The ultimate guide to becoming a pilot — the requirements, the costs, and where to study

As a kid seeing planes soaring in the sky, you might have thought of one question: “How to be a pilot?”

Even now, as a teenager or adult, the answer isn’t as simple as “attending flight school.”

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association for the world’s airlines, estimates that five billion passengers travelled by air in 2024. It’s a whopping number, one that is supported by the 11.6 million working directly in the aviation industry, with 3.1 million working for numerous airlines worldwide.

Unfortunately, that might not be enough to meet the growing demand of travellers in the present and future.

CAE, a leading supplier of flight training services, estimates the global population of active commercial airline pilots to be 351,000 in 2023. In June 2023, they reported that 252,000 new commercial pilots were needed by 2032.

However, IATA projects that by 2039, the aviation industry will require approximately 800,000 new pilots. The number gets more staggering if you look at Boeing’s 2024’s Pilot and Technician Outlook: the world will need nearly 890,000 new pilots by the year 2042.

With a career so high in demand, it does make you wonder what it takes to be a pilot and if you have the skills and capabilities to be one.

But before we dive into how to be a pilot, you must first know that there are several paths a pilot can take. 

Airline pilot

The most commonly known pilot career is an airline or commercial pilot. They fly aircraft transporting passengers, cargo, or mail from one location to another. Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and Airbus A330 are some of the few aircraft you may fly.

It takes three to four years to become an airline pilot.

Cargo pilot

Cargo pilots fly aircraft that solely transport cargo or freight for a company. While they may not have to worry about transporting passengers, they must know how to load and unload cargo while maintaining its quality. Boeing 747-8F, Antonov An-225, or Airbus A330-200F are a few cargo aircraft you may fly.

It takes two to four years to become a cargo pilot.

Corporate pilot

Corporate pilots, also known as private pilots, fly private aircraft for business executives and wealthy individuals. They often fly fewer passengers compared to an airline pilot. Gulfstreams, Cessna Citations, Dassault Falcons, and Kningair turboprops are a few planes you may fly as a corporate pilot.

It takes up to one and a half to three years to become a corporate pilot.

Military pilot

A military pilot is a military service member who operates aircraft to transport soldiers or military gear to carry out missions. F-15 Eagles, Airbus A400M, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and UH-60 are just a handful of the planes you might get assigned to work with.

It takes two to three years to become a military pilot.

Firefighting pilots

Also known as air tanker pilots, they are responsible for using aircraft to fight wildfires and perform rescue operations.

Firefighting pilots often undergo intensive flight, ground, and line training, alongside learning about fire behaviour, weather, and human factors.

The time needed to become a firefighting pilot depends on where you’re learning and where you intend to work.

Aerial photography pilot

Aerial photography pilots take images from the air or fly a photography team over the site they want to photograph. Within the same field, there are aerial survey pilots. They perform data acquisition and mapping tasks while flying over an area.

It takes up to a year to become an aerial photography pilot.

The hardest parts about training and being a pilot

Pilots face two huge challenges: financial investment and time commitment.

Financially, learning to be a pilot costs more than getting a bachelor’s degree. Depending on your training, it can cost from US$83,437 to US$150,000.

Once you’ve gotten your licence, you’ll be fighting to climb the ranks and working long hours to get from one place to another, naturally leaving you away from your family for an extended period. This means that you’ll also work when people are on breaks, like during the weekends and holidays.

It takes an average of five to 12 years — sometimes even 15 — before you get your first offer to be a captain of a prominent airline. Earnings-wise, you’ll start with an annual salary of US$48,000. The highest reported salary is US$133,000, but this can take years to achieve.

And as if that’s not enough, it’s a highly competitive job market to step into.

One Quora user emphasises, “Even after you’ve spent the money, got all your licences, and ticked all the boxes to qualify for an airline job, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a jet job. I’ve seen plenty of people do all the right things, and it ended up wasting time and money when no one would hire them.”

Still, that won’t stop the determined from pursuing their dreams of navigating the skies. If you’re one of the many, we outline what you need to begin your journey. 

Basic requirements on how to be a pilot

Age

The minimum age to start your commercial pilot certificate is usually 18, but most airlines require applicants to be at least 21.

However, in some countries, such as the US, training can begin as early as 16.

Certification and Licences

Before officially becoming a pilot, getting a certification and licence is compulsory on how to be a pilot.

You can consider these certifications and licences:

• Student Pilot Certificate: This certificate allows you to fly solo under supervision. You must be at least 16 and complete the necessary application processes.
• Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate: The ATP certification is a prerequisite for most professional pilot positions, especially those entering the airline industry. It allows pilots to fly as captains or first officers, with opportunities within corporate or private air carriers.
• Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL): This certification is necessary for pilots pursuing a cargo or commercial aviation career.
• Private Pilot Licences (PPL): This licence grants individuals the legal authority to fly small aircraft independently. It only allows you to fly for personal or non-commercial purposes.
• Instrument Rating Certificate: This special certification focuses on flying using only in-cockpit instruments, especially in low visibility or challenging weather conditions. This is acquired after completing a PPL and CPL.
• Multi-Engine Rating Certificate: This certification qualifies a pilot to fly as pilot-in-command (PIC) for any aircraft with more than one engine, and it’s a required certification for aspiring pilots to advance into commercial piloting.

Education

Pilots are often not required to complete a bachelor’s degree. However, a degree is typically needed if you’re looking to fly as a commercial or military pilot.

A degree in transportation, physics, aviation management, aeronautics, engineering, or business is recommended for a piloting career.

Completing high school degrees, such as the SATs, GCSEs, or IB, is compulsory.

Medical and physical requirements

As your work involves handling the lives of other people — to get them to their destination safe and sound — you’ll need to adhere to and meet strict medical and physical requirements. 

This includes undergoing a substance check, an eye exam, passing the Class One and Two medical certificates, having little to no history of bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depression, or self-harm, and having no medical conditions that cause dizziness, speech issues, and balance problems.

Total flight time

The flight time needed to become a pilot depends on the licence you’re working towards, the type of position you’re looking for, and the airline.

A PPL requires 40 hours to graduate, while a CPC and ATP require 250 and 1,500, respectively.

To become a second officer pilot, you’ll need typically 250 hours to 1,500 hours. Cathay Pacific prefers candidates with 1,000 hours and multi-crew cooperation experience. The same goes for Singapore Airlines.

The first officer position requires pilots to have 1,500 multi-crew flying hours on jet-engine aircraft; however, some airlines prefer 3,000 hours.

6 schools where you can learn how to be a pilot

North America

Western Michigan University

Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, US, Western Michigan University‘s (WMU) College of Aviation offers a Bachelor’s in Aviation Flight Science for those looking to become pilots. 

The school ranks #2 as the best aviation college in the nation and has the second longest runway in the state. As a student of WMU, you’ll be working alongside the school’s partner airlines, which include Cirrus Aircraft, Duncan Aviation, ExpressJet, and more.

University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota (UND) offers a traditional four-year BS in Aeronautics, where you’ll learn the science of airplanes and helicopters. Here, you’ll be trained to be the next generation of pilots for the airline, cargo, and corporate industries. 

You’ll also earn an FFA commercial pilot certificate in single and multi-engine, alongside the instrument rating certificate. UND’s partner airlines include Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, and more.

Asia Pacific

Singapore Flying College

Nestled on the small island of Singapore, the Singapore Flying College (SFC) offers several licences such as CPL, Multi-Crew Pilot Licence, Instrument Rating, and more. While these certificates are for those looking to work in Singapore, the college has started offering training for those looking to become pilots in Australia.

Suppose you’re interested in applying for their CPL course; you’ll be based in Singapore for six months and later in Western Australia to complete it.

Ardmore Flying School

Located in Auckland, New Zealand, the Ardmore Flying School (AFS) has professional, experienced instructors through well-maintained modern aircraft and stimulators to guide you on your journey to becoming a pilot.

AMS offers several diplomas, such as those in General Aviation, Airline Prep, or Flight Instruction. At the end of the programmes, you’ll receive a PPL and CPL.

Europe and the UK

Oxford Aviation Academy

The Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA) has been training pilots in the UK as part of CAE Global Academy since 1963. The academy offers fully integrated CPL, PPT, instrument rating courses, cabin crew, and maintenance engineering programmes.

The OAA has a second site three miles from Gatwick Airport, CAE Gatwick, that offers integrated ATP programmes, including aircraft and simulator training.

Lufthansa Aviation Training

Founded as a subsidiary of Lufthansa, the Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) is a flight academy that trains pilots, cabin crew, and technical staff. The academy offers several training programmes, including wet lease, dry, aircraft, helicopter, and AB Initio pilot training.

LAT has 12 training centres in Central Europe and North America, such as Berlin, Zurich, and Phoenix.