Process of becoming a commercial pilot?

Question

OK, so i'm thinking of being a commercial pilot. I understand that i need around 60hrs of lessons before i can test for my private pilot license? (Correct me if im wrong please) Then if i pass, i will need to be hired by a small cargo airline to get some hours right? If so, could you give me the names of some cargo airlines willing to take on new pilots with low hours? Once i have a lot of hours, how to i get into commercial flying? Do i simply go to the big airlines asking for training, or do i need to go to a flying school again? I'm pretty much lost after the stage of cargo flying...

Answer 1

My friend is an pilot with a well know airline.

he funded it himself about 15 years ago and it cost £40 000 then.

The money he makes now means it was worth it.

try the Balpa site it explains on a PDF what to do and rough costs.

http://www.balpa.org.uk/intranet/How-to-...

Answer 2

You have picked up a number of misconceptions from somewhere, and you need to back up and start over.

Here is what you should do today to get started in the right direction:

Go to the nearest airport that has an FBO or flight school and talk to a flight instructor.  Explain your goals, and they will advise you of the best way to proceed for your situation and the local environment.  They will sell you a book called the FAR/AIM, for Federal Aviation Regulations/Airman's Information Manual.  That is a basic reference book that will answer all your questions.

It's also a good idea, while you are there, to take an introductory flight.  That will cost you $75-125, and it is an actual session of basic flight instruction that will help you decide whether flying is really right for you.

If you decide at that point to go ahead, then you should go for your 3rd class medical exam at that point.  You will be investing a lot of money in your training, and you want to be sure first that you can pass the medical requirements.

Then you will be a Student Pilot and you can train for your Private Airman Certificate (the correct term for a "pilot's license).

The flight time requirement for the Private Certificate is 40 hours, but most people need somewhat more, so 60 hours is a reasonable estimate.  The Private Certificate does not qualify a pilot to fly for hire.  So your "small cargo airline" is still at least a couple of years in the future, and usually more like 5 years.

But if you are dedicated and talented, you can make it.  You go on for the commercial certificate, which requires 250 hours and lots of additional training.  With a Commercial Certificate, Instructor, Instrument, and Multi-engine ratings, you can fly for hire.  You can make a subsistence living flying charter and instructing.

When you have accumulated 1,500 hours, you can secure the Airline Transport Certificate (assuming you can pass the tests), and then you can start applying to regional airlines and cargo operators.

So expect to spend around ten (10) years working hard on this and living on Ramen Noodles before you reach the right seat of an airliner.  If you do it right it will have been worth it.

Answer 3

here's the way:

generally speaking, it is very unlikely to get hired by a cargo company if you just own a provate pilot licence!!!

this is because you have no instrument training at all (all you PrivatePilot is done by visual reference to the horizon) and furthermore no type-rating (necessay to operate in airplanes bigger than Cessnas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

so...

1) yes, to start with you need to get a PP licence (i'm not from NZ, but I agree it's around 60 hrs)

2)add an instrument rating to it (quite expensive but unavoidable) which gives u the opportunity to fly under any weather condition (ie, when flight visibility does not allow u to fly visually), should be around 55 hrs (this is in europe)

3)unfortunately again by yourself (ie flight school), gain a commercial pilot licence (CPL), which will enable you to operate in complex aircraft (variable pitch propeler and retractable undercarriage) for "remuneration or hire" (according to Air law)

4) before flying for an airline however, you need additional courses like MCC (multi crew cooperation) and a type-rating (specific for the aircraft you will fly)

...

really expensive indeed...however I highly encourage you to consider applying for the NZ airforce: top-quality education and experience, lot of aerobatic training and..you can still fly a commercial airliner when you finish..!

Answer 4

What???!!!!!

Firstly you don't test for your PPL, you apply for your PPL training.

Secondly, you need to pass your class 2 medical for your PPL and class 1 for commercial.

Thirdly, in the PPL it is structured into stages Navigation, Air law, spin recovery etc, so the number of hours you fly doesn't determine how soon you will obtain your PPL.

Lastly, for commercial of Airline flying you must fly through your ratings and onto other aircraft licenses, the PPL is the first license that is required.

PPL

Mulit engine                                       (twin piston prop)

CPL                                                   (Commercial Pilots license)

IR                                                       (Instrumeny rating)

                                                                                                     Multi crew co-operation                      (two pilot training)

                                              

ATPL (frozen)                  The minimum entry requirements

                                         for Airline selection for type

                                          rating simulator and base

                                          training.

To obtain the licenses you need for commercial or ATPL you have two common routes to take.

Airline Sponsorship scheme:

Enrole onto a sponsorship scheme through an Airline website.  The entry requirements are stringent and expect candidates with a good enducational background and some flying experience or aviation experience.

Through this route, Airliners initially pay for the cadets aviation training through a selected avaition training school.

The cadet then pays back the training throught their salary.

(Self financing your training)

Obtain your PPL first and then fly though your ratings whilst holding a full time job, the modular route.

Or pay for the ab initio route which allows you to fly from your ppl up to the ATPL in one course.

Expect to pay 40,000 50,000 gbp and a course that can last over 15 months.

Even if you obtain your ATPL on your own without airline selection, this doesn't often lead to employment straight away, a very bad situation to be in if you had taken out a hugh loan

Answer 5

Check out Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.