L3Harris Flight Academy
Requirements & Qualifications to Become a Pilot
Becoming a pilot is a life-changing career. One that sees you take to the skies in an office above the clouds; you’ll get to travel the world whilst making life-long friends and experiencing different countries and cultures.
Our Commercial Pilot Training Programs
At L3Harris Flight Academy, we have a host of pilot training programs that will help you on your journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot.
Accelerated Airline Pilot Track - This program has been designed for cadets whose goal is to pursue a career in aviation, training them to become Certified Flight Instructors or commercial pilots in as little as 12 months. Upon completion, you will graduate with a Private Pilot Certificate, Commercial Single-Engine Certificate, Instrument Rating and Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate and Flight Instructor Rating. Graduates will be guaranteed an interview to become a Flight Instructor and have access to pilot pathways with our affiliate airlines.
International Program - This program is ideal for international cadets looking to pursue a career as an airline pilot. Upon completion, you will graduate with a Private Pilot Certificate, Commercial Single and Multi-Engine Certificate, Instrument Rating and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate.
The program takes place at our Orlando Flight School located at Sanford International Airport.
What Are the Career Prospects as a Commercial Pilot?
With the demand for commercial pilots expected to increase by up to 13% in the ten-year period from 2020 to 2030, there are great career opportunities for commercial pilots. More than 14,500 new jobs are expected to be created for this profession with an average salary of $130,440 in 2020.
As a commercial airline pilot, you’ll act as pilot-in-command and be responsible for carrying passengers or cargo.
To kick start your journey to securing your Commercial Pilot License and ultimately, your career to becoming a commercial pilot, you’ll need to meet all the requirements and have the relevant qualifications to start your training.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Pilot?
To become a commercial pilot, there are some qualifications you need to meet before you begin your pilot training.
The medical certificate is used to confirm your physical qualification as a pilot. It proves that you meet health and fitness conditions and are fit to perform the flight. As these requirements should naturally always be met, you must take the medical tests at intervals of six months to a year during your career as a pilot. In order to prove your qualification a photocopy of an FAA Medical Certificate is sufficient.
There are other additional requirements you need to meet before you can become a commercial pilot:
- At least 17 years old in order to receive your Private Pilot Certificate
- Proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English
- A high school graduate or GED completer
- Able to obtain an FAA medical certificate
Interests, Abilities and Skills Needed to Become a Pilot
Needless to say, qualifications are not the only important factor when it comes to becoming a pilot. You may also ask yourself what skills does a pilot need? We have summarised the most important ones for you below:
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work well in a team
- Demonstrate leadership skills
- Excellent spatial awareness and coordination skills
- Ability to remain calm under pressure (emotional stability)
- Self-confidence
- Desire to learn
- Decisiveness & quick-thinking skills
Our airline relationshipsI worked as an Instructor at L3Harris for two years. That time was invaluable to me as a professional aviator. Working on both the training side and on the standards side, I can say that L3Harris Flight Academy is top notch!
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