Quick Navigation to Becoming a Commercial Pilot
Introduction
How Long Does It Take?
Cost and Other Factors
So, what are the 16 steps?
How do you become a commercial pilot flying a Boeing 787 as a Captain for a major airline? This 16-step guide is for you. Perhaps you’ve thought about flying as a hobby, but becoming a commercial pilot is actually a great career choice. What exactly defines a commercial pilot? Simply put, a commercial pilot is someone who has been approved by the FAA to charge for pilot services.
Follow these steps to become a professional pilot. If you are starting with no flying experience at all, don’t worry – this is how all pilots begin. I’ve shared general timeframes, but these vary by student.
Step 1: Decide If a Pilot Career is Right for You
1.1 Salary & Lifestyle: Research the salary, lifestyle, and demands of being a professional pilot.
1.2 Job Opportunities: Explore job opportunities, such as cargo, corporate, charter, regional, and major airlines.
1.3 Location Preference: Consider locations where you’d prefer to be based.
If you definitely want to become a professional pilot, keep reading!
Step 2: Be Sure You Meet Eligibility Requirements
2.1 Age: You must be at least 16 to solo, 17 to hold a private pilot license (PPL), and 23 for an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate.
2.2 Education: A high school diploma or equivalency is required. (Optional: A college degree is not required, but it can give you an advantage at major airlines.)
2.3 Language: You must be proficient in English, both written and spoken. English is the universal language of aviation.
2.4 Medical: You must pass an FAA medical exam with an Aeromedical Examiner (AME). Although the FAA only requires a third-class medical certificate to begin training, commercial pilots must have a second-class medical certificate, and airline pilots need first-class.
2.5 Passport: You must have a valid passport with at least 6 months before expiration.
2.6 Visa: International flight students must apply for and receive an M1 visa.
2.7 Legal Authority: Lastly, you must have legal status to work in the country where you want to fly. Check with your country to be sure you are eligible.
Time Needed: 1 week (Varies by student)
Step 3: Research and Choose Your Flight School
This is a big step, and you want to make a good decision. Researching takes time, so use all the tools at your disposal. First, decide on the type of school you want to attend.
3.1 Flight School: Part 61 training is more individualized and self-paced. Part 141 training follows a structured, FAA-approved syllabus and has lower minimum flight hour requirements.
3.2 College or University: Earn a degree within an aviation program while becoming a pilot.
3.3 Airline Cadet Program: Some airlines offer cadet training in conjunction with hiring opportunities.
3.4 Military: All 5 military branches have pilots. If you train with the military, you may be required to commit to a number of years of service.
3.5 Reviews: Once you decide on the type of school, look for positive reviews, safety records, and a professional environment.
3.6 On-site Tour: Visit the school if possible and take a discovery flight. At the very least, look at videos of the school.
3.7 Recruiters: Work with a recruiter from the school and ask every question you can think of. This is a big decision!
Time Needed: 1 week
Step 4: Get Your Student Pilot Certificate
4.1 IACRA Application: Apply for this using the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA).
4.2 Certificate Review: A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), FAA representative, or the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) must review and approved your certificate.
4.3 Processing Time: FAA processing typically takes 14-21 days.
4.4 Approval & Authorization: Once approved, they mail you the certificate. This authorizes you for solo flight once your flight instructor signs off.
Time Needed: 2-3 weeks
Step 5: Begin Flight Training to Earn Your Private Pilot License (PPL)
5.1 Ground School: Begin PPL ground school to learn aviation theory and practical knowledge. Ground school typically takes 8 weeks.
5.2 Flight Hours: While completing ground school, you’ll also train with a flight instructor to log a minimum of 40 flight hours (Part 61). In a Part 141 program, you must log at least 35. (Most PPLs take 50 to 60 hours of flight time. This varies by student.)
5.3 Flight Training: During flight training, learn basic maneuvers, navigation, emergency procedures, and radio communications.
5.4 First Solo: Fly your first solo! Once your CFI signs off, you’ll get to fly the aircraft on your own!
5.5 Knowledge Test: Pass the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test, known as the “written” to student pilots. This assesses your knowledge of aviation in subject areas like aerodynamics, weather, flight instruments, weather, etc.
5.6 Practical Exam: Pass the FAA Private Pilot Practical Exam, also known as the checkride, which assesses your flying skills and evaluates your ability to handle real-world flight scenarios. An FAA-authorized Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) conducts the checkride exam.
Congratulations! You are now authorized to fly solo in a single-engine aircraft, although you’re not able to be employed as a pilot yet.
Time Needed: 3 months
Step 6: Earn Your Instrument Rating (IR) to Fly in Poor Visibility Conditions
6.1 IFR Training: You will fly solely by instruments under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
6.2 Cross-Country Hours: The Instrument Rating requires 50+ hours of cross-country flying.
6.3 Required Rating: All commercial pilots must hold an Instrument Rating. Otherwise, you would be grounded in bad weather.
Time Needed: 8 weeks
Step 7: Earn Your Commercial Single-Engine Rating (CSEL)
7.1 Flight Hour Requirements: The Commercial Single-Engine requires 250 total flight hours (Part 61) or 190 (Part 141 schools).
7.2 Advanced Maneuvers: You’ll learn complex aircraft operations and commercial maneuvers.
7.3 Exams & Checkride: You’ll need to pass the Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) written exam and a checkride with a DPE.
7.4 Commercial Privileges: As a CPL, you can be paid as a pilot, although you’re not quite ready for the U.S. airlines in the U.S.
Time Needed: 6 to 8 weeks
Step 8: Earn Your Commercial Multi-Engine Rating (CMEL)
8.1 Multi-Engine Rating: You’re already a commercial pilot, but you’ll want the multi-engine rating so you can fly for the airlines.
8.2 Multi-Engine Operations: With this training, you will learn to operate planes with two (or more) engines.
8.3 Emergency Training: Training will include engine-out emergencies and asymmetric thrust.
8.4 Flight Hour Requirements: The flight hours vary under Part 61 (250 total including 100 hours of Pilot In Command – PIC and 50 hours of cross-country) and Part 141 (190 hours).
8.5 Exams & Checkride: You won’t need to pass a written exam unless you skipped the CSEL and went straight to CMEL after your IR. In that case, you would need to pass the CAX. You also need to pass the checkride, which will include multi-engine aerodynamics, engine-out procedures, and Vmc demonstrations.
8.6 International Pilots: If you are not from the United States, you can convert your FAA credentials to your country’s Civil Aviation Authority standards. Many countries allow you to fly passenger aircraft with 250 logged hours.
Time Needed: 3 weeks as an add-on; 1 to 3 months standard
Step 9: OPTIONAL – Become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
9.1 Why Instructing: Becoming a flight instructor is recommended for U.S. flight students who are required by the FAA to log 1,500 hours before they can fly for the airlines.
9.2 Paid Flight Hours: By instructing others, you can log hours while being paid.
9.3 Advanced Instructor Ratings: You can also earn your Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) and Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) ratings. These let you teach a wider variety of students.
9.4 Instructor Handbook: You may want to check out my book for flight instructors, Telling Is Not Teaching: The Flight Instructor’s Handbook.
Time Needed: CFI -2 months; CFII – 3 weeks; MEI – 3 weeks
Step 10: Time-Building
Log the required flight hours to qualify for Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Flight training is the most common way to build flight time, but you can also do banner towing, aerial photography, survey flying, and Part 135 charter flying.
10.1 Total Hours: Log 1,500 total flight hours in the U.S. and Canada (lower for some college programs); log 250 for most other countries
10.2 Cross-Country Hours: 500 of those hours must be cross-country.
10.3 Night Flight: 100 hours must have been flown at night.
10.4 Multi-Engine Hours: 50 hours must be multi-engine time.
Time Needed: 12 months (Varies by pilot)
Step 11: Get Your ATP Certificate
11.1 Age Requirements: You must be at least 23 years old. You can earn a restricted (R-ATP) if you’re 21.
11.2 ATP-CTP Course: Enroll in an ATP-CTP course (ATP Certification Training Program).
11.3 Simulator Training: Complete simulator training.
11.4 Exams & Checkride: Pass the FAA written exam and checkride.
Time Needed: 40 hours
Congratulations! You are now qualified to fly for the airlines. Your next step is getting hired!
Step 12: Apply to Fly for a Regional Airline
12.1 Regional Airlines: Most pilots start at a regional airline before moving to majors.
12.2 Applications & Interviews: Submit applications and prepare for both technical and HR interviews.
12.3 Simulator Evaluation: Prepare to be evaluated in a simulator.
12.4 Type Rating Training: Get hired and begin airline training on type rating (typically CRJ or ERJ).
Step 13: Become a First Officer
13.1 Initial Operating Experience: Complete your Initial Operating Experience (IOE). Learn your airline’s specific procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
13.2 Training Supervision: Fly under the direct supervision of a training captain.
13.3 Final Evaluation: Pass your final evaluation.
13.4 First Officer Status: Congratulations! You’re a First Officer!
Time Needed: 6 to 12 weeks
Step 14: Promotion to Captain
14.1 Captain Eligibility: After logging 1,000+ hours of airline experience, you can upgrade to Captain.
14.2 Checkride & Type Rating: You will have to pass a Captain’s checkride and get a Type Rating on a larger aircraft.
14.3 Upgrade Timeline: The time to upgrade varies and will depend on seniority, airline growth, and industry demand.
Congratulations! Now you can say, “This is your Captain speaking!”
Time Needed: 3 years (Varied by pilot; can be 1.5 to 5 years)
Step 15: Time to Apply to the Majors
15.1 Flight Hour Requirements: You’ll need to build 3,000+ flight hours (including jet experience), although 4,000 is more realistic.
15.2 PIC Experience: You’ll need to have logged 1,000 to 1,500 hours PIC in Part 121. This is a main requirement.
15.3 Major Airline Applications: Apply to major airlines like American, Delta, United, etc.
15.4 Interviews & Evaluation: Undergo a rigorous interview and simulator evaluation.
15.5 Airline Training & Jets: Once hired, complete airline training and upgrade to flying larger jets.
Time Needed: Pilots transition from the regionals to the majors within 3 to 7 years after starting at a regional airline.
Step 16: Career Advancement (Wide-Body Captain, Instructor, or Management)
You’ve paid your dues. Now you decide what you really want to do!
16.1 Wide-Body Transition: With the right experience, you can transition to international wide-body aircraft like the glorious Dreamliner!
16.2 Advanced Career Paths: Or, you may want to become a Chief Pilot, Check Airman, or Airline Executive.
At this point in your pilot career, the sky really is the limit!
Time Needed: 5 to 15 years (airline experience)
Types of Commercial Pilots
- Airline Pilots: Transport passengers on airlines like Delta.
- Cargo Pilots: Fly for FedEx or UPS and transport goods.
- Corporate Pilots: Fly private jets and business jets.
- Flight Instructors (CFIs): Build flight hours while training new pilots. With the current pilot shortage, they are always in demand.
- Specialized Pilots: Fly for charity organizations like Angel Flight or government agencies like the Forest Service. There are even some that are a bit unusual.
Whether you become a captain for Emirates, a fighter pilot as a U.S. Air Force veteran, or a corporate jet pilot in India, the sky truly is the limit.
How long does it take to become a Commercial Pilot?
This is the most common question we are asked! Whether you hope to fly an Airbus or Boeing aircraft, your CPL is the first step! You can go from zero pilot experience to being a Commercial Pilot in 8 months.
What if I want to go on to become an Airline Pilot?
After earning your CPL, you can build hours toward your Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) by becoming a flight instructor or flying cargo. To become an instructor, you will need to take the CFI course. In the United States, you will need to log 1,500 hours before you can be hired by a passenger airline.
How can I build time to get hired by the airlines?
“When I became a flight instructor in 1979, the FAA only required a pilot to log 250 hours to qualify to fly as a First Officer for the airlines. However, in 2012, they increased it to 1,500 hours. Most countries still only require 250.” –Mike Thompson, CFII and author of Telling Is Not Teaching: The Flight Instructor’s Handbook
Most pilots build hours by becoming a CFI or flying cargo. What a deal! Consequently, you get paid to fly as you build hours! In the U.S., once you’ve logged 1,500 hours, you can decide if you want to work for a commercial airline flying passengers. In other countries, like Colombia for example, you only need to have logged as few as 250 hours. I encourage you to review hiring requirements to help you decide which airline you want to fly with.
You know how long it takes, but how much does it cost?
The training is fast, but can you afford it? The average U.S. student completes all training in approximately one year at a cost of about $75,000 to $100,000. This is if you have no experience at all. Time impacts cost. You will start with your Private Pilot License and go on to complete a CPL. Then, it’s up to you how far you want to go with it.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median salary for airline pilots in 2023 at $219,140. Whether you train at the cheapest school or most expensive, a rewarding career awaits. Money spent on flight training is a good investment.
No matter where you live, we can train you. In fact, Epic has trained thousands of pilots from 100+ countries – from Australia to Zambia! You may also be able to train in your own country. In the UK, training costs approximately £110,000 ($135,000 USD). In the U.S., it’s a bit more affordable.
Why does the total cost to become a pilot vary so much?
The total cost for training varies on many factors. For example, how well students do in their courses, availability of aircraft, weather, and more. On average, most students go from having no experience at all to earning a CPL with instructor ratings in 12 months. The cost also varies depending on a number of factors, mainly how long it takes you. On average, though, the cost is approximately $75,000 to $100,00 for U.S. students. This is a sound investment in your future considering the median pay for an airline pilot exceeded $219,000 in 2023.
What else should you know? A quick summary:
The more you know, the better prepared you are. How do you choose a program? What qualifications do you need to get started? Is flight training difficult? Do you need a college degree to fly for major airlines like Delta and American Airlines? How to become an airline pilot is the question we hear the most, and I’ve attempted to answer that here.
Basically, you need a year to train and about $75,000 to $100,000. These are general estimates that most students have no trouble meeting. After training, choose from an assortment of flying jobs. Here at Epic, we frequently offer employment to our graduates as flight instructors. They earn a paycheck while logging the 1,500 hours required by the FAA to go on to the airlines. In fact, most airline pilots choose this path.
And, those of you with military flight experience have a head start. If you flew for the Army, Navy, Air Force or other branch, good for you! That free training will come in handy. You can apply that experience to your training and logbook, for example!
Would you rather watch our 12-minute video on becoming a pilot?
Meet Some Epic-Trained Airline Pilots!
Epic-Trained Airline Pilots
Graduate:
Emma Grimes
Career Highlight:
Captain, United Airlines
Graduate:
Dakota Jane Foster
Career Highlight:
First Officer, United Airlines
Graduate:
Cody May
Career Highlight:
Co-Pilot, Fair Wind Air Charter
View more of Epic Flight Academy's professional pilot career graduates!
Are you ready to turn your dream into a reality and pursue a career as a commercial pilot?
Excited? Eager? You probably have more questions now that you’ve learned how easy it is to become a commercial pilot. So, we invite you to contact us and let us know how we can help. We have trained thousands of pilots who now fly for the airlines. Why not you?
There are thousands of flight schools around the world, from America to India to Zimbabwe. So, do your research, follow the steps, and we’ll see you in in the skies!
