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Commercial Pilot Requirements

By Andrew Wardlock


Pilots are required to be prepared for tests. This requires some home study. In the event of failure a pilot could find him or herself out of a job. In addition, pilots are expected to maintain currency in new techniques and procedures, and keep their charts up to date.

In addition to needing a bachelor's degree (in any subject), a pilot needs a lot of intensive training in the field of aviation itself. This is expensive, especially if you consider that there is a fairly good chance that a pilot will never work for an airline.Another drawback is the high cost of becoming qualified to be a pilot. A pilot either has to go through the military, which is an 8 year commitment after pilot training, or pay for that training him or herself.

A pilot also needs to be in good physical condition. Captains need to pass a physical exam once every 6 months; other commercial pilots need to pass an exam every year. A pilot could be out of a job if a health problem is discovered. In addition, pilots are subject to regular drug and alcohol tests. If you have ever had a problem with drugs or alcohol you need to choose a different profession. Furthermore, your driving record is scrutinized, and any felony convictions are disqualifying. In addition to the physical requirements, a pilot must be mentally fit to perform the job. Unlike most other professions, many people's lives depend on the pilot's ability to stay calm and collected while solving problems.

Finally, a person seriously considering a career in the airline industry should be aware that the airline business does not offer much in terms of job security. Airlines that once seemed to be invincible have gone out of business, like Pan Am and Eastern airlines. The pilots of those carriers had to seek employment elsewhere. If they took a job as a pilot for a different airline, they started again at the bottom. There are pilots who were Captains at Eastern Airlines, who are now Flight Engineers for a different company. Eventually they may move back up to Captain, but they are not given any special priority over anyone else who was hired at the same time. All promotions within a company are based on seniority (years of service) with that company. Previous experience might help someone get hired, but that is all.

There is no guarantee of advancement at any airline. If you get hired at the right time, you could be a Captain in as little as three years, while those hired just six months later might spend five years or more as a Flight Engineer .

1.Clear Road to ATP Attainment

Obtaining any type of pilot license means tallying hundreds of hours of flight. Ground tests, taxiing, training, and simulating are all essential elements in the education of pilots. The most consistent element in obtaining a license is, however, clear skies and plentiful flight hours. Adding flight time is the staple of an aviation academy hopeful.

The first step to becoming a commercial pilot, no matter what school is attended, is to gain a private pilot license. For this first license, individuals must complete a course with 40 single engine dual hours and 10 single engine solo hours. Obtaining these flight hours is easiest in a warm, sunny climate.

2.The All-Important Instrument Rating

In order to obtain a commercial pilot's license, individuals must accumulate an extra 25 single engine dual hours and an extra 40 single engine solo hours, along with the proper ground training, simulation, and testing. It would stand to reason that an instrument rating would not take nearly as much flight time as gaining the initial private pilot license, but that reasoning doesn't add up.

3.The Commercial Multi Engine Licensed commercial pilot

Having developed the skills and accumulated the hours needed to reach for a multi-engine license, those seeking commercial wings must still accumulate a few more hours. After 40 hours of ground school and 30 hours in a simulator, quite a few more hours in the sky are needed.




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