Airline Pilot Qualifications

I was listening to your show received here on Sunday, March 14 and there was a caller "Phyllis" who wanted to know the qualifications of her airline pilot. She would prefer to have a former "jet fighter pilot" in the cockpit.

Qualifications for all pilots are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that issues pilots licenses. The minimum qualification to receive an Air Transport License (or ATP) is 2000 hours of flying time plus passing an extensive practical flight test and knowledge test. Plus, you have to receive extensive training in the type of airplane you intend to fly and receive a type rating, and pass a stringent flight physical every 6 months.

Having the minimum qualifications might get you an interview, and maybe the co-pilot's seat in a small inter-city airline or air charter service. Along the way, the pilot earned his Private Pilot's License, Instrument Rating, Commercial License, became a Certified Flight Instructor, and probably has over 1000 hours training other pilots. It will be many more thousands of hours before that co-pilot ever moves into the captain's seat. Phyllis can rest assured, the men and women flying her airliner are well qualified and seasoned professionals. No not all pilots are former jet jockeys, but few bus drivers ever drove a formula-1 race car either.

Although, over 70% of all airplane accidents can be attributed to pilot error, over 90% of all car and bus accidents can be attributed to driver error. And given the hours and passenger miles flown, flying is by far the safest way to travel on this planet.

-Jerry

 

 

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