✈️
Pilot Path: Private Pilot to Airline Captain
The professional pilot route in the U.S.: Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor (build hours while teaching) and finally the Airline Transport Pilot certificate.
📚 6 stages · 7 courses & practice exams · 100% free
🚶Start
🛩️1. Private Pilot (PPL)☁️2. Instrument Rating💼3. Commercial Pilot👨✈️4. Flight Instructor (CFI)🛫5. Airline Transport Pilot🚁6. Bonus: Drone pilot🏁Goal
🎯 Where this road ends: Private Pilot → Instrument → Commercial → CFI → Airline First Officer → Captain
- 🛩️
Stage 1 of 6
Private Pilot (PPL)
Learn to fly
- Min. 40 flight hours (Part 61)
- Third-class medical certificate
- ☁️
Stage 2 of 6
Instrument Rating
Fly in the clouds
- 50 hrs cross-country PIC + 40 hrs instrument time
- 💼
Stage 3 of 6
Commercial Pilot
Get paid to fly
- 250 total flight hours (Part 61)
- 👨✈️
Stage 4 of 6
Flight Instructor (CFI)
Teach and build hours
- Most airline-bound pilots build hours as CFIs
- 🛫
Stage 5 of 6
Airline Transport Pilot
The airline cockpit
- ATP CTP course required before the ATM test
- 1,500 hrs total (restricted ATP: 750–1,250)
- 🚁
Stage 6 of 6
Bonus: Drone pilot
Commercial drone flying