I've heard before that the majority of commercial airline pilots are former military trained pilots. True?

Answer 1

yes, very true!!

Answer 2

I'll answer your question with a question.
You are responsible for interviewing and hiring 15 new 757 rated pilots.
You have 20 ex military pilots that have thousands more hours logged , more than 10 years experience wanting the job.
Also you have 100- 22 year olds that have gone through a "pilot school"
barely have the required experience, and little to no real world experience.
Which would you hire?


Unfortunately for the the military, they are STILL losing these senior pilots.
(they are retiring in droves) the airlines are often their choice of career

Answer 3

I don't know if it the majority, but I do know that there are former military pilots that fly commercial now. But keep in mind that there are a lot of other people who go to school and learn to become pilots. It takes just as long in School and training to be a pilot as it does to be a surgeon. Just a little FYI.

Answer 4

it depends if they are offered a job... more than likely yes but fighter pilots are less likely to be immediately selected. Army pilots only get accredited so many hours of flight for certain rotor craft... but that is only on certain certified aircraft with the FAA... Sikorsky, which is the maker of the UH-60 Blackhawk is not an accredited rotorcraft, hence all the hours flown in the military mean squat in the FAA civilian sector. However, the weird thing is, Army pilots flying the attack AH-64 Apache are accredited all flight hours because Beoing is the maker of that craft as well as the CH-47 Chinook which the FAA recognizes. AirForce cargo pilots are often sought because their hours are automatically accredited hence making them more eligible for a pilot position upon discharge in comparison to a college graduate.

Answer 5

authentic. First, the Air stress or army make for an incredible education floor for pilots. 2d, after Vietnam and up by the 1970's and '80's, there have been lots of experienced fliers without jobs. maximum went into commercial aviation. probability is that the subsequent gray haired pilot you have served proudly in Viet Nam. yet, that's slowly changing as that era is getting previous itself into retirement. the US will locate itself with a scarcity of experienced pilots interior the subsequent 5 to 7 years.

Answer 6

I'm going to say that MANY are former military pilots, and there are quite a few commercial pilots that are in the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, and the Naval Reserve. My OWN unscientific research tells me that you can tell a Navy and Marine pilots from Air Force pilots. The Navy and Marine pilots tend to land the plane a bit harder, because they have to do that on Carriers to catch that wire, and Air Force piltos "glide" in because they dont need to catch the wire on land. As I said that's my own unscientific research. But Im prejudice, I'm and AF veteran. LOL!

Answer 7

not true anymore, also this crap about military pilots having 15hundred million hours thus they are preferable to hire is utter crap. most military pilots have less than 2000 hours in there entire career. 1200 hours is the bare minimum and 2500 hours is usually the realistic minimum for hire with a major carrier. regional carrier are another story

also mr pa28-180: anyone interviewing for a 757 seat is not going to be a 22 yr old fresh outa school. more like a 28 to 30 yr old with 2500 to 3000 hours at a small regional carrier.

Answer 8

I work with veterans for a living. All but one of the pilots I know are commercial airline pilots. The other one is a flight instructor.

Answer 9

no, thats not true. Many are, but most are now lifelong civilians. Either path will get you a job, its just a question of how you want to do it.

And to Mr. Pa-28_180....most companies tend to prefer hiring civilian trained pilots because they are a little more likely to know the "real world" rather than miliraty sorties that involve flying straight and level on a bombing run over and over for 4 years.

Civvies have been flying in the same airspace system that the airlines fly in for years, and we know the ins and outs a lot better than someone who flew a KC-135 out of Minot, ND for refueling missions for the better part of their careers.

Answer 10

Yes, it's the best way to get that commercial pilot's license.

Answer 11

The peson named eMale dosent know what they are talking about cuz 40% of Continental pilots alone are ex-military.