Top Avenues Open For A Professional Pilot
The career of a commercial pilot is not merely limited to joining an airline. Once a pilot gathers all the necessary certifications and flight hours, he can open himself up for multiple avenues. All he needs is some source of information that lists down the possible career opportunities. As a professional pilot, you can fly a rescue operation, firefighting plane, air cargo etc. Read ahead to understand the jobs you can do as a professional pilot.
1. Fly for a commercial airline
Once you’ve taken a professional pilot course and met the flight hour requirements of an airline of your choice, you can apply for the position of a commercial airline pilot. This exciting job allows you to stay in different places and take passengers across the nation or overseas!
To have a big-airline license, you are required to have an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with an FAA medical clearance. While a standard commercial pilot requires 250 flight hours, with an ATP you need to have a total of only 1500 flight hours. Also, once you graduate with a B.S. in aviation you can be eligible for a Restricted- Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) Certificate. With this, you can be a copilot in a major airline until you meet the total flight hours. Cover 1,000 to 1,250 total flight hours and you’re good to become a pilot!
2. Fly for air cargo
Whenever there’s a health or food crisis in any part of the world, air cargo plays a vital role in delivering the much needed things. Almost 52 million metric tons of goods are transported annually. When you’re an air cargo pilot, you not only save lives but also some sensitive chemicals and materials. These cargo flights are also often used for rescue missions where people are in danger and need immediate transportation. For example, the recent Taliban brutal rule in Kabul had forced many to leave on cargo aircrafts. After the outbreak of swine flu and COVID-19, many countries took to transporting live animals using cargo planes.
This kind of job by professional pilots can ensure the transport of perishable goods to maintain the food chain. Organizations dealing with air cargo sometimes have to collaborate with pilots to minimize emergency border blockages.
3. Fly for aerial photography
With a professional pilot license, you can take up assignments for pay. If you’re someone who has a knack of photography or film making, you can use your flying skills to your advantage. Governments of countries may also require your services for advertisements, intelligence or border patrol. Movies which are about life in the air like The Aviator (2004) or air force pilots may need you as a stunt double.
4. Fly for agricultural requirements
An agricultural pilot or crop duster does the job of spreading or spraying chemicals on the crops and dusting away pests and insects that feed on your crops.
5. Fly for rescue missions
In situations where an entire place is on fire or under water, helicopter or airplane pilots can come to rescue. As a pilot, you can air-lift people from dangerous sites and drop them infront of hospitals, if need be.
6. Fly as a flight instructor
After COVID-19, there has been an increase in the demand for pilots and consequently, flight instructors. You can either choose this profession to increase your flight hours in the log book to qualify for a commercial airline or simply do it for your penchant for teaching.
7. Fly as a corporate pilot
Some big companies and businesses own a plane for international or local trips for amusement or business purposes. The crew is small and you as the pilot are in charge of all the functioning.
8. Fly as a private pilot
You can work for yourself and run an air taxi business. Your services are mostly local.
Conclusion
If sky’s the limit for you then choose an avenue from the above listing that suits you best!
