So you want to become a pilot?
You have to ask yourself many questions before choosing your career path; regardless of whether you want to be a pilot or follow any other career. So let me make it simple and tell you how to build your decision if you are considering becoming a pilot.
There are always more reasons to think about before choosing your career, therefore look for the facts, search around, ask working pilots, experience if you can and don’t forget the passion which drives you towards your goal. Remember ‘the only way to do great work is to love what you do.’
A ‘perfect storm’ pilot shortage threatens global aviation
There has likely never been a better time to get your pilot’s licence, but for aircraft operators, large and small, new trainees may come too late. Discussion of the looming pilot crisis is not new, but we are beginning to see just how damaging it will be for all sectors of aviation around the globe. It comes at a time when demand for new pilots is expected to rise dramatically over the next two decades as a result of new aircraft entering the global fleet. Boeing has projected that aviation will need 790,000 new pilots by 2037 to meet growing demand, with 96,000 pilots needed to support the business aviation sector.
The 1 500-hour rule
In 2013 the US FAA required first officers (co-pilots) to have a minimum of 1 500-hours in order to fly commercial airlines, instead of the 250 hours which was previously required to qualify for an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. The rule also requires that ATP pilots have to fly an additional 1 000 flight hours before they qualify to serve as captains.
Get access to the full aviation careers guide in the July 2019 edition of African Pilot magazine.
