For many aspiring professional pilots, “becoming an airline captain is the pinnacle of a career,” says Mark Haley, chair of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Education Committee and first officer for a major airline. Small wonder. “You get a window office, you’re flying airplanes and traveling the world,” says professor Martin Rottler, chair of the University Aviation Association’s (UAA’s) Flight Education Committee and lecturer at Ohio State University’s Center for Aviation Studies. Meanwhile, “airlines across the board are experiencing pilot shortages they’ve never seen,” says Danielle Calnin, director of Airline Business Development at training specialist Airline Transport Professionals. The three outlined the route to the left seat of an airliner cockpit.
How to Become an Airline Captain
Key Takeaways:
- A significant pilot shortage currently makes it an opportune time to pursue a career as an airline captain, requiring specific certifications (commercial, instrument, multiengine, ATP, first-class medical) and typically a four-year degree.
- The standard path involves completing preferred Part 141 flight training, accumulating 1,000-1,500 flight hours, and gaining experience with regional airlines before applying to major carriers.
- To enhance hiring chances, aspiring captains should engage in leadership roles within aviation organizations and build professional networks, while choosing an airline based on growth, fleet, routes, and bases for optimal seniority-based career progression.
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