6 STEPS TO BECOME AN AIRLINE PILOT
This guide walks you through the exact steps required to become an airline pilot. If you’re flying recreationally, the Private Pilot Certificate may be all you need, but adding an Instrument Rating is highly recommended for safety and real-world usability.
1. Private Pilot Become a Pilot
2. Instrument Rating Fly in Clouds
3. Commercial Pilot Can be paid
4. Flight Instructor Paid to teach
5. Multi-Engine Addon Add another engine
6. Airline Transport Pilot Begin flying for an airline!
Understanding the Training and Testing Process
Every license or rating involves three parts:
- Flight training
- FAA written exam
- Checkride.
Checkride
The checkride includes an oral knowledge discussion and a flight portion where you demonstrate the skills you’ve learned. With solid preparation, most students find the process clear and manageable.
Note:
The prices and hours shown are typical estimates, not guarantees. Most students need more than the FAA minimums. You can keep costs down by flying and studying consistently. If you spread training out or don’t study between lessons, it usually takes longer and costs more.
1. Private Pilot
The Private Pilot Certificate is the first major step toward becoming an airline pilot. While Recreational or Sport Pilot certificates exist, they are not used on the airline pathway.
As a Private Pilot, you can fly almost anywhere, carry passengers, volunteer for charity flights, and explore freely—as long as you stay clear of clouds and follow visual-flight rules. Private Pilots cannot fly for compensation or hire.
Requirements:
- Age 16 to solo
- Age 17 for the license
- Read, speak, and understand English
- Obtain a 3rd class Medical
Time & Cost
- Timeframe: 2-6 months (plus time building)
- Typical training cost: $8,500 – $13,000
- Minimum flight time: 40 hours (most students finish with 65-75 hours)
What You Learn
Training covers the full set of skills needed to fly safely and independently. Once you’ve demonstrated consistent control and sound decision-making, your instructor will authorize your first solo flight. Training continues with both dual and solo practice as you build proficiency toward the checkride.
2. Instrument Rating
The Instrument Rating allows a Private Pilot to fly in the clouds, follow instrument procedures, and operate similarly to the airlines. Many call it the “golden ticket” because it greatly reduces weather cancellations and increases safety.
We strongly recommend that all pilots continue training to earn this rating.
Requirements
- Hold a Private Pilot Certificate
- Read, speak, and understand English
Time & Cost
- Timeframe: 2-6 months (plus time building)
- Typical training cost: $7,000 – $10,000
- Flight time required: 40 hours of instrument training
- Additional requirement: 50 hours of cross-country flight time
How You Build Experience
Training combines actual IMC, simulated instrument flight, and BATD simulator time, which helps lower cost and speeds learning. Staying consistent and building cross-country hours during Private Pilot flying also reduces total expense.
This rating is one of the most valuable upgrades a pilot can earn and opens the door to safer, more reliable flying.
3. Commercial Pilot
The Commercial Pilot Certificate is a required step on the path to becoming an airline pilot. It does not qualify you for airline flying yet—that comes later with ATP eligibility—but it does allow you to be paid for certain types of flying, such as aerial photography, patrol work, or ferrying aircraft, usually in someone else’s airplane.
You still cannot use your own aircraft to carry passengers or cargo for hire. Most pilots at this stage gain experience by working for an established operator or by becoming a flight instructor.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- Speak, read, and understand English
- Hold a Private Pilot Certificate
- Hold at least a 3rd-class medical
(2nd-class for commercial privileges)
Time & Cost
- Timeframe: 2-4 months (plus time building 1-2 months)
- Required flight time: 250 hours total
- Typical cost for training & time building: $12,000 – $18,000
4. Flight Instructor
You do not need to become a flight instructor to reach the airlines, but many pilots choose this path to build flight hours while getting paid. If you pursue this route, remember you’ll be shaping new pilots—put the student first.
Instructor certificates are often considered the most challenging because they require both advanced flying skills and strong teaching ability.
Types of Instructor Ratings
- CFI (Certified Flight Instructor – Airplane): Teach in single-engine aircraft
- CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument): Teach instrument flight
- MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor): Teach in multi-engine aircraft
Each rating requires its own checkride.
Requirements
- At least 18 years old
- Hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate
- Read, speak, and understand English
- Hold a 3rd-class medical certificate (or basic med)
Time & Cost
- Timeframe: 1-3 months
- Typical cost: $3,000 – $5,000
Costs vary because most of the training focuses on learning how to teach. Your experience level, study habits, and training frequency all impact total time and cost.
5. Multi-engine License
The multi-engine add-on allows you to fly aircraft with more than one engine. Most pilots complete it after earning their Commercial certificate or after becoming a CFI.
Recommended Timing
You typically don’t need this rating until you’re close to the 1,500-hour ATP requirement. We recommend becoming a Flight Instructor first so you can begin getting paid to fly.
Time & Cost
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Timeframe: 1-2 weeks
-
Cost: $3,000–$7,000
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Extra hours required: None if you already have Commercial
Multi-engine aircraft are more expensive to operate, but schools that focus specifically on multi-engine training often offer better rates.
6. Airline Transport Pilot
This is the license that qualifies you to be hired by an airline.
Requirements
- 1,500 flight hours
(with limited exceptions for aviation degrees or military experience) - 1st-class medical
- Commercial Multi Certificate
- Instrument Rating
- Age 21 for a restricted ATP (R-ATP)
- Age 23 for a full ATP
- English proficiency
- Good moral character
Once you meet ATP eligibility, airline hiring is generally very strong.
Time & Cost
There is no set cost because pilots reach 1,500 hours in different ways, such as:
- Working as a flight instructor
- Commercial flying jobs (e.g., pipeline patrol, banner tow, crop dusting)
- Paying for flight time individually
Airlines usually pay for your ATP training during new-hire training. We’ll help guide you through the process and ensure you stay on track toward ATP eligibility.
Ready to become an airline pilot?
We offer 30-minute discovery flights to see how you like flying! It’s only $149. You can schedule online. Or give us a call or text at 817-755-5652.