Skip to content
Vincony — fast, managed web hosting for your next site
The Pilots Desk

Pilot careers

How to get a job as a pilot — the path to the airlines, building hours, the regional-to-major ladder, pay and seniority, military transition, cadet programs, and careers beyond the flight deck.

Ab-initio and airline cadet programs

How structured zero-to-airline cadet programs work, and how they differ from the U.S. build-your-hours route.

Aviation careers beyond the flight deck

Rewarding aviation careers that don't require flying — ATC, maintenance, dispatch, engineering and more.

Corporate, cargo and charter flying careers

The alternatives to the airlines — business aviation, freight and Part 135 charter — and how they compare.

Flight instructing as a career step

Why most airline pilots instruct first, what the CFI ratings are, and how to do it well.

Flying abroad: converting licenses and working overseas

How pilot licenses convert between countries (FAA, EASA, ICAO) and what it takes to fly for a foreign carrier.

From military to airline pilot

How military pilots transition to the airlines, including the restricted-ATP advantage and what carriers look for.

How to become an airline pilot

The full path from zero hours to an airline flight deck — ratings, the hour-building years, and the regional-to-major ladder.

How to build flight hours

The common ways pilots build the hours between commercial certificate and the airlines — instructing, and beyond.

Medical and background requirements for a pilot career

The medical certificate classes, the ATP-CTP, and the background/record standards airlines expect.

Pilot pay and seniority explained

How airline pilots are actually paid — hourly pay, work rules, and why seniority drives a career.

The 1,500-Hour Rule and the R-ATP

Why airline first officers need an ATP, and how the restricted-ATP lets qualifying pilots reach the airlines with fewer than 1,500 hours.

The age-65 rule and timing your career

How the mandatory retirement age shapes airline hiring, seniority and when to make career moves.

The airline pilot interview

What to expect in an airline interview — the technical, HR and simulator components, and how to prepare.

The regional-to-major airline path

How the U.S. airline career ladder works — regionals, legacy/major carriers, seniority, and upgrade timing.

Type ratings and training contracts

What a type rating is, when you need one, and how training bonds and pay-to-fly schemes work.