How To Start Aviation Career

Stage : Pursue A Bachelors Degree

Start Your Aviation Career at AIM

An airline pilot requires a bachelors degree in any subject, whereas a commercial pilot usually needs a high school diploma or equivalent. Some of the flight schools are part of 2-4 year colleges/universities offering the desired aviation or aeronautics degree, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration .

Pilot Courses after 12th

Opting for a Commercial Pilot Training program after 10+2 is yet another way to become a pilot after 12th. For this, you will be required to clear an entrance exam, interview, and a medical test as set by the institute. The fees of Pilot Training courses after the 12th ranges from INR 15 Lakhs to 20 Lakhs and can also vary if you plan to study abroad. Here are the top institutes for Pilot Training courses after the 12th:

Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy
Bombay Flying Club

Must Read: Career in Aerospace Medicine

Flight Training Can Be Expensive

Flight training can cost a significant sum. Most copilots you speak to will have spent the first few years of their career paying back the cost of their flight training.

Why is it so expensive?

Well, flight experience is graded using hours. And, unless you are very lucky, you will have to pay for those hours yourself.

Are there ways to make it cheaper?

Yes, absolutely.

While we cant do much about the cost of hiring airplanes, you can make savings in other ways. Expensive ground school? Forget it. Why not check out good online flying courses instead. Some of them are even free.

Stage : Complete Additional Training And Tests

A lot of airline companies require pilots to take aptitude and psychological tests as a precondition for employment. Once placed, pilots undergo further weeks of training and flight experience to get a hang of an adventure as co-pilots. Securing a prior experience with a regional airline company is always beneficial in the long run if you later plan to join a major airline.

Recommended Reading: Career Change To Nursing At 40

Is Being A Pilot Worth It

Home » Is Being a Pilot Worth It?

Is being a pilot worth it?

Many pilots find the job to be very exciting, dynamic, and rewarding. There are numerous careers in the aviation industry that you can pursue following your schooling.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

Many aviation careers are accompanied with financial benefits and energetic workplace environments.

Overview Of Aerospace Companies To Activate Your Career

Get trained by professionals in the aviation industry if you want to ...

Once you have achieved the necessary qualifications and you feel ready to move into aviation management, you need to find an employer to work for. Aerospace manufacturers are among the most significant aviation industry employers, and getting to know more about some of the biggest companies in this space can be advantageous.

Read Aerospace Companies: List of Aircraft and Spacecraft Manufacturers, and you can gain access to a directory of the biggest aerospace manufacturers in the industry, complete with background information about each of these companies.

Recommended Reading: Is Executive Career Upgrades Legit

Your Work Stops At The Airplane Door

In recent times, many have seen that working from home, is not the panacea they thought it would be. In fact, with many normal jobs, combined with advances in communication technology, work creeping into the home can be a real issue.

Want the good news?

If you work as a pilot, you wont face this problem.

Most pilots will agree that they stop thinking about work as soon as they close the airplane door and leave for the day. Your job is to fly the airplane fortunately, that airplane has to stay at the airport.

If you enjoy the thought of switching off after your working day has ended, a career as a pilot is a great move.

Choose A Flight Training Route

When it comes to learning how to fly, you have many options. You can go to a flight school, enroll in a college or trade school program, get training directly from an airline, or go into the military.

Flight schools

There are a couple different types of schools to become a pilot. They are known as either Part 61 or Part 141 schools. The terms refer to the sections of the Federal Aviation Regulations that govern how these schools operate.

Some FAA-approved pilot schools offer training under both Part 61 and Part 141.

Training under Part 61 also gives you the flexibility to do your ground school training through one of the many self-study courses available online. Ground school prepares you to pass the written FAA knowledge exams that are required of all pilots.

College or trade school programs

Colleges, universities, and technical schools offer a variety of aviation programs that include flight training . Some schools have their own fleets of aircraft, while others are affiliated with local flight schools. Many schools let you earn a degree along with your instrument and multi-engine ratings, private pilot certificate, commercial pilot certificate, and certified flight instructor designation in a single program.

Airline cadet programs

In response to the pilot shortage across the U.S., some airlines are offering cadet programs to train prospective pilots. Requirements vary slightly between programs, but all candidates must:

Military service

Private Vs Commercial Vs Airline Pilots: A Summary

Aviation training follows a progressive path: Learning how to become an airline pilot usually requires learning how to become a commercial pilot first, which requires learning how to become a private pilot. So it’s important to understand the distinctions between the various roles.

With a private pilot certificate, you can operate an aircraft for pleasure or personal business purposes, carry an unlimited number of passengers, and fly below 18,000 feet to virtually anywhere in the U.S. However, you can’t be paid for your services.

It takes at least 35 to 40 hours of flight time to get a private pilot’s license, but most people end up needing 60 to 75 flight hours to complete all the requirements. So, how long does it take to get a pilot’s license at this level? The whole process can take anywhere from four to 18 months, depending on things like weather conditions and aircraft availability.

Airline pilots are what most people are familiar with: They transport people and cargo on scheduled air routes. They generally start out as commercial pilots, although some come straight from the military. The requirements to become an airline pilot include amassing at least 1,500 hours of flight time and getting your Airline Transport Pilot certificate . The extra effort can definitely be worth it, since airline pilots make a lot of money. OES program figures show that the median commercial airline pilot salary was $147,220 in 2019.

Benefits Of Working In Aviation

Start a New Career in Aviation Maintenance | AIM

One of the main reasons nearly 10 million people are employed in the aviation industry directly is the constant demand for air travel. Boeing recently estimated that global cargo and passenger traffic will grow by five percent annually through 2032 and more than two million additional pilots, technicians and cabin crew will be needed by 2036 to meet that demand.

Diverse career opportunities that require varied skillsets and interests are another plus. Just like working in the medical industry does not mean you can only be a doctor or nurse, having a career in aviation does not mean you must be a pilot. Your skillset could prove a better fit for customer service, engineering, technical support or management.

You can also begin a career in aviation relatively quickly in some cases two years or less. While some jobs require a bachelors degree, there are many lucrative careers that require only an associate degree or certificate. The Piedmont Triad is home to a number of community colleges as well as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University which offers specialized aviation programs and degrees that can get you on your way without a long-term time commitment or monetary investment.

You May Like: Career Paths For History Majors

What Else Should You Know

The more you know, the better prepared you are. How do you choose a program? What qualifications do you need to get started? Is flight training difficult? Do I need a college degree to fly for major airlines like Delta and American Airlines? Without good information, its hard to know where to begin. Were happy to share our knowledge with you!

Basically, you need a year to train and about $70,000. These are general estimates that most students have no trouble meeting. After training, glide through the air to an assortment of flying jobs. Here at Epic in sunny Florida, we frequently offer employment to our graduates as flight instructors. They earn a paycheck while logging the 1,500 hours required by the FAA to go on to the airlines.

And, those of you with military flight experience have a head start. If you flew for the Army, Navy, Air Force or other branch, good for you! That free training will come in handy. You can apply that experience to your training and logbook!

Will I Have To Go Back To School To Become A Pilot

In short, yes. Youll need to earn your private pilots license before you can start flying solo. After that, youll want to get your commercial pilots license if youre interested in pursuing a career in commercial flying. The good news is that many flight schools across the country will help you achieve your goals.

Also, flight school is quite hands-on. So even if youre not a bookworm, you might find that you enjoy flight school quite a bit.

What Is A Qualified Job Offer

A Qualified Job Offer offers you a defined path and an accelerated timeline to become a Delta pilot – and then helps you achieve the necessary qualifications along the way. Pilots meeting the requirements of the Delta Propel program can progress through your chosen career route to Delta in 42 months or less – faster and more seamlessly than ever before.

You Enjoy Continuously Learning

The learning never stops for pilots. They are constantly training and optimizing their skills. This is because the industry experiences a lot of evolution throughout the years.

Because of this, education for a piloting career can become a costly venture. At the same time, though, this investment can also lead to high wages and advancement opportunities. Some pilots even have their continued training covered by their employer.

Also Check: Career Fields In High Demand

Is Aviation A Good Career

Simply put, the activities in the Aviation industry revolve around designing and developing various aircraft, handling production and operations, and flying or repairing aircraft. As an ever-growing industry, one can find innumerable opportunities across various sub-domains of the sector and avail a wide range of benefits and perks. Whether you are planning to become a part of the cabin crew or aspiring to pursue Commercial Pilot courses, a career in Aviation is financially fulfilling and personally rewarding!

You Are Okay With A Variable Schedule

Pilots may spend several nights away from home, as flight assignments are unpredictable. If you are a commercial pilot, your schedule may be even more irregular, though possibly more flexible.

Pilots, in general, work very sporadic hours, and preferred routes and hours are given to pilots with seniority. Due to their variable schedules, pilots can potentially spend holidays away from family and work many days in a row without days off.

Aerospace Or Aeronautical Engineer

Requirements: Bachelors degree

Have you ever considered what makes it possible for an aircraft to take to the skies, travel from point A to point B and safely land? Aerospace and aeronautical engineers are the men and women behind the scenes who design and test aircraft propulsion systems for safe and efficient flight. These engineers have a deep understanding of physics and computer technology, and often work in a manufacturing setting.

Earn Your Airline Transport Pilot Certificate

You become a commercial airline pilot by earning your ATP, which is the highest certification a pilot can obtain. With it, you are eligible to fly large commercial aircraft.

To qualify for the ATP, you must be at least 23 and have a commercial pilot certificate, instrument rating, and first-class medical certificate. In addition, you must:

Log 1,500 hours of total flight time: This must include at least 500 hours of cross-country flights, 100 hours of night flights, and 75 hours of instrument time. As noted above, most commercial pilots become flight instructors in order to build up their hours.
Complete an Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program : This consists of 30 hours of ground school training covering airplane performance, automation, carrier operations, meteorology, crew resource management, and more. You must also complete at least 10 hours in a simulator. The FAA publishes a list of approved ATP-CTP providers. You must complete the ATP-CTP in order to be eligible to take the knowledge exam.
Pass the ATP Multiengine Airplane written knowledge test with a score of at least 70 percent: You have four hours to answer 125 questions. FAA data shows that in 2018, 99 percent of candidates who took this exam passed. Once you pass, you have five years to complete the checkride. You do not need an instructor endorsement.
Pass the checkride: As always, there is both an oral component and a flight component.

Join A Local Flight Club

Well you got your gliding license? Or you might just want to do even more… Joining a local flight club is something we really recommend you! If you do not have a certificate then it is something that you can do at most clubs. At flight clubs, a variety of people with different ages, experiences and certificates all gather together.

Cessna 172

This will give you tons of new experience and of course great stories. If you are lucky you can maybe ride along as a passenger from time to time. At flight clubs you can volunteer and learn about maintenance, navigation and flight theory. Especially theory is something that most clubs in Europe are teaching out for free, giving you a lot of knowledge about aviation.

Also Check: How To Transition To It Career

Stage : Earn A Pilots License

The first step is to complete the required number of hours of flight experience, followed by a written assessment exhibiting your flying abilities and clearing the physical test. The key is to be confident and prepared. The list of major pilot licensing issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in each country is as follows:

Private Pilot License
Commercial Multi-Engine Land
Certified Flight Instructor

In the US, certification is regulated by the FAA, while Transport Canada issues licensing in Canada. In most European nations, including the UK, Switzerland, Greece, France, and many more, licensing is furnished by the National Aviation Authority.

Further, based on the type of pilot you want to become, the age requirements for a license will vary.

Student Pilot License 16 years
Private Pilot License 17 years
Commercial Pilot License 18 years

Check Out: Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering

How To Pick A Flight School

Choosing a flight school can be a challenging task. If youre going to stay in your local area, youre limited to the few flight schools close by.

If this is what youll be doing, consider visiting the flight school and talking with the chief or assistant chief instructor to learn more about the school and what it offers.

There is also a lot of aviation Facebook groups for different areas across the U.S. You may want to join one in your area and ask people for recommendations.

If youre willing to relocate for your flight training, whether for the long term or for a popular accelerated training program, there are many more options. Arizona, Texas, and Florida are states with some of the biggest flight schools since they all offer fantastic year-round flying.

When learning how to become a pilot, one of the biggest things to consider when choosing a flight school is deciding if you need a Part 141 or Part 61 program.

Part 141 and Part 61 are two different regulations under which flight instruction can be completed. Any flight instructor can train under Part 61, whether or not they are associated with a flight school.

Training under Part 141 regulations on the other hand can only be completed at schools approved by the FAA.

The requirements to earn your pilots certificate are the same regardless of which training you fall under.

Part 141 schools, however, must have each part of their curriculum approved by the FAA and they are subject to audits.

Is It Hard To Become A Pilot

If you are motivated and committed, it isn’t too hard to become a pilot. There are lots of steps to go through and challenges to meet, but many people find the process interesting and enjoyable. And the payoff is the freedom and adventure that comes with being involved in aviation.

As with any profession, becoming a pilot requires persistence and dedication. If you put in the effort to study and prepare properly for each exam and each flight, you will advance. Just take it one step at a time.