Being an airline pilot is probably one of the best jobs in the world. Responsible for commanding commercial flights, flying passengers to long or short-haul destinations, and an office above the clouds traveling the globe.
Below are our top 10 reasons why becoming a commercial
pilot is a rewarding career:
1. Who doesn’t love to travel?
Travelling is one of the major perks of this career. Being
an airline pilot means you have opportunities to travel - and get paid to do
it!
With all the different routes that pilots travel, every
working day means taking off in one country only to land in another -
potentially to a country you haven’t explored yet.
Depending on your schedule you might end up staying
overnight or longer, giving you the opportunity to explore new cities and
experience different cultures.
2. You can’t beat the view
Not many people in the world can say they have an office in
the clouds. Most airline pilots say it’s a view they never grow tired of. From
thunderstorms in distant clouds to never-ending blue sky, it’s easy to see why.
3. Travel discounts for family and friends
Being an airline pilot, it is likely you will have access to
discounted (and sometimes free) plane tickets for family and friends, which
means good deals on great vacations. Some airlines may ask friends and family
to pay charges and taxes, but this is likely to be the extent of what your
loved ones will have to pay - in some cases, you can even upgrade to business
or first class!
And in addition to airfare, a number of hotels provide
discounted prices as well!
4. Career focus
If you’re looking for a job with major job satisfaction,
you’ve found it. Commanding a plane filled with passengers and getting them
safely from A to B is as satisfying as it gets. One of the major benefits of
being a pilot is you can expect a hugely rewarding career; from taking your
first solo flight, completing your first landing, flying to a new destination
to overcoming challenges, every day is rewarding as a pilot in the cockpit.
5. Work stays at work
No one likes taking their work home with them, and aside
from studying for annual tests, pilots leave their work on the plane. There’s
nothing to take home once you finish your day and close that cockpit door.
6. Flexible working
Flexible working has always been a major advantage of being
a pilot. It's not your typical 9-5, Monday to Friday job.
7. Challenge yourself
Being a pilot means constantly learning. With so many
flights departing airports every single day, no two flights are ever the same -
even when you’re a pilot. Each day can bring a new challenge, which not only
keeps things exciting but also encourages you to become a better pilot.
8. Meet new people
As a pilot, you will constantly have the opportunity to meet
new people. From your flight crew to passengers, to residents of the cities you
visit, you’ll be introduced to people and cultures you may not have otherwise
had the opportunity to become acquainted with.
9. Salary and health benefits
Aviation is a rewarding career that offers personal and
career growth opportunities. Pilots earn competitive salaries with
opportunities to further their careers in the cockpit or broaden their career
path into aviation management.
10. Do what you love
Most importantly, becoming a pilot allows you to do what you love. And as the saying goes; ‘if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’
How to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot
If you are a student who wants to study
aviation, you might have several possible careers in mind.
One of these career paths might be that of a commercial airline pilot. Working
as a commercial airline pilot is a fascinating and rewarding career, and many
people who study aviation intend eventually to become one. There are several
steps that you will need to go through before becoming a commercial airline
pilot, however.
Certificates and Ratings
In order to become a commercial airline pilot, there are
several certificates and ratings that you will need. The first thing you will
need is a private pilot license, which will allow you to fly on your own, but
does not allow you to receive payment for flying.
Commercial pilot certificate
Next, you will need a commercial pilot certificate, which
allows you to receive payment for your flight services. You earn this
certificate by passing commercial pilot ground school and logging at least 250
flight hours, with allotted time dedicated to certain conditions and maneuvers.
After you have passed your written ground school test and logged your hours,
you will need to pass a check-ride. This is a lot like the driving test
required in order to receive a driver’s license; in the check-ride, a Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) examiner will ask you to plan a flight, quiz you
on aviation matters, and then accompany you on a flight. Like with a driving
test, you will be asked to execute certain maneuvers and your examiner will
direct your flying throughout the flight. After the test, if everything goes
well, you will be issued a commercial pilot’s certificate.
Medical certificate
Additionally, in order to become a commercial airline pilot,
you will need an up-to-date first- or second-class medical certificate. To
receive this, an Aviation Medical Examiner will need to verify that you meet
the health and fitness requirements to be a pilot. As a commercial airline
pilot, you will be subject to these examinations throughout your career; captains
need to pass a physical exam once every six months, and other commercial
airline pilots need to pass an exam every year. If a health problem is
discovered, you could be out of a job.
Instrument Rating
You will also need to get an instrument rating in order to
fly with low visibility (in adverse weather and in clouds). You receive this
rating by passing instrument ground school, logging a specified number of
instrument flight hours (flying without visibility), and passing an instrument
rating check-ride.
Multi-Engine Rating
Next, you will need a multi-engine rating. This will allow
you to fly planes with multiple engines, which is most likely what you will fly
as a commercial airline pilot. To receive this rating, you will need to take
some lessons and mass a multi-engine check-ride.
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
At one point or another, most commercial airline pilots also
get an airline transport pilot certificate. This is the highest pilot
certificate and allows you to be the pilot in commend (captain) of a large
commercial aircraft. For this certificate, you will need to pass a written
test, have a first-class medical certificate, be a high school graduate, and
have logged 1,500 flight hours, including 250 hours as the pilot in command.
Career Paths
There are two major career paths to being hired as an
airline pilot: civilian or military. Each path has its own advantages and
disadvantages:
Civilian
The civilian path offers two options: college or flight
school. While there is no college requirement to be a pilot, college shows that
you are trainable and can succeed in a challenging curriculum—both of which are
necessary traits in a commercial airline pilot. You might choose to attend a
college that offers a two- or four-year degree along with flight training
towards the various flight certificates you will need. This way, you will
graduate with most—if not all—of the ratings and certificates you will need, as
well as some flight experience.
Civilian flight training is very expensive. Basic flying
lessons start at about $80 an hour, and you will need at least 250 hours before
you receive your commercial rating. It also costs a great deal to rent
airplanes for instruction.
Military
Another option for becoming a commercial airline pilot is to
receive your training through the military. You will need to commit to a set
number of years in the military after one year of pilot training (in the Air
Force, this is a ten-year commitment). You will need to meet other
requirements, such as college coursework, good health, and adequate physical
abilities. There is no guaranteeing that you will pass the military flight
training on the service’s rigid time schedule, or that you will be able to fly
a specific airplane. You will, however, receive the best training in the equipment
that an airline pilot would fly.
You must be prepared for military life, however; it is
not a commitment to take on lightly. You will be required to follow orders,
risk bodily harm, and use lethal weapons. If you are not prepared for this, the
military is probably not the best path for you.
Flight Experience
After you are certified, you will need more experience and flight hours before an airline will hire you. Your level of experience is based on the number and complexity of the aircraft you’ve flown, the quantity and complexity of the flying you did (jet or propeller, day or night, local or cross-country, flying with or without visibility, etc.), and which crew positions you’ve had. If you chose the military path, you will likely have quite a lot of flight experience before leaving the military. A civilian pilot might work as a flight instructor, then move on to a charter company in order to gain the experience he or she needs in order to become a commercial airline pilot.