Hiring Requirements for Delta Air Lines

Type of airline: U.S. Passenger

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Hub(s): Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardian, Salt Lake City, and Seattle-Tacoma along with focus cities: Boston, Cincinnati, Raleigh/Durham with service to 306 destinations

Origin: The company started in 1929.

Values: Honesty, integrity, and respect

Hiring Requirements: 

General Requirements

  • At least 23 years of age
  • Graduate of a four-year degree program from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Dept. of Education recognized accrediting organization
  • Degrees obtained from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
  • Current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple reentry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents)

FAA Requirements

  • FAA commercial airplane category pilot license with an instrument rating
  • Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate.Meets ALL minimum FAA airplane category ATP requirements (14 C.F.R. 61.159) including successful completion of the ATP written exam.Flight Time RequirementsMinimum of 1,500 hours of total documented flight time
  • Minimum of 1,000 hours of fixed wing turboprop or turbofan time
  • 90% of the flight time logged in powered lift category aircraft (e.g. AV-8B, F-35B, and V-22) will be credited to the Delta Air Lines 1,000 hour fixed wing turboprop/turbofan requirement.Minimum of 250 hours PIC in an aircraft categorized as an airplane.
  • The flight time logged in a powered lift category aircraft cannot be credited towards PIC aircraft time in accordance with 14 C.F.R. 61.159.Minimum of 50 hours of fixed wing multi-engine time.

When evaluating the flight time of applicants meeting the basic qualifications, consideration will be given to, among other things, quality, quantity, recency, and verifiability of training; complexity of aircraft flown; types of flight operations; and hours flown as PIC in turbine powered aircraft.

Other Requirements

  • Applicants invited to interview must provide appropriate documentation of all flight hours and college transcripts.
  • FCC Radiotelephone Operator’s Permit (RP)
  • DOT required pre-employment drug test
  • TSA required fingerprint based Criminal History Records Check and a Delta background check

Homepage: Delta

Although we have tried to provide the most useful and accurate information here regarding hiring requirements for commercial airlines, we encourage you to confirm these requirements for yourself.

Our flight school provides the training you need to get started for a career with Delta Air Lines. Wishing you a great career as a commercial airline pilot and hoping you land your dream job!