How Much Do Commercial Pilots Make?
Considering a career as a commercial pilot and wondering how much do they make? If you’re interested in working as a charter, airline, or cargo pilot, you can expect an impressive $80,000 annually as an entry-level pilot. Senior captain’s pay may run greater than $280,000. If these amounts pique your interest, read on for how the P3 Program at Paragon Flight can jump-start your ambitions.
The P3 Program, also known as the Professional Pilot Program, is geared toward ambitious candidates who’d like to begin from scratch or a Private Pilot License (PPL) and speed their way toward an occupation in the cockpit. We blend skill mastery on an accelerated timetable and professional growth, and we help find the appropriate financial resources for this program. Ultimately, program graduates will be commercially licensed pilots with flight instructor credentials in fewer than 10 months. Keep reading if you wonder how we manage this speed without sacrificing quality.
The P3 Timetable – One Step at a Time
The Professional Pilot Program breaks training down into manageable steps. Candidates still need to be driven and hard-working, but they can do it.
Weeks 0-10 – Private Pilot License (PPL) – This first step is the foundation for all future aviation training. We’ll ensure that you learn the basics of aviation and aircraft and develop good habits. If you’re already a Private Pilot, you’ll simply omit this phase and head directly to the second phase.
Weeks 11-18 – Instrument Flight Rating (IFR) – This stage of the training concentrates on learning to fly safely while using communications and navigational tools in IFR conditions. As a professional pilot, you’ll need these skills regularly. Without them, your career will be a non-starter.
Weeks 19-30 – Commercial License, Single Engine and Multi-Engine (CSEL/CMEL) – The third phase will get to the nitty-gritty of commercial flight, ensuring that pilots master every element to perform professionally in single-engine and multi-engine aircraft. Without this license, any pilot getting paid is breaking the law. You must have this license to be compensated as a pilot.
31-38 Weeks – Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) – The last stage of the P3 Program trains commercial pilots to train others. You’ll be able to share your passion and skills while perfecting your craft, making a living, and accruing the hours needed to apply for future positions.
It’s important to remember that to apply as an airline pilot, you will need an ATP Certification (Airline Transport Pilot) and 1,500 hours of documented flight time. You can log these hours while operating as a flight instructor. What’s more, Paragon Flight will look more agreeably on your application for a flight instructor position when you graduate from our P3 Program because we’re well aware of your capabilities, having trained and evaluated you ourselves.
Ready to apply? You’ll need to meet a few qualifications. You must be at least 18 years old with a diploma or GED, a strong English user (written and verbal), and available full-time to participate. In addition, we request a professional and personal character recommendation, a transparent background check/FAA record/MVR record, a completed behavioral/cognitive evaluation, and a 1st Class Medical.
Click here or call (239) 747-0056 to learn more about the P3 program at Paragon Flight and become a professional pilot now that you have an idea how much they make.
