US Commercial Airline Pilot (ATP & FAA Licensure)
From student pilot to commercial pilot, the 1,500-hour Airline Transport Pilot certificate, and the First Officer and Captain seats
Not sure this is right for you? Find My Match →
Where it leads
- Student Pilot
- Commercial Pilot
- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII / MEI)
- Regional Airline First Officer (Part 121)
- Airline Captain
0 of 13 gates cleared
Before you spend money or years
Check these first; they can end the journey before it costs you
Go / no-go check
Red light: check these before paying any fees.
Training is expensive (one large school publishes $123,995 tuition from zero time plus $12,000 in examiner and test fees, before gear and living costs), the 1,500-hour ATP requirement means a long hour-building period, and a certificate does not guarantee an airline job.
Is this you?
Tick the ones that are true for you.
13 gates to the cockpit
13 gates in 4 legs. Tap a gate to read it; log the date when you clear it.
Compare the two entry paths, confirm the medical early, and choose a training route and budget before committing.
Keep your medical current, learn foundational flying, earn the private pilot certificate and then the instrument rating.
🛑 Money step: continue when your go / no-go check above is green.
Build to the commercial pilot minimums, pass the commercial checkride, and add a multi-engine rating.
Many pilots earn instructor certificates (CFI/CFII/MEI) and are paid to instruct while building the experience the ATP certificate requires.
Complete the ATP Certification Training Program, apply to airlines, earn a type rating and begin Part 121 line flying.
Build airline experience, meet the requirements for an unrestricted ATP if you started with a restricted one, keep a first-class medical for pilot-in-command privileges, and prepare for the airline's command upgrade.
More about this career
About the job, pay where you live, questions people ask, and where this career can take you next.
About the job
What you’d do
- Check the aircraft’s overall condition before and after every flight
- Make sure the aircraft is balanced, under its weight limit and has enough fuel
- Prepare flight plans and talk to air traffic control over the radio
- Fly the aircraft along planned routes and during take-offs and landings
- Monitor engines, fuel use and other systems, and navigate with cockpit instruments
- Respond to changing weather and emergencies such as a mechanical fault
Where you’d work
- Scheduled airlines (about 88% of US airline pilot jobs)
- Courier and express delivery companies (about 5%)
- The federal government (about 3%)
Licence to practise
Registration is with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating
- Be at least 23, or 21 under the restricted-privileges ATP rules (14 CFR 61.160)
- Log at least 1,500 hours total time as a pilot, unless a 61.160 reduction applies
- For a multiengine ATP, complete the ATP Certification Training Program before the knowledge test
- Pass the ATP knowledge test and practical test
Directions you can take
- Captain (pilot in command)
- First officer (co-pilot)
Sourced facts for this region
Licensing requirements, pay and training costs taken from the sources listed below. This is the latest information checked, not live data; confirm with the regulator before acting.
Licensing authority
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United StatesLast checked: Oct 8, 2026
Licensing requirements
- Student pilot (airplane): at least 16 years old. Commercial pilot: at least 18. Airline transport pilot (ATP): at least 23, or 21 for an ATP with restricted privileges under §61.160. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- Commercial and ATP applicants must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- FAA pilot certification rules reviewed here set no school-subject or degree requirement. A qualifying aviation bachelor’s or associate’s degree can lower the flight time needed for a restricted-privileges ATP (see below). Individual airlines set their own hiring requirements. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- A first-class medical certificate is required to exercise ATP pilot-in-command privileges; at least a second-class medical is required for commercial pilot privileges and for second-in-command privileges in Part 121. A first-class medical for ATP privileges lasts 12 calendar months under age 40 and 6 months from age 40. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- Commercial pilot (airplane, single-engine): at least 250 hours of flight time, including 100 hours in powered aircraft (50 in airplanes), 100 hours as pilot-in-command (including 50 in airplanes and 50 cross-country), 20 hours of training and 10 hours of solo or PIC-duties flight time. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- Instrument-airplane rating: 50 hours of cross-country PIC time (10 in airplanes) and 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, 15 of them with an authorized instrument instructor. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- ATP (airplane): at least 1,500 hours total time, including 500 hours cross-country, 100 hours night, 50 hours in the class of airplane, 75 hours instrument and 250 hours as pilot-in-command (or SIC performing PIC duties under supervision). Applicants for a multiengine ATP must first complete the ATP Certification Training Program (§61.156). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterElectronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register
- ATP with restricted privileges: reduced total time of 750 hours for qualifying former military pilots, 1,000 hours with a qualifying aviation bachelor’s degree (at least 60 semester credit hours of aviation coursework), or 1,250 hours with a qualifying aviation associate’s degree (at least 30 credit hours). Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterEach reduction has further conditions (e.g. the degree programme must be authorized); read §61.160 in full.
- In Part 121 operations, a pilot-in-command must hold an airline transport pilot certificate that is not subject to the limitations of §61.167. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal RegisterRequirements for second-in-command (First Officer) qualification are also set in §121.436; read the section in full for the current wording.
Latest available salary information
Last checked: Oct 8, 2026
| Role | Range | Data type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers (all roles combined)All U.S. employers · All levels (10th–90th percentile) | $106,710 – $463,830per year | Official statistic | U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025 wages: lowest 10% earned less than $106,710; highest 10% more than $463,830; median $232,140. BLS notes airline pilots also receive per diem and may earn extra for international flights; these are not separated. |
| First OfficerPiedmont Airlines (regional) · Year 1 to Years 3–5 | $102 – $120.75per hour | Airline-published pay scale | Piedmont AirlinesHourly rates effective 29 Jun 2026. The page does not state a monthly hours guarantee, so no annual figure is derived. Excludes per diem and bonuses. |
| CaptainPiedmont Airlines (regional) · Step 1 to Step 20 | $161.25 – $228.75per hour | Airline-published pay scale | Piedmont AirlinesHourly rates effective 29 Jun 2026; no monthly guarantee stated, so no annual figure is derived. |
Pay depends on employer, role, aircraft, seniority and hours. These figures are not a promise of earnings, and figures of different types are not combined.
Training cost (published examples)
Zero-time airline career programme at one large U.S. flight school
$135,995 – $140,995
Includes
- Published fixed-cost tuition from zero time ($123,995)
- FAA examiner fees and knowledge tests ($12,000)
- Up to $5,000 training-center premium at select locations (upper figure)
Not included
- iPad, headset, flight bag and other gear
- Third-party apps and subscriptions
- Housing and living costs
- Medical examinations
- Flight time needed after the programme to reach ATP experience
- Airline training costs
One school’s published price, not a market range. Part 61 training and other schools cost different amounts; confirm totals directly with the school. ATP Flight School
Limitations of this information
- Regulation requirements were checked against the official eCFR text (title 14, current as of 6 Oct 2026). Cornell LII’s copy was used as a fallback reference during research because the eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access.
- BLS pay combines all airline pilot roles. Role-level figures are one regional airline’s published hourly rates; no reliable figures were found for trainees, cadets, Senior First Officers or wide-body Captains at major airlines.
- The training cost is one school’s published price, not a range across the market.
- No source reviewed gives a reliable overall timeline; it depends on training pace, weather, aircraft and instructor availability, checkride scheduling, medicals, finances and airline hiring.
Sources (13)
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.83 Eligibility requirements: student pilotsLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.123 Eligibility requirements (commercial pilot)Last checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.129 Aeronautical experience (commercial pilot)Last checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.65 Instrument rating requirementsLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.153 Eligibility requirements (airline transport pilot)Last checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.159 Aeronautical experience: airplane category rating (ATP)Last checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.160 Aeronautical experience — ATP with restricted privilegesLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §61.23 Medical certificates: requirement and durationLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Office of the Federal Register — 14 CFR §121.436 Pilot qualification: certificates and experience requirementsLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · Authoritative current text (title 14 up to date as of 6 Oct 2026), checked through the official eCFR API. The eCFR and FAA websites refused automated page access during initial research, so the Cornell LII copy was read first; the requirements stated here match the official text.Fallback reference copy used during research: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook — Airline and Commercial Pilots: Pay (May 2025 wage data; page modified 27 Aug 2026)Last checked: Oct 8, 2026
- Piedmont Airlines — First Officer careers — hourly pay rates effective 29 Jun 2026Last checked: Oct 8, 2026
- Piedmont Airlines — Direct Entry Captain — hourly pay rates effective 29 Jun 2026Last checked: Oct 8, 2026
- ATP Flight School — Airline Career Pilot Program — CostLast checked: Oct 8, 2026 · One school’s published fixed-cost tuition; other schools and Part 61 training differ.
Every step in full
The complete text of every step, to read or print. Work through them in the journey above.
Is Aviation Right for You? Eligibility, Medical and Training Route 3 steps
Compare Path A (after high school) with Path B (after a degree)
FAA certification rules set ages, not school subjects: student pilot from 16, commercial pilot from 18, ATP from 23 (21 with restricted privileges). A degree is not required by these rules, but a qualifying aviation bachelor's or associate's degree can lower the flight time for a restricted-privileges ATP (1,000 or 1,250 hours instead of 1,500). Airlines set their own hiring requirements.
Real-world task: Write a one-page decision note: your entry path, whether a degree route makes sense for you, your backup plan, and the questions you still need answered.
Why it matters: Both paths lead to the same FAA certificates; the degree route mainly changes cost, time and the restricted-ATP hour minimum.
Checklist
- Write down which path applies to you (high-school graduate, current student, graduate, career changer)
- Check whether an aviation degree programme you are considering is authorized for reduced ATP minimums under 14 CFR 61.160
- Confirm you can read, speak, write and understand English, as required for commercial and ATP certificates
- List the airlines you are interested in and their posted requirements
Get your FAA medical before major spending
A first-class medical certificate is required to exercise ATP pilot-in-command privileges, and at least a second-class for commercial privileges and Part 121 second-in-command privileges. An early exam by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner reveals issues before you commit large sums. This roadmap does not give medical advice.
Real-world task: Complete your FAA medical examination and record the class and date of your medical certificate.
Why it matters: Without the right medical class you cannot use airline-level privileges, so finding out early protects your money.
Checklist
- Locate an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
- Read the FAA medical requirements for the class you are applying for
- Complete the medical examination and keep the certificate safely
- Note when the certificate's privileges expire under 14 CFR 61.23
Choose a training route and build a budget
Options include an accelerated airline-career programme, a local Part 61 or Part 141 school, or a collegiate aviation programme. As one published example, a large U.S. flight school lists $123,995 tuition from zero time plus $12,000 in FAA examiner and knowledge-test fees, with gear, housing and living costs extra. Other schools cost different amounts.
Real-world task: Create a training budget with a low and a high case for your chosen school, listing every excluded cost and how it will be paid.
Why it matters: Most of the risk in this career is financial; a complete budget shows whether you can survive delays and hiring slowdowns.
Checklist
- Compare three schools: aircraft availability, instructor availability and the written total cost
- Ask each school what is excluded (examiner fees, gear, housing, medical, extra training)
- Compare integrated programmes with paying per lesson (modular)
- Plan how you will build hours after training (for example by instructing) and how you will pay living costs meanwhile
FAA Medical, Private Pilot License (PPL) & Instrument Rating (IFR) 3 steps
Pass FAA 1st Class Medical & Solo Flight (PPL Foundations)
Hold a valid medical certificate, complete ground school (aerodynamics, navigation, regulations), and fly your first supervised solo. Student pilots for airplanes must be at least 16.
Real-world task: Execute a safe engine failure simulation at 3,000 feet AGL, establishing best glide speed (Vg), selecting an emergency field, and running restart checklists.
Why it matters: The Private Pilot License forms the fundamental safety baseline for all future advanced commercial certificates.
Checklist
- Keep your FAA medical certificate current (see the previous phase)
- Master preflight inspection, taxiing, stalls, slow flight, and emergency engine-out procedures
- Complete your first supervised solo flight
- Pass the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test
Earn Private Pilot Certificate (PPL) & Cross-Country Flying
Meet the private pilot aeronautical experience requirements, learn to read aviation weather reports and forecasts for flight planning, fly solo cross-country and at night, and pass the practical test.
Real-world task: Plan and execute a 150 NM triangular cross-country flight calculating weight & balance, fuel burn, wind correction angles, and airspace transitions.
Why it matters: Earning your PPL gives you the legal privilege to command aircraft carrying passengers in visual meteorological conditions.
Checklist
- Meet the private pilot aeronautical experience requirements in 14 CFR 61.109
- Fly solo cross-country navigating with VOR, GPS, and pilotage checkpoints
- Perform short-field and soft-field takeoffs and landings to FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
- Pass the oral exam and flight checkride with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)
Earn the FAA Instrument Rating (IFR)
Learn to fly by reference to instruments in clouds and low visibility.
Real-world task: Fly a partial-panel precision ILS approach in simulated zero-visibility down to a 200-foot decision height (DH) and execute a missed approach.
Why it matters: Airline operations are flown under instrument flight rules, so instrument skills are central to the job.
Checklist
- Log 50 hours of cross-country flight time as Pilot-in-Command (PIC), 10 of them in airplanes
- Log 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, 15 with an authorized instrument instructor
- Master ILS, RNAV/GPS, and VOR precision and non-precision instrument approach procedures
- Pass the FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) knowledge test and DPE checkride
Commercial Pilot License (CPL) & Multi-Engine Rating 2 steps
Earn Single-Engine Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL)
Commercial pilots must be at least 18. Master commercial maneuvers and meet the aeronautical experience minimums of 14 CFR 61.129.
Real-world task: Execute an 8-on-Pylon maneuver maintaining precise pivot altitude over ground reference points despite varying gusty crosswinds.
Why it matters: The Commercial Pilot Certificate is the legal milestone that allows you to be hired and paid to fly aircraft.
Checklist
- Build flight time to reach FAA minimum 250 total flight hours
- Log 100 hours of PIC time (50 in airplanes) and 50 hours of cross-country PIC
- Master advanced commercial maneuvers (Lazy Eights, Chandelles, Steep Spirals, Eights-on-Pylons)
- Pass the FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test and practical checkride
Obtain Commercial Multi-Engine Rating (MEL)
Learn asymmetric aerodynamics, critical engine identification, single-engine performance, and Vmc emergencies.
Real-world task: Simulate complete engine failure on takeoff climb in a twin-engine aircraft: identify dead foot, verify with throttle, feather propeller, and maintain blue line (Vyse).
Why it matters: Airline aircraft are multi-engine, and multi-engine experience is part of airline readiness.
Checklist
- Learn multi-engine systems: constant-speed feathering propellers, dual alternators, and hydraulic systems
- Master single-engine emergency procedures: Engine Failure After Takeoff (EFATO) and single-engine go-arounds
- Demonstrate Vmc (Minimum Controllable Airspeed) rollover recognition and recovery
- Pass the Multi-Engine Add-on Practical Checkride with a DPE
CFI / CFII Certification & Building 1,500 Flight Hours 2 steps
Earn CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) & CFII Ratings
Master the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI), teaching from the right seat, and the spin-awareness training instructors need.
Real-world task: Deliver a 45-minute whiteboard ground lesson teaching aerodynamic lift, center of pressure migration, and stall/spin aerodynamics to a student.
Why it matters: Flight instructing is one common way to be paid while building toward ATP experience.
Checklist
- Pass the FAA Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) and Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) knowledge tests
- Complete spin training and the required endorsement
- Master teaching stick-and-rudder maneuvers from the right seat while talking continuously
- Pass the CFI initial practical test
Work as Flight Instructor & Log 1,250 Additional Hours
Build total time and the specific experience the ATP requires, across day, night, cross-country and instrument conditions.
Real-world task: Manage an in-flight emergency where a primary flight student experiences sudden spatial disorientation inside unexpected cloud layers.
Why it matters: Teaching others sharpens your own Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) and builds safety habits airlines look for.
Checklist
- Log 500 hours of cross-country flight time and 100 hours of night flying
- Log 75 hours of instrument time and 250 hours as pilot in command
- Log 50 hours in the class of airplane for the rating sought
- Cross the 1,500-hour total flight time milestone (or the reduced total that applies to a restricted ATP)
ATP Certificate, Type Rating & Regional Airline First Officer 2 steps
Complete ATP-CTP Course & Regional Airline Indoctrination
Applicants for a multiengine ATP must complete the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) at an authorized provider before the ATP knowledge test.
Real-world task: Complete an upset-recovery scenario during ATP-CTP simulator training and record the completion of the course.
Why it matters: The ATP-CTP is required before the ATP multiengine knowledge test (14 CFR 61.153).
Checklist
- Complete the ATP-CTP academic and simulator training at an authorized training provider
- Receive the ATP-CTP graduation certificate
- Pass the FAA ATP Multiengine (ATM) knowledge test
- Apply to airlines and receive a conditional job offer if selected
Earn Regional Jet Type Rating (CRJ / ERJ) & Line Operations (Part 121)
Complete airline initial training, earn your type rating (for example CRJ-900 or Embraer E175), complete Initial Operating Experience (IOE), and begin line flying.
Real-world task: Complete Initial Operating Experience and record the date you were released to line flying as a First Officer.
Why it matters: Part 121 experience is what airlines consider for upgrades and for moves between airlines.
Checklist
- Complete airline ground school, FMS systems, and systems integration training
- Pass the FAA type rating oral and simulator checkride
- Complete Initial Operating Experience (IOE) with a check airman
- Track the experience your airline requires for a command upgrade
First Officer Experience, Unrestricted ATP and Captain Upgrade 1 steps
Prepare for the Captain seat
In Part 121 operations a pilot-in-command must hold an ATP certificate not subject to §61.167 limitations, and ATP pilot-in-command privileges need a first-class medical. Upgrade timing depends on your airline's seniority and vacancies. Later roles can include Check Airman or Training Captain, depending on the airline.
Real-world task: Record the date you met the unrestricted ATP requirements and, later, the date you completed your command upgrade.
Why it matters: The Captain seat requires both the unrestricted certificate and the airline's own upgrade process.
Checklist
- If you hold a restricted ATP, track the requirements for an unrestricted ATP (including age 23 and 1,500 hours)
- Keep a first-class medical current for pilot-in-command privileges
- Practise leadership and crew resource management as the senior pilot on each flight
- Prepare for your airline's upgrade training and checkride
Questions people ask about US Commercial Airline Pilot (ATP & FAA Licensure)
Clear answers regarding timelines, prerequisites, salaries, and study strategies.
Can I become an airline pilot after high school?
Yes. FAA rules set ages rather than school subjects: student pilot from 16, commercial pilot from 18 and ATP from 23 (21 with restricted privileges). Individual airlines set their own education requirements, so check their postings.
Can I become an airline pilot after graduation?
Yes. Graduates follow the same certificates. A qualifying aviation bachelor's degree can reduce the total time for a restricted-privileges ATP to 1,000 hours (1,250 with a qualifying associate's degree), under the conditions in 14 CFR 61.160. A non-aviation degree does not reduce the requirements.
What subjects should I study?
The FAA certification rules reviewed here do not require specific school subjects, but training covers aerodynamics, navigation, weather, aircraft systems and regulations, and you must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.
Do I need a degree to become an airline pilot in the US?
Not under the FAA certification rules reviewed here. A qualifying aviation degree can lower the restricted ATP hour requirement; airlines decide their own hiring preferences.
How much does flight school cost to become an airline pilot in the US?
It varies by school and route. As one published example, ATP Flight School lists $123,995 fixed tuition from zero time plus $12,000 in FAA examiner and knowledge-test fees, with gear, apps, housing and living costs extra. Confirm the full cost with any school you consider.
What is the FAA 1,500-Hour Rule for commercial airline pilots?
An ATP certificate (airplane) requires at least 1,500 hours of total time, including 500 cross-country, 100 night, 75 instrument and 250 as pilot in command (14 CFR 61.159). A restricted ATP is available with fewer hours for qualifying military pilots (750) and qualifying aviation degree graduates (1,000 or 1,250) under 61.160.
How long does it take?
There is no fixed timeline. It depends on training pace, weather, aircraft and instructor availability, checkride scheduling, medicals, finances and airline hiring. Plan for delays instead of a promised number of months.
How much do commercial airline pilots make in the United States?
BLS reports a median of $232,140 in May 2025 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers (lowest 10% under $106,710, highest 10% over $463,830), all roles combined. As a published example, Piedmont Airlines lists First Officer pay from $102 to $120.75 per hour and Captain pay from $161.25 to $228.75 per hour (effective 29 June 2026). Pay depends on airline, aircraft and seniority.
What are the FAA medical requirements for airline pilots?
A first-class medical certificate is required for ATP pilot-in-command privileges; at least a second-class is required for commercial privileges and Part 121 second-in-command privileges (14 CFR 61.23). The medical standards are assessed by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner.
How does a First Officer become a Captain?
By building airline experience, holding an ATP certificate without §61.167 limitations (required for Part 121 pilots-in-command), keeping a first-class medical, and passing the airline's upgrade training when seniority and vacancies allow.