How to Become a Professional Pilot

If you are thinking about a career as a professional pilot the first step is to take an introductory flying lesson at a local airport. A half hour introductory flying lesson costs between $50-70 depending on the aircraft.

If you enjoyed your first flight and are still interested in becoming a professional pilot you have multiple flight training options to consider. There are many flight schools that offer package training deals, and often times these are in fact the best way to go. However, I strongly recommend that for you first flight training goal, earning your Private Pilot's License, you consider a smaller flight school that will offer flexibility and will strive to make your flight training fun! Your flight instructor is pivotal in this process, don't settle for a bad fit. Seek an instructor who has experience, is professional, and makes learning how to fly fun. Your Private Pilot's License should be challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable!

After your Private Pilot's License consider your options. If you are in high school or have yet to earn a college degree and your ultimate goal is to become an airline or corporate pilot, strongly think about a 4-year university degree in aviation science, or aviation management. Most airlines require a 4-year degree, and by majoring in an aviation discipline your flight training will constitute a major part of the curriculum and you will earn college credits for your flight training.

If you choose not to enroll in an aviation university, either because you already have a degree, you want to major in something else (airlines don't actually care that much about what your degree is in), or your goal is not to become an airline or corporate pilot, consider a flight school that will offer a competitive, comprehensive flight training package; taking you from your Private Pilot's License to your Commercial Pilot License, including Instrument and Multi-engine ratings.

Once you earn your Commercial Pilots Certificate and Instrument Rating, thinking about becoming a Certified Flight Instructor. This is by far the most popular method of building flight time and experience so that your make yourself competitive for regional airlines and corporate flight departments.

Consider getting your Airline Transport Pilot License.

The airline pilots you see in the terminal are not Commercial Pilots! There is actually one more license you will need to get to work for an airline, called an Airline Transport Pilot License. This is weighted heavily on experience, requiring a minimum of 1500 hours flight time. Your Commercial Pilots License does allow you to fly for hire, in such capacities as a flight instructor, pipeline patrol, and some cargo operations.