Getting Started
Looking for a challenging and rewarding career? Maybe becoming an Airline Pilot is the profession
you are looking for. Many people consider comanding an airliner to be an
exciting and unique experience. While this is true, many people oversee the hard
word and sacrifice associated with a flying career. Make sure you research this industry
and careerfeild to pick a pathway for success. A great way to start out is getting online to sites like this one
as well as many others to find out what's involved. The second part of
research is to see how you like flying. Go out and have fun with an intro
flight. BeaPilot.com offers a good intro flight program at many flight schools.
It's worth getting up close and personal with a plane before you commit to it as
a career.
Discovery Flight
Before investing lots of time and money in an aviation career be sure to
sign up for a discovery flight or intro flight at you local flight school.
This should be a fun and informal experience to see if you really want to start
the journey to becoming an airline pilot. Going up and experiencing flight
while at the controls of a plane, while under the direct supervision of an
instructor is a good way to get your feet wet, or head in the clouds.
Don't worry if you get a little sick or an upset stomach because this happens to
lots of people in small airplanes. As long as it is not the result of a
more serious inner ear problem these unpleasant sensations pass with time,
usually within a few hours of flight training. Once you decide that you
like the idea of challenging yourself to a career in commercial aviation you
must get a first class medical. This will let you know if you are
medically qualified to hold the appropriate Medical Certificate that an airline
pilot must have.
Become an Educated Consumer
Get to know the market, what's right, what's wrong, and what's a good
value.....
Get to know the Pros
Ask people that have already achieved your goal. Learn from someone
that's done it......
Personal Background
Another thing to consider is any criminal or employment background issues
that may arise during your application, preventing you from being hired.
Examples of such things are DUI/DWI convictions, excessive vehicle citations for
speeding or reckless driving, and employment history of multiple terminations or
subordination problems. Airlines will generally not hire a pilot if he or
she has had a severe lapse in judgemnet, such as DUI arrest and conviction,
withing the past ten years. With that in mind be sure your past is
hirable.
Get a 1st Class Medical
Since all airline part 121 operations require pilots to hold a current
first class medical, athough most carries will allow First Officers to hold a
First class medical for 12 months therefore reverting to 2nd class privilages.
It is only logical that a prospective airline pilot would ensure they can meet
the medical requirements for a fist class medical since any condition preventing
the issuance would ultimately also prevent an airline career. If you have
a medical condition preventing you from ever obtaining a first class medical
then it would be unwise to invest tens of thousands of dollars in training that
will never lead to the ultimate goal of an airline pilot job.
Education
Education is also important. Airlines typically look to hire pilots
with at least a four year college degree or military experience. Some
smaller airlines will hire pilots without a degree as long as they meet all
required pilot certificates/ratings and the flight time experience.
However, the pilot hopeful needs to realize that they will be drastically less
competitive for a position with a major or legacy carrier.
TSA Flight Training Validation
49 U.S.C. 114, 44939, 1552 New regulations issued on October 21, 2004 by
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) require flight training
providers to verify students' proof of U.S. citizenship prior to beginning
training (Flight or Simulator). To satisfy the requirements of this
regulation, student pilots must bring a valid, unexpired United States Passport
to the flight training center.
Requirements only apply to flight training in aircraft weighing less than
12,500lbs for Sport Pilot Certificate, Recreational Pilot Certificate, Private
Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating or Multi-Engine Rating. All students
must prove US citizenship status before beginning flight training.*
*U.S. passport OR one of the following: birth certificate; certification of
birth abroad with raised seal; certificate of U.S. citizenship with raised seal;
certificate of repatriation; or U.S. naturalization certificate with reaised
seal, accompanied by government-issued picture ID.
Ready for Takeoff
So now that you have taken a discobery flight, checked your resources,
looked at yourself with an objective eye, and met the medical requirements to
begin your new career...what's next? Well, you will need to pick a flight
training provider to get you started on the exciting journey you have ahead.
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