Expert: Jeff Davis - 1/23/2006

Question
Hi thanks alot in advance, you would realy be helping me out if you could answer my question.
do i need any qalifications to start for PPL licence and what qualifications do i need to start my Commercial licnce course? also (i know its a long journey to become an airline pilot but)is it easy to get a job once fully trained?

Answer
There are no prerequisites for private pilot training, as long as you have a pulse you should be eligible.  You need to make sure you get a medical certificate early in your training, because (1) you need it prior to your first solo flight, and (2) if there is any reason you are not qualified to get a medical certificate, it's best to know before you invest a lot of time and money in training.  You can begin working on your commercial license as soon as you get your private, although the more practical path is to get an instrument rating, then start on your commercial.  As for airline jobs, they are hard to come by, but the business is cyclical; some years the airlines hire a lot of new pilots, and other years jobs are a lot more scarce.  My advice is to have some other career in mind in case the airline option doesn't work out.  However, you could likely get better advice on your career from someone who has flown for the airlines, which I have not done.