Become a Commercial Pilot at CTI

Congratulations! You have decided a career as a commercial pilot is the life for you. You’ve taken action and joined one of the best flight training programs in the nation. You’re probably both excited and anxious. Don’t worry. The shorta of commercial airline pilots continues. CTI’s Professional Flight Training will get you in the captain’s chair sooner than you think.

Start Flying Faster than You Think

Starting a career in commercial flight takes less time than you might imagine. With CTI you can achieve your commercial pilot license in as little as six months! You don’t need any experience to get your license in this time-frame. If you’re a student, we offer customized and express programs (http://ctipft.com/college-students/) that allow you to get your certifications while attending college full-time.

The Professional Pilot Career Path  

You can’t become captain overnight. But each step along the journey is quicker than you may realize.

• Private Pilot License (1.5 months)
• Instrument Rating (1.5 months)
• Multi-Engine Rating (0.5 months)
• Commercial Pilot License (2.5 months)
• Certified Flight Instructor – CFI (1 month) 
• CFI Instrument & Multi Engine Instructor (1.5 months)
• Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
• Regional à Major Airline Pilot
• First Officer à Captain

Commercial Pilot Pay

In 2016 a study by Boeing predicted the need for 617,000 pilots in the next 20 years. Given this high demand and projected deficiencies, this is a golden opportunity to start a lucrative career as a pilot. Top new-hires can receive signing bonuses that exceed $20,000. Captains of large jet aircraft are now earning #262 per hour on average. It doesn’t take long to climb the ranks. You can be flying for a commercial airline by age 23!

ATP and R-ATP Requirements

The FAA’s current requirements to become a first officer (second in command /SIC) on a commercial aircraft starts with getting an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate. The flight time requirements are roughly 1500 hours. However, if you’re coming through approved training programs, you can begin your career with a restricted ATP Certificate with less flight time. These programs include:

• Graduates of 4-year Universities – If the university offers an aviation degree you’ll only need 1000 hours of flight time, 60 credit hours of aviation coursework, and Commercial Pilot Certification from a part 141 program. 

• Graduates of 2-year Universities – Pilots receiving a degree in aviation will only need 1250 hours of flight time, 30 credit hours of aviation coursework, and a Commercial Pilot Certificate from a part 141 program. 

• Military pilots – 750 hours of flight time and 200 hours of cross-country time.

No Better Time Than Now

If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming a commercial airline pilot there’s this is the time to pursue it. CTI has a Tennessee location and a Florida location to help you get started on your journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot.