Steps To Completing Commercial Pilot Training

There are many different levels of pilot training that a person must go through in order to complete commercial airline pilot training. Typically, a person becomes a student pilot, then they go through private pilot training, after which they do their instrument rating. At this point, they can begin the actual commercial pilot training. This is the most expensive and time-consuming portion of the pilot training experience, but it is necessary in order to become a specialized pilot and have the ability to earn top dollar.

During the student pilot phase of pilot training, pupils must fly with an instructor until they are ready to do it alone, which is typically 15 to 20 hours. After another 50 hours or so of solo flying, a student is ready to begin private pilot training, which means they can take on passengers and leave the designated area around the airport. The instrument rating allows a pilot to fly in the clouds and when visibility is not very good. After completing the instrument rating and the other necessary tests, commercial airline pilot training can begin. Commercial pilot training takes the most time and costs the most money, but there are many ways to reduce the cost to make it more affordable.

The investment is worth it, though, because commercial pilots can eventually earn as much as $100,000 a year. Commercial airline pilot training means building experience, though, and a pilot must typically complete 1,500 hours of flying before they're ready. Many people choose to become a flight instructor during their early commercial pilot training when they're not bring in money, because they can log hours and get paid in the process.

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