Airline Career Pilot Program

Looking For a Career as an Airline Pilot?

Choose Your Starting Point

Routes to Become a Career Airline Pilot

Becoming an airline pilot is a road that starts with getting your Private, Instrument and Commercial Pilot ratings. Once completed with these ratings students typically have 250 - 300 of total flight time. The requirement to fly "jets" is 1500 total hours.... how do you get there?

Our accelerated path to Southern is one way and the other is becoming a Certified Flight Instructor. JA Flight Training offers all Instructor ratings and hires our Instructors from from within.

Airline Pilot Salary:
How Much Do Pilots Make?

In the U.S., pilots earn an average salary of around $105,928 per year, but this can vary greatly based on factors like experience, aircraft type, and airline. For instance, pilots at major airlines like Southwest and Delta can earn up to $549,000 and $526,000 respectively.

The median salary for U.S. pilots in 2022 was $211,790, meaning half of the pilots earned more than this amount and half earned less. Some pilots at major airlines even earn over $700,000 per year!

Remember, these figures can fluctuate based on a variety of factors.

Requirements To Become an Airline Pilot

To become an airline pilot, you must first enroll in a school certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You will start by obtaining a private pilot's license and progress to a commercial license while also earning instrument and multi-engine ratings. This requires both ground schooling and many hours of flight time with an instructor.

Once you obtain your commercial license, you can begin flying for paid positions in industries such as agriculture and tourism while working toward your final rating, which allows you to fly for commercial airlines. For those with no prior experience, this process typically takes about two years to complete. However, accelerated programs are available for individuals who already hold a pilot's license.

While a bachelor's degree is not mandatory to become an airline pilot, having one may make you a more competitive candidate. The expectations for pilots vary between airlines, with some requiring more experience as a commercial pilot than others.

How To Choose the Right Flight School

Picking the right flight school is key to your journey towards becoming a professional pilot, as it sets the stage for your career. If you're scouting for flight schools in Illinois, J.A. Flight Training, located conveniently in Sugar Grove, a hop and a skip away from Carol Stream, IL, is a top pick for aspiring airline pilots.

At J.A. Flight Training, we take pride in our top-tier instructors and a range of financing options, ensuring you have everything you need to fulfill your dream of flying professionally. We also aim to connect our graduates with job opportunities straight out of school. Whether you're looking to bag your bachelor's degree while training as a pilot or seeking guaranteed employment after graduation, we have a program tailored just for you.

Google Reviews

Achieving and maintaining a consistent record of 5-star reviews demonstrates the school's dedication to delivering top-notch aviation education and creating a supportive environment for students to thrive. 

Love training at Ja flight training. Great people and the best instructors. The airplanes are very well maintained, highly recommend.

Faisal Sweiss