Is it possible to become a pilot in the commercial business, without the military?

Question

I was wondering if someone couuld go straight to flying in the commercial airline business and not have to go through the military. Please explain what someone would have to do to accomplish this. If you have done this, please describe your experience as descriptive as possible. Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes, you train to get certified as a Private, then a  Commercial pilot.  Train to be rated as an instument pilot, and an instructor.   Go to a multiengine school and get that rating.  Instruct or fly in some other entry level jobs.  Hire on with a commuter airline.  Transition into corporate or airline flying.

Answer 2

If you eventually want a job with a major airline, it is preferred that you have a 4 year college degree.  If you go through the military, you ARE ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED to have 4 year college degree.  Either way, you need a 4 year college degree.

As far as going straight into commercial airlines, that is simply not going to happen.  Obtaining a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate ratings is only the bare minimum needed to gain entry level employment in aviation.  You will need to build a couple of thousand hours of flight time through avenues such as flight instruction, regional airlines and so forth before you would be minimally qualified for a major airline.  This will take several years at very low to moderate pay.

For the guy who said military flight training is "cheap and simple", do your homework.  Military flight training is a lot more dificult to obtain than civilian.  The military rejects far more pilot applicants in any given year than all commercial airlines combined.

Answer 3

You'd have to have to obtain a CASA II or III certificate stating that you are physically capable of flying (20/20 vision, good hearing etc), obtain a CPL (Commercial Pilots License) for being a FO (First Officer) or ATPL (Airline Transport Pilots License) which allows you to be pilot in command.

Also most airlines these days expect a university or collage degree (preferably in aviation) and possible other qualifications in flying the specific aircraft etc.

Military is a cheap and simple way of getting a foot in the door to becoming a airline pilot, but it's a more risky way of doing it.

Answer 4

It is possible but you have to have more flight training  and it will take longer.

Answer 5

I'm purely civilian, started at age 24, and this is my career in a nutshell:

1) Got college degree

2) Completed flight training through Commercial, Instrument, Multi-engine and Flight Instructor.

3) Worked as Flight Instructor 3 years

4) Got hired by Regional Airline.

The rest is history.

Answer 6

It is based on seniority.  The more hours you fly with the best technology the better chance you have of getting a job with a airline.  The Military has the best training you can get.  If you are lisensed to fly a airlines plane you will be at the bottom of the list because the pilots from the army will be more qualifyed and the airline will hire them.

It is all based on how many hours you fly with the most advanced technology and the Military gives you a much greater chance.

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Answer 7

After +2 you can.  Of course this is subject to your medical fitness basically eye sight. There are various institutions one is in Santacruz West in Mumbai.  Suggest  go through google and check the details of various institutes in India.

Answer 8

It's always best to tell us what country you live in, because there could be different answers for different countries...

If you live in the USA, then yes... there are many different paths to become a commercial pilot, and you don't have to join the military to do it.