How to Become a Commercial Pilot

You may have looked up to pilots since you were young and admired the way they can take a whole aircraft into the skies, and into another country. However, there are those who look up to them, and there are those who aspire to be like them. Though it can be a long journey to take, the road to becoming a commercial pilot is a rewarding one. If you’re willing to commit to the process, you will be up in the air and transporting people all over the world in no time. Soon, it may be younger generations who are watching and hoping to be like you.

Find a reliable funding source

There is currently a shortage of pilots in many countries, but most notably the USA. This has lead to generous scholarships and even free grants being offered to bring in potential trainees. With this in mind, you’d think that this means you wouldn’t have to worry about finances the entire time you’re in training. However, to put your all into your training, you will need to be out of a job for one or two years. Food, going out, and other bills will not be given to you for free, so you need to ensure you have enough savings to cover you for the time you will be off work. It can involve saving up over time or find someone to help with your funding so that you can enjoy a great quality of life as you train.

Make sure you’re qualified

To be a pilot for personal use flights, you will only need to attain a Private Pilot License, but when you’re aiming to be a commercial pilot, you also need to work towards gaining a Commercial Pilot License. It means studying to get these two licenses, as well as attending training to get to grips with the complicated equipment on board an airplane. It isn’t only flying related training you need to undertake, as when you are looking at how to become a commercial pilot above all else, you’ll need to complete an FAA Medical certificate and pass all of your exams. Once you’ve done this, you can start recording all of your flight hours, and then go about looking for a great job.

Put in the time

It isn’t just money you need to have available to for when you start. You also need to have the time. Becoming a commercial pilot isn’t something you can do on the side while still having time to indulge in your regular daytime activities. It also means that you might not be able to sustain a full-time job, so you need to make sure you can fully commit to a course before you even consider sitting down to apply. Like any course, you want to know that the time you’re putting in will be worth it at the end, and you won’t walk away empty-handed. It is why you can always find a flight school which will either give you a helping hand with finding a job or hands one to you after you graduate.

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