“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
– Leonardo DaVinci
Whether you’ve had a lifelong fascination with aviation or recently developed an interest in a career in the skies, the journey of becoming a pilot is one that’s filled with great opportunity, excitement and lifelong learning.
Pilots are indispensable components of our global transportation ecosystem, and there are job opportunities that go beyond commercial and passenger aviation — including in law enforcement, military, tourism, business and entertainment.
If you have good communication and decision-making skills, the ability to think quickly under pressure and you’re interested in exploring the world through your career, becoming a pilot might just be the job for you.
Different Types of Pilots
When we talk about different types of pilots, we’re essentially talking about different Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licenses and certifications. The rules for obtaining a pilot’s license will depend on the privileges you want to exercise. For example, if you want to become an airline pilot, you will need to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license.
Here are some of the most common types of pilots:
- Airline pilots transport passengers and cargo and operate on a fixed schedule. As the name implies, this type of pilot typically works for an airline and to do so must have an ATP certification, which is the highest level of certification from the FAA.
- Charter pilots also transport passengers and cargo, but they do not necessarily have a fixed schedule and can sometimes operate with a commercial pilot license.
- Private pilots are qualified to carry passengers but not for compensation.
- Military pilots fly fighter jets, tankers, transport helicopters and other types of aircraft for the armed forces.
- Flight instructors train students and prospective pilots on the technical aspects and safety of aviation.
- Cargo pilots are similar to airline pilots, but they specifically transport freight.
- Bush pilots typically fly small-to-medium-sized planes containing cargo or passengers to and from remote areas with rugged terrain and unpaved airstrips.
This is not an exhaustive list. Other types of pilots include test pilots, agricultural pilots, fire-fighting pilots, helicopter pilots, medical transport pilots and law enforcement pilots.
An FAA commercial pilot license often confuses students. While you can get paid for flying with this license, positions and types of flying under the limitations of commercial license make employment more challenging. It is most used by flight instructors and small operators. If you are thinking of flying professionally, you most likely need an ATP certificate.
Requirements to Become a Pilot
Pilot requirements will vary depending on the type of aircraft you’re looking to operate and what type of flying you’d like to do. Here are three of the most common types of pilots and their associated requirements:
| Airline pilot |
|
| Commercial pilot |
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| Private pilot | 40 hours of flight time, including 20 hours from a flight training school and 10 hours of solo flighting (Part 141 minimums will be less)* |
Pilots must also meet certain medical requirements, which include vision, hearing, blood pressure and mental health stipulations.
Steps to Becoming a Pilot
- Consider earning a relevant bachelor’s degree. An undergraduate degree in aviation is not required to become a pilot, but it’s highly recommended if you are interested in moving up the ranks. If you elect to obtain a degree, make sure it comes from an FAA-approved flight school.
- Obtain a medical certificate. There are certain medical requirements, depending on whether you want to become a first-class airline transport pilot, second-class commercial pilot or third-class private pilot.
- Choose the type of pilot’s certificate (or license). The certification will depend on the privileges you’d like to exercise. There are also different requirements for student pilots, recreational pilots and private pilots.
Pilots often receive FAA-issued certificates and ratings in the following order:
- Student pilot certificate
- Private pilot certificate
- Instrument rating
- Commercial pilot certificate
- Multi-engine rating
- Certified instructor ratings
- Airline transport pilot certificate
- Attend flight school, take flight training lessons and eventually pass a knowledge test and practical exam. The number of flight hours and associated exams will depend on the type of certification. Airline pilots require the most number of training hours — 1,500 as mandated by the FAA — in order to become certified.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Pilot?
You can obtain a private pilot’s license in just a few months if you are able to train full-time. It typically takes around two years to become a commercial airline pilot. Certain factors will impact the time it takes to achieve certification, such as flight school availability, your personal time commitment to training and the type of aircraft you’d like to fly.
How Much Does a Pilot Make?
Your salary will vary depending on your certification, position, company, location and how much experience is required. Here are some average salaries to keep in mind:
- Airline pilot — $219,140
- Charter pilot — $104,000
- Flight instructor — $80,000
- Aircraft technician — $70,000
Explore a Career in Aviation at Marshall University
If you’re considering whether to become a pilot, we invite you to take a closer look at Marshall’s Professional Pilot bachelor’s degree. This professional pilot undergraduate degree includes ground and flight courses, leading to a series of FAA certifications that will prepare you to become a commercial pilot of single- and multi-engine aircraft, including helicopters. Interested in learning more? Visit the program overview for more information or contact our undergraduate admissions team with any questions.
FAQs
What type of career opportunities are available to someone who becomes a pilot?
The sky’s the limit — no pun intended. Besides becoming an airline or commercial pilot, you can also work in emergency services (flying medical aircraft to trauma centers) or the U.S. Armed Forces. Other opportunities include working in corporate aviation, government services, law enforcement, tourism and firefighting. Fractional aviation ownership is also a big up-and-coming market. When you work for this type of company, such as NetJets, multiple individuals or companies have partial ownership of an aircraft, and NetJets handles the coordination of flights for owners, providing pilots a more predictable schedule.
What are some of the top companies and organizations hiring pilots?
In addition to domestic and international airlines, you can also work for fractional airlines, private corporations, government entities, sports teams, defense contractors, entertainment companies and more.
Who is eligible to become a pilot?
Anyone is eligible, but there are certain requirements and restrictions depending on the license you wish to acquire. You typically need to be at least 17 years old to obtain a private pilot license and 18 years old for a commercial license. There are also certain medical requirements, and proficiency in English is required since it is the official language of aviation.
Do I need a degree in aviation to become a pilot?
Not necessarily, but a degree in aviation (or a related field) may be required for certain pilot positions. Even if it isn’t, a bachelor’s degree can provide specialized expertise, training and experience that can greatly benefit your career and set you apart from other job applicants.
What are some benefits of becoming a pilot?
One of the major advantages of becoming a pilot is that your “office” is essentially the sky. You have the ability to travel the world and see exotic and historic destinations that are often not possible with most other types of careers. Other benefits include travel discounts for family and friends, a flexible schedule and the ability to provide essential services that are needed around the world.