Becoming a pilot is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a fulfilling, exciting, and prestigious career. However, it is not for everyone. The road to becoming a pilot is long and requires very specialized training, but with motivation and the right flight school, becoming a pilot is certainly within your grasp.
Choosing a Flight School
There are two options you will have to choose from when picking your flight school, F.A.R. part 61 and F.A.R. part 141. Part 61 is geared more toward people looking to fly for recreational purposes. While you could potentially become a professional pilot going this route, it would take a long time. These courses are designed to be completed around other parts of life, such as a full time job or going to school. They also typically operate on a pay-as-you-go basis.
On the other hand, there are part 141 flight schools. These programs are designed for those who have the goal of becoming a professional pilot. When in one of these schools, you will be a full time student. They have a structured lesson plan and syllabus, and they are designed with the assumption that your full focus will be on earning your pilot license as fast as possible. There is no doubt that for those who wish to make a career out of flying, a part 141 flight school is the place they should be.
Do Airlines Prefer 141 or 61 Flight School Students?
Airlines do not make it a secret that they prefer applicants who have completed their training through a part 141 flight school. This preference is born from the fact that 141 flight schools follow an FAA approved curriculum, adhering to strict requirements. Attending a 141 flight school also shows that you took your training seriously and were completely focused on it. Additionally, many airlines have close ties with 141 flight schools, making finding employment as a pilot after graduation that much easier.
Medical Requirements
Due to the high level of risk that comes with operating an aircraft, there are strict medical requirements for pilots. To show that you are healthy enough to be a pilot, you will need to obtain a medical certificate. There are three levels of medical certificates, with each determining the type of flying you can do.
● First-Class Medical Certificate: Required to fly for an airline. You must be in overall good health and have 20/20 distant vision. This certificate is good for 1 year if under 40 years of age, or 6 months if over 40.
● Second-Class Medical Certificate: Required for any commercial flying. You must be in overall good health and have 20/20 distant vision. This certificate is good for 1 year, regardless of age.
● Third-Class Medical Certificate: Required to fly privately and recreationally. You must be in overall good health and have 20/40 distant vision. This certificate is good for 60 months if under 40 years of age, or 24 months if over 40.
If your goal is to become an airline pilot, then you must be granted a first-class medical certificate. If you can not meet the health requirements for this, then you will not be allowed to fly for an airline.
Educational Requirements
Airlines like to hire well-educated applicants. Of course, this includes your flight school education, preferably completed through a part 141 flight school. However, that is not the only education required by most major airlines. Most will also require their pilots to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. This can be in any field, but most pilots choose an education in transportation, engineering, or business. Having a bachelor’s degree shows airlines that an applicant possesses the discipline and commitment required to be a successful pilot.
Salary
For many, one of the largest incentives to becoming a pilot is the salary as it is one of the highest-paid hospitality jobs. Airline and commercial pilots tend to be well paid for the work they do. The median pay for airline and commercial pilots was $171,210 in 2023. When compared to the 2023 median pay for all U.S. workers of $48,060, it is easy to see that pilots earn a relatively good living.
Benefits to Becoming a Pilot
Besides the high pay, pilots experience a number of other benefits that make it a desirable profession. For one, there are the travel opportunities. Pilots get to see the world, and are paid for that pleasure. Then there’s the job stability. No matter what happens, people always need to travel by air, resulting in pilots almost always being able to find work. FInally, there is the sheer joy and sense of adventure that comes with flying. The day-to-day of a pilot, soaring above the clouds, seems like a dream come true to many people. All of these make becoming a pilot a very desirable career path.
