pilothttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/tag-10-pilot.aspxAviator Flight College is a world's leading flight training school which offers flight training and pilot training within the degree programs. The college accepts VA Post 911, Chapter 33, benefits and offers Federal loans for flight training.enroll@aviator.edu (Aviator Flight Training College)support@viestly.com (Vesta Digital)Sat, 19 May 2012 00:14:49 GMTSat, 19 May 2012 00:14:49 GMTViestly60Commercial Pilot License, Training and Salarieshttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/211-commercial-pilot-license-training-and-salaries.aspxFAA's rules for getting a pilot's license (certificate) differ depending on the type of aircraft you fly. Students in training to become pilots should decide on what type of flying they want to do. The information below describes the eligibility, training, experience, and salaries for a Commercial Pilot.

A commercial pilot certificate lets the pilot conduct some operations for compensation and hire.

Commercial Pilot License Requirements
Here are just a few of the basic requirements for the Commercial License. We’ll discuss what’s entailed in each of these requirements later in this section.

  • You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English Language
  • You must be able to obtain a 2nd class medical certificate
  • You must be 18 years of age
  • You must hold at least a private pilot license
  • You must have received and logged the appropriate ground and flight training for the Commercial License
  • You must have 250 hours total flight time
  • You must have 100 hours flight time as pilot in command
  • You must have 50 hours of cross country flight time as pilot in command
  • You must pass the FAA Commercial Pilot written exam
  • You must pass the Commercial Pilot Oral and Practical Exam
Training for Commercial Pilot License
Training for the commercial license is not all that different than from your private license. Then difference is in the tolerances that you are going to be held to. In addition you will learn some new maneuvers along the way and be required to demonstrate them to proficiency on the check ride. The main goal before beginning your training for the commercial license is to build your time towards the 250 total time requirement. Included in that time is 100 hours as pilot in command, and 50 hours of cross-country. Since most folks have about 60hrs after they complete their private license you have some time to build. Even if you choose to obtain an instrument rating to help knock out some of that time you still have a ways to go to reach 250 hours total time. One idea is to do a lot of cross-country flying. You can go see places you’ve always wanted to see, and best of all you’re the pilot. Doesn’t get any cooler than that!

One of the most important parts of you commercial training likes any other license or rating is the required aeronautical knowledge. Once you are a commercial pilot there is a whole new world of flying and regulations you have to know. Specifically the limitations of your commercial license and what you can and cannot do while getting paid to fly and what requires addition training or authorization.

Flight School Pro Pilot Programs
The programs at Aviator Academy are designed to provide what the airline industry demands of future commercial pilots. The training you will receive at Aviator is one of the most intensive and challenging programs offered in aviation today.
NOTE: Aviator is pleased to announce, that with the recent increase of airline hiring we are now Including the CRJ Jet Transition program with the Professional Pilot Program and the Commercial Pilot Program. Please visit Aviator Flight Training Academy for flight training programs and details.

Commercial Pilots’ Salary Factors
Many different factors can affect a commercial pilot's salary, though the main consideration is typically seniority. Pilots who have a lot of flight hours, and have flown for the same company for many years, tend to make substantially more than entry level pilots. Salary is also highly dependent on whether a pilot is a captain or first officer, and other factors such as the industry he works in, the routes that are flown, and the number of hours worked each month. There are many different industries that a commercial pilot can work in, each of which offers varying levels of pay. A commercial pilot's salary can even depend on the specific company he works for, as different businesses within the same industry often have significantly different pay scales.

Commercial pilots are highly trained individuals who are authorized to receive payment for piloting, or co-piloting, various types of aircraft. A Commercial Pilot's License (CPL), or the more advanced Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP) are typically necessary to have this type of career. There are also different type ratings for airplanes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft a commercial pilot is authorized to fly. Since a pilot's job prospects are affected by his license and ratings, those can be important determining factors for a commercial pilot's salary.

Among pilots who have similar credentials, and work in the same industry, the biggest determining factor for salary is seniority. Brand new commercial pilots tend to have fairly low starting salaries, and they typically act as first officers rather than captains. After a significant amount of seniority as been built up, a captain can make four to eight times more than his starting pay. Seniority is typically not the same thing as experience, as it only refers to the amount of time spent with a specific company. That means a commercial pilot's salary will typically suffer if he has to find work with a new company, even if he has many years of experience, although both factors certainly do affect pay grades.

A commercial pilot's salary can also depend on the industry he works in. Some industries pay better than others, and some individual companies also have significantly higher or lower levels of pay. Commercial pilots who work for passenger airlines tend to make less than those who work for cargo airlines, though there are exceptions. There are also many other industries that employ commercial pilots, such as private air charter companies and medical transport services, each of which has its own independent pay scales.

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]]>Aviator CollegeFri, 18 May 2012 21:02:14 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/211-commercial-pilot-license-training-and-salaries.aspxType Of Pilot Certificate Dictates Pilot Job Opportunitieshttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/203-type-of-pilot-certificate-dictates-pilot-job-opportunities.aspxIf you have been developing an interest in becoming a pilot then you will be interested in knowing that you have quite a selection of pilot categories to choose from. A pilot is certificated to fly aircraft at one or more named privilege levels and, at each privilege level, rated to fly aircraft of specific categories. Privilege levels of pilot certificates are, in order of increasing privilege:
  • Student Pilot: an individual who is learning to fly under the tutelage of a flight instructor and who is permitted to fly alone under specific, limited circumstances
  • Sport Pilot: an individual who is authorized to fly only Light-sport Aircraft
  • Recreational Pilot: an individual who may fly aircraft of up to 180 horsepower (130 kW) and 4 seats in the daytime for pleasure only
  • Private Pilot: an individual who may fly for pleasure or personal business, generally without accepting compensation
  • Commercial Pilot: an individual who may, with some restrictions, fly for compensation or hire
  • Airline Transport Pilot (often called ATP): an individual authorized to act as pilot in command for a scheduled airline
You will be best able to determine the most feasible for you by learning the basics about each of them and seeing which one best suit's the goals you have set for yourself.

You must understand two major categories. First of all licensing for flying are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. They are the governing body and have set the syllabus for the flight courses. All of their rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to. The first requirement is obtaining a certificate and the second part is the training. The type of certificate you require will depend on what type of Pilot you are going to become. It is the certificate that dictates your restrictions. When you hear reference to a rating this is applicable to the various types and classes of aircraft you will be able to pilot. Bruce Hogan explains:

-Flight Instructor, Airline transport pilot or Commercial pilot will afford you the possibility of making a career out of your Pilot training.

Private pilot, recreational pilot, sport pilot, and student pilot licenses all have their own restrictions attached to these certificates and for the most part, you will not be able to earn a living as a Pilot in these categories.
When it comes to ratings these are applicable to the three categories that you can use for a career as well as the Private Pilots. The ratings refer to the aircraft such as airplanes that are single engine land, single engine sea, and multi engine land. There are ratings for instrument, glider and rotorcraft or helicopter.

Speaking of ratings and pilot training, we are offering a excerpt form the recent article in aviatime that talks about expanding your pilot career to operate advanced aircrafts in the aviation industry. Please visit this link for a full story.

Both young and experienced pilots face the same issue – which type rating one should obtain in order to best meet the market demand thus gaining a higher salary and being granted a longer contract. Today the ‘classical’ Airbus A320 remains one of the most popular aircraft type with approx. 4900 operating units. With an average fleet age and the number of passengers to increase with every year, many air companies are securing their future business development by ordering new aircraft and designing strategies regarding new deliveries in advance.
Flight School Pro Pilot Programs
The flight training programs at Aviator Academy are designed to provide what the airline industry demands of future commercial pilots. The training you will receive at Aviator is one of the most intensive and challenging programs offered in aviation today.

The school's new 37,000 sq. ft. training facilities are open from 7 am to 6 pm daily and provisions are made to access the aircraft for flight training 24 hours-a-day, rain or shine.

During your flight training you will fly a total of 259 hours, of which 200 hours will be in a multi-engine aircraft. The ground school portion is a structured classroom environment. You will receive a minimum of 523 instructional hours, including all of the ground and flight training. Six months of housing are included in the cost of the Professional Pilot Program (with instructor ratings). After your flight training, you will have the opportunity to become an entry level flight instructor.

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]]>Aviator CollegeWed, 02 May 2012 18:58:22 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/203-type-of-pilot-certificate-dictates-pilot-job-opportunities.aspxFlight Training for a Jet Pilothttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/202-flight-training-for-a-jet-pilot.aspxBefore considering commercial jet training, pilot students should have their 40 hour requirements completed in addition to the specific time requirements for single engine airplane. These requirements are:
  • 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;
  • 3 hours of night flight training in a single-engine airplane that includes 1) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical miles total distance; and 2)10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.
  • 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments
  • 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a single-engine airplane, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding the date of the test
  • 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at least 5 hours of solo cross-country time; One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total distance
The transition from a light single-engine training aircraft, or light twin aircraft for that matter, to the cockpit of a large commercial jet aircraft is an overwhelming challenge for any inexperienced pilot. The procedures and culture of a commercial multi-crew cockpit is completely different and new; the feel of the controls, interfacing with the automation, the complex aircraft systems, the increase of speed and accelerated pace of the flow, cockpit protocol, the list seems endless. An inexperienced pilot simply doesn’t know what he doesn’t know; the basic procedural knowledge that is absolutely crucial to effectively function in the large jet multi-crew cockpit environment. One of the primary reasons airlines require a type rating is to insure that you have proven to actually have the knowledge and skills to function in a multi-crew cockpit.

Attempting to accomplish this advanced training with no previous experience is like trying to build a house with all the materials but no tools. Failure to prepare for this advanced training inevitably results in extended training time at a very expensive hourly rate. The average hourly rate of a 737NG or A320 Full Flight Simulator can average $800 per hour. This is not the time or place for remedial training.

Flying a jet aircraft requires many hours of experience in smaller, slower and less complex aircraft. Experience as a pilot is measured in flight time. Most pilots are required to have 40 to 50 hours of flight time just to get their private pilot's license. By the time a pilot has gotten the other ratings typically required to fly a jet aircraft, they're looking at a minimum of 250 hours. This includes the minimum times required to obtain the following ratings: commercial and instrument. Jet aircraft that have a gross takeoff weight of over 12,500 pounds also require a specific type rating for that particular aircraft. While some regional airlines have been known to hire pilots with as little as 250 hours to fly as a first officer on a regional jet, 1,500 hours or higher is more typical. Fifteen hundred hours is also the minimum flight time required to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot rating or ATP. Most pilots in general aviation build up flight time as flight instructors. The physical requirements for flying a jet aircraft are equal to those needed to maintain a first-class physical.

Jet Transition Course at Aviator College
Aviator College's Jet Transition Course uses our state-of-the-art Bombardier CRJ-200 FTD. This two week accredited program consists of two phases. The first phase is 40 hours of classroom based ground school. The second phase is 40 hours in our visual CRJ FTD, of which 20 hours are in the right seat and 20 hours are in the left seat.

The Aviator instructors teaching this course are former CRJ airline pilots. At completion of this course, you will receive a graduation certificate for a Turbine Transition course. Private bedroom accommodation is included during your stay.

Contact us for course start dates - only 6 students per class. $1000 deposit (non-refundable) due on arrival.

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]]>Aviator CollegeMon, 30 Apr 2012 17:37:00 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/202-flight-training-for-a-jet-pilot.aspxIs Your Flight Training Up To High Standards To Get a Pilot Jobhttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/201-is-your-flight-training-up-to-high-standards-to-get-a-pilot-job.aspx
Quality of Flight Training
Flight school location is a key factor and can make the difference in the amount of flight training months or even a year needed to complete a professional airline pilot training program. Some of the best flight training facilities are located in sunny Florida where the weather provides optimal flying time. Throughout a year Florida flights schools are able to run their flight training program because the weather is good. The top Florida flight schools have excellent instructors. Qualifications of flight instructors are important and you need to do your research to find out if you are getting the best instruction with top standards. Top flight schools in Florida offer a wide range of professional flight training programs to cater to the needs of all students including international students who wish to study abroad. When choosing a Flight School, carefully review the the types of flight training programs offered and look for the school that offers part 141 that is approved by FAA.

Know Your Pilot Licenses
There are two primary certificates, commonly called licenses, that you can earn in order to enjoy the privileges, challenges, and beauty of flying. They are the recreational pilot certificate and the private pilot certificate. To be eligible to receive either certificate in a single-engine airplane, there are a few minimum requirements.

You must:
  • Be 16 years old to solo.
  • Be 17 years old to receive your pilot certificate.
  • Read, speak, and understand English.
  • Hold at least a third-class medical certificate.
The Recreational Pilot Certificate
The recreational pilot certificate requires fewer training hours than the private certificate and can be earned in as few as 30 hours as compared to the 40 hours needed for the private. The reasoning behind this is that as a recreational pilot you receive fewer hours of cross-country navigation flight training because you must remain within 50 nautical miles of your home base. You also won't have to learn to fly in airspace requiring communications with air traffic control. And night operations and flight by reference to instruments, which are part of the private pilot training, are eliminated from the recreational pilot's curriculum.

The Private Pilot Certificate
A private pilot certificate is like a driver's license. It allows you to fly anywhere in the United States and even outside the United States when you comply with regulations of the foreign country where the aircraft is operated. You can carry any number of passengers, and you can share certain operating expenses with your passengers. There are fewer limitations for a private pilot then there are for a recreational pilot. Although, there are currency and medical requirements to make sure you stay proficient and healthy, only a few other factors affect when and where you can fly. Once you earn your license, you are free to wander around in the skies below 18,000 feet above sea level to your heart's content. You might take the family on a trip to see relatives in a distant state or use an airplane to shorten the time it takes to make business trips to another city.

Getting a Job as Pilot
Once your flight training, pilot license and medical requirements are fulfilled, it is time to polish up your resume. There are plenty of jobs available for brilliant and knowledgeable pilots. How do you get hired?
What qualities and skills airiline personnel managers are looking for to make a hiring decision? Outlined below are some suggestions from Paula W that can help you review your resume and land a job (land a plane wink*) as a pilot.

There are many things that airlines look for when they’re hiring captains and first officers for Airbus 320s, Boeing 737s, and other pilot jobs. Get out a copy of your resume and review how well your resume reflects the items they value most.

While there may be many candidates that have similar or equal skills and all should meet the posted minimums for the job, here are some ways you can really stand out from the crowd.

Having a type rating sets candidates apart.
Be sure your hours and ratings are current on ANY resume you send out, whether or not it’s specifically required by the position!

Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written).
By far, the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.

Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities
Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects.

Interpersonal Abilities
The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills.

Leadership/Management Skills
While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards.

Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness
There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job-seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people and cultures.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.

Planning/Organizing
Deals with your ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Results-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation.

Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity
Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve issues.

Teamwork.
Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and colleagues.

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]]>Aviator CollegeFri, 27 Apr 2012 18:00:17 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/201-is-your-flight-training-up-to-high-standards-to-get-a-pilot-job.aspxHourly Requirments for Commercial Pilot Certificationhttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/199-hourly-requirments-for-commercial-pilot-certification.aspxA commercial pilot license allows you to be paid as a professional pilot. An individual with a private pilot's license cannot be paid for flying a plane to carry passengers or cargo. The pilot must have at least a commercial rating. The Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that governs flight activities in the United States, issues commercial pilot licenses to individuals who meet the agency's minimum flying time requirements. The starting point to acquiring a commercial pilot license is a private pilot license. Outlined below are requirements and hours of flying time needed to obtain a commercial pilot certification written by Elias Westnedge.

General Requirements
The FAA has different total flight time minimums for commercial pilot licenses based on which type of flight schools students attend. Individuals attending Part 61 schools, which provide unstructured training curricula, must amass a minimum of 250 hours of total flying time before receiving commercial pilot licenses. In contrast, students in Part 141 flight training centers, which provide highly structured, planned aviation instruction, need only complete 190 hours of total flying time before getting a commercial pilot license.

FAA-certified Part 141 approved flight program At Aviator Flight Training Academy

Our FAA-certified Part 141 approved flight programs provide students with the skills and experience demanded by today’s commercial aviation industry. Aviator is accredited by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).

Our Professional Pilot Program is set in a flight training, structured environment to ensure the student receives the knowledge that is required to be a professional pilot.  This program is from 0 hours to over 250 hours, of which 200 hours will be multi-engine time.  The program includes Private Pilot Single Engine through the Multi-Engine Flight Instructor Certificate. Cross Country flying is coast-to-coast, if desired.

At Aviator, all flight training is logged in aircraft. Our Flight Training Devices (FTDs) are used for ground training purposes only. NO FTDs (SIMULATORS) ARE USED FOR FLIGHT TIME TOWARDS YOUR RATINGS!


Cross-Country Flying Time
The FAA defines cross-country flying as any trip beginning at one airport and ending at another. Cross-country flying experience is a key part of commercial pilot training. Students training with Part 61 flight schools need to have at least 50 hours of cross-country flying time to earn a commercial license, including at least one day and one night cross-country flight to destinations at least 100 nautical miles from their home airports. Students enrolled in Part 141 training centers are exempt from the cross-country requirements, but must still complete the two 100-nautical-mile trips.



Pilot-in-Command Time
In addition to training time with certified flight instructors, commercial pilot license candidates also must complete several hours of flight time on their own, which the FAA calls "pilot-in-command," or PIC, time. To earn a commercial pilot license under Part 61, a person must complete at least 100 hours of PIC time. An individual doing flight training at a Part 141 training school only needs 10 hours of pilot-in-command flight experience to become eligible for a commercial pilot license.



Complex-Aircraft Time
Pilots looking to earn commercial certificates in airplanes must undergo several training flights in "complex" aircraft, which are airplanes that have constant-speed propellers, flaps and retractable landing gear or a turbine engine. Regardless of whether students train at Part 61 or Part 141 schools, they need to complete a minimum of 10 hours of flight instruction in such airplanes.



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]]>Aviator CollegeMon, 23 Apr 2012 17:04:09 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/199-hourly-requirments-for-commercial-pilot-certification.aspxPilot Skills, Attributes and Flight Training Educationhttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/193-pilot-skills-attributes-and-flight-training-education.aspxDo You Have What it Takes to Become a Pilot? A lot would depend on the type of pilot your want to be.
  • A student pilot license (certificate) is designed for the initial training period of flying. The student pilot must have a flight instructor present. He or she can solo after appropriate instructor endorsements.


  • A recreational pilot certificate limits the holder to: specific categories and classes of aircraft, the number of passengers which may be carried, the distance that may be flown from the departure point, flight into controlled airports, and other limitations.
  • A private pilot certificate lets the pilot carry passengers and provides for limited business use of an airplane.


  • A commercial pilot certificate lets the pilot conduct some operations for compensation and hire.
  • 

An airline transport pilot certificate is required to fly as captain by some air transport operations.
Pilot Attributes

By Jagg Xaxx

  • Eyesight: A pilot needs good eyesight, although, with the exception of a position as a fighter pilot, it doesn't have to be perfect. If your eyes are good enough to operate an airplane safely, either uncorrected or with glasses or contact lenses, you are qualified to obtain a pilot's license. As people age, their eyesight tends to deteriorate, particularly at night. Aging pilots need to take this into account, and may reach a point where they can't fly at night, or at all if their eyesight becomes poor enough.
  • Training: Training is essential to become a pilot. The amount of training varies greatly depending on the type of airplane you will be flying. A commercial airline pilots and military pilots receive extensive training, but a private pilot operating a small Cessna can learn to fly in a matter of weeks. Different levels of certification can be gained based on courses taken and on number of hours flown. People who operate unusual aircraft such as balloons and helicopters need different training and different certifications.
  • Mechanical Ability: If you have the money to hire a professional aircraft mechanic, it isn't absolutely necessary to understand the mechanics of your airplane, but it is very advisable. While flying in a well-maintained airplane is a very safe activity, there is always the potential for problems in a complicated machine. Prudent pilots understand their airplanes, known how to maintain them, and most importantly know how to react to a variety of emergency mechanical situations that may occur while they are in the air.
  • Determination: Becoming an experienced pilot takes a lot of money and time. Actually buying your own airplane is an even larger investment than learning to fly it. Becoming a pilot isn't something to be undertaken lightly, and many people who pursue it without full commitment never complete the process or receive their license. Particularly in the challenging and competitive fields of commercial airlines and military aircraft, it can take years of training and seeking a position before you find yourself actually in the cockpit.
Pilot Skills

By Peter Timm

  • Perception Skills: Pilots must have the ability to differentiate between essential and nonessential information concerning the act of flying and have a sense of perceptual recognition (the ability to focus on essential information). Additionally, pilots must also have a sense of selective perception (the ability to visually focus despite numerous distractions).
  • Logic Skills: The ability to logically and quickly assess situations is imperative to flying aircraft. Logical reasoning is ability to practically evaluate a set of actions based upon given information. When flying aircraft, the pilot is required to navigate, communicate and operate the aircraft in a possibly changing environment. All of these processes require the ability to logically assess and think through any given situation.
  • Communication Skills: Communication is an integral part of safely flying an aircraft. A working knowledge of vocabulary and a high degree of word fluency is necessary to successfully become a pilot.
Education

by Michelle Hogan

  • Degree: The type of degree you get depends on the type of pilot you wish to become. If you wish to fly for an airline or other corporation---large or small--you will likely need a college degree in math, physics, engineering or an aeronautical concentration. There are some colleges, like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, that provide both flight training and a degree, but you don't have to go to such a college to be employed as a pilot.
  • Flight Training: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that those who wish to fly airplanes or other aircraft train both on the ground and in the air for a certain number of hours. There are many flight schools certified by the FAA in the United States. All pilots must be at least 18 years old and have at least 250 hours of flight experience, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, pilots must understand navigation techniques, FAA regulations and be able to fly by instruments only during periods of low visibility. To work for an airline, a pilot must be at least 23 years old, have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience and pass additional written tests and flight exams.
Aviator Flight School and Flight Training Programs
For more than 27 years Aviator has been the leader in multi-engine flight training. We have provided over 5000 professional pilots to the airline industry, both nationally and worldwide, through our Professional Pilot Flight Training Programs. Our FAA-certified Part 141 approved flight programs provide students with the skills and experience demanded by today’s commercial aviation industry. Aviator is accredited by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).

Our Professional Pilot Program is set in a flight training, structured environment to ensure the student receives the knowledge that is required to be a professional pilot. This program is from 0 hours to over 250 hours, of which 200 hours will be multi-engine time. The program includes Private Pilot Single Engine through the Multi-Engine Flight Instructor Certificate. Cross Country flying is coast-to-coast, if desired.

When you choose Aviator, all flight training is logged in aircraft. Our Flight Training Devices (FTDs) are used for ground training purposes only. NO FTDs (SIMULATORS) ARE USED FOR FLIGHT TIME TOWARDS YOUR RATINGS!

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]]>Aviator CollegeMon, 09 Apr 2012 20:09:26 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/193-pilot-skills-attributes-and-flight-training-education.aspxCommercial Pilot Traininghttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/192-commercial-pilot-training.aspxThe commercial pilot training is a course you must complete to qualify to fly an aircraft. In the recent years, the career of a pilot has become one of the top career choices amongst the students all over the world.

There are numerous students all over the world enrolling for the commercial pilot training courses. Acquiring a commercial pilot license is your first step to achieving your long life dream of becoming a commercial pilot. If you have always been intrigued with large commercial planes and you cannot wait to fly such an awesome machine, you need to know what to do to get into the cockpit and captain such a plane. Flying commercial airplanes quite challenging but your first challenge will be to acquire a pilot license. This license authorizes you to take charge as a pilot or co-pilot for single and multi-pilot airplanes respectively.

How To Get Your Commercial Pilot License
Being a commercial pilot allows you to fly to various places while also being paid for it. But, acquiring the license and getting the job is not not at all easy. It requires lots of dedication, training, completion of requirements, and passing all exams. Outlined below are the guidelines to become a commercial pilot.

  • Federal Aviation Regulations
The Federal Aviation Regulations or FAR holds the guidelines for the requirements for anyone wanting to get a helicopter cpl or any commercial pilot certificate. The requirements are extensively enumerated in paragraph 121 through paragraph 123 of part 61 in the Federal Aviation Regulations. Upon application in a flight school, you will be informed of the complete and specific requirements to attaining a commercial pilot certificate.
  • Ground Schooling
The Federal Aviation Regulations require candidates to go through ground schooling where they will know a wide range of information about aviation, as well as certain information about specific aircrafts. The moment a student spends studying must be documented for the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. After a student completes the mandatory education, he will be required to take and pass the written exam.
  • Flight Time Experience
For an individual to acquire a commercial pilot certificate, he must have at the very least 250 hours of flight time experience. In addition to that, he must also have experience being the pilot-in-command, must have piloted at night, have flown all over the country, have piloted solo, and experienced flying on instrument alone. Whilst the applicant tries to finish all these flight experiences, he must also have experience flying the aircraft on which he intends to fly once he has his commercial pilot certificate. For example, if he intends to attain a license for twin engine, then he should have had time flying a twin-engine aircraft. The student must also have experience flying an aircraft that has retractable landing gear and flaps as part of his flight time experience.
  • Check Ride
After completing the education and the flight time experience prerequisites, the student will then be obliged to pass a test ride or flight exam. In this test, all the know-how and skill-sets he has attained and developed will be tested and checked. The student will demonstrate the right flying procedures, his flying skills, and emergency procedures. Once the student passes the flight exam, he will then be granted the permit to fly an aircraft.
  • Medical Certificate
An individual holding a commercial pilot certificate is required by the Federal Aviation Regulations to maintain a Second Class Medical Certificate. This document, however, is valid only for 12 months. So the pilot must renew this medical certificate every year through a designated medical examiner.
  • Employer’s Prerequisites
After obtaining the commercial pilot certificate, it still does not mean that the person can automatically be welcomed by any big airline company. While individual companies may have their own individual requirements for their applicants, they also require that applicants attain an Air Transport Pilot rating. The Air Transport Pilot or ATP requires applicants to finish 1,500 hours of flight time, more education, more tests, and more flight exams.

Pilot applicants to major airlines are also required to undergo additional instrument flying tests, wherein they will fly the aircraft while relying only on its instruments.

The programs at Aviator Academy are designed to provide what the airline industry demands of future commercial pilots. The training you will receive at Aviator is one of the most intensive and challenging programs offered in aviation today.

The school's new 37,000 sq. ft. training facilities are open from 7 am to 6 pm daily and provisions are made to access the aircraft for flight training 24 hours-a-day, rain or shine. Contact us today to schedule a visit.

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]]>Aviator CollegeFri, 06 Apr 2012 16:53:25 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/192-commercial-pilot-training.aspxFlight Training and Pilot Career Preperationhttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/180-flight-training-and-pilot-career-preperation.aspxLearning to fly can be one of life's most rewarding adventures. The freedom of moving in three dimensions is not only fun but can lead to interesting career and travel opportunities. To take advantage of aviation's rewards, you must make sure you get the good, solid information that you'll need to be a safe, confident pilot in the air. One of the most important steps in that process is finding the right flight school.

Although flight schools fall into two basic categories, Part 61 or Part 141, there is a third category that bears serious consideration by prospective pilots, particularly those planning a professional piloting career: nationally accredited training institutions. Accredited schools must meet rigid standards of accountability for virtually every area of operation and must apply to an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Collegiate aviation degree programs also play a large part in today's training marketplace, and you should consider earning a degree if you are planning a professional flying career. A plus in seeking a degree is that in many cases you are eligible for financial aid and scholarships that will assist you, not only in your academic endeavors, but in flight training as well.

What is the best way to prepare myself for a career as a pilot?

Below you will find a great advise from David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair Aviation Management and Flight.

As far as entering the airline industry as a pilot, you need three basic things:

  1. Certification: You need to earn your PPL from the Federal Aviation Administration (as you indicated), then, your Commercial Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings; then, a Flight Instructor (Airplane Rating at minimum) as one way to continue to build flight time...eventually building to your Air Transport Pilot or ATP Certificate at 1500 hours of total flight time.
  2. Flight experience, measured in flight time, as already implied above, is key to being hired. However, it is not just about the total hours you build, it is about the quality of those flight hours that interests the airlines. Three particular things that they look for are:
  • A. multi engine flight experience (experience flying twin engine aircraft)--this gets you beyond the training stage into a first level job where you will begin to fly turbine aircraft as a first officer or co-pilot. To get that first level job, you will have to have around 1000 hours of total flight time and approximately 300 hours of multi engine time (unless Congress and/or the FAA change rules for regional airline first officers and make it a higher limit--which they are currently discussing);
  • B. multi engine TURBINE or JET flight experience; and,
  • C. Pilot in command or Captain time in a multi engine turbine or jet aircraft.....usually earned flying for a regional airline, a corporate flight department, a charter flight company or some other aircraft operator with turbine or jet equipment.
To get hired with a larger airline that pays well these days (Southwest or FEDEX or UPS or American, etc), you will have to have in excess of 3000 hours (and probably way more) of total time and at least 1000 to 1500 hours of Captain time in a turbine aircraft. That experience will take you 5 to 10 years to earn AFTER you complete all of your ratings as noted in #1 above.

         3. A college education (BS degree or higher). While some airline employers might want an aviation degree, the key thing is that a college education that includes flight training has been shown to be very helpful in the success of initial new hire pilots; however, an aviation degree is not required at this time.

As far as other professional flying jobs that might be as lucrative as an airline job, you might want to consider flying in the corporate or business aviation arena. There are a number of such flight departments who pay their senior captains and their chief pilots and directors of aviation as well or better than top-paying airlines. And, there are literally thousands of corporate turbine aircraft out there flown by thousands of flight departments. However, their hiring standards are quite high and you can expect to be competitive for the really good corporate or business aviation flight jobs at above the airline standards mentioned earlier (you will need 4000 to 5000 total flight hours and in the area of 2000 or more Captain hours in turbine equipment to even be considered).

With regard to scholarships for aviation, there is an excellent listing available from the University Aviation Association entitled THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP LISTING. You can order it via the UAA website at  using a major credit card. It has over $1.0 million in aviation scholarships listed. However, most of these scholarships are for use in collegiate or university aviation programs.....some are not, but, most are.

Finally, regarding where you might want to go to flight school to learn to fly. First of all, I do recommend that you take your full Private Pilot Certificate training right where you are to make sure that flying is for you. Then, once you have made that decision (whether it is for you or not), then, consider going to one of the major flight academies to train. There are several out there with fairly good reputations. I would consider two or three of them carefully looking at price, at the average time it takes someone to complete their program, at their placement history in the last two years (during these tough times, where are their graduates going?) and at financial aid and loans that they might have available to assist you.

Some of the big names in this business are (in no particular order): Flight Safety Academy, Southeastern Flight Academy, ATP, Delta Connection Academy and Gulfstream. And, there are certainly others....go to your local bookstore and buy a copy of FLYING magazine and you will see the ads for these companies there. Contact them individually and get answers to all of your questions (see above for a partial list of questions); then, create a spread sheet with the answers listed for each school to each question so that you can compare them. Then once you havwe collected the information, visit the top 2 or 3 schools to see which one fills the majority of your needs best. Remember that these academies are for profit academies, so, the choice is YOURS not theirs (it is not like applying to Princeton). If they want you badly enough, they might be willing to give you a starting scholarship for the first course...negotiate a bit and let them know you are looking at two or three different academies in your search for the "best one."

Aviator Flight Training Academy offers professional pilot training programs with a minimum of 200 hours of multi-engine time. The flight school has a state of the art 37,000 square foot facility, featuring a CRJ Level 5 Flight Training Device (Simulator), large classrooms and individual briefing rooms.

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]]>Aviator CollegeWed, 14 Mar 2012 20:26:00 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/180-flight-training-and-pilot-career-preperation.aspxFlight Training and Preparation for Private Pilot Licensehttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/174-flight-training-and-preparation-for-private-pilot-license.aspxA commercial aviation license is one of the most coveted and sacred certificates you can receive. The benefits and privileges are great and the responsibilities are enormous. Acquiring a license can be a formidable task.

Flight Training
All pilots who are paid to fly must have a license from the Federal Government. Pilots must be at least 18 years old and must have flown at least 250 hours to qualify for a private pilot license. To get a commercial airline pilot's license, a person must be at least 23 years old, and the person must have flown for a total of 1,500 hours or have gone to a flight school for pilots.

The overall purpose of flight training is the learning and honing of basic airmanship skills. These skills are defined as:
  • A complete familiarity with the principles of flight.
  • The ability to operate an aircraft with competence and precision on the ground and in the air, and the exercise of good judgment that results in optimal operational safety and efficiency.
Aviation Colleges
The Aeronautical Science Program prepares the graduate for a career in the aviation industry by providing a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, aeronautical sciences, aeronautical technology, and the aviation industry. The graduate will receive an Associate of Science Degree, ratings through Flight Instructor Multi-Engine, including the ratings necessary to obtainintermediate level employment. The flight training sequence for this program consists of of four flight-training modules plus additional flight training as specified in each option.

There are many types of pilot's licenses in the United States, providing graduated privileges for operating different types of aircraft under different conditions. Unlike driver's licenses, which are issued by each state, pilot's licenses are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, and so the requirements and regulations are identical throughout the country.

If you have been developing an interest in becoming a pilot then you will be interested in knowing that you have quite a selection of pilot categories to choose from. You will be best able to determine the most feasible for you by learning the basics about each of them and seeing which one best suit's the goals you have set for yourself.

Types of Pilot Licenses
  1. Student Pilot License (SPL)
  2. Private Pilot License (PPL)
  3. Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
  4. Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
Student Pilot License (SPL)
This is the first pilot license one would need to fly an airplane as a pilot-in-command. When you are flying and receiving training from a flight instructor, you do not need any license. However, at some point during your training your instructor would get out of the airplane and would want you to go up on your own. This is called a solo, and the first one is called the first solo. And for this solo, and all the subsequent ones, you need a student pilot license. Typically, you would need this until you reach 40-50 hours of total flight time and get your Private Pilot License (PPL). An SPL is good for 24 months, and the process to get it is pretty simple. You will also need an Pilot Medical Certificate. Usually you would get both of them together.

Private Pilot PPL and Commercial Pilot CPL
A Private Pilot License (PPL) is the minimum required for a pilot to take passengers up with him or her. Once you have your PPL, you can take your family and friends up with you whenever you go fly around. You will need to take a written and a practical test to get your PPL. But don’t worry, it is all covered during your training as an SPL holder. A PPL in the United States does not expire.

Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
A Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is what you would need to get a job, and get paid as a pilot. If you want to join the airlines as a pilot, this is the minimum requirement. You will need about 250 hours total flight time to get your CPL. Again there is no expiration date on this license.
Just like your Private, you would need to pass a written and a practical exam to get your Commercial Pilot License.

Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
This is the big-daddy of all the pilot certificates or licenses. To be a Captain with an airline, you would need to have an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). You need to have at least 1500 hours of flight time to qualify for this. This license does not have any expiration date either.
Just to clarify, you need a Commercial Pilot License to get a job with an airline as a co-pilot or a first officer. But to become a Captain eventually, you need an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
If you decide that you would like something with a few less restrictions then you could consider a Recreational Pilot license. The requirements are very similar to a Private Pilot license but have more limitations.

Pilot Ratings
Pilot ratings are additional qualifications that you can add to an existing Pilot’s license to enhance your abilities as a pilot. The examples are: Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Rating.

Instrument Rating (IR)
An Instrument Rating (IR) is what’s required to be able to fly an airplane inside and through the clouds, and at times of low visibility. The training involves the pilot to learn how to fly an airplane simply by looking at flight instruments inside the cockpit. If you are on a career path to be an airline pilot then this is a must. IR is a requirement to get a job with an airline, and also to qualify for an Airline Transport Pilot. This is usually obtained after your get your Private Pilot License, and before you get your Commercial Pilot License.

Multi-Engine Rating
Most of your training will be done on single engine airplanes (SE), like Cessna and Piper. However, to qualify for an airline pilot position, you will need to be qualified to fly airplanes with multiple engines. Most airline airplanes have more than one engine. And this training is called Multi-Engine Rating (ME). Most people get their Multi-Engine Rating along with or right after their Commercial Pilot License.

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]]>Aviator CollegeFri, 02 Mar 2012 14:12:00 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/174-flight-training-and-preparation-for-private-pilot-license.aspxPilot Jobs for Flight School Graduateshttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/170-pilot-jobs-for-flight-school-graduates.aspxThe earning potential for flight school graduates varies greatly depending on the industry. Airline pilots’ earnings’ are amongst the highest in the country and depend on the pilots’ rank, experience, aircraft type and the size of the airline. Aircraft pilots and flight engineers are expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Regional airlines and low-cost carriers will present the best opportunities; pilots attempting to get jobs at the major airlines will face strong competition.

Pilots attempting to get jobs at the major airlines will face strong competition, as those firms tend to attract many more applicants than the number of job openings. Applicants also will have to compete with laid-off pilots for any available jobs. Pilots who have logged the greatest number of flying hours using sophisticated equipment typically have the best prospects. For this reason, military pilots often have an advantage over other applicants.

Pilot Jobs Outlook
The report below is written by Angela Ballard.
Jobs in the aviation industry span a wide range of skill sets and experience levels; for those leaving the military, according to CNN Money and PayScale.com’s list of great careers in 2011, Aviation Program Management and Airline Pilot are two of the best careers to pursue.

The median pay for Aviation Program Managers is $115,000 and the 10-year job growth rate is approximated at 7%. Depending on what your military experienced entailed, you may not even need project management certification.
For veteran military pilots, the CNN report states that there are a few reasons why becoming a commercial pilot is appealing. Flying a commercial aircraft provides a family-friendly environment that is great for pilots with young children. A career as a civilian pilot means most of your time will revolve around flying (while rising in military ranks generally means flying less). Though there are over a million pilots in the US already (you can find a pilot in the FindTheBest database), the 10-year job growth is approximated at 8%, which is an addition of about 60,000 jobs.

Switching to a civilian pilot career means getting an FAA flight certification; the protocol for converting a military certification depends on the type of aircraft you flew. AviationSchoolsOnline.com is a great resource for finding VA approved flight certification programs. FindTheBest also has a database of FAA Medical Examiners to make finding an examiner, to issue or reissue a pilot medical certificate, as easy as possible. Jobs in the aviation industry are growing, and for those with the incredible training and experience the military provides, a career in aviation is a great option.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to start your airline pilot career, wait no more. According to Boeing, the world’s airlines, both in established and emerging markets, will require over 450,000 new commercial pilots to fly the aircraft currently on order with the major manufacturers. Here’s the company’s breakdown of where those airline jobs will be based:
  • Europe – 92,000+
  • Asia Pacific – 183,000+
  • China – 72,000+
  • North America – 82,000+
  • Latin America – 41,000+
  • Middle East – 36,000+
  • Africa – 14,000+
  • Russia/CIS 9,800+
In the airline business, seniority is everything. The sooner you start, the more seniority you’ll earn. Source

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]]>Aviator CollegeFri, 24 Feb 2012 18:07:00 GMThttp://www.aviator.edu/blog-129/170-pilot-jobs-for-flight-school-graduates.aspx