What qualifications do you need to become an airline pilot?

Answer 1

You really don't need any qualifications at first to become an airline pilot. Firstly, you must become an experienced and fully trained pilot. Gain your Private Pilots License (PPL) first.This is called a Private Pilot Certificate in some other countries. This usually requires you to have at least 50 hours flying time. You cannot hold a PPL until you are 17 years old, but may begin training before this. Secondly, to become an airline pilot, you must hold a Commercial Pilots License (CPL) or Commercial Pilot Certificate in some countries. This allows you to make money as a pilot, and usually requires about 200 flight hours to gain, and cannot be gained until you are 18 years old. The third thing you must do on a path to becoming an airline pilot is gain ratings to your certificate. You can gain ratings with either a CPL or PPL. A Instrument Rating is the primary rating that you need to add to your qualifications to become an airline pilot. This allows you to fly in cloud and navigate with reference to the aircraft instruments. Some airlines operate aircraft powered by gas turbines. If this is the case, you need a Type Rating on Gas Turbine Powered Aircraft. It is als a good idea to gain this rating anyway. You must also have a Multi-Engine Rating because most airlines operate double engine airplanes. The final step in your career path would be to apply for an ATPL, or Airline Transport Pilot License (called an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate in some countries), which requires you to be aged 21, hold a current instrument rating, and have 1500 hours of TOTAL flight time in an aeroplane. You must pass seven written examinations and a flight test with a flight examiner. Once you are ready, go for it, and become an airline pilot. If you decide you want to stop because it cost too much, or it just isn't you anymore, then you can always just go for a PPL or CPL. The information that I have provided refers to New Zealand, and may differ slightly in other countries.

Answer 2

To be an airline pilot you need an ATPL license - to get that you need to be able to get into a training school. You'd generally need 5 GCSEs A*-C including maths and english, and 2 A-levels are also needed most of the time, PREFERABLY A levels in maths and physics, but it doesn't matter too much if you do different subjects. Same academic qualifications are required for military flying. Also you just go straight here (Link Moved) and fill in an application for the CTC Wings Cadet Route, which you do NOT need any qualifications for, you just need talent and ambition! It's free because it's sponsored, you go to New Zealand to do something like 14 months training to get your PPL (Private Pilots License) which would usually cost around £4-5000, and whatever else you need to have to be eligible to take you CPL (Commercial Pilots License) which you do back in the UK over a period of something like 3-4 months.