified flight instructor to teach you practical flying skills and maneuvers.

Nonetheless, some aviation schools offer a hybrid approach where you complete the theoretical portion of your training online and the practical flight training in person. These programs can offer flexibility while maintaining the hands-on experience required.

What are Some Web Resources to Help a Budding Pilot?

Becoming a better pilot involves continuous learning and staying up-to-date with the latest aviation knowledge and best practices. There are several web resources and websites that can help you improve your piloting skills, stay informed about aviation developments, and connect with the aviation community.

• FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam): The FAA offers a wide range of safety resources and online courses through FAASTeam. These resources cover various aviation topics and are a great way to enhance your knowledge and skills. You can also access FAA regulations, advisory circulars, and other essential documents on the official FAA website.
• AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association): AOPA provides articles, videos, webinars, and educational content on aviation safety, regulations, and pilot proficiency. You can find information about pilot requirements for different stages of training. There’s also an aviation job board for pilot openings.
• EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association): EAA offers resources for pilots, including articles, webinars, and information on recreational aviation and aircraft building.
• Aviation Podcasts: There are many aviation podcasts available, covering a wide range of topics from safety to aviation history. Some popular ones include Aviation News Talk and Airplane Geeks.
• Safety Organizations: Organizations like the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) provide safety reports, recommendations, and insights that can enhance your safety awareness.

Remember to always cross-reference information from multiple sources and verify its accuracy, especially when it pertains to flight planning, safety, and regulatory matters.

Step 2: Obtain Your Private Pilot License

For those who do not want the bachelor’s degree path, obtaining a private pilot license could be their actual first step in becoming a pilot. A Private Pilot License (PPL) is a type of pilot certificate or license that allows an individual to act as the pilot-in-command (PIC) of an aircraft for personal, non-commercial purposes. It is one of the foundational pilot licenses and serves as the starting point for many individuals pursuing a career in aviation. Private pilot requirements include flight training, ground school training, and checkride.

Eligibility

Before you can obtain a private pilot license (PPL), you must meet certain eligibility requirements. In many countries, including the United States, these requirements typically include being at least 17 years old (age requirements may vary by country), holding a valid aviation medical certificate, and having a sufficient command of the language in which flight operations are conducted (usually English).

Ground School Training

To prepare for the private pilot written exam, you’ll need to complete ground school training. Ground school covers essential aviation knowledge, including aerodynamics, aviation regulations, navigation, weather, and aircraft systems. You can take ground school courses at a flight school, online, or through self-study using textbooks and resources.

Flight Training

The practical aspect of obtaining a PPL involves flight training with a certified flight instructor (CFI). During flight training, you’ll learn how to operate an aircraft, perform various maneuvers, navigate, communicate with air traffic control, and handle emergency situations. Flight training typically includes both dual instruction (with the instructor) and solo flight time.

Flight Hours

You’ll need to accumulate a minimum number of flight hours, as specified by the aviation authority in your country. In the United States, for example, you must log a minimum of 40 flight hours, which includes at least 20 hours of flight training with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight time. However, many students require more hours to reach proficiency.

As part of your flight training, you’ll eventually reach a point where your flight instructor allows you to fly solo. Solo flight is a significant milestone in your training and demonstrates your readiness to operate an aircraft independently.

Checkride

After receiving comprehensive flight training, student pilots must prepare for a knowledge test and their final evaluation, known as the checkride. The flight instructor will assess the student’s readiness and, when they feel confident, sign off for the checkride.

The checkride is conducted by an FAA examiner and evaluates the student’s knowledge and practical flying skills. During the checkride, the student must demonstrate flight planning, interactions with air traffic control, flight maneuvers, and the ability to follow the examiner’s directions. Upon successfully passing the checkride, the student becomes an official private pilot, having earned their Private Pilot License (PPL).

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Private Pilot License

The cost associated with obtaining a private pilot certificate can vary significantly, ranging from approximately $6,000 to $20,000. Multiple factors contribute to these cost variations, with geographic location being one of the primary determinants. Flight training expenses tend to be higher in regions characterized by high living costs compared to more rural areas where training costs may be comparatively lower.

Step 3: Acquire Your Instrument Rating

Except you’re satisfied with being able to fly only a handful of people non-commercially with your pilot license, a private pilot license is not enough. Thus, after obtaining your private pilot license, you need to acquire an instrument rating.

An Instrument Rating (IR) is an advanced pilot certification that allows a pilot to operate an aircraft solely by reference to instruments, even when visibility is poor or in adverse weather conditions. This rating enhances a pilot’s skills and capabilities, enabling them to fly safely and effectively in a wider range of situations.

Here is a simple breakdown of what is required for you to get an instrument rating:

• You must either already hold a Private Pilot Certificate or apply for one concurrently with your Instrument Rating.
• You should be proficient in reading, speaking, writing, and understanding the English language.
• Complete ground training with an authorized instructor (IGI or CFII) or through a home study course.
• Obtain a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying your readiness to take the knowledge test.
• Complete required training, including:
  • Fifty hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command.
  • Forty hours of actual or simulated instrument time, with at least 15 hours from an authorized instructor.
  • Three hours of instrument flight training within two calendar months before the check ride.
  • A cross-country flight of 250 nautical miles with instrument approaches at each airport and three different types of approaches (e.g., VOR, ILS, GPS).
• Pass the knowledge test (unless you already hold an instrument rating in another category, like a helicopter or powered lift).
• Successfully pass the required practical test.

Most Important Pilot Skills You Will Learn

Becoming a pilot involves developing a wide range of skills, both technical and non-technical, to ensure the safe and proficient operation of an aircraft. Here are some of the key pilot skills you will learn during your training.

Aircraft Operation Skills

• Flight Controls: Flight control is one of the most important pilot skills you need. You’ll learn how to manipulate the aircraft’s control surfaces, including the yoke or stick, rudder pedals, and throttle, to control pitch, roll, and yaw.
• Aircraft Systems: Understanding and operating various aircraft systems, including engine, electrical, hydraulic, and avionics systems.
• Navigation: Navigating using charts, GPS, and navigation aids, and planning routes.
• Instrument Flying: Flying solely by reference to instrument, which is a critical skill for flying in low visibility or adverse weather conditions.

Aerodynamics and Flight Principles

• Understanding Aerodynamics: Knowledge of how aircraft generate lift, the effects of drag, and the principles of flight.
• Stall and Spin Recovery: Techniques to recover from a stall or spin, which are critical for safety.

Communication Skills and Decision-Making

• Radio Communication: Effective communication with air traffic control (ATC) and other aircraft using radio procedures.
• Crew Communication: If flying with a crew, clear communication and coordination with co-pilots and crew members.
• Risk Management: Evaluating and mitigating risks associated with flight, including weather, equipment, and personal factors.
• Crisis Management: Handling emergencies and making sound decisions under pressure.

Weather Interpretation and Flight Planning

• Weather Analysis: Understanding weather reports, forecasts, and how weather conditions can affect flight safety.
• Flight Planning: Planning routes, calculating fuel requirements, and ensuring safe and efficient navigation.
• Dead Reckoning: Navigating by estimating your position based on known factors like time, speed, and heading.

Situational Awareness and Emergency Training

• Situational Awareness: Maintaining awareness of your aircraft’s position, altitude, heading, and overall flying environment.
• Emergency Training: Preparing for and responding to various in-flight emergencies, such as engine failures, fires, and medical incidents.

Step 4: Get Your Commercial Pilot License

The licenses never end, do they? Well, air transport is a serious business, and it’s important to ensure only the best pilots get to fly people and cargo. A commercial pilot license (CPL) is a pilot license that allows you to fly airplanes for hire. This means that you can fly passengers and cargo for money.

To get a commercial pilot license, a private pilot license is a prerequisite, logbook endorsements to take the aeronautical knowledge test and the practice test. You will also need to pass the commercial pilot knowledge test and the commercial pilot practical test.

A total flight time of 250 hours is required to earn a commercial pilot license. Of these 250 hours, you must log at least 100 hours as a pilot in command and 10 hours each of instrument training and technically advanced airplanes.

Step 5: Level Up With Multi-Engine Rating

The multi-engine rating is an important step on the journey to becoming an airline pilot. It is a pilot rating that allows you to fly airplanes with two or more engines. Airline pilots are required to have a multi-engine rating because they fly large airplanes with multiple engines.

Multi-engine airplanes are safer than single-engine airplanes because if one engine fails, the pilot can still fly the airplane safely on the remaining engine(s). The multi-engine rating training focuses on teaching the pilot how to fly a multi-engine airplane safely and efficiently. This includes learning how to start and operate multiple engines, how to handle engine failures, and how to coordinate the engines for takeoff, landing, and cruising.

Once you have obtained a multi-engine rating, you can start applying for jobs that require it. There are many different types of jobs available for pilots with multi-engine ratings, such as flying for charter companies and corporate flight departments.

Step 6: Rack Up the Flight Hours

To fly as a pilot for commercial airlines, you will need a lot of flight hours — 1,500 hours. This is why your multi-engine rating and commercial pilot license become an advantage. You can get a flight instructor certificate in addition to these certifications to rack up more flight hours. The great thing is that you get to earn money as you rack up these hours, whether transporting people or cargo on single and multi-engine aircraft or helping new pilots learn the ropes as a flight instructor.

Step 7: Get Your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate

With 1,500 flight hours in the bag, it’s time to finally apply for an Airline Transport Pilot certification, the highest achievement of pilot certification.

In addition to 1,500 flight hours, airline transport pilot requirements include:

• Be at least 23 years of age.
• Possess either:
  • A commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating
  • Or meet the military experience requirements to qualify for a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating,
  • Or a foreign airline transport pilot license with instrument privileges
• Medical requirements:
  • Hold a 1st class medical certificate to act as Pilot-In-Command
  • Hold a 2nd class medical certificate to act as Second-In-Command
• 1,500 hours of Total Flight Time:
  • 500 hours of Cross-Country Flight Time
  • 250 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC)
  • 100 hours of Night Flight Time
  • 75 hours of Instrument Training
  • 50 hours of In-Class of Rating Sought
• Pass an ATP knowledge test.
• Complete and pass an ATP-CTP training program.

Beyond flying roles, ATP-certified pilots can take on additional responsibilities, such as instructing other pilots in air transportation services. They can also endorse pilot logbooks and training records for aircraft within the same category, class, and type for which the ATP holder is rated.