Becoming an Airline Pilot
 

Hello,

I am new here and would like to apologize in advance if I posted in the wrong area. Admins, please move to the appropriate forum if needed. Thank you.

I just have a couple of questions to the actual pilots of major airlines or to anyone who might know the answers. Ever since I was a little kid, I loved airplanes and always had a dream to become a pilot. However due to some obstacles through my life I was not able to make my dream a reality. But that did not make me forget about flying and airplanes in general.

I am still want to become a pilot and planning to make a major career change. But before I make the decision I wanted to consult with actual pilots who went through the process already and has been flying for sometime. I’ve been checking here and there to get information that I am looking for, but still couldn’t find all the answers.

Here are the question that I have:

• Do major or regional airlines require College Degree? I only have High School Diploma and don’t know if that will prevent me from becoming a pilot.
• How hard is it to get Class 1 Medical Certificate? I don’t have any health issues, but my blood pressure tends to be 128/75 on average at home and about 134/80 on average when I got see a doctor. I guess some people say I got a white gown syndrome. Every time I go see the doctor, I can feel my heart rate increase a little and just start being a little nervous in general. Once I come home, everything is back to normal. What is max blood pressure to still be eligible for Class 1?
• I found a school called ATP (Airline Transport Professionals) and they offer full training all the way from ground zero to all certs including commercial pilot license. Is that a good school to attend if I want to start my career as a pilot? I think total cost is about $48,000 for the entire program.
• Once I get all my certs, how hard will it be to find a job as a pilot in today’s economy?
• How do airline pilots get paid, hourly or salary?

I think that’s all the questions I have right now. Sorry for such a long post, but if anyone can provide any info I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
-Vitek

Unless you are EXTREMELY well connected, you will not get a major airline job without a college degree (4-year in most cases). Regionals do not all require one but, but generally prefer it. They will be picky when the pilot supply is higher than the demand (like right now).

Embarking on this career without the degree would be foolhardy...you will severely limit your options in a field where most of the competition has a degree.


The FAA First Class is no big deal if you are generally healthy. You wll need to be able to see 20/20 in EACH eye individually. Correction (glasses/contacts) is allowed. There is a threshold for BP at which they will want to see additional tests and maybe treatment...I think it might be 140/90.

Before you seriously consider a career change, go get a 1C medical...it will take about an hour and cost about $150 ($100 if you are under 35).


Most professionals would not recommend ATP, especially in light of pending regulatory changes which might greatly increase the minimum flight experience required to obtain an airline job. You need to learn a LOT about the various types of training programs available before you make a decision, and not get sucked in by a flashy ad in Flying magazine or a google search.

In todays economy, to find an actual pilot job with a "wet commercial" ticket? No chance at all. If you get your instructor ratings, you have a slightly better than zero chance, especially if you are willing to pack up and move anywhere.

Assume that you will get paid $10K-$20K your first few years (no benefits). First year at a regional airline will be $19K-$23K

Almost all are hourly, especially in the US But the hourly rates are deceptive...pilots only get paid paid when the airplane is actually moving, there is a lot of unpaid time: preflight duties, dead time between legs, post flight duties, transport to/from hotels.

For a regional, take the published hourly rate and divide by 2 or 3, depending on workrules and seniority.

You have a lot of research to do, take some time and look through these forums...most questions have been answered numerous times. Be aware that any posts prior to 2009 will have a perspective on the industry based on better economic times...which does not apply anymore.

A quick search should provide all your answers.

The most important question, can you get a job after $48k at ATP ? Not one that you'll like, or that pays any real money.

The Truth About the Profession - Home

Probably the most accurate and bias-free explanation about "the truth about the profession."

Good luck man

PS. This is the sticky thread at the top of the "Flight Training" Subfourm

Major Airlines require a degree of some sort, doesnt matter what field or what the degree is in but it is required. With that said, you must have all the certifications and flight hours required by FAA to fly for a regional or major airline. Its a good idea and what many people do is get a solid degree is something other than aviation as a back up. Airlines will hire and laid off almost overnight! so having a degree is something other than Aviation comes in handy for those pilots who get laid off. Go to school get a degree in business or some kind of science degree and fly on the side. I know lessons are expensive but once you hit your CFI's you can make alittle extra to help.
I myself am no pilot, im in the same position as you right now I am getting my class 1 physical in a few months. Right now I am in the Army I am getting out in Oct of this year. Luckily I am getting tons of money and help from the VA and GI Bill to help out with schooling and flight training. If your still really young look into the military they will take care of you and there are tons of benefits. If the military is not your cup of tea then work hard to get to where you want to be.
Becareful with ALL ATP i have herd very mixed reviews Yea they may train you up quick but i have herd the quality of education and training is poor. You got CFI's teaching you and their sole purpose in training is getting hours flying to build up time. Go to your local airport and check out some of the smaller schools that train. The Regionals dont care who trained you, in fact i herd that they perfer students from smaller school than students from pilot mills like All ATPS. Good luck to you
and heres some info on the medical physicals FAA Flight Physicals: Pilots Medical Exams Facilitated

How would the pending changes (1500 hours for 121 gig) affect going to one flight school to another? Coming out of ATP you have your Comm multi, just like you would out of Bobs school - you're still going to have to find a way to get the hours. If you get your CFI you can then build your time after you already have a considerable amount of multi time and then you should be in a good spot. I didn't go to ATP (nor could I have) but sometimes wish I would have because coming out you have a lot of multi time and if you become a CFI, you give a lot of multi instruction time.

However, most people recommend the "slow, non-pilot mill" route which is the most practical - get a job in something else (since everything else pays more than aviation) and use that money to slowly get your ratings and certs. Get your CFI and teach lazy eights for a few years, get on with a 135 gig to get multi then apply for a 121 job.

The large schools tend to advertise "Direct to the Airline" bridge programs. I have seen this advertised YEARS after hiring has stopped. The point is that you might not want to hang your hat on such a program in the event that the rules change. In other words, I don't think I would spend extra money for a bridge program which might be regulated out of existence any day now.

Got it, yeah that makes sense.

Things are about to change. The retirements will kick in in a couple of years and the shortage of pilots will be very obvious. The regionals will probably hire with brand new Comm. Certificates.
So you don't have to be connected.
Get your BP under control and good luck!

You are aware that there is a bill in Congress to change that wet CPL possibility?

The only shortage will be how many pilots will work for how cheap.