You can become an airline pilot by taking flight training lessons at a local flight school, aviation college, or the military. If
you’re interested in becoming an airline pilot, there
are two paths to choose from: The Civilian Route and The Military
Route. Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages,
and both will prepare you for a career as a professional airline
pilot.
Before
we proceed, we must take the time to clarify a few misconceptions:
•
Becoming
a major airline pilot takes years of hard work and determination.
A lot of young and aspiring pilots believe that after
earning their pilot certificates and ratings that they’ll
get hired by a major airline. Unfortunately, this is
not true. As a pilot, you must build quality flight
time to be considered as a competitive job applicant,
which takes a few years to earn.
•
Many
people (aspiring pilots, parents, educators, career
counselors, etc.) believe that you must join the military
in order to get hired by the major airlines. Although,
the military is an excellent option, this is not your
only option. Many airline pilots have chosen the Civilian
Route.
The path to becoming an airline pilot can be challenging,
but the following information will help you gain a better
understanding of what steps you must take and a general
idea of what to expect during your journey. Before you proceed,
lets review the typical major
airlines’ minimum hiring requirements.
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