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Transport

Airline Pilot

Airline pilots fly aircraft safely on scheduled and charter flights. You need a Commercial Pilot Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and a CAA medical. Training routes and costs vary significantly.

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Career fit

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Entry level
£47,000 (starter)
Mid-career (typical)
£47k – £150k
Senior / lead
£150,000 (experienced)
What you'll do

A day in the life

  • Plan routes using weather and flight data
  • Carry out pre-flight checks
  • Fly the aircraft with the co-pilot
  • Communicate with air traffic control
  • Handle unexpected situations calmly
The path

Your career roadmap

Every milestone from school to senior. Track progress as you complete each stage.

  1. 1

    GCSEs

    education
    Usually 2 years; resit courses may be shorter

    Study GCSEs or equivalents, focusing on maths, English and science to prepare for pilot training entry requirements.

  2. 2

    A Levels or equivalent

    education
    Usually 2 years

    Complete A levels or equivalent qualifications; maths and physics can help, although subject requirements vary.

  3. 3

    Commercial pilot training

    education
    Around 18–24 months for the whole integrated course

    Enter an approved integrated course, obtain a UK Class 1 medical certificate and begin airline transport pilot theoretical knowledge training.

  4. 4

    Flight training

    experience
    Within the overall 18–24-month integrated course

    Complete aircraft and simulator instruction covering handling, navigation, instrument flying and multi-engine operations within your integrated course.

  5. 5

    Commercial Pilot Licence

    certification
    At course completion; processing times vary

    Pass the required tests and apply for your UK CAA Commercial Pilot Licence, usually alongside a multi-engine instrument rating.

  6. 6

    Airline-specific training / type rating

    certification
    Usually several weeks to a few months

    Train on a specific aircraft type and complete airline procedures, simulator assessments and required aircraft training.

  7. 7

    First Officer / Co-pilot

    role
    Usually several years before command consideration

    Begin supervised line flying, then operate passenger or cargo services as a first officer after airline checks.

  8. 8

    Captain

    role
    Timing varies with experience, performance and vacancies

    Hold a full ATPL, pass airline command selection and training, and take responsibility for the aircraft, crew and flight.

What you need

Skills you'll build

Qualifications
  • Commercial Pilot Licence
  • Airline Transport Pilot Licence (for captain)
Certifications
  • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
  • Class 1 Medical Certificate
  • Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)