How to Become a Pilot

by Captain Wayne (Rusty) Baker

“As soon as we left the ground I knew I myself had to fly!”  

Amelia Earhart

What are the requirements to become a pilot?

Private Pilot: 40 hours total, 20 hours dual instruction with a CFI. 10 hours solo; 3 cross-country.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate in airplanes, an individual must log at least 40 hours of flight time, at least 20 hours flight training (dual instruction) from an authorized instructor. Ten hours of solo flight training, 3 hours of cross country, and 3 hours of instrument time, and 3 hours at night.

Although the regulations only require 40 hours flight time, in the United States, the average number of hours flown prior to completing the private pilot certification requirements is closer to 75 hours.

A private pilot certificate allows you to fly in accordance with visual flight rules (VFR). You can take passengers up with you, but you cannot accept compensation for flying.

PILOT'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

There are two types of flight schools. Those operating under FAR Part 61, and others that operate under more structured, FAA-approved FAR Part 141 curriculums. Performance standards are the same, but because of its more structured, more closely monitored environment, it is possible to complete training in as little as 35 hours. In reality, students of Part 141 schools tend to need in the neighborhood of 55 to 60 hours to complete training.

Some find the more structured Part 141 scenario to be good preparation for airline flying. Most colleges and universities that offer aviation degree programs are approved under Part 141.

If you want to to fly for a living, you’ll need at least the commercial pilot certificate. It’s required in order to work any of the typical time-building jobs, such as a CFI (flight instructor), air taxi, or corporate pilot. You’ll be trained and tested on more advanced maneuvers.

In 2018 the FAA changed some rules regarding certification requirements. Now, rather than training in older retractable-gear airplanes, pilots are required to train in new, modern, technically advanced aircraft (TAA) which more closely resemble what you will likely fly as a professional pilot.

A TAA has:

• An electronic primary flight display with all 6 primary instruments.

• An electronic MFD (multifunction display) that incorporates a GPS-based moving map with the aircraft displayed on the screen.

• A 2 axis autopilot which has both heading and navigation modes.

• While a commercial pilot certificate alone will not put you at the controls of an airliner, it will give you enough flying hours to pursue several opportunities as a professional pilot:

• Agricultural pilot jobs

• Pipeline patrol pilot jobs

• Powerline patrol pilot jobs

• Aerial survey pilot jobs

• Air ambulance pilot jobs

• Skydive pilot jobs

• Flight instructor jobs 

• Banner towing pilot jobs

• Charter pilot jobs (along with a commercial pilot certificate, Part 135 charter pilots are subject to additional hourly requirements to operate as pilot in command).

Several of these positions require additional certification, and many employers require hours of experience beyond the relatively low minimums that you must meet to obtain a commercial pilot certificate. It can be challenging to find employment with a “wet” (brand new) commercial pilot certificate. Many commercial pilots who aspire to become airline pilots obtain a flight instructor certificate to build time more quickly as flight instructors.

Basic Requirements For a Commercial Pilot Certificate

The minimum requirements to become a commercial pilot are as follows:

• You must be at least 18 years of age.

• You must hold a valid, current  FAA Second-Class Medical Certificate (while you only need a Third-Class Medical Certificate as a student pilot, you will need a Second-Class Medical Certificate to operate as a commercial pilot).

• You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.

• You must receive the necessary training, documented in your logbook or official training records, to pass the FAA written and practical flight examinations.

• You must hold at least a private pilot certificate or meet the requirements of §61.73

• You must accumulate a total of 250 hours of logged flight time. However, you can become a commercial pilot with just 190 hours of experience if you train at an accredited Part 141 Flight School. 

• You must take and pass the FAA Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test with a minimum score of 70%.

• You must pass the FAA Practical Flight Test with a designated pilot examiner (DPE) consisting of an oral examination and checkride, as described in the Commercial Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

Aeronautical Experience Requirements for Commercial Pilot Applicants

According to 14 CFR § 61.129, commercial pilot applicants training under Part 61 must have logged at least 250 hours, which must include the following:

• 100 hours of flight time in powered aircraft, including 50 hours in airplanes.

• 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—

• 50 hours in airplanes; and

• 50 hours in cross-country flight, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.

• 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) - Flight Proficiency of this part that includes at least—

• 10 hours of instrument training using a view-limiting device, including attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems (note that instrument training for a commercial certificate must be done by a CFII, and simply having an instrument rating does not satisfy this requirement if your logbook does not clearly reflect the completion of these tasks);

• 10 hours of flight training in a complex airplane, a turbine-powered airplane, or a technically advanced airplane (TAA);

• One 2-hour cross country flight during daytime conditions covering a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;

• One 2-hour cross country flight during nighttime conditions covering a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

• 3 hours of flight instruction with an authorized instructor during the preceding 2 calendar months before the practical test.

• 10 hours of solo flight time or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in command with an authorized instructor, on the areas of operation listed under §61.127(b) that include—

• A cross-country flight of at least 300 nautical miles total, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point; and

• 5 hours in night VFR conditions, including 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern - not “touch and goes”) at an airport with an operating control tower.

Airline transport pilot. To fly for an airline or certain other employers, you’ll have to earn an ATP certificate. You must be 23 years old, of good moral character, hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating, have logged as many as 1,500 flight hours, and complete an Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program. Depending on where you trained or if you served as a military pilot, you may qualify for a restricted ATP—which allows you to fly for an airline as second in command—at age 21 and potentially with fewer flight hours.

There is a common misconception by students looking into flight training that once you become a commercial pilot you are cleared to fly for an airline. While it is true you can get paid for your time as a pilot upon reaching this milestone, your future airline career still requires additional training and flight time.

Thus, enters the 1500-hour rule. The FAA established this rule to promote safety among airline pilots. Under this ruling first officers and captains must have an Air Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP), which requires 1500 hours total time as a pilot with 250 hours as Pilot in Command, and an aircraft type rating which involves training specific to the airplane they will fly.

To qualify for the ATP, a pilot must meet the following requirements:

·       Be at least 23 years old

·       Hold a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating

·       Pass the ATP knowledge and practical tests

·       Have 1500 hours total time as a pilot

There can be an allowance for pilots with fewer than 1500 hours of flight time, or those who have not met the minimum age requirement of 23, under what is called a Restricted ATP. This allows a pilot to serve as a co-pilot until reaching the necessary 1500 hours under these conditions:

·       Military pilots with 750 hours total time as a pilot

·       Graduates that hold a Bachelor’s degree with an aviation major and 1000 total hours as a pilot

·       Graduates that hold an Associate’s degree with an aviation major and 1250 total hours as a pilot

·       Pilots who are at least 21 that have met the 1500 hour requirement

How to build flight time
After achieving your commercial pilot license most students have around a minimum 250 flight hours logged. So, how do you go from 250 to 1500? You do something called time building, which can be done a few different ways.

1.    You get a job as a commercial pilot (not to be confused with airline pilot). The FAA has a list of jobs a commercial pilot can legally perform, which includes opportunities like aerial application (crop dusting), pipeline patrol, banner towing, air charter, sightseeing flights (with a valid FAA permit), aerial photography, traffic watch, ferry flying and agricultural flying. These jobs can be highly competitive as the number of openings are limited compared to the number of commercial pilots.

2.                  Pay for the flying yourself. While this is certainly the most expensive out of the three options, some pilots find they like the control of knocking out their hours on their schedule. One option is to purchase your own plane to build hours this way or rent with a local FBO to build your time.

3.                  Become a Certified Flight Instructor. To be clear this option does require you to continue with your training to achieve an instructor license; however, it’s by far is the more popular option and in our opinion, the best one for pilots wanting to reach an airline career. With the projected professional pilot shortage, training enrollments are up so instructors are in demand. As a CFI you can pass your knowledge onto the next generation of pilots, have a steady schedule and all the hours you fly instructing a student count toward your 1500 hours. Plus, most positions are well paid!  

Achieving your dream of being an airline pilot requires dedication and the hours may seem daunting, but rest easy – it’s within your reach and if you are passionate about flying it will hardly seem like work. The sooner you begin your training, the sooner you can get on your way to doing what you love!

Instrument rating.Train for this any time after the private pilot certificate to learn how to fly in the clouds, by reference to aircraft instruments (and not the horizon). It increases your skill and the value of your certificate, and is a requirement for the ATP.

Drone pilot.Considering a commercial drone pilot certificate? Earn the FAA’s Part 107 remote pilot certificate to fly small unmanned aircraft systems—drones—commercially. There are different methods for obtaining an FAA remote pilot certificate, depending upon whether you are already a pilot. No flight test is required.