Airline Pilot Career Academy

To become an airline pilot, you need to undergo pilot training at a flight school like Flex Air and obtain a commercial pilot certificate, gain flight hours, and meet specific requirements set by the airline where you want to work.

The requirements to become an airline pilot include obtaining a commercial pilot certificate, completing flight training, accumulating 1500 flight hours, passing medical examinations, and meeting age and education criteria.

You can start a pilot career by enrolling in a flight school, completing the necessary training, obtaining pilot certificates such as private pilot certificate, and then working towards becoming a commercial airline pilot.

The average salary for airline pilots in the United States, according to the most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook from May 2022, is as follows:

• The average annual salary for commercial pilots is $103,910.
• The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is $211,790.

The salary of airline pilots vary based on factors such as experience, type of airline, and position within the company. For a much more detailed look at pilot earnings see our Airline Pilot Salary guide.

An airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate is crucial for pilots aspiring to fly for airlines. This certificate demonstrates that a pilot has met the highest level of certification, allowing them to serve as the captain or first officer on commercial flights.

A commercial pilot can fly for compensation or hire, while an airline pilot specifically works for an airline operating commercial flights with larger aircraft.

• Commercial Pilot: A commercial pilot license (CPL) allows an individual to be compensated for flying. This certification enables pilots to perform a variety of operations such as cargo flights, aerial surveying, flight instruction, and agricultural spraying, among others. However, a CPL does not automatically qualify a pilot to fly for airlines, which typically require the more advanced Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification.

• Airline Pilot: An airline pilot typically holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license, which is the highest level of pilot certification. ATPs are authorized to act as Pilot in Command on scheduled air carriers' flights, meaning large, passenger-carrying airlines. This certification requires more extensive flight experience and training, focusing on the operation of large aircraft under stringent regulations typical of major airlines.

Airline pilots have promising career prospects, especially with the current pilot shortage in the industry. With the right qualifications and experience, aspiring pilots can secure positions with major airlines and advance to become captains.

The pilot shortage in the aviation industry has led to increased demand for qualified pilots, offering opportunities for aspiring pilots to secure jobs as airline pilots. Airlines are implementing initiatives to attract and retain pilots to address the shortage and ensure safe and efficient flight operations.

Military pilots transitioning to commercial aviation can leverage their experience to meet FAA requirements, with pathways varying depending on whether they are rotary-wing (helicopter) or fixed-wing pilots. All candidates must obtain an FAA Medical Certificate and verify military flight experience. Military pilots need to pass the FAA's knowledge and practical tests, but may qualify for exemptions based on military tests and experience, including a reduction in total flight hours for the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.

Rotary-wing pilots, while possessing valuable flight experience, face additional steps to transition to fixed-wing commercial aviation. Flex Air offers a Rotor Transition Program specifically for military and civilian helicopter pilots.