Do you want to be a commercial pilot? Commercial pilots fly in the service of passengers, freight, or mail. They have the responsibility to transport the aircraft from one place to another.
A commercial pilot needs a bachelor’s degree in aviation and a commercial pilot license. The minimum requirement for a student who wants to become a commercial pilot is to finish high school with academic excellence.
Below find more about commercial pilot requirements
- Commercial Pilot License
To become a commercial pilot, you need to have a commercial pilot license. In the United States, there are three types of licenses: private, recreational, and commercial. Each type is divided into classes – from single-engine planes to jumbo jets or helicopters.
To obtain a private license for a single-engine aircraft, a student needs to prove they have logged at least 20 hours of flight experience; for a sport pilot license, 15. To obtain the commercial pilot’s license, you need to prove flying at least 40 hours with 10 in cross-country flights.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation
To become a commercial pilot, it is necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree in aviation. Most programs are four years long, while some schools offer associate’s or bachelor’s degrees with less time to completion. An aviation management program can also prepare students interested in becoming airline pilots.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation – Related Fields
Students who want to become commercial pilots may consider majors outside of aviation, such as business administration or industrial engineering. Having a non-aviation degree does not disqualify students from becoming commercial pilots; it simply means they will start their careers later than those with degrees in aviation.
It is also worth noting that the FAA has instituted changes to the commercial pilot certification program that require applicants to hold either an associate’s degree or at least 1,000 hours of flight experience.
The changes will take effect in 2020 and require pilots to have 60 credit hours of aviation education. It means that students working toward their commercial pilot license should consider completing an associate’s degree program if they plan on becoming a commercial pilot.
- Physical Requirements
Commercial pilots must pass a stringent physical exam to ensure they are healthy, fit, and see well. Students need 20/20 vision in at least one eye or corrective lens to obtain the first-class medical certificate required for commercial pilot licenses. Common considerations that may disqualify students from becoming commercial pilots are heart problems, diabetes, and epilepsy.
Students should expect to have a thorough physical examination at the time of application and periodically during their careers to ensure they meet all licensing requirements.
- Airplane Multi-Engine Rating
To become a commercial airline pilot, this certification is required. The training process can take up to six months for students who already hold a private pilot license. The FAA allows pilots with a commercial license to fly multi-engine airplanes after logging a minimum of 250 hours of total flight time.
The bottom line is to be a commercial pilot, and you have to have specific requirements before being allowed to fly. It is always suggested to plan accordingly – get all the highest education, certificates, and licenses before starting an airline career.