How to Become an Airline Pilot: Advice From the Pilots Who Did It
There’s no single road to an airline cockpit. Captains, first officers, interview coaches and career changers have described theirs on Pilot to Pilot. This guide pulls their advice together, with the full episode for every step.
Pick a training path
Most airline pilots work through a private pilot certificate, an instrument rating and a commercial certificate, and many add a flight instructor rating to build hours. Some train at accelerated academies; others go to a local school under Part 61 or Part 141.
Luke finished ATP Flight Training in 8.5 months, then found the CFI job he expected wasn’t guaranteed. David, a former professional tuba player, weighed Part 141 against Part 61 and found a school that felt like family. Jake Tishman finished every rating from instrument through CFII in 5.5 months while fighting an autoimmune disease.
Build your hours
To fly as an airline first officer in the US you need an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, which generally means 1,500 hours of flight time, with reduced minimums for some military pilots and graduates of approved university programs.
Guests have built that time in very different ways: Luke as a CFI who added aerobatics and upset recovery, Chancy Arnold towing banners along San Diego’s beaches in a Super Cub, Josh Schirard as a jump pilot instead of a CFI, and Ariel Johnson, who earned a Citation type rating at 800 hours.
Prepare for the interview
Pilot coach Nik Fialka’s advice starts long before the interview: write down one notable event after every flight so you have real stories ready, and find gaps in your records early, because fixing them can take months. Hiding or shading information ends interviews, and he notes that even an expunged record still had to be disclosed.
In an earlier episode he argued that about $600 of interview prep is an easy call against a career worth $22 million, and that attitude may matter more than flight time. American Airlines pilot Tom Heidema sums up what airlines look for: technical skill, interpersonal ability and a willingness to advocate for others.
Watch the hiring market
Hiring rises and falls. University of North Dakota aviation professor Jim Higgins has walked through why hiring slowed, Boeing raising production from 38 to 42 jets, a $725 billion order backlog, what FAPA numbers reveal, and the wording in earnings calls that can signal trouble before furloughs.
When Spirit Airlines shut down in May 2026, about 2,000 pilots entered the market at once. Darren Byrd, furloughed as a junior pilot in the late-2000s downturn, explains why networking and managing your own career matter in an unpredictable industry.
There’s more than one road
Plenty of guests came to the airlines late or sideways: a professional musician, a ferry pilot, a pilot who was medically disqualified from the Naval Academy. Others decided the airlines weren’t for them. Justin’s own comparison of fractional and airline flying, and Mentour Pilot’s look at US versus European airlines, help you decide which life you want.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do you need to fly for an airline?
In the US, airline first officers need an ATP certificate, which generally requires 1,500 hours. Some military pilots and graduates of approved university programs qualify with fewer.
How long does it take to become an airline pilot?
It varies widely. On the show, Luke finished ATP Flight Training in 8.5 months and Jake Tishman completed instrument through CFII in 5.5 months, before each built hours toward the airlines.
What do airlines look for in pilots?
American Airlines pilot Tom Heidema points to technical skill, interpersonal ability and a willingness to advocate for others. Interview coach Nik Fialka adds clean, honest records and real stories from your own flying.
Is it too late to become an airline pilot?
Career changers on Pilot to Pilot include a former professional tuba player, a SWAT officer and an engineer.
