How to Become a Airline Pilot

Fly scheduled passenger or cargo routes for a certificated air carrier — the most common destination for career pilots worldwide.

Salary by Career Stage

Entry

$50,000-$100,000 (regional first officer, US)

Mid-Career

$150,000-$220,000 (mainline first officer)

Senior

$300,000-$500,000+ (mainline captain, wide-body international)

Top US legacy captains on 777/787 with seniority can clear $700k. Middle East tax-free packages add 20-30% effective. Asian carriers vary widely.

Requirements

Licenses & Ratings

  • • ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License)
  • • Multi-Engine Rating
  • • Instrument Rating
  • • Type Rating for the specific aircraft

Flight Hours

1,500 hours total time (FAA Part 121 minimum), 1,000 hours under EASA before unrestricted line operations

Medical

FAA First Class / EASA Class 1

Min Age

21

Additional Certifications

  • • English Language Proficiency Level 4+
  • • Crew Resource Management (CRM)

Pros

  • + Highest cap on lifetime earnings of any commercial flying career
  • + Strong union protections and pensions at most legacy carriers
  • + Travel benefits — staff and family non-revenue tickets
  • + Defined career progression: FO → Captain → fleet/seat upgrades

Cons

  • − Years of regional pay before mainline
  • − Schedule unpredictability for first 10+ years
  • − Time away from home — typical 12-18 nights/month at hub
  • − Furlough exposure during downturns

Top Employers

Delta Air LinesUnited AirlinesAmerican AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesLufthansaEmiratesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesBritish AirwaysAir France-KLM

A Day in the Life

Show 60-90 min before departure for briefing, walkaround, and FMS programming. Average 4-6 sectors a day on narrow-body short-haul, 1-2 on wide-body. Hotel layovers between duty periods. Most pilots fly 80-95 hours/month against a regulatory cap of 1,000 hours/year.

Training Path

  1. 1Earn PPL (Private Pilot License) — 40-60 hours
  2. 2Build hours toward CPL (Commercial Pilot License) — 250 hours total
  3. 3Add Multi-Engine Rating + Instrument Rating
  4. 4Time-build to ATP minimums (1,500 hrs FAA, R-ATP 1,000-1,250 with restricted programs)
  5. 5Apply to a regional airline — paid type rating + line training
  6. 6After 3-6 years upgrade to Captain or move to mainline carrier

Key Traits for Success

Procedural disciplineFatigue managementCrew leadershipLong-term patience

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become an airline pilot?

Typically 4-7 years from zero hours: ~12-18 months to CPL with full-time training, then 1-3 years building to ATP minimums, then 1-5 years at a regional before mainline.

Can I become an airline pilot at 30+?

Yes. Most legacy hiring is between 25-45. As long as you can hold a Class 1 medical and complete training, age is not a barrier — career-changers are now ~30% of new hires at US regionals.

Do airlines pay for training?

Cadet programs (Lufthansa, BA, Qatar, Singapore) cover most costs in exchange for a multi-year bond. Self-sponsored remains the dominant US route. Regionals offer signing bonuses ($30-100k) but rarely full ab-initio funding.

Continue Your Journey

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