The Price of Dreams

Part 135 carriers like Cape Air hire pilots with fewer than 1,500 hours of flight time, providing a shorter pathway into the airline industry. Republic Airways, which provides air service as United Express, American Eagle and Delta Connection, offers its own in-house pilot training through LIFT Academy, providing pilots a direct path to Republic’s operations. Total cost of LIFT’s flight training, according to the company, is $90,000; Republic provides a $15,000 subsidy. The student or lender provides the rest of the cost, typically.

Regardless of what path the prospective pilot takes, “the good news is that there are pathways to a [pilot] career. [see accompanying sidebar] Financial support is available either from the flight training providers or outside sources,” said Preidecker, who cautioned: “It is important to understand the obligations for payback. Interest rates, payment terms and length of a loan are variable based on the institution and as well as an individual’s circumstances.”

Kit Darby, a retired United Airlines pilot, flight instructor and industry analyst via KitDarby.com Aviation Consulting, believes that US should follow the European model, where airlines absorb all or part of the pilot’s training, then are reimbursed by the pilot from his/her earnings.

In the US, there is the US government-imposed 1,500-hour flight rule that pilots must obtain in order to become a first officer at a regional or charter airlines.

There are exceptions to the 1,500-hour rule. Those pilots, who graduate from an accredited four-year school, such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) or the University of North Dakota’s UND Aerospace, require 1,000 hours of flight time. A two-year approved college or university requires 1,250 hours of flight for pilots to be hired by airlines. For military trained pilots, the minimum is 750 hours of flight time.

Student pilots, who complete a program under FAA’s 61.160 (b), may obtain a restricted ATP with 1,000 hours.

Completion of an approved pilot training program does not mean graduates are headed to the airlines immediately. In addition to accumulating the necessary hours (through various programs), pilots need to continue building time and experience, various training experts recommend.

The overall cost is expensive and going up for civilians and requires a military service commitment up to 10 years for military pilots.

“What is sorely needed is for US airlines to transition to the Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL),” said Darby. “MPL has put zero-time pilots into the right seat of airliners for over 15 years with tremendous success. Lufthansa does what we should have done long ago.”

While a sound alternative to an hours-based requirement, “the MPL model is unlikely in the current environment that somehow believes it is less safe due to the extensive use of simulators vs. aircraft,” said Darby.

The present demand for airline pilots has cooled somewhat, a blessing in disguise, according to several experts. Delivery and certification delays of new commercial aircraft and engines due to supply chain issues and early inspections and repairs have slowed the need for new pilots and the pace of training. At their peak, major airlines had hired 5,000 new pilots in a single year, said Darby. In 2023-2024 combined, the U.S. major airlines hired 25,000 pilots, five times the previous record, according to Darby.

A Helping Hand

Obtaining financial assistance through aviation related universities are possible.

Collegiate aviation programs students (and those students in other programs) could be eligible for Federal Financial Aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Matt Lukach, UND Student Finance Director finance explained how students might be eligible for Federal aid under Title IV.

“UND works with various 3rd party lenders to help finance all programs at UND, said Lukach. “The student and parent must pick a lender and submit the application directly to the lender. The lender then sends a request to UND to certify the funds. After certification, the funds come directly to UND. [Which] pays whatever charges on the student account and refunds any excess to the student.”

Here is a link to the lenders that UND most often uses: https://choice.fastproducts.org/FastChoice/home/300500

(Note: the lending cap on federal loans for students on a pilot track is less than what is needed to pay for all the licenses needed to become an airline pilot, said various sources.)

At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), students are eligible for financial aid once the student is enrolled in a flight course as part of a degree program typically. The Cost of Attendance (COA) is adjusted, allowing the student to receive financial aid up to their new COA.

The financial aid can come in the form of scholarships, grants or loans, according to Sarah Barczyk, vice president of communications. Financial aid is dependent on individual factors.

“Endowed scholarships from both regional and major airlines are [also] available, and many aeronautical associations offer scholarships,” according to Barczyk. ERAU referred CAT to its’ scholarship webpage for additional information.

As for obtaining loans from financial institutions, students are encouraged to “review different financial institutions to ensure they select the one that is best for them and their families.”

ATP Flight School, considered the largest flight school worldwide, with a fleet of 614 training aircraft, has a tuition reimbursement program of around $17,000 to $20,000.

The flight school works with multiple lenders to provide financing for career training.

ATP offers an accelerated Airline Career Pilot Program, which takes pilots from zero experience to commercial pilot and flight instructor in a year. Cost of the program is $116,995, according to the company. ATP only trains US citizens.

“Upon graduation, students can either instruct (through a CFI program) to gain the flight experience needed for the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate or participate in the accelerated Airline Direct Track program,” said Michael Arnold, director of marketing.

Pilots earn their ATP certificate when they’re hired by an airline.

ATP Jets provides the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) training for many US regional airlines. Pilots take the ATP-CTP course to prepare for the FAA Airline Transport Pilot Exam. The course, which takes place over five to seven days typically, is a combination of classroom and simulator time.

The course includes numerous elements including aerodynamics, air carrier operations, automation, runway incursion avoidance, stall prevention and recovery, high altitude operations and other areas.

ATP Flight School offers an ATP CTP for $4,295 . Miami-based Pan Am International Flight Academy offers an ATP-CTP training course for $3,995, according to the company; attempts to reach someone in Media Affairs were unsuccessful.

Pan Am offers more than 100 different aviation-training options on around 14 Boeing, Airbus, Saab and other aircraft. Training courses include: FAA license conversion for non-US pilots from their ICAO license pilot license to an FAA certificate; multi-crew cooperation training; aircraft maintenance training; computer based training, and other offerings.

Delta Aircrew Training Center offers an ATP-CTP course for $4,895, according to the company.

Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA), home to the Atlas Cadet Academy and operated by Spartan Education Group, opened its new FAA-approved satellite-training base at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB).

In addition, IAA launched a partnership with cargo and charter carrier Atlas Air, opening enrollment for the Atlas Cadet Academy (ACA). The partnership provides a pathway for aspiring pilots to become First Officers with Atlas Air, the largest operator of Boeing 747 freighters, with 47 in operation.

The pathway for prospective airline pilots may have improved over the last 20 years, but challenges remain on how to pay for flight and ground school training.  Do your homework before borrowing money is the advice CAT heard from training and industry experts.

RAA’s Black said a change in public policy toward lending to help pilots achieve their dream would help. “Given the high return on investment on the training dollar, this win for working class families carries downstream benefits as pilots enter the workforce with high income and spending power and in numbers that allow airlines to reconnect smaller communities and their economies.”

Exploring flight training options? Learn about financial assistance programs that can help aspiring pilots reach their goals. Read more here.