subject: Career Outlook For Commercial Pilots [print this page] Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people or cargo, and commercial pilots fly planes professionally for charter flights, fire fighting, aerial photography, rescue operations, and other types of flight operations. Pilots who fly professionally to transport passengers or cargo have to have a commercial pilot license with instrument rating. Median wages for airline pilots in 2010 were $103,210 per year, while median wages for commercial pilots were $67,500, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Demand for professional pilots is expected to grow at an average of 1% per year through the year 2020, with regional airlines predicted to have the best career opportunities.
Multi-Engine Air Transport Pilots
Fort Lauderdale commercial pilot flight training for multi-engine air transport pilots is available to applicants who are at least 23 years old and who hold an FAA third class medical certification. These pilots must have at minimum a U.S. or foreign commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating as well as 1,500 hours flight time, 250 hours of which must be as pilot in command. Applicants also need to have 500 hours cross country flight experience, 100 hours night flying, and 75 hours of simulated or actual instrument flight.
Multi-Engine Certified Flight Instructors
Pilots who want to become multi-engine certified flight instructors must have their flight instructor certificate and an FAA third class medical certificate. This program is for the certified flight instructor who does not have sufficient multi-engine pilot in command time. The training itself involves dual multi-engine flight instruction, flight briefings, ground school, check ride preparation, and a check ride with an examiner.
FAA Professional Pilots
Those who want to train as an FAA professional pilot have to be at least 17 years old to begin training and at least 18 years old when the course is completed. Applicants must also have their FAA third class medical certification. Over a period of 25 to 30 weeks, this training can take the student with no flying experience to where he or she earns an FAA commercial pilot certificate for single and multi-engine aircraft with instrument rating. Jet transition training is also included in FAA professional pilot training.
Jet Aircraft Training
This glass cockpit transition course is for pilots who have an ICAO or FAA instrument rating. This training introduces pilots to jet aircraft and the glass cockpit environment. The program allows the pilot to practice Cockpit Resource Management procedures and tasks. Current airline-qualified pilots teach this type of training and pilots who complete the training have a distinct advantage in pursuing an airline career.
Fort Lauderdale commercial pilot education is not one single training program. For people who simply want a single engine private pilot's license or those who want a career as a pilot, flight training is an umbrella term that includes many different training courses. If you're interested in becoming a pilot, look for Fort Lauderdale commercial pilot flight training that will allow you to pursue additional training should you find yourself interested in more advanced pilot training.
