Becoming a Pilot & Airline Pilot Career FAQs

An aspiring pilot can do their flight training and earn their pilot certificates and advanced ratings via these civilian routes:

• A university aviation program

Despite what you may have heard, you don't have to join the military to become an airline pilot. Times have changed greatly over the last two decades. Of all the pilots hired by major US carriers in 2008, a small 28% had military backgrounds. Compare this to 1992 when about 90% had military experience! (Source: Air Inc) For those on the career track, you should also know that a degree in aviation is not necessary. However some choose to go to an aviation university as the curriculum interests them and they can get college credit for their flight training. There are many 'big name' schools such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University or the University of North Dakota that offer programs that run upwards of $100K for a 4 year degree. Students earn their Private Pilot and Commercial pilot certificates (yes- it is technically called a 'pilot certificate' and not a 'pilot license'), Instrument & Multi-engine ratings, and often their Flight Instructor certificates while doing their degree. However, many smaller schools offer aviation degrees as well. To research aviation universities go to the University Aviation Association website. Upon graduation student commonly have about 250-300 hours going this route, unless they became an instructor as part of their program and built up additional experience. Unfortunately, a mere 300 hours is not be enough to get an airline job.

There are also several aviation academy programs that tout their affiliations with certain regional carriers as a 'fast track' to the airlines. Mesa Pilot Development, Pan Am Academy, ATP Flight School and the Delta Connection Academy are some big names. These are the schools that advertise in Plane & Pilot or Flying magazine each month claiming "We'll make you an airline pilot!" or "Looming Pilot Shortage!". You get the same certificates & ratings at an academy as you would at an aviation university but without the degree. Successful graduates of such academy programs are usually guaranteed an interview with the academy partner airline (or airlines). This is not a job guarantee but an interview only. Such programs typically cost $50K-$80K. An academy program, or university for that matter, may try to sell you on 'being ready' for when hiring resumes again and that may be 2 or 3 years from now. Take anything they say with a grain salt as you must remember that getting students (and their money) is their livelihood.

In the past, many aviation university or academy program graduates were granted regional airline interviews and hired at substantially lower flight experience than the airlines normally require due to their 'bridge program' affiliation and airline oriented training. Unfortunately for many aspiring pilots, this 'quick route' to the airlines may not possible in the future. The Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 which was passed in Oct 2009 requires all pilots who apply with a regional airline to have their Airline Transport Pilot/ATP certificate. The minimum flight experience for this pilot certificate is 1,500 hours- up to five times the flight experience the average bridge program graduates had. This hour long video of the Airline Training & Safety Hearings from the Transportation Subcommittee is of interest and is worth watching if you want to be educated on what is happening, why this bill was passed and how it will affect current and aspiring regional pilots over the next few years.

Lastly, a local flight school or flying club is another route to get all the necessary certificates & ratings. Some airports do not have flying clubs, but it's worth investigating as clubs are often not-for-profit and for their members. They have no overhead or staff to pay, so they are often less costly than flight schools on the same airport. One can typically expect to spend around $30-$35K on their Private & Commercial certificates plus Instrument & Multi-engine ratings if done via the school/club route. A benefit with many clubs is that some their CFIs may have more experience than those at a flight school who has hired their past students with a fresh CFI certificate. Club CFIs may be airline pilots or working professionals who have spent years instructing on the side simply because they enjoy teaching.