how long the course is to be a pilot

by Prof. Devyn Grady DDS 9 min read

Even if you are presently only looking to become a private pilot, getting a complete education will prepare you best. Ideally, becoming a pilot should only take 3 to 4 years, the time it takes to get your Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight.

Full Answer

How long does it take to become a professional pilot?

You must:

  • Be 18+ years old
  • Have a second-class FAA Medical Certificate
  • Have a private pilot certificate
  • Be a fluent English speaker
  • Pass the training and log hours for single-/multi-engine land class rating requirements
  • 150 to 250 hours of piloting time
  • Pass an aeronautics written test of 100 questions

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Is age 30 too late to become a commercial pilot?

The answer is no. While some airlines have an age requirement before you can fly a commercial flight, there’s no age limit in wanting to become a pilot. Many think that at age 40, they have missed their opportunity to become a pilot.

What are the best schools to become a pilot?

  • With only two degree options to choose from, students can focus more on specialization
  • Friendly and diverse campus with quality faculty
  • Connection to FAA accredited flight schools for hands-on training

How many licenses do you need to be a pilot?

  • Private pilot (35–45 hours of flight time, 40 in the U.S.)
  • Instrument rating (40–50 hours of instrument time, 40 in the U.S.)
  • Commercial pilot (200–250 hours of flight time, 250 in the U.S.)
  • Commercial pilot who is a co-pilot in an airliner (250 hours of flight time + multicrew rating, not allowed in the U.S.)

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How long is a pilot's school?

Most pilot schools offer 12-week standard courses and 4-week fast-track programs. However, either course is normally based on the minimum flight time required by the FAA. Most pilots need a few more hours to achieve the necessary flight proficiency, which often adds one or two weeks to the duration.

How long does it take to learn to fly solo?

As learning ability varies, the number of flight hours ranges greatly between individuals. It could be anywhere between a few hours to 40 hours. On average, a flight lesson lasts one and a half hours.

What is a recreational pilot license?

If you’re looking for an alternative, you could opt for a recreational pilot certificate, which offers access to bigger aircraft and more privileges.

How do I get a sport pilot license?

As with any pilot license, you have to submit an application either online or by mail to get a sport pilot license. Before you do that, though, you must meet certain aeronautical knowledge and flight time requirements. You may receive ground training from an authorized instructor or through a home-study course.

How can I make money as a commercial pilot?

While not fit for an airline job, a commercial pilot can make money from several aviation activities like banner towing and aerial photography. Most schools offer a standard, sometimes called integrated, training packages that consist of CPL, instrument rating, and multi-engine rating courses.

How many hours do you need to be an airline instructor?

Flight Instructor. You need to build your flight experience to land an airline job. Most airline jobs require several hundred, and sometimes over a thousand, flight hours. But you only have a couple of hundred hours or so once you get your commercial license.

How long does it take to become a CFII?

Consequently, it takes one to three months on average to complete your CFI training. Furthermore, you may also get additional training to become a CFII, which enables you to train your students for their instrument rating.

How long does it take to become an airline pilot?

To become an airline pilot, it takes two years to gain the required 1,500 hours flight time. Download Your FREE Airline Pilot Career Guide ».

How long does it take to get a pilot's license in ATP?

In ATP's fast track, Airline Career Pilot Program, gain the flight training you need for your private pilot license and become a pilot in as little as two months. In the next five months, you will earn your commercial pilot certificate and flight instructor certificate — making you ready to start a career flying as a commercial pilot.

How many hours do you fly solo on a pilot's license?

As for the practical part, you fly for a total of 40 hours, 15 hours of them are solo flying.

What should a pilot know?

As a pilot, you should be aware of all the equipment around you, the aircraft itself, the schedule, and even your geographical location. You process all of this information and it makes you grasp the entire aviation process faster and better.

What happens after you get your private pilot license?

After you get your private pilot license, you join this night rating license. This license already explains itself; it teaches you how to fly at night, as there are some differences between day flying and night flying.

How many hours of training do you need to fly at night?

Because it depends essentially on your learning time. But the most important thing is to complete 20 hours of training both in studying and flying. After you get that license, and before it the private pilot license, you only have to take another medical license and then you can officially fly at night!

What do you notice when you give instructions to a pilot?

You will notice that when the pilots give any instructions to the crew or the passengers, they aren’t only clear, but also calm! This is a simple but essential skill you learn in aviation training, and you continue developing it through working as a pilot.

How many hours do you need to be a pilot?

The FAA requires 1500 hours for a pilot to become an Airline Transport Pilot. Learn more about the steps to become a pilot and additional commercial pilot license requirements, including frequently asked questions about who can become a commercial airline pilot.

How many hours does it take to become an airline pilot?

When seniority is everything, get there first with ATP Flight School. The FAA requires 1500 hours for a pilot to become an Airline Transport Pilot.

How long does it take to become a commercial pilot?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot? To fly as a commercial airline pilot, you will need 1500 hours of experience, which can be earned in two years. ATP's accelerated commercial pilot training programs provide a structured timeline and shorten the time it takes to gain experience and meet qualifications. ...

How long does it take to become a private pilot?

Assuming a student has no previous experience, a student can become a private pilot in as little as 4-6 months. The time will vary depending on each student’s aptitudes and determination, and whether they participate in full-time ...

How long does it take to get a private pilot license?

A student’s private pilot license curriculum will vary depending on their flight school and whether or not they do part 61 or part 141 private pilot license requirements, but all in all they should expect to have the PPL done in about 6 months.

What is the difference between a commercial pilot and an airline pilot?

While airline pilots are a type of commercial pilot, being a commercial pilot means you now have a CPL certificate from the FAA and can be hired and paid to fly.

Do I need a CFI to become an airline pilot?

CFI ratings themselves are not required to become an airline transport pilot, however for many this is a manageable path to gaining 1500 hours by instructing others. Other ways of building flight experience to 1500 hours are also available to Commercial Pilots looking to work for the airlines, which may vary in the amount of jobs, flight time, ...

How to Become a Pilot: A Step-by-Step Guide

Since most pilots will have a degree, you need to finish high school to become a pilot. In some cases, you won’t need a college degree, but you still need a high school education or GED to become a pilot.

Which path is best for becoming a commercial pilot?

There is no best path. It depends on what you prefer and how fast you want to start flying. The military is an attractive option since it will include a bachelor’s degree, a paid position during training, and much more. In addition, it’s the lowest cost option to become a pilot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Pilot

The average pilot will make about $42,000 per year. However, the salary can range from $14K to nearly $200K. It will depend on your location, experience, and the type of pilot you become.

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Description

Becoming a pilot is many people’s lifelong dream. Whether you want to do it for fun or as a career, few things compare to soaring through the skies.

How long does it take to become an airline pilot?

Becoming an airline pilot can take 4-5 years. However, as soon as you earn your commercial pilot, which should take no longer than a year, you can start to take on paid flying roles, and accrue the necessary hours required to become an airline pilot. In other words, you can get paid and train on the job.

How long does it take to get a pilot's license?

This takes either 35-40 hours, depending on whether you enroll in a Part 61 or Part 141 school, including 10 hours of solo time – of which 5 must be cross-country – and a solo flight that covers 150 nautical miles. Every student must also pass a written knowledge and practical test to earn their private pilot license.

What is a commercial pilot license?

A commercial pilot license is a prerequisite for an airline transport pilot license – just like a private pilot license is a prerequisite for a commercial pilot license. So your next step will be to log the necessary flight hours and pass the written knowledge and practical test required for a CPL. The number of flight hours required is ...

How many hours do you need to be a pilot to get an ATPL?

The FAA has what is known as the 1,500-hour rule. What this means is that a pilot must accrue 1,500 flight hours to be eligible for an airline transport pilot license and work as an airline pilot. This is no small feat and can take years to achieve. The hardest part of obtaining an ATPL is therefore logging the necessary flight hours.

How many hours does it take to get a flight instructor certification?

Flight instructor certification will take you at least 25 hours to earn.

How many hours do you need to take the checkride test?

By the time you reach 1,500 hours, you should have more than enough experience and knowledge for the written knowledge and practical test to not pose much problem. The checkride is actually quite similar to an Instrument Rating but with some tighter standards on a few things.

How many hours does it take to get a multi engine pilot license?

This will take you a minimum of 25 hours to earn.

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