GUIDE ON HOW TO BECOME A PILOT

Being a pilot is a career in the Aviation field and a noble career indeed. A pilot is saddled with the responsibility to safely transport people or cargo to and from different countries and routes. Many young minds aspire to fly an aircraft one day.

There are different career paths in this field. One can be a commercial or private pilot, cargo pilot, military pilot, or flight instructor. 

There are various hurdles to cross and years of relentless practice and commitment before becoming and advancing as a pilot.

   

In this blog post, we will address various questions you might have regarding this career path.

WHO CAN BE A PILOT?

There are requirements in various fields, and anyone can become a pilot provided the criteria are satisfied.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A PILOT?

1. Gain necessary education

There isn't a one-way road to advancing on this path, but you must have firsthand knowledge or education, which can include any of the following:

• Obtaining a Bachelor's degree related to Aviation or not, but B.Sc. in Mathematics or Physics is an advantage.
• Taking courses from Certified Aviation Academy/Schools will provide adequate practical and classroom training.

The fundamental knowledge gained must prepare you fully for the task ahead. You must understand and communicate fluently in aviation terms.

2. Gain flying hours. 

A pilot-in-training must earn at least 250 hours of flight time to earn a license. You can log these hours by enrolling for military training, attending flight school(s), or practicing with a certified instructor or academy.

3. Pass the written exam. 

After the training, you must pass a written exam organized by a certified instructor. 

4. Apply for a license

• Before getting licensed, you must apply for a Medical certificate to certify that you are healthy enough to fly. 
• After being confirmed fit, you are then qualified for a Student pilot license, allowing you to fly in less restrictive situations with your instructor and work towards full licensure.

5. Obtain further certification. 

Gaining additional certifications to qualify you for specific jobs such as flight instructor or multi-engine plane certifications will give you an edge while job seeking. 

6. Find employment opportunities

It would help if you knew what kind of pilot you'd like to be and fulfilled the basic requirements (such as the number of flying hours) in advance. 

This process of fulfilling the requirements can take up to four years for a degree and about eight months to complete pilot training. Then, two years and more to gain flying hours.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A CAPTAIN?

Pilots often start their career as First officers on domestic aircraft or as Relief Pilot on long-range or international flights.

The main professional concern of First officers is to amass flying hours to make it to the next position, including night flying and instrument time.

After five years, the pilot is within reach of being promoted to co-pilot. Pilots rarely switch companies or careers at this point as it will result in losing seniority.

Pilots with ten years of experience and thousands of miles of flying time should be a captain by now or soon enough. 

Beyond captainship, pilots can advance to chief pilot, director of aviation, and other positions depending on where they work.

DUTIES OF A PILOT?

There are several necessary safety steps that a pilot must take before every flight:

• Checking and filing flight plans.
• Securing the approval of the air traffic control personnel 
• Checking weather and flight conditions.
• Maintaining radio contact with ground control stations. 
• Filing post-flight reports.

WHO ASSISTS A PILOT?

A pilot or captain is assisted by a crew consisting of a co-pilot, a navigator, and a flight attendant. An automatic pilot can also assist a pilot.

CAN PILOTS TRANSITION TO OTHER PATHS?

There are other paths a commercial pilot can transition into. Examples are:

• Helicopter pilots for TV and radio stations. 

• Delivery and rescue pilots.

• Agricultural pilots are involved in crop dusting, fertilization, insect, and weed control. 

• Pilots turned instructors teach, supervise and test company airline pilots' regulations and procedures.

THINGS TO NOTE

• A seniority-based system is used to determine which aircraft a pilot can fly, how much a pilot will earn, and what routes or schedules they will be assigned; young pilots must keep racking up their flying hours. 

• The earlier a pilot is hired, the more seniority they will have, and they upgrade quickly from the first officer to captain.

• The commercial airplane pilot's license applicants must have specific hours of flying time and complete rigorous tests and examinations.

• Pilots are rated according to the plane they can fly -e.g., single-engine, multi-engine, or seaplane, and for the type-Boeing 707 or 747. 

• A pilot is certified to fly on one aircraft type at a time. That is, Boeing 777 pilots are only assigned to routes where Boeing 777s operate.

By now, you must have all your questions answered and a glimpse into a pilot's career. 

With the right courses offered at Continental Aviation School, you are on the right path into the field of Aviation. Enroll today.