2007-09-09 05:12:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
No, there is no special school. There are many and you can chose the path best for you. See #2 below.
HOW TO BECOME AN AIRLINE PILOT:
(Civilian route)
1. Get your degree. You do not need a degree in aviation, but having a degree in any subject is a requirement to getting hired on at a major airline. The regionals aren't so picky. Many think they must have an aviation degree to have an edge but when or if you are ever furloughed during your career an aviation degree is useless.
2. Get your pilot certificates and ratings via a flying club or school at the local airport, a university aviation program. A newly certificated commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings usually has about 250 hours. This is not enough for the airlines*. (See note* at bottom) There are also programs like the ATP Career Track that get you certified then have you instruct for them and promise a preferred airline interview (At a cost of about $39K, which is the low end that you should expect to pay to get your licenses & ratings. Other schools are upwards of $80K).
3. Build up flight experience until about 600-1,000 flight hours. Most regional airlines require pilots to have at least that much flight time (their "minimums" or minimum requirements), with 100 of that being in multi-engine aircraft plus Commercial/Multi/Instrument pilot certificate. (An Airline Transport Pilot certificate is not required to be hired.) Common time building jobs are: banner towing, skydive pilot, pipeline patrol, traffic watch or flight instruction (with the additional Certified Flight Instructor rating)
4. Upon reaching the "minimums" begin applying! Hopefully you will get hired. Learn to live on a budget as regional airline pay is not very good. After building up about 2,000-3,000 hours and "paying your dues" at a regional you then qualify for a job with a major carrier.
5. Begin applying all over again with the majors.....
* There are some airline academy programs (Delta Connection Academy, Mesa Airlines Pilot Development, Flight Safety among others) that offer a "quick entry" scheme into the right seat of a regional airline. They are very costly and do not guarantee a job, but an interview only. If you pass their program and the airline interview, you could very well be hired as a First Officer at 300-400 hours
For more stuff you need to know, visit:
http://www.pilotcareer.info
http://www.jetcareers.com
REGARDING THE AIR FORCE (or military):
Contrary to what has been posted, most new hire airline pilots in the past 10 years have NOT been trained in the military! 65% of airline pilots getting hired these days are from a civilian background (source Air Inc) up from 65% in 2000. If you simply want to become airline pilot, do not join the military simply as a means to that end. Do it if you want to serve your country but don't think of it simply as a way to get "free flight training" so you can become an airline pilot. In all reality, it's not truly "free" and the openings for military aviators are fewer and more competitive than they have ever been. If you somehow manage to even get accepted into the service as a pilot candidate and make it through flight school, you will be committed for a decade or more. You could also get killed in the line of duty.
2007-09-09 06:02:51 · answer #1 · answered by Av8trxx 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Delta Connection Academy are two of the leading schools.
But you can get your flight training anywhere and become a airline pilot. Question should be, what place will get you the best job, pay and get you there faster.
Generally military pilots get the best jobs, but that's changing.
A degree helps. I would suggest Embry Riddle or the Military. However keep in mind, if you join the Military, you're not guaranteed you'll be a pilot. Even if the recruiter promises you.
2007-09-09 08:02:50 · answer #2 · answered by Pilot boy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its all about timing. There are pilots flying for the major airlines without college degrees and pilots with astronaut experience. Right now the regional airlines are having trouble finding pilots with the time qualifications. Some are hiring pilots with 500 hrs. total time. Ten years ago you would have needed close to 2500 hrs.
2016-05-20 05:12:18 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Major airlines do not accept applications, you have to apply at smaller commuter links and you have to have 800-1000 hours of experience and a bachelors degree.
I don't recommend going into the Air Force. It is very likely that you won't be selected as a pilot candidate and will be assigned to non-flying duty where you can't take any flight training.
2007-09-09 05:25:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Most comercial airline pilot come from a military background. Your best bet would be graduate from college, and either be in the ROTC while in college or join the military after college.
Most pilots are officers, this requires a college degree.
My brother-in-law is an Air Force pilot, who was in the ROTC in college. hope that helps.
2007-09-09 05:30:18 · answer #5 · answered by KMcG 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There are flying schools, but to get enough flight hours you'd have to be wealthy, since you rent the plane and pay the instructor.
Most commercial pilots learn their trade in military service.
2007-09-09 05:17:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
go into the airforce and get your education while you serve your country, it is a great plan, and will make you a proud citizen. after you get out you will have no problems getting a job/career
2007-09-09 05:24:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
try emory riddle university. http://www.erau.edu/index.html
2007-09-09 05:36:27 · answer #8 · answered by wraith9712001 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋