How Long Does it Take to Become a Pilot with AeroGuard?
Changing careers and taking the first step on a new path can be daunting, with the unknowing of what comes next or insecurity of how to progress. At AeroGuard, we do our absolute best to ensure that this isn’t a problem for our cadets! Part of that is through all the support we offer, part is answering questions like, “how long does it take to become a pilot?” This time on the AeroGuard blog, we’re looking at that exact question, outlining the timeline and steps in the process so that taking the first step isn’t any harder than it needs to be.
Let’s not bury the lede any further. To become an airline pilot with AeroGuard will take about 2 years! It’s as simple as that, so remember that before you fret over what the path will look like. In less time than it takes to get a bachelor’s degree, you can become a professional pilot for an airline!
The First Year
Student Pilot
During the first 10 months at AeroGuard, pilots will participate in the first phases of the Pilot Pathway Program. This rigorous program will lay all the groundwork for pilot careers, beginning with classrooms and spending hours in flight simulators, then moving up to taking Seminoles, Archers and Cessna into the air, all the while mastering skills and building knowledge, experience and confidence.
Over the course of that first year, you will earn 7 FAA ratings, including Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Multi- and Single-Engine, as well as becoming a Certified Flight Instructor with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings as well. This is important because once those first ~10 months are up, cadets move on to the next phase, and they start earning a salary and receive full benefits while flying!
Paid Pilot Internship Begins
Near the end of your first year at AeroGuard, once you’ve received your ratings and pilot certificates, you will have another opportunity to continue propelling your career up into the skies as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). As a CFI for AeroGuard, you’ll be racking up those necessary flight hours and helping other cadets learn and master critical concepts.
There are numerous benefits to becoming a CFI with AeroGuard. Our CFIs earn a competitive annual salary, an automatic raise after 12 months, and with over 400 students, our CFIs are flying plenty.
Equal parts mentor/pilot, working as a CFI allows pilots to make a living as they pursue that next goal — flying for the big leagues!
What about hours?
You might be wondering why we even mention hours, after all we said it’ll be two years. Well, that’s two years to become an airline pilot. As it turns out, there are numerous levels to this whole piloting thing. Under Part 61, If you’re looking to get your sport pilot certificate you can do that in only 20 hours of flight time. A recreational pilot cert will take 30 hours of flight time. To become a private pilot, 40 flight hours are required.
Before you try and jump in the cockpit and become a pilot in a week, remember that for every hour of flight time, you’ll be studying, doing simulations and other groundwork. Once you have completed the 1500 hours of flying, you’re able to begin working for an airline, making a salary and receiving benefits.
As you progress from classroom to simulator, flying to teaching someone yourself and mastering maneuvers, AeroGuard is with you the whole way to support you in becoming the best pilot you can be. Ready to start your career today? Reach out, and let’s take the first step together!