How to Become an Airline Pilot (Europe)

Co-authored by Javier Diaz

Last Updated: December 25, 2022

There are many articles online on How To Become An Airline Pilot, but most of them are American versions and those articles follow different rules. This article will give you an insight on how to become one on the European perspective, as there are different rules and regulations.

So, if you are from Europe, or would like to fly in Europe, this article is for you. Read on, and you may find the answer for becoming an Airline Pilot in Europe!

Steps

1
Gain the right qualifications. This does not apply for people paying for their training, but for people who are looking for scholarships and sponsorships from airlines. The qualifications that will stand out on your CV in the airline industry are in subjects like Physics, Mathematics and English. Although mainly a qualification in Physics is required, other relevant qualifications push you through the tough competition in achieving these sponsorships. But as the airline world is slowly turning to technology these days, a qualification in IT or Electronics won't hurt.
2
Use the correct language. The worldwide airline language is English. If you are not an English speaker, you will need to start learning if you want to become a pilot. So, if you cannot read this article, start learning now.

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3
Get some flight training. If you are applying for a sponsorship and get through all the stages, the sponsor will sort everything out for you. Sponsorship schemes usually collaborate with flight training providers, so nothing to worry about there. And the training is usually completely free in this case. But if you are funding your own training, you will be looking to pay from around £50'000 to £100'000. The cost of flight training is very high, but if you have a strong ambition for piloting, you won't be questioning the price. But in most cases, the more you pay, the more well-reputed the training provider, which means an increase in your chances through the competition. Training in Europe will get you an EASA Licence. This is the licence you will need if you would like to fly for a European Airline. If you are looking to fly for an American Airline, then you should be looking for an FAA Licence.
4
Work on your interview skills. Whether with flight training providers or with airlines, interviews are very important. In order to get the best out of your interview, you need lots of practice. Filming yourself or practicing with a friend/relative are both great practicing techniques. Consider looking into speaking with an experienced interviewer. They will provide you with useful information on how to conquer your interviews. And always remember to look your best when attending interviews, as interviewers have likely never seen you before and you don't want to ruin your first impressions.
5
Fill your CV with as much essential information as possible. Showing you have an interest in flying is a great sign. This could be from sailplane gliding to building model aircraft. Anything related to flying gives your CV a little shine to it.
6
Have some good alternative skills. Airlines want pilots with the right skills. Good communication, team-work, and organisation are the main set of skills one should have. The skills you have are important, it is not just the licence and the CV you hold that get you through.
7
Research. Research is key when applying for a job. When it comes to the interview, the airline expects you to know quite a bit about them and their history. This also shows that you are well-organised and prepared for the interview.
8
Remember to never turn your back. If you hold a firm career ambition in Airline Piloting, the worst thing you can do is give up. There is always a way around things, even if it is hard to do so. Life is full of difficult challenges, but one should never give up on them. Never say never.

Community Q&A

Question

Which subject should I study to become an airline pilot?

Community Answer

If you chose to go to an approved part 141 university (college), there usually is set class requirements. Instead of getting up to 1,500 hours, you only need 1,000 hours to get hired by regional airlines. I suggest classes such as physics and math.
Question

Do I need a college degree, or do I just need flight training?

Community Answer

If you are from the U.S., you need a 4-year university degree and at least 1500 hours to become an airline pilot.
Question

How long does this process take?

WikiaWang

Top Answerer

To become an airline pilot, it will take at least 30 months (to fly for a regional airline) if you’re dedicated and achieving standards. First, getting your private pilot’s license and logging flight hours will take a few months. After you gain over 250 flight hours, you can get a CPL (this will also take 1-4 years). Afterward, you have to log 1500 flight hours (which will take another 1-4 years) to get on a regional airline, which you’ll have to fly 5-6 years before you log 3000 hours and get on a major carrier. Then it’ll take 5-10 years for you to become captain.

Warnings

Modular training is less risky because if the flying school you are training with goes bankrupt, you can pick up where you left off with another and you won't have lost any money.

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Paying for your own training is sometimes a risky choice, as you cannot get a refund. If, for what ever reason, the training provider goes bankrupt, they will kick all of the trainee's out with no refund. This is why you should always look for a safe provider with a long standing, financially strong company. This is one of the reason why training with the best is so high. It is because they are financially secure. So make sure you research quite a bit on the training provider you would like to train with.

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