How Long Does It Take to Become a Commercial Pilot?

DALLAS — Becoming a commercial pilot can be a lucrative and rewarding career. Salaries for entry level pilots for regional airlines can be anywhere from US$90k to US$120.7k annually. In addition, you get to travel the country or even the world while on the job.

However, becoming a pilot is time-intensive, requiring extensive flight training and several certifications and ratings. Several factors can influence the amount of time it takes to become a pilot. But, at the end of it all, you get to begin an extraordinarily rewarding career. 

Two Paths to Flight Training: Part 141 vs. Part 61

Deciding to become a pilot means you have to go through extensive flight training. When choosing a flight school, there are two paths to take: Part 141 and Part 61. These are both FAA-approved programs, though they follow different curriculums and requirements. 

Part 141 Flight School 

Part 141 flight schools follow an FAA-structured curriculum. This path adheres to a strict syllabus and regular check-ins with FAA examiners. It is geared more towards those who are ready to take on a full-time commitment for their flight training.

Part 141 flight schools are often associated with universities and other programs where students are already committing full-time to education that will drive them towards their future career path. 

Compared to Part 61, the Part 141 flight training programs follow a more accelerated pace. That is because they require a full-time commitment, fully immersing the students in the program until they meet all requirements. Students who want to pursue careers with an airline quickly would be best suited for this program.

In addition, this type of training has a flight hour requirement of 250 hours for a commercial pilot certificate. However, students who want to pursue a career at a specific airline should also check the flight hour requirements for that airline, as they may have their own criteria for hiring. 

Part 61 Flight School 

Part 61 flight training offers a more flexible schedule and allows students to train without as strict of a curriculum. This is ideal for students who want to train at their own pace or students who already work a full-time job or have family obligations. Through Part 61, there is often a higher requirement for the number of flight hours needed. 

Timelines

After choosing a flight school, you will have a greater understanding of how long it takes to become a commercial pilot, or at least obtain your license. Training consistency, your own progress, and external factors like weather and the availability of training programs impacts the timeline. 

Generally, obtaining a private pilot license for Part 141 takes 3-16 months, while Part 61 takes 3-12 months. Instrument rating through Part 141 takes 2-4 months, while Part 61 takes 2-6 months. A commercial pilot license will take 6-12 months through Part 141 and 12-24 months through Part 61. Both a private pilot license and instrument rating are required before anyone can obtain a commercial pilot license. 

Airline Hiring Requirements

Even after earning a commercial pilot certificate, most pilots must build additional flight experience to meet airline hiring standards.

To be hired by an airline, pilots also need an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. This requires obtaining a total of 1,500 flight hours. The only exception to the required minimum flight hours is if a pilot is eligible for a Restricted ATP (R-ATP) at a lower threshold. For example, only 1,250 hours are needed if trained at an FAA-approved aviation degree program. Only 1,000 hours are required if trained at a Part 141 university with a bachelor’s degree in aviation. 

The bigger flight schools offer partnership programs with universities to help students start their commercial pilot career. For example, Phoenix East Aviation is the sole flight training provider for Broward College, helping students become professional pilots while also earning a college degree.

In another example, Superior Flight School collaborates with Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology to help students become pilots.

When applying for jobs as a commercial pilot, it’s important to check all requirements for hiring for that specific airline. Each airline will have different requirements or look for a different level of experience. With the right training and experience, obtaining a commercial pilot license will open a whole new career path for you.

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