• Tweet
• Sharebar

• Tweet

There is a lot of information out there about how to become a pilot but it is scattered and if you go to the FAA website, it’s hard to follow their rambling links. So, if you are investigating an aviation career or just want to get your pilot’s license, you’ve come to the right place!

Our goal is to gather all we can find about how to become a pilot and present it to you in a straightforward, easy to understand way.

The first thing to understand, we think, is that the decision to become a pilot is much more than just a career choice; it is based on a real passion for flying. In almost every pilot interview we’ve conducted, a real passion for aviation was the basis for those pilot’s decisions to follow their dreams. And if you are just starting out, you will need that passion for the journey ahead.

It will be easy to get discouraged on your path to becoming a pilot, especially if you set your sights on becoming an airline pilot. But it is not impossible, and like anything worth having, you must keep on until you reach your goal. The rewards are extraordinary, and no matter what, you’ll be doing what you love-flying!

With job forecasters predicting a need for new pilots in two years (when 65 year old pilots begin to retire) now is a great time to get started working toward your dream!

The Process

The first thing to know is that a pilot’s license is not actually called a “license”; they are Certificates. And your first step should be to obtain a Private Pilot’s Certificate. You will have to take ground training and flight training and then pass a written test and a flying test or “check ride” as it is commonly called. You’ll also need to get a physical to receive a third class medical certificate. Find out more about how to get your Private Pilot’s Certificate.

If you are serious in your decision to have a career in aviation, you have to upgrade your Private Pilot’s Certificate to a Commercial Certificate because as a Private Pilot, you cannot take compensation for flying. With a Commercial Pilot’s Certificate, you can fly for hire- you can even work for an airline as a co-pilot with this certificate.

You can get your Commercial Pilot’s Certificate by attending an aviation college or you can go a faster, less expensive route by taking classes with an accelerated flight school such as ATP. There are pros and cons to both so we encourage you to really investigate your options before you make a decision or commitment.

Another great option, and some would say the best route for how to become a pilot, is to join the military and a flight program. You have to qualify for training, of course and competition can be stringent but if you make the cut, you’ll bypass the expensive aviation colleges and when you get out of the military, you will usually have no trouble finding a position with a company in the civilian world. In fact, in many cases military pilots are preferred over others.

To get more flight hours and earn some income at the same time, you can also get your Flight Instructor’s Certificate and train other’s to get their Certificates.

If your goal is to work for an airline as a Captain, you will have to obtain your Airline Transport Pilot Certificate which is the highest Certificate you can get. While you can work as a co-pilot for many airlines with a Commercial Certificate, only Airline Transport Pilot’s (ATP) can be a pilot in command of an passenger aircraft. In many cases you will be hired on with a Commercial Certificate and then be trained on the airlines aircraft. Then during your check ride, you will also be tested for your Airline Transport Pilot Certificate so you don’t necessarily have to get this on your own.

Major airlines usually prefer a 4 year college degree in addition to a Commercial Pilot or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, First Class Medical Certificate, along with required flight hours, proficiency in English and age requirements.

Let’s get started!