Expert: D. Norkus - 12/31/2009

Question
Hi! I'm a 14 year old guy, and I love planes. I have obviously never flown one, but the idea is intoxicating to think about. When I get older and I settle into a proffessional career for life, I want my carreer to be a commircial airline pilot. The only problem is, I don't personally know any commircial airline pilots, I only know private pilots.

      Questions:
                      What are the different levels and licenses do you need to get to be that?
                      How time consuming is the job (in terms of being away from home)?
                       Many people say that almost all commircial pilots where once their own pilots in the airforce. Is that true? If so, would I really need to do that?
                         Most importantly, if I don't want to go through the airforce for the qualifications, where can I find flight schools/training that I can get the cridentials with?

Random question:  I sail, and race in my own small boat (8ft). Do you think my sailing expierience/training of reading and using and understanding the wind and how it affects things would help at all?

Thanks for looking at my rambling!!! Answer what you can, I can find other sources for what you can't.

Answer
Andrew

1) What are the different levels [of] licenses [and their requirements]?

There are Private, Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot grades of pilot certificates. (Technically, they are called certificates and not licenses but people still use the latter term.) There is a list of requirements for each certificate but the minimum flight experience for the private is 40 hours, the commercial is 250 hours and the ATP is 1,500 hours.

A detailed breakdown of all certificate requirements is in the FAA document below, question #4.

Until recently, one only needed a commercial pilot certificate to get hired with a regional airline but that will soon be an ATP due to this bill in Congress- H.R. 3371 The Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009.

2) How time consuming is the job (in terms of being away from home)?

Depends on the airline, your tenure there and position at the company. Those with the longest tenure or seniority at an airline have the choice of the best schedules. You may have as little as 8 days off a month with a regional to as many as 17 days off a month with a major. I suggest a visit to my page about flight training and airline careers for more about pilot schedules and the basics about the career-
http://www.pilotcareer.info


3) Many people say that almost all [airline] pilots where once their own pilots in the Air Force. Is that true? If so, would I really need to do that?

Decades ago, the airlines drew almost exclusively from a pool of former military pilots. Former military pilots dominated the hiring boards and they would recommend their friends who were getting out of the service and looking into airline careers. This big "squadron buddy" network was how the majority of pilots got hired. For several years now the airlines have been increasingly hiring pilots from a civilian background. According to statistics compiled from Kit Darby Aviation Consulting (an airline pilot career counseling service), about 65% of major airline new hires are now civilian. This is partly the result of a smaller pool of military pilots available to the airlines than in decades past and the increase in the number of civilian trained pilots with previous jet and airline experience. Almost all the regionals now fly jets, many that go higher or are more advanced than mainline aircraft.

If you want to fly for an airline, do not join the armed forces simply as a means to that end. Do it if you really want to serve your country and have a desire to be a military pilot but don't think of it simply as a way to get "free flight training" so you can become an airline pilot. In all reality, it's not truly "free" and the openings for military aviators are fewer and more competitive than they have ever been. If you somehow manage to even get accepted into the service as a pilot candidate and make it through flight school, you could be committed for a dedade or more. You could also get killed in the line of duty.

4) Most importantly, if I don't want to go through the Air Force for the qualifications, where can I find flight schools/training that I can get the credentials with?

There are hundreds of flight schools or flying clubs you could do your training with. Find a school near you via http://flighttraining.aopa.org/
AOPA Flight Training is one of the best resources for student pilots. Click their Learn to Fly tab to find schools near you.

Although an aviation degree isn't necessary to fly, but many pilots chose to get one. You can find aviation universities and colleges with flight programs here- http://uaa.aero

Since you are 14 years old, I suggest joining the Aviation Explorer Scouts or the Civil Air Patrol. Both will get you into the world of aviation and the cost will be minimal. You may even find reduced cost flight training.

Aviation Exploring is a youth development program centered around aviation careers. Member benefits:
* Take orientation flights in military transports, helicopters, gliders, or single-engine general aviation aircraft
* Visit Air Force bases, aviation museums, air shows, or FAA facilities
* Learn to preflight an aircraft
* Take pilot training ground school classes
They also offer scholarships for those on the aviation career track. http://www.aviationexploring.org/

The Civil Air Patrol (part of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary) offers their cadets the chance to take orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft at no cost to them. Paired with an experienced CAP volunteer pilot, cadets help preflight the aircraft, observe takeoff procedures and while aloft actually manipulate the controls and perform basic flight maneuvers. The program also enables cadets to learn about meteorology, navigation and aircraft instrumentation and technology. CAP Cadets fly approximately 16,000 hours in powered aircraft and 7,000 sorties in gliders each year. CAP cadet info-
http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/html/teens.htm


5) Random question:  I sail, and race in my own small boat (8ft). Do you think my sailing experience/training of reading and using and understanding the wind and how it affects things would help at all?
Absolutely. You must already understand that corrections for wind must be made to maintain a plotted navigation course. Check out the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge for the basics you must know for the private pilot-
http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/pilot_handbook/

Chapter 15 details air navigation. I suggest printing the entire document though as it has a wealth of information you will need to learn. Chapter 1 also has advice on starting your flight training and finding a school.

Hope this helps,
Dottie