The Road to Become a Pilot : Find Two Types of Training

Imagine yourself sitting on the pilot seat in the cockpit of an airplane flying through the white clouds on a bright sunny day. Or soaring through the sky on a stormy night above all the thunderclouds. The rousing feeling of flying an airplane is something many people dream of. But very few people can accomplish the goal of sitting in the seat of a captain or a first officer. The road to becoming a pilot starts with pilot training. It’s a long process that can fulfill your dreams of becoming a pilot.

Being a pilot is not easy, and completing the training to become a pilot is intensive. For beginners who have their pilot dream but zero knowledge of how to become a pilot, the start of the road to become a pilot journey can be confusing.

Knowing about the training process - starting from the basic requirements to different types of licenses can help aspiring pilots a lot. This article will give you exactly that, taking you through everything you need to know regarding pilot training. It will remove your confusion and give you a clear sight of what lies ahead in the journey of becoming a pilot.

Understanding the basics

Pilot training is different that other types of training or schooling. You need to meet certain basic requirements before starting as a trainee in a pilot school. This includes fulfilling requirements like age, education, English language proficiency, etc. You also need to understand the basic principles of aviation before getting flying lessons. First, let’s learn about the basic requirements to get into a pilot school.

Basic Requirements

Age

A person needs to fulfill the minimum age requirement to get into flying. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the minimum age to start learning how to fly is 16. However, the minimum age to fly a balloon or a glider is 14.

Education

Pilot training requires a person to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. There are no specific subjects that a person must take during his education to get into flying schools. However, knowing subjects like math, science, geography, and psychology can help later in the aviation career.

While a Bachelor’s degree is not required to get a pilot license, airline companies require pilots to have a Bachelor’s degree or an associate degree in aviation-related programs. You can get different skills like communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills in this four to six-year degree that can help you become a professional pilot.

Language Proficiency

Knowing the English language is important in any career. To become a pilot, knowing English is crucial. If you are from a non-English speaking country, you will need to take English language proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS to prove your language skills.

Medical Clearance

An aspiring pilot needs to get his health checked and cleared to learn to fly. They need to get a medical clearance from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Certain health problems including heart problems, diabetes, epilepsy, or personality disorders can disqualify you from becoming a pilot.

Financial Requirements

Pilot training is very expensive, which is why it is important to think carefully before getting into a training program. If you are financially stable enough to bear the huge cost that comes with flying training, you can proceed with your decision to learn to fly. If you are not, then you need to think twice.

Ground School

After getting all the basic requirements checked, it is time for you to start learning flying. This includes going to a ground school and getting flight training. In ground school, you learn everything you need to know about aviation and flying. These theoretical aspects lay the groundwork for you before getting into the practical part of actually flying an airplane.

You will learn about aerodynamics, meteorology, navigation, weather patterns, air traffic control (ATC) procedures, and the principles of flight in ground school. Instructors use a variety of educational tools like textbooks, simulations, and multimedia presentations to help students grasp complex concepts about flying.

Flight Training

After completing the ground school phase, it is time for you to get into the practical part of pilot training - flying an actual airplane. During flight training, you will learn to use the theoretical aspects learned in the ground school in actual scenarios. So, having a solid ground school foundation is important for flight training.

Flight trainings are generally conducted by flight instructors. Certified Flight Instructors (CFI) accompany you in a dual-controlled aircraft to teach you how to fly. This training will teach you how to operate the aircraft, navigate through airspace, and respond to various in-flight scenarios. You will also learn takeoffs and landings, basic maneuvers, emergency procedures, and instrument flying. Instructors try to make you proficient in handling the aircraft safely and confidently during flight training.

More Specific : The Road to Become a Pilot

Getting Pilot Licenses

The main purpose of pilot training is to get pilot licenses. If you are serious about becoming a pilot, getting these licenses should be your main goal. These licenses are obtained one after another and to obtain these licenses, you must sit for various examinations and also fulfill different requirements.

Private Pilot License

A Private Pilot License or PPL is the most common pilot license achieved by individuals. With this license, you can fly aircraft for personal and recreational purposes. You can also carry passengers with this license but you cannot take any money for that.

To obtain a PPL, there are certain requirements you must meet depending on the region. In general, the minimum age for obtaining a PPL is 17 years. You need to have a minimum of a high school degree or equivalent. You also need to get a medical clearance from an Aviation Medical Examiner or AME to become eligible to get a PPL.

You need to complete both ground school and flight training to be eligible to get a PPL. You also need to log in a minimum amount of flight hours that typically range from 40 to 50 hours. This includes both solo and dual instruction flight time. Along with that, you need to complete a certain amount of solo flight hours, night flight hours, and cross-country flight hours.

Finally, you will have to pass a written exam and a practical test, commonly referred to as a checkride. Checkride includes an oral exam and a flight test with an FAA-designated flight examiner. After completing and passing these tests, you will get the PPL license.

Commercial Pilot License

A Commercial Pilot License or CPL is the next level of pilot license after PPL. It is the common license that pilots get to start flying for money. With a CPL, you can also become the second-in-command or the first officer of an aircraft.

To qualify for a CPL, you to be at least 18 years old with a high school or equivalent degree. You need to have obtained a PPL, accumulated total flight hours of 250 hours and completed a certain amount of cross-country and night flight hours. You also need to acquire a certain number of flight hours under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).

After meeting all the requirements, you will need to pass a written exam and a checkride with an aviation authority-designated pilot examiner to obtain a CPL.

Airline Transport Pilot License

The Airline Transport Pilot License or ATP is the highest level of license in the aviation field. If your goal is to serve as the captain of a scheduled airline, ATP is the license you need to get. There are various requirements that you need to fulfill to get this license.

The minimum age to get an ATP license is 23 years. The education required is minimum a high-school degree or an equivalent certificate. Applicants must hold a CPL with an instrument rating and log a minimum flight time of 1,500 hours. A significant amount of these flight hours need to be logged in as PIC or Pilot-in-Command time.

Along with these, the applicant must fulfill a minimum number of flight times in different aspects and conditions. The applicant must also attend a specified ATP training program, and pass the ATP written exam and practical test to get the license.

Simulation Training

Along with all the mainstream training, you can also get simulation training that can help you get accustomed to different flying situations without the actual risks. Using flight simulation technology, you can experience a realistic and controlled in-flight environment.

Simulation training can be beneficial for you in many ways. It does not have the risks of an actual flight. Also, the simulation technology can exactly replicate in-flight situations. So, you can experience diverse situations you could face while flying in simulation training and learn how to react in those situations.

Types of Simulators

There are different types of simulators suitable for various levels of pilots.

Basic Aviation Training Devices (BATDs)

This is the most basic aviation simulator. BATDs are used for procedural training where pilots get familiar with the cockpit, learn to scan instruments, and know the basic procedures.

Advanced Aviation Training Devices (AATDs)

AATDs offer more advanced and realistic flight training. It has an actual cockpit and advanced instruments. This type of simulator is useful for practicing instrument training and emergency procedures.

Full Flight Simulators (FFS)

FFS can provide you with the most immersive flight experience. It replicates the entire cockpit and flight environment, giving you real-life in-flight experience. FFS is used for type-specific training on specific aircraft models.

Further Training

Becoming a pilot does not mean the learning ends with the completion of pilot training. With the development of technologies and the advancement of aviation trends, pilots need to keep up with the latest updates and regulations. This is why they need to keep training whenever necessary to better equip themselves as pilots.

Recurrent Training

Pilots are required to undergo recurrent training at regular intervals to refresh their aviation skills and knowledge. This allows pilots to stay updated with the latest aviation laws and regulations.

Recurrent training also helps pilots to learn how to integrate new technologies into flight operations. This is important because aviation technology keeps improving rapidly. So, pilots need to keep up with the pace of technological advancement.

Type Ratings

Just like cars, there are various types and models of aircraft. But just any pilot cannot fly any aircraft. To fly a specific model of aircraft, a pilot needs to obtain type ratings of that type of aircraft before flying that airplane. This is most common in the case of commercial passenger airplanes. Pilots need to obtain type ratings that demonstrate their proficiency in operating a certain model of aircraft.

Conclusion

The road to becoming a pilot is a long process and a journey that might seem like a hurdle to many. But for aspiring pilots, this can be a heavenly route as they can learn the nooks and crannies of aviation during pilot training. This comprehensive journey takes a simple person dreaming of becoming a pilot through the theories of ground school, the first flight of the flight training, and the intricate process of obtaining different licenses for a pilot. In the end, the basics learned during pilot training help a pilot to have a safe and successful flying career.

FAQ

How long does it take to train a pilot?

The number of hours required to train a pilot depends on various situations. The ground school can generally be completed in four weeks. After that, the trainee needs to log in a minimum of 40 to 50 hours to get a PPL. After that, a trainee can become a pilot.

Do pilots need a degree?

The minimum educational requirement to be a pilot is to have a high school degree or similar credential certificate. So, a high school degree is enough to become a pilot. But to be the pilot of an airline, pilots need to get a four-year Bachelor’s degree.

How much does pilot training cost?

Pilot training is expensive. Renting and flying an aircraft to log in the minimum amount of flight hours, the fees for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and the fees for a ground school - all of these are very costly.