It's a pretty big leap to assume that a typical CFI would know anything about the airlines. If he/she knew so much about it, they'd probably be an airline pilot instead of a CFI...

I bet he knows a lot more, at least he probably knows how to get there. I never met a CFI who was not on his way 'up there' (or was a retired ATP). The kid should ask instead how to become a CFI - a lot more sensible question for a 16-year old with 13 hours.EDIT: the kid posted over a week ago and had claimed he had 13 hrs, today he appears to still have 13 hrs. One way to fail in your career path is not making a steady progress. Or he likes number 13. :(

It's a pretty big leap to assume that a typical CFI would know anything about the airlines. If he/she knew so much about it, they'd probably be an airline pilot instead of a CFI...

For many, CFIing is a career path (stepping stone) for the airlines. The ratings your going to need prior to becoming a CFI in the US:Private pilotInstrumentCommercialCFITry to get as much multi-engine time as possible and most importantly, network, network, network. Its mostly about who you know.

For many CFIing is a career path (stepping stone) for the airlines.

I'm aware of that, but I asking a CFI how to land an airline job is kinda like asking a college ball player how to make it in the NFL. He's better off asking a real airline pilot about the process. Since there are several of those types on this forum, I think it's a reasonable post on his part.

I'm aware of that, but I asking a CFI how to land an airline job is kinda like asking a college ball player how to make it in the NFL. He's better off asking a real airline pilot about the process. Since there are several of those types on this forum, I think it's a reasonable post on his part.

Point taken, but I'm pretty sure any CFI in the US knows exactly what to do to get to an airline. Now how to get to his or her PREFERRED airline- that's a different matter.Paul

The OAA (oxford aviation academy). Or go to america and go to emby riddle (the best aviation college)

Stick at it :)

First, and I say this respectfully to forum users, you're asking you're questions in the wrong place. Many flight simulator pilots provide information and advice on subjects they have little education on and offer second hand information. I work for an airline known internationally that fly very modern and heavy aircraft i.e 747's 737's etc. Though i'm not a pilot, I interact with these men and woman on a day-to-day basis. I offer to you the following advice from mere observation of their characteristics and by conversation:Knowledge - This is key to being a true professional, and is evident with every AIRLINE pilot I have met. Become knowledgeable, don't learn only what you're expected to learn, but learn more. Do not show off your knowledge! Exercise this knowledge when required. If you don't believe me on this, see how often RSRandozzo makes posts; see how often he is challenged on his knowledge offerings; read the content of his posts; are they concise? Are they descriptive? Do they come across as being second hand info? He is a professional at what he does and is very knowledgeable.Be an expert - Know your aircraft - inside out - outside in - back to front - front to back - upside down - downside up. This ties in with the above statement, but is an independent attribute. Do you expect to fly an airliner if you don't have a thorough understanding of what you've flown, irrespective of how small or primitive it is in comparison? You're more likely to be quizzed on what you claim to know in interviews than what you don't know (a little lesson for any interview you have in your life). Airlines typically dislike those who rush through things.Personal attributes - be methodical. A pilot is typically a methodical creature that approaches tasks procedurally. PROCEDURALLY - Even in adverse conditions. I must say that this is the most common attribute they all possess.Dedication and commitment - I don't think there's an airline pilot that exists that doesn't have these key elements. Some have more than others. For example, a FO that I conversed with in the Flight Deck of 767-300 recalled the following "... things got a bit tough, I was on 2 minute noodles for a wee bit, was it worth it?" he asked, then replied jokingly with a grin "absolutely not". I'm not saying starve yourself, i'm saying there has been an instance as described where a pilot showed these key elements.I could go on, but I won't as these keys are long lasting and are applicable to most other technical careers that your life path may lead you through. Good luck with it all; though you're very young, you've taken the first step and have expressed an interest on this forum yielding responses. I advise you now to ask any further questions on forums where real world airline pilots frequent. Not saying that they don't frequent here, but more, the fact that this forum is diluted by arm chair pilots with a working knowledge of aircraft. i.e. myself.Ashley Frew.

It's not "what you know" but "who you know".I'd start networking now... Attend a few A.A. meetings...

Im in exactly the same boat as you Ross, I am looking to become an airline pilot, however i'm a little older than you. I am 18 and currently doing a degree at university.I heard that it is recommended that you should get a degree, if you are considering going into the big airlines. Please correct me if I am wrong though. I have a friend working for Virgin Atlantic and he mentioned that CTC wings was a good place to start. You can go for the full on and go to Oxford Aviation Academy, but it is expensive.These are the two places which I will be considering.ThanksAlexei

Hi everyone, me again, I would like a little advice.Im 16 as I've told you countless times :( And I would like to know the best way of becoming an airline pilot, whether its going to a flight college, Uni?I want to know all of this now at a young age so I don't choose the wrong path.Could you go into details (If you don't mind and if you feel so) because I NEED to be a pilot, that's how I feel.

Hi Ross,I would suggest you go to PPRuNe and ask your questions there as there are a lot more in the same situation as yourself plus there will be a lot of experienced guys answering as well.But what you need can be summed up in one word: MONEY! and lots of them. Expect anywhere between 50 and 100.000£. As for a path I would suggest going to Uni and doing a science related subject eg. Aeronautical Engineering or something similar. Also at many unis you will have the option of joining the UAS (University Air Squadron) and getting cheap hours. You will have a long career ahead so a couple of years for uni will not be against you, quite the opposite as you will have proven to future employers that you can manage even advanced training hence less of a training risk. Also if you do an integrated course the theory is very intense and the study tools you get from uni will be very beneficial.I went through an integrated course myself at Flight Training Europe in Jerez in southern Spain and I can very highly recommend it. Everything is done in one place and you dont have to worry about accomodation or food. It's fairly easy to travel to (some direct flights from the uk or to Seville or Malaga). Instructors are very good and the school has a lot of connections with airlines throughout Europe e.g. BA, Thomson, CityJet, FlyBe and also Emirates and Qatar. These contacts helped me into the job I have currently, flying for CityJet on the BAe AVRO RJ85.

Ross, ive bin in your position before, as im 18 now. I got the impression that here in Canada your best bet is to get in the industry as early as possible. Im going to start a 2 year program at a college come this Sept along the way earning everything but my atp license as that requires 2500 hours. I chose this only because ive talked to pilots and they kept saying its all about who you know, and to involve yourself as early as possible in the industry. After i graduate i plan to work my way up to get my ATP license and by then hopefully have made some connections. There is certainly a long way to the top, but if you really have a passion for flight youll stick through it. Best of luck.

Thanks everyone, I just wanted to know how everyone else would do it, not just my instructor, know what I mean?I hope to go to Uni but I don't know what would be best to study? Aeronautical Engineering someone said, would that be best o study?

I hope to go to Uni but I don't know what would be best to study? Aeronautical Engineering someone said, would that be best o study?

Ross,I'm going to chime in here and say that the most important aspect of choosing a field to study is to make sure it is one thatyou will enjoy the most, assuming you don't find that killer airline job.I know people who chose a certain field to study that was related to aviation only because they thought it wouldhelp them have a "leg up" on the competition. When their "dream" flying job didn't pan out they were left scramblingto find a job in their degree field of start all over. I'm not discouraging you from any particular aviation field but you need tomake sure that if you don't find that job, or possibly worse, something along the way keeps you from being able to fly (health, etc.)that your backup plan is something that you enjoy, as well.When you go looking for that job you are presenting yourself as an entire "package". Your personality, your grades, your flying experience;a prospective employer will look at all of these things as a whole, not just the degree you've obtained.

Yes, It's alot of money but its worth it, I think anyway, I will be sure to like anything aviation related/physics related as that's my strongest subject.

Ross,I am a 20-year captain for a large regional airline in the US. I may sound a bit negative in my response here, but I believe somebody has to play devil's advocate in any situation. I want to give you some things to think about as you consider a flying career.I fly with a LOT of first officers who are just beginning their airline careers. Almost without exception, they were all flight instructors. Many of them attended an aviation university such as Embry-Riddle while others went to a traditional college and attended a good flight school such as the Delta Connection Academy or Flight Safety. Some don't even have a college degree. This is rare but most airlines don't require it. However, I DO recommend getting a degree, namely something you can fall back on should you experience setbacks in obtaining that coveted flying job.Nearly all the first officers I fly with are in massive debt for their college and/or flight training. I can't recall flying with a first officer in the past few years who wasn't $50,000 to $80,000 AND MORE in debt for their flight education. All that debt to get a job starting at $22,000 a year! I flew with one first officer recently who had to pick and choose which bills he was going to pay and which ones he wasn't. He said that creditors were hounding him all the time. He was living mostly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! That's very stressful. My #2 recommendation to ANYONE wanting to become a pilot is NOT to go into debt to do it but to pay for it as they go (I'll tell you my #1 recommendation in a minute)! That's very hard to do these days with flight training being as expensive as it is. I never went into debt for my flight training. I paid for it as I did it. It probably took me a little longer than many, but it was an awesome feeling NOT to be in debt when I started this job in 1991 at $14,000 a year! Start saving your money now. If your parents are paying for it, fly as much as you can.CAL757 suggested the military route. I would also strongly recommend that. However, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to get into the military as a pilot because the military simply isn't training as many pilots as they used to. The military is using more and more unmanned aircraft and pilot slots are becoming increasingly hard to get. I don't know how it works in the UK but I imagine it's not unlike here in the US. If you want to go the military route I would STRONLY suggest making top grades now and trying to get into whatever the top military academy is in the UK. That is a sure way to get into an airline job, although a bit later than those who go the civilian route. The best part is that you don't go into massive debt but instead GET PAID to go through flight training!Now for my #1 recommendation. BECOME A DOCTOR OR LAWYER AND BUY AND FLY YOUR OWN AIRPLANE!!! There's nothing like being self-employed and flying when and where you want to! If you STILL want to be an airline pilot, just be aware that it ISN'T an easy life. You will be flying when your kids have important events in their lives. You will miss birthdays, anniversaries, etc. You'll fly when you don't feel like it. Depending on who you fly for you may be pressured to fly when you're sick. You may be on reserve (on call) in a base that you don't live near, spending hours and days sitting in a crash pad with other pilots while waiting to do a short round trip to some podunk little town. You could be on reserve for years as I have seen with many pilots at my own airline.You may ask me if I would do it all over again. Absolutely! I would do some things differently but not much different. 9/11 had a profound impact on my career and is the main reason I am still flying for a regional airline. There is a worldwide pilot shortage coming and many say it is already here. For now, study hard and make good grades in school. Get that PPL as soon as you can and follow it up with your Instrument rating, Commercial License, multiengine ratings and Instructor ratings, namely the multi-engine instructor ratings. If go the civilian route, multi-engine time and experience is a MUST! Single engine time will build your total time but airlines want to see that multi time!Hope I haven't been too much of a killjoy here. Just want you to be aware of what you're planning to get into. Best of luck in your endeavors!Terry Swindle