When you think of flying for an airline, you probably picture yourself as a captain on a jumbo jet. There are a few unique things about airline careers that you should know. First, it will take years to make captain at a major airline. Depending on your age and fluctuations in the industry, you may never get there before you reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. Many pilots reach retirement as a first officer rather than as a captain.

Second, life is centered around seniority. Schedules, pay, base location, layoffs (furloughs) and return to work after a furlough, equipment flown, and the opportunity to upgrade to a captain position are typically based entirely on seniority rather than merit.

Third is the usual route to flying for a major airline. More than likely your first paid flying job will be as a flight instructor, then as a first officer at a regional (commuter) airline, then upgrading to captain at the same regional. Once you log the required number of hours as pilot-in-command (PIC), you may land your first job at a major airline, either as a flight engineer or second or first officer, depending on the aircraft.

Prerequisites

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all US certified pilots to be able to read, speak, and understand the English language. Additionally, all pilots must possess a valid and current medical certificate. Since an airline captain must hold a First Class medical, you should make sure you meet those standards early in your flying career.

Most major airlines require a four-year college degree while regional airlines require at least a two-year degree (some regionals want to see a four-year). Your education does not need to be related to aviation. Completing your pilot training means you have learned (theoretically, at least) all the required aviation knowledge for the job. An unrelated degree gives you a wider range of job possibilities in the event you encounter a medical disqualification at some point during your career.

Where to Start

There are several types of flight schools, ranging from the fixed-base operator (FBO) at your local airport to a degree program at a college or university. Regardless of your ultimate training choice, it may be wise to take your first few lessons at a local FBO. The advantages are many, the biggest being that you can find out if you actually like flying before investing your life savings. You might discover that you get violently airsick or that you simply lack an aptitude for flying. Once you earn your flight instructor certificate, you might find yourself seeking employment at the local flight school; your chances of getting hired will be much greater if the owner and staff know you.

I encourage interested fliers to earn at least their private pilot license close to home. If you need to keep your current day job while pursuing flight training, most if not all of your training can be completed at your local flight school. If you feel you would benefit from a full-time program, look for a school that is a good fit for you and your budget. Most big flight schools are in sunny locales like Arizona and Florida where time in the air is easy to come by. Visit several before you choose one. Interview instructors, students, and former students if possible to get their take on the quality of the training provided.

Step by Step

You will accumulate a series of licenses and ratings along the path to your first airline job, starting with a private license, followed by an instrument rating, commercial license, multi-engine rating, and at least a basic and instrument flight instructor certificate. Training from hour zero through multi-engine instructor can take as little as a year if you jump in with both feet and make flight training a full-time endeavor. On the other hand, it can take several years if you can only commit a few hours a month.

The First Job

A flying career is a Catch 22: you have to have experience before you can get a job, but it’s hard to gain said experience without a job. Unless you are independently wealthy, your first job after completing training will likely be as a flight instructor. Other options exist-banner towing, glider towing, flying skydivers up to altitude, and the occasional but rare corporate or charter job that requires very little experience. But teaching others to fly is the most widely available path and airlines view flight instruction as quality flight time. While some of the other jobs enable you to log time, instructing adds knowledge and skill to your arsenal as well as the requisite number of hours.

Aviation Technology Schools award Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degrees and certificates. Degree options in include Air Traffic Control, Aviation Administration, and Professional Piloting. Certificates and Associate of Applied Science degrees are also offered in Airframe and Powerplant (A&P, which is responsible for design), as well as pilot training. Programs may follow semester schedules.

The discipline of Aviation Technology is responsible for conducting research in navigation systems, aviation safety, aviation design, aviation infrastructure, and piloting. Aviation Technology Schools declare that training is conducted in state-of-the-art facilities designed for excellent learning experiences with simulation devices and modern facilities for providing advanced education and conducting research projects.

Programs of study in Aviation Technology provide knowledge of aeronautical maintenance technology; aircraft dispatch; aircraft mechanics; Airframe and Powerplant (A&P, design); aviation electronics technician; aviation maintenance technology; and avionics. Most quality programs provide hands-on training for the real-world experience; job placement assistance; convenient day or evening classes; and financial aid is offered to those who qualify.

All graduates of Aviation Technology programs will have developed an understanding of aircraft operating performance and limitations; weather and atmospheric processes and conditions; Federal Regulations and the U.S. air traffic control system; navigation within the National Airspace System; airport lighting and marking; the use of FAA publications for operating aircraft within the National Airspace System; all aspects of Air Traffic Control operations and facilities; aircraft separation during taxi, takeoff, and landing; fundamentals of radar theory and radar systems; vectoring and speed control of aircraft; techniques of longitudinal, vertical, and lateral separation of aircraft, and more.

Aviation Maintenance Technology, or Aviation Technology – Maintenance, programs prepare the student as a professional Aviation Maintenance Technicians, a highly skilled profession in which technicians have the responsibility for keeping aircraft in air worthy condition.

The Aviation Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – Airway Science Degree program includes the required FAA license courses and courses in English, communications, and electives required by standard university AAS degrees.

Professional Piloting programs in Aviation Technology Schools prepare students for positions in the aviation industry as airplane pilots. Theory and flight training is provided through curriculums approved by the FAA.

Aviation Technology certificate programs include only the Federal Aviation Administration approved courses required for the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic’s License. This program requires laboratory classes working on aircraft and aircraft components.

Once you have accomplished the requirements, the FAA will issue you a certificate that gives you the authority to be an aircraft mechanic. Once certified, you can be hired by any airport or aircraft manufacturer as a mechanic to work on aircraft. Most mechanics deal with exterior and internal repairs on airplanes. Today’s planes make it easy for workers as there is a computer which tells you what components may need replacement or are not working to optimal settings. This can really help you pinpoint problems as an aircraft is an extensively difficult and complex machine. It is your job to replace and to perform preventative maintenance to make sure the airplane functions properly.

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