How to Become a Pilot

Have you ever boarded an airline flight and wondered how to become a professional pilot? Commercial aviators go through lots of technical training to fly advanced airliners. But as cool as it is to fly heavy metal, every pilot once started in small single-engine aircraft.

There are a variety of training paths pilots can take. Here is a basic step-by-step guide on how you too can fly passengers safely to their next destination.

Start Learning to Fly

Step 1:

Earn your Private Pilot License

The first step to becoming a professional pilot is to earn your private license. This training provides the foundation for all of your future training and requires 40 hours of flight experience.

Step 2:

Obtain an Instrument Rating

The Instrument Rating is an “add on” certification which allows pilots to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). This means pilots can operate aircraft in reduced visibility by referencing only the aircraft’s flight instruments. It is one of the most important phases of pilot training.

Step 3:

Earn your Commercial Pilot License

The Commercial license requires 250 hours of flight experience. This is the minimum certification needed to be employed as a pilot in the United States.

Step 4:

Add on Multi-Engine Rating

This certificiation allows for pilots to progress from single-engine aircraft to operate aircraft with two or more engines.

Step 5:

Build flight experience

Now employable, most pilots, at this point obtain jobs to build necessary experience to meet airline hiring minimums. There are a variety of employment opportunities available to commercial pilots from flying charter aircraft, flight instructing, as well as providing aerial tours.

Step 6:

Apply for a Regional Airline.

Federal regulations require pilots to have at least 1,500 flight hours of experience before they may apply to be an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Once a pilot has met this requirement, they may apply to regional airlines. These smaller airlines allow pilots to continue to build their experience to one day apply for major air carriers such as Delta, American, or United airlines!