What Does It Take To Be A Commercial Airline Pilot?

The passenger air travel industry has not been around for very long but it is easily one of the best aspects of living in this modern world.  Air travel, of course, has helped Mankind to finally get first hand experience with other parts of the Earth, an achievement that previous generations would not have.  

Even if you do not travel by air, these days, it would be hard to deny just how massive and how important air travel is. And that is why many people consider airline piloting as a profession.  Indeed, this can be quite a fascinating, fanciful job; but only if you have the right Academy of Aeronautics pilot training (and the right fortitude to handle such a high-stress job).

CAREER REQUIREMENTS

The first thing that you need to know if it seems like you might want to be a pilot is that you need a Bachelor’s Degree from a credited university.  You could, potentially, study any of the following degree fields to receive this accreditation:

    • aeronautical engineering

    • aircraft operations

    • aviation

Of course, there are other related fields that might be available depending upon the school you attend.  Also, some people are able to study piloting in the military.

At the same time, you might also need to study for several licenses and certifications. This might include:

    • commercial pilot’s license

    • instrument rating certification

    • airline transport pilot certifications

Finally, in order to qualify as a professional pilot, you must also log flight to

me as part of your individual training.  

SKILLS YOU MIGHT NEED

Sure, piloting an aircraft involves sitting in, what amounts to be, a big metal box with just one other person, but you might be surprised by just how much communication skills are involved.  Indeed, here are some skills that you may need as a professional commercial pilot:

    • interpersonal communication

    • problem-solving

    • deductive reasoning

    • observation

    • depth perception

    • vision

    • hand-eye coordination and reaction time

    • manual agility (to maneuver the aircraft instruments and navigation systems)

At the end of the day, if you receive your degrees and all certifications, you can expect to make about $115,000 or more as a pilot, co-pilot, or flight engineer.