What is the shortest time in which you could become a pilot to fly an international/ commercial plane?

Answer 1

The answer depends on WHERE (what country) you are asking about....

BUT it can be as little as 18-24 months.

In the United States, there have been pilots who were hired on at regional airlines (many with international destinations) to fly RJs with <500 hours experience after they went via an "approved airline affiliated curriculum" with certain flight schools or "Airline Academy". The time frame was 12-18 months from their first flight

Here is an example of such placements-
http://www2.atpflightschool.com/AirlinePlacements/

The MAJOR airlines in the USA, however, would take many, many years and several thousand flight hours of experience!

If you are asking about Europe or Asia (i.e. outside the USA), there are also programs that offer a similar time frame of under 3 years to a career as there are airlines abroad who employ very low flight time first officers (with their advanced exams passed even though they haven't the flight qualifications yet- a "frozen ATPL") to fly Boeings & Airbuses. Something the airlines in America do not do.

For example, this young pilot started training at age 18 and was hired at Aer LIngus where he flew until getting hired by BG Airways when he was 21! The article doesn't say how old he was when Aer Lingus hired him, but I can imagine he was only 19 or 20 with 1-2 years training/experience. Read these links-

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=15822335&method=full&siteid=50061&headline=youngest-ba-captain-but-mum-happy-on-ground-name_page.html
http://www.oxfordaviation.net/company/ba-pr.htm

Answer 2

Well no less than a year of full time studies and flight training to get a multiengine Commercial IFR.
And count on about $25,000 minimum.
This just gets you the license. No major or even minor operator is going to hire you with the ink still wet on the license.
You have to build hours and work towards an ATPL. Airline Transport Pilot's License.
Once you have obtained an ATPL and at least 1500-2000hrs of time (a good chunk had better be multi-engine PIC time) then you MIGHT have a shot at a feeder airline and gain some valuable multi-turbine, pressurized time.
Spend a few years there slaving for very little money and long hours and putting up with a lot of crap...then you MIGHT be eligable for the majors.
Depending on the market....if you make it to the majors in eight to ten years...your doing well
Good Luck!

Answer 3

Legally and realistically you can do it in about 6 weeks under US laws.

You only need to have the 150 hours and other training needed to get the commercial rating.

There are no extra requirements to fly across international borders except the passport.

This will likely not land you a job because there are not many people flying fruit over the border in light aircraft anymore, and you would still need to compete with much more experienced pilots for the job.

If you want to fly over the oceans for airlines or freight carriers it will likely take you at least 7 years, and maybe 20 or more.

Answer 4

You first need to complete a PPL (Private License) it takes 45 hours training, you then need a further 150 hours Pilot in Command before you can do your Commercial rating, then you study for you ATPL ground school takeing about a year, but you will also need about 600 - 800 hours before anyone will look at you. All in all about 2 - 3 years. Its best to join the Airforce, you get paid, you get better training and you are almost guarenteed a Airliner job when you finish up.

Answer 5

There is no specified time...To become an Airline pilot takes education, dedication to the profession and lots of work in the field...Add in a little luck also...All Airlines require you to have a specified pilot license and a minimum educational background and minimum flight time... Go to www.usaviation.com and you will find message boards for all the US airlines and their hiring qualifications....

Answer 6

About the same time it takes the FBI to track you for asking stupid questions like this.

Answer 7

I think Mr Atta could answer this best

Answer 8

Who are you? Why do you want to know? Where are you?What's the rush?):

Answer 9

ask the terrorists