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Flying as a commercial pilot means you are permitted earn income as a pilot.
However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that you obtain a Commercial Pilot’s Certificate before you may be paid as a pilot.
The basic requirements for becoming a Commercial Pilot include:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Must hold a valid, current FAA 2nd Class Medical Certificate.
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
- Receive the training necessary, documented in your logbook or official training records, to pass the FAA written and practical flight examinations.
- Accumulate a total of 250 hours of logged flight time (note, students in an accredited Part 141 Flight School can qualify with just 190 hours of experience.)
- Take and pass the FAA Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test with a minimum score of 70%.
- Pass the FAA Practical Flight Test (Check Ride) and Oral Examination.
Note, while an instrument rating is not required to obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate, without it, commercial flight operations are restricted to flights of no more than 50 nautical miles from the airport and only during daylight hours.
Most pilots whose goal is a career as a professional pilot will begin work on their instrument rating after earning their Private Pilot Certificate.
Once you have your Commercial Pilot Certificate, what can you do to build time and experience that will allow you to achieve to your aviation career goals?
Here are some possibilities.
#1: Certified Flight Instructor
Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) is often the first step to for a career pilot.
It’s one of the most common entry level pilot jobs in the United States, and was the first pilot job I ever had.
By the time you have earned your Commercial pilot Certificate, you should have accumulated enough knowledge and experience to be a Flight Instructor.
Of course, becoming a flight instructor involves additional training in teaching techniques and learning to fly from the right seat, while demonstrating and explaining what a student pilot must learn.
Note, the only flight experience requirement to become a flight instructor is to be rated as a Commercial Pilot, hence you can begin your flight instructor training while you are still building time for the Commercial certificate.
Once you have your Commercial certificate, assuming you have satisfactorily completed your flight instructor training, all you have to do is take and pass the CFI knowledge test and check ride and you are ready to go to work.
Note, there are separate check rides for basic flight instructor (CFI) that allows you to teach private and commercial pilot students and the CFII check ride that allows you to teach instrument flight procedures.
The advantage is that once you become a fully qualified CFI/CFII, you have obtained all of the basic aeronautical skills required to move up into any commercial position—the only significant additional requirements are building the required flight time, and honing your skills and knowledge for the Airline Transport Piot (ATP) certificate.
Flight instruction is an excellent way to build flight time, especially if you can obtain a job at an active flight school.
While there are many dedicated career flight instructors, most pilots become instructors to build their own time and experience so that they can move on to other flying careers.
According to a recent Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, “pilots who plan to move up to an airline career will work for a year or two as a flight instructor rapidly building flight time.”
After accumulating 1500 hours, the pilot will be ready to work on the ATP.
Applicants for the ATP must be 23 years old. Note, there are programs that allow pilots to qualify for their ATP rating at age 21, with only 1000 hours.
Average CFI Pay: The fact is, flight instruction is an experience and time-building opportunity for young pilots.
A quick Internet survey suggests that experienced, full-time professional flight instructors can earn more than $100,000 annually.
The reality, however, is closer $30 to $55 per hour.
Many flight training schools employ upperclassmen with CFIs as instructors paying them at the lower end of the pay scale, but they may offer more hours on a more dependable schedule than working at a local airport.
Examples of Companies hiring CFIs
ATP, Arlington, TX
Epic Flight Academy, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida
Orlando Flight School, Sanford, FL
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
There are many more colleges, universities, and flight training academies, most of whom are constantly replacing instructors who have graduated and moved to full-time flying jobs.
Find more sources of flight instruction by searching the Internet for Flight Training Colleges and Academies.
#2: Pipeline / Powerline Patrol
Not every pilot is cut out to be an instructor, but that does not mean that he or she cannot make a very good commercial or airline pilot.
Therefore, another way to build flight time is flying Pipeline and Powerline Patrols.
These pilots usually fly for an aviation company that contracts survey services to pipeline and utility companies.
Pilots fly at lower altitudes over power lines or pipeline routes, looking for signs of damage, leaks, or to find the cause of reported outages.
Pipeline and Power line survey flights often fly over rugged, otherwise undeveloped territory that may not offer convenient emergency landing areas.
These pilots take extra care to preflight their aircraft and to plan flights, so they know the locations of alternate airfields.
Pilots working for these agencies may also conduct other flights including flight instruction—if qualified—or transport equipment and personnel from one site to another.
Pilots may fly fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft. Helicopter hours count toward total time just like fixed wing aircraft.
So even if your object is a major airline, once you have acquired the time, you can transition back to fixed wing aircraft in pursuit of your flying goals.
Average Pipeline Patrol Pay: According to ZipRecruiter, pipeline patrol pilots earn between $23 and $50 per hour with a median hourly rate of $40.
Working with an active aerial survey contractor can be good way to build time.
Examples of companies that hire Pipeline and Powerline Patrol Pilots
Golden Aerial Surveys Inc., Newtown, CT
Keystone Aerial Surveys Inc, Philadelphia, PA
Pacific Gas and Electric, Sacramento, CA
Barr Air Patrol, Mesquite, Texas
American Patrols, Inc., Midland, Texas
#3: Aerial Surveying / Mapping
What is Aerial Surveying / Mapping?
Aerial survey is a method of collecting images of specified areas using aircraft.
Aerial survey aircraft may be equipped with aerial photography, Lidar, infrared sensors and other sensing or imaging equipment.
Aerial survey is different from satellite imagery because it provides higher resolution and better detail in near-real-time images.
Surveys may be conducted for many reasons including environmental studies, projected pipeline routes, archeological studies, etc.
Typically, cameras or other sensors are mounted in or on the aircraft.
Pilots usually must fly planned routes over target areas at specified altitudes to accomplish the objectives of the aerial survey.
Single or multi-engine aircraft may be used.
Due to the nature of the equipment, pilots may be expected to have computer or other technical skills to ensure proper operation of the imaging equipment and that the quality of the imaging meets the survey requirements.
Operators often look for individuals with strong communications skills and professionalism.
Aerial Survey piloting can become a complete profession that often involve additional technical duties.
One aerial survey company’s recruiting message includes: “You can expect to fly at least 400 hours per year and travel, as necessary, for the company.
Our fleet consists only of high-performance aircraft and our exciting projects may require you to travel anywhere in the Eastern United States and the Caribbean.” (Pickett and Associates, Inc. – Bartow, FL)
Average Aerial Survey Pilot Pay: According to Salary Report, The average survey pilot earns $39 per hour.
Annual salaries for full time survey pilots range between $59,000 and $100,000 depending upon experience.
Examples of companies that hire Aerial Survey Pilots
Keystone Aerial Surveys, Philadelphia, PA
Pickett and Associates, Inc. – Bartow, FL
Midwest Aerial Photography, Galloway, OH
Keystone Aerial Surveys, Pacoma, CA
Aerial Survey International, Watkins, CO
#4: Banner Towing
Banner Towing or Aerial advertising is a form of advertising that uses manned aircraft to tow display advertising banners over populated areas such as major sporting events, beaches, or busy amusement parks.
Banner towing is usually closely controlled by both local and federal regulators.
Most banner tow aircraft are single-engine aircraft that have been outfitted with capture hooks to pick up banners, and release mechanisms to drop the banner at the end of the flight—or in an emergency.
Banner towing does involve some special skills, including picking up the banner to begin the flight and releasing the banner at the end of the flight.
Also, since the objective is to have people on the ground see and understand the advertising message, banners are usually towed at a slower speed than normal cruising speed.
For pilots who enjoy low, slow flying, it is a good way to build basic flying time while earning an income.
Average Banner Tow Pilot Pay: A typical banner tow pilot will earn anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour.
Many agencies know that young pilots want to build time and will pay as little as necessary.
Higher pay rates apply when the towing operation is over populated areas or special events such a major sporting event and operators want to use more experienced pilots.
Banner towing is often an additional job for pilots working as flight instructors, sight-seeing flights, etc.
Banner towing companies:
FlySigns.com, Los Angeles, CA (Operating Nationwide)
Aerial Banners, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Operating Nationwide)
AirSign Aerial Advertising, Athol, ID (Operating Nationwide)
Airspace Aerial Media, St. Louis, MO
FlySkyAds.com, Hillsboro, New Jersey
#5: Skydive Pilot
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Program publication, P-8740-62, there are more than 300 active skydiving centers and clubs in the United States served by more than 500 skydiving aircraft, or “jump planes.”
Experienced jump pilots are in high demand to help keep these aircraft flying, but this is also an unusually demanding job and training and preparation are important.
Skydive operations typically fly out of private airports away from busy airways.
Skydive operations tend to be seasonal, with busy seasons depending on local weather. Northern skydive locations are usually closed in the winter.
Southern locations are open, but the loads/work is less during the off season. Having actual skydiving experience can be helpful but is not necessary.
Skydive pilots are usually paid per load carried and can build many hours of flight time quickly during the jump seasons.
Although the Cessna 182 has been the most common jump plane, the de Haviland Twin Otter and Shorts Skyvan aircraft are becoming more common.
Consequently, multi-engine and turbine powered time can help land a job.
Turbine powered aircraft are favored because they can climb to jump altitudes more quickly, carrying more jumpers.
Average Skydive Pilot Pay: Most skydiving companies pay pilots by the load, that is each flight that carries jumpers.
Typically, pilots are paid $15.00 to $20.00 per load, and a busy jump center can run two loads per hour on a busy day.
Skydiving companies:
Win Aviation, DeKalb, IL
Music City Skydiving, Waverly, TN (near Nashville)
Skydive Cross Keys, Williamstown, NJ
Skydive Spaceland Dallas, Whitewright, TX
Skydive Santa Barbara, Lompoc, CA
Summary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 6 percent per year from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Most job opportunities will arise from the need to replace pilots who will retire over the projected period.”
That means that the pilots now instructing, towing banners, flying aerial survey flights, etc., are likely to be move into transport category aircraft within the next two or three years.
Consequently, there will be a constant demand for instructors, and other pilots described here.
Outlook for Jobs
Once you have obtained your commercial certificate, and especially if you have an instructor rating, put together a brief resume of your time, ratings, types of aircraft flown, and any other relevant aviation experience.
Make sure to leave a resume at any airport or flight operations where you would consider working.
If possible, check back periodically, every three to six months.
In the current market where there is a high demand for professional pilots, jobs like those described above are opening continuously.
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