News

Are you thrilled by the idea of earning your airline pilot’s license, but feel concerned by today’s current employment shortages? Did you know that due to the current and future pilot shortage, you can achieve greater success in getting an airline pilot job after flight school? In the content below, we answer common questions regarding the search for an airline piloting career upon completion of flight school.

What Jobs Can A New Airline Pilot Find?

Despite the amount of time it takes to become an airline pilot, you have multiple avenues to take with your flight career. Below are nine piloting fields you can explore.

Mainline Carrier

Your job as a mainline carrier will be to transport passengers to various destinations worldwide. Examples of mainline carrier companies include American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.

Low-Cost Carrier

Piloting for a low-cost carrier requires transporting passengers to destinations that are primarily domestic. Although, you may go to some international destinations for an airline that offers lower fares and fewer amenities. Examples of low-cost carrier companies include JetBlue Airlines, Spirit, and Southwest Airlines.

Regional Airline

Like a low-cost carrier, working for a regional airline involves passenger transport to domestic locations with an exception to a few international destinations. However, these smaller airlines operate “regionally” under more mainline brands and carriers. An example of regional airlines includes ExpressJet Airlines operating as American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express.

Cargo Carrier

As a cargo carrier pilot, you would transport cargo, mail, and packages worldwide. Therefore, you primarily work with larger companies such as FedEx, UPS, and USPS. This career proves especially beneficial if you prefer working during night hours as most deliveries and transports occur in the evening.

Military

While working with the military is a rewarding and adventurous experience, you must undergo additional screening, background checks, and assessments prior to securing a career in the field.

According to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA):

“In addition, you will undergo a disciplined flight training program that is essentially ‘immersion training,’ where you will focus exclusively on flight and academic training for months, or even in excess of a year. Following that, you will gain valuable flight experience, often in high-performance jet aircraft—again in an atmosphere of constant training. Additionally, every military flight involves some element of training or evaluation, even combat flights.”

Flight Instructor

If you enjoyed your experience with the flight instructors you encountered during flight school, you may have the opportunity to become a flight instructor. With this rewarding piloting career, you will teach other aspiring aviators and help them build their flight time. However, in this career, you must master how to explain to and instruct multiple types of learners.

Corporate Aviation

When beginning your piloting career in corporate aviation, you transport either passengers or cargo for various businesses or corporations by using a business jet. However, business jet pilots do have the expectation to remain flexible in their schedule and continually provide exceptional service to their private clients. As a result, this industry allows pilots to not only travel but also experience new destinations.

Charter Operation and Airline Taxi

Working with a charter operation or airline taxi, you experience shorter flight durations and operate on smaller airplanes. With this on-demand career, you no longer operate with a set schedule, but instead work as a “for-hire” pilot. As a result, you can accept tourist requests to see an aerial view of the land.

Government Service and Law Enforcement

After undergoing proper screening and background checks, this piloting career allows you to fly for state agencies like the governor’s office or state troopers. Additionally, if working with law enforcement, you can assist in flying border patrol missions, catching speeding drivers on interstates, and even locating growth facilities in forests.

How Hard is it to Find a Piloting Job?

As of 2019, there is a projected forecast that within the next twenty years, American alone will need 212,000 pilots. As a result, those who begin flight school now may experience an easier time securing a piloting position. Additionally, with so many careers to explore within the piloting and aviation industry, you have multiple options to consider if you have a hard time securing a career.

Is it Possible to Be a Part-Time Airline Pilot?

For those who need a more rigid working schedule but cannot work full-time, part-time piloting may be in your best interest. With part-time piloting, your primary employer assigns an hourly schedule for you to follow. However, according to ZipRecruiter, part-time piloting varies by company. Alternatively, you can explore other part-time positions for any of the careers we discussed earlier.

Begin Your Piloting Adventure with J.A. Flight Training

Are you ready to begin earning your piloting license? If now is the time for YOU to start flight school, start looking at next steps! J.A. Flight Training is conveniently based in Chicago’s western suburb, Sugar Grove. No matter which career path you follow, you can count on experiential learning with the most up-to-date equipment, flight simulators, and aircrafts available.

We are proud to offer world-class training that prepares our students for a successful future as a pilot through flexible classes and affordable programs. If you would like to receive more information about our flight training program, contact us today to get started on your new career path!

Do you dream about the thrill and adventure accompany being a commercial airline pilot? Do you wonder how long it would take to become an airline pilot? As long as you are at least 18 years old, you can begin working to obtain your private piloting license, a mandatory step prior to acquiring your commercial pilot license. In the content below, we discuss how long it takes to become an airline pilot and the process behind navigating piloting school.

What is the Amount of Time Needed to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot?

Completing commercial piloting school in the United States requires a mandatory 1,500 logged flight hours, not including time spent on the remainder of your required training. Therefore, completing everything needed to become a commercial airline pilot may take up to 30 months. Although this may seem like an excessive amount of time, piloting an airline plane requires a lot of knowledge and hands-on training.

How Long is the Entire Airline Training Program?

Typically, to acquire your commercial piloting license, you have two options: the traditional flight training and the accelerated flight program.

Traditional Flight Training

Generally, traditional commercial pilot training programs take between six months and a year to complete. However, keep in mind that this depends on the program you select as you can attend either part-time or full-time. Ultimately, the length of the program depends on how long it takes you to complete at least 80 hours of instructor time.

Accelerated Flight Training

Compared to traditional programs, accelerated commercial pilot training takes a fraction of the amount of time to complete. As a result, these programs range between 30 and 60 days on average, excluding your logged flight hours. Because of this program timeline, they require a more vigorous experience routine compared to a traditional program, often including instructor time beginning at 8:00 or 9:00 AM and lasting until 5:00 PM, five to seven days a week. This intense schedule ensures that students finish the program within the allotted time, but the pace can be stressful or overwhelming to some. However, the lack of day-long breaks between classes may help students better remember the materials.

Which Training Program is Best for Me?

Ultimately, it is important to know your own ability to study and react well to pressure. If you can handle, or even thrive, in a fast-paced, intensive learning environment then accelerated programs are worth the look. However, if you prefer having more time to learn the material, a traditional program may be your best option. Additionally, decide which program works best for your financial situation as some flight programs cost much more than others.

What Do You Do in Piloting Training?

When training to become a commercial pilot, you primarily undergo eight different phases. Below is an example of an airline training flight program.

Phase One: Learning Professional Cross-Country and Night Procedures

In this first phase, you acquire the necessary skill to navigate typical cross-country and night flying scenarios. Also, your training here will include cross-country planning and sectional charts.

Phase Two: Refining Navigation and Basic Maneuver Skills

Here, you take what you learned from phase one and develop it even further. Additionally, you will train on radio navigation, flight instruments, and airspace and weather minimums.

Phase Three: Building Cross-Country Experience

At this time, you begin studying and tracking weather, weight, and balance. Then, you will continue applying everything learned thus far with a cross-country and progress check.

Phase Four: Flying Complex Airplanes

As the beginning of stage two in your flight program training, you start studying and analyzing flight aerodynamics. Additionally, you continue to practice flight scenarios with complex airplane instruments and maneuvers followed by another progress check.

Phase Five: Flying Commercial Maneuvers

Now that you successfully completed the first half of your flight instruction training, you can begin training for airline aviation. In this phase, you continue learning about aircraft performance and commercial maneuvers. However, you also practice flight scenarios such as steep turns and spirals, emergency descent maneuvers, chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, and much more. At the end of this phase, you will undergo an additional progress check to ensure you know how to properly react in the above flight scenarios.

Phase Six: Preparing for Your Commercial Checkride

Finally, in this phase, you enter the final stage in your aviation training as you study flight operations and the tangible applications to such. You will review and improve your commercial maneuvers in addition to your cross-country training.

Phase Seven: Fine Tuning Your Skills

You are now at the second to last phase in your piloting program. At this time, you study and review the federal aviation regulations while honing in your commercial and cross-country flight maneuvers.

Phase Eight: Achieving Your Goal

You set out for airline piloting and are now almost there! With this final progress check reviewing your commercial maneuvers and checkride briefing, you can finally picture yourself in the cockpit, ready to transport commercial airline passengers to new adventures ahead.

Is Becoming an Airline Pilot Worth it?

If you have always taken interest in becoming a private pilot or airline pilot, then completing the training is certainly rewarding. However, some may wonder the additional benefits of piloting for a career.

Average Piloting Career Length

Pilots have a federally mandated retirement age of 65, which may seem off-putting for those closer to that age bracket. However, if you are in your twenties or thirties, you can have a great, long career ahead of you! If considering the employment retention of pilots, know that now is the best time to begin your career as the demand is higher than ever for pilots.

Explore Airline Pilot Careers

With a commercial pilot’s license, you can work for aviation industries other than commercial airlines that also come with rewarding salaries. Below are some additional airline piloting careers:

• Nonscheduled Air Transportation
• Ambulance Services
• Technical and Trade Schools (Private)
• Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation

Begin Your Piloting Adventure with J.A. Flight Training

If now is the time for YOU to start flight school, start looking at next steps!  J.A. Flight Training is conveniently based in Chicago’s western suburb, Sugar Grove. No matter which career path you follow, you can count on experiential learning with the most up-to-date equipment, flight simulators, and aircrafts available. We are proud to offer world-class training that prepares our students for a successful future as a pilot through flexible classes and affordable programs. If you would like to receive more information about our flight training program, contact us today to get started on your new career path!

All the snow has melted, birds are chirping, and the sun is shining. For weeks you’ve been anticipating the final melt so you can get your plane out, clean it up, and head back into the skies. Before you start cruising, don’t forget the most important part: checking your aircraft for maintenance essentials. After sitting in the hangar for months, your plane is likely going to need a thorough check through before getting in the air. What are the spring aircraft maintenance checklist essentials that you should go over this season?

Annual Aircraft Maintenance Checklist

Since it’s spring, you’re probably looking to perform an annual check on your plane before going wheels up again. You probably know the basics of an aircraft maintenance check, but a refresher is always beneficial to ensure safety.

Clean

A simple wash will not only make it look nice but clear out any dirt or debris that could clog up the functionality of the wings and tail.

On Paper

Just like a vehicle, make sure the registration is up to date. Look through the maintenance records to see what was performed recently, or if anything has been postponed. The records should detail a description of the work, the date, the certificate number and type of the mechanic, as well as their signature. This is especially essential regarding airworthiness directives (AD). These are set by the FAA and render the plane as not worthy for air until fixed or replaced.

Basics

Checking the oil and fuel are simple first steps. You wouldn’t drive your car without gas or with old oil, so don’t try to fly your plane that way either. Inspect the fuel and oil quality, making sure that there are no contaminants and be sure that the fuel and oil tubes are intact.

Look at the tires in case they’re low on air or have cracks. Make sure the brakes are working properly, and of course, do a proper walk around to inspect the aircraft for broken parts, damage, or wear and tear that could cause issues in the air. Look for any signs of corrosion as this causes many safety risks.

Safety

A fire extinguisher (unexpired) and first aid kit are necessary in case an emergency or injury happens.

Aircraft Maintenance Checklist Tests

Electrical functions are imperative to a successful flight. Check out the magnetos and generator. Are they working properly? Go through all the flight controls to ensure that everything is functioning well and there are no errors that pop up. The batteries might need to be replaced, so examine those as well as the mounting apparatus and leads. Make sure the radio, antenna, wiring, circuit breakers, and circuits are functioning safely.

Aircraft Maintenance Preflight Checklist

Commercial pilots are required by the FAA to perform a preflight check before each trip. This allows them to catch any maintenance issues or discrepancies and report them to maintenance. The issues will either be fixed immediately or later; in which case a new plane will then be needed for the current flight. The same goes for small plane pilots.

Exterior

Check for corrosion, dents, damage, dirt and ice. Test the operations of the landing gear doors, landing tear, wing flaps, tail fins, ailerons, rudder, stabilizer, and propeller. Make sure nothing is loose or damaged.

Interior

Here’s where detail becomes even more important. Check the fuel and oil pressure, radio settings and transponder code, health of the navigation instruments, operations of flight controls, database currency, and flight plan entry.

Types of Aircraft Maintenance

There are different forms of maintenance that can be performed by the pilot if they have proper FAA certifications, or by a licensed aviation maintenance technician.

Preventative Maintenance

This includes basic operations or small repairs. It’s like checking your vehicle for holes in tires, adding windshield wiper fluid, or replacing a worn-out band, except there is more detail and a certain certificate is required. Once this is obtained, a pilot can repair landing gear tires, service wheel bearings and shock struts, replace defective safety wires or cotter keys, replenish hydraulic fluid, replace safety belts, bulbs, reflectors, lenses, or spark plugs.

100-hour Inspection

This inspection is required for any plane that carries any person (other than a crew member) for hire or for aircraft that are provided for giving flight instruction for hire.

The person performing the inspection will check the fuselage and hull group for fabric and skin deterioration, defects in the system and components, and the condition of the gas bags. They will search for any loose equipment, damage, or deterioration of the windows and windshields, defects in the seats and safety belts, problems with the operation of the instruments and flight controls. They will also test batteries to ensure proper installation and charge.

The landing gear will be inspected carefully to check for improper fluid levels, excessive wear, improper operation, cracks in the wheels, improper adjustment in the breaks, and defects of the floats and skis.

The propeller will be checked for cracks, leaks, improper torqueing of bolts, and issues with the control mechanisms.

Finally, the radio group will be examined for any improper installation or mounting of equipment, improper routing, or poor condition of the antenna, shielding, or wiring and conduits.

Aircraft Maintenance at J.A. Air

At J.A. Air, we strive to be your aircraft maintenance experts! As you gave your plane a thorough inspection, did you find issues that need attention? Are there parts of your aircraft maintenance checklist that you might have forgotten to look over? Bring your aircraft to us and we’ll perform an in-depth inspection and repair and issues that have been found by you or us. We have a variety of parts on hand and our shop allows your aircraft to be serviced with limited downtime.

We also sell parts, supplies, and even planes! Don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your maintenance needs, questions, or if you’re looking to have a new avionics system installed. Or team is knowledgeable, licensed, and factory trained. We’re excited to work with you and get your plane ready to fly the skies in no time!

With the new year well under way, you might be considering career changes or additional schooling. Are you fascinated in aeronautical industries? Has flight school crossed your mind? If you have a passion for flying and wish to one day become a pilot, now is the perfect time to consider a career in aviation. Below, we discuss three top considerations as you decide when is the best time of year to start flight school.

Seasons and Inclement Weather

Is your local flight school currently amidst a wintery season or other period of inclement weather? Though it may sound contrary to popular belief, don’t let the weather or current season impact when you begin your enrollment process at flight school. The licensing path to becoming a pilot can take some time, ranging from 12 months as part of an accelerated program to 30 months in a traditional program. Regardless, any flight school program requires at least 250 hours of flight time which could include flying through multiple forecasts.

Furthermore, before even beginning to test your piloting skills in an actual cockpit, there are many precursor tasks, lessons, and flight trainings you must complete in the months prior. As a result, the time of year you enroll in will not have too much of an impact on your impending flight scheduling.

Your Pre-Commitments

Sometimes, your schedule or preferences revolve around seasons unrelated to weather. Your life may currently feel like you are in a season of balancing your work, home, and social responsibilities. Having a full schedule of commitments may cause your time at flight school to feel inundating. However, if you have the time and energy to commit to flight school, then this is the perfect time to begin the process of enrollment!

Current State of Finances

With receiving any format of higher education, cost of attendance always becomes a considerable deciding factor. Obtaining a commercial pilot’s license can cost a pretty penny without any form of financial aid. Therefore, if your existing funds cannot contribute to flight school, it’s best to wait until you accumulate enough savings to pay the remaining tuition that other financial aid cannot cover.

Begin Your Flight Training with JA Air

If now is the best time of year for YOU to start flight school, start looking at next steps!  J.A. Flight Training is conveniently based in Chicago’s western suburb, Sugar Grove. No matter which career path you follow, you can count on experiential learning with the most up-to-date equipment, flight simulators, and aircrafts available.

We are proud to offer world-class training that prepares our students for a successful future as a pilot through flexible classes and affordable programs. If you would like to receive more information about our flight training program, contact us today to get started on your new career path!

News Release

Media Contact: Ashtyn Rottinghaus
+1.316.617.7017
arottinghaus@txtav.com
txtav.com

Textron Aviation names four Cessna Pilot Centers as
2020 Top Hawks

WICHITA, Kan. (Feb.18, 2020) – Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today named four Cessna Pilot Centers (CPC) to its 2020 Top Hawk program that partners the world’s leading training aircraft with top pilot training programs around the country, promoting general aviation and encouraging young people to pursue aviation as a career. The 2020 Top Hawk participants are Academy of Aviation, Atlas Aviation, JA Flight Services and Snohomish Flying Service.

As a Top Hawk participant, each CPC receives a factory-new, custom-branded Cessna Skyhawk to use for the duration of the program for student pilot training and to promote pilot training at air shows, aviation contests and recruiting events. This is the first year that CPCs have been selected for the Top Hawk program. The company began deliveries of the aircraft to this year’s selected participants in February.

“The Cessna Pilot Centers are general aviation ambassadors and make a significant contribution in impassioning and training the next generation of pilots,” said Chris Crow, vice president, Textron Aviation Piston Sales. “CPCs are a natural extension of the Top Hawk program and are uniquely positioned to offer students access to both a proven flight training curriculum and the Cessna Skyhawk, the world’s most popular single-engine training aircraft.”

Throughout the past five years, Textron Aviation has provided 22 Cessna Skyhawks to participating Top Hawk schools around the country, training nearly 1,000 students to help fill the pipeline of skilled aviators. 

The Cessna Skyhawk platform is the world standard for pilot training and is renowned for offering the best combination of modern features, including the leading Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system with wireless connectivity, a standard angle-of-attack display system, and proven dependability. More Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world than any other type of aircraft, with more than 45,000 delivered.

###

About Textron Aviation Inc.

Textron Aviation Inc. is the leading general aviation authority and home to the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands, which account for more than half of all general aviation aircraft flying. The Textron Aviation brands represent unrivaled innovation, performance and leadership in the industry, and offer an unmatched value proposition rooted in the total ownership experience. Leveraging unparalleled speed-to-market, Textron Aviation provides the most versatile and comprehensive business and general aviation product portfolio in the world through five principal lines of business: business jets, general aviation and special mission turboprop aircraft, high performance piston aircraft, military trainer and defense aircraft and a complete global customer service organization. Textron Aviation has delivered more than 250,000 aircraft in over 170 countries. Its broad range of products include such best-selling aircraft as Citation business jets, King Air and Caravan turboprops and T-6 military trainer aircraft, all of which are backed by the industry’s most capable global service network. For more information, visit www.txtav.com

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

  

Making the commitment to enroll in an aviation school is a decision that can lead to great, unexpected adventures. As you decide which aviation school to attend and compare the various programs, you may have a hard time selecting the right one. Which program offers the best benefits? Should you choose a local facility? We hope to guide your decision-making process. Below, we discuss the benefits of learning to fly at a local or domestic aviation facility.

1. Accelerated Training Programs

Aviation schooling requires the commitment to learning. Through various programs, schools wish to help develop your skills. If you decide to attend a local or domestic school within the United States and have reliable transportation and housing, you may be able to enroll in an accelerated training program. With classes meeting five days a week from 9am to 5pm, this would reduce your overall time spent in the classroom and help you become a commercial or private pilot sooner. Typically, an accelerated program will complete training in 30 to 60 days, leaving students with flight hours to record and certifications to complete. For those who are ready to avoid an abundance of training and a year or more of schooling, this program might be best suited for you.

2. High Quality Training Fleets

The United States offers some of the top aviation training programs available worldwide. With a blend of both flight simulators and real aircraft training, students can obtain optimal flight competence.

Flight Simulators

Flight simulators are a great educational resource for aviation students. Before settling into the cockpit of an airplane, flight simulators prepare the student with what to expect in flight. With beneficial outcomes of learning how to properly utilize landing gear, understanding every button and switch in the cockpit, and adapting to weather conditions, students can safely receive hands-on experience while staying on the ground. Throughout the entire training program, flight simulators also aid maintaining skill proficiencies.

Aircrafts

As another benefit of learning to fly at a local and domestic aviation school, students have access to multiple airports for training, including controlled ATC (Air Traffic Control Tower) and uncontrolled non-ATC. Local programs expose students to various practical situations such as learning to fly at busier airports and safely practicing take-off and landing procedures at airports without ATC assistance. Most of the airports have other servicing facilities, making multiple domestic flights more practical.

Though the type of aircrafts used in aviation institutions are chosen with a degree of personal preference, safety is always priority. Local aviation institutions take pride in their top-notch programs, facilities, newest aircraft, and technologically advanced simulators. With exceptional aircrafts maintained by FAA Certified repair stations and service centers, you will find an efficient fleet supported by trusted and proven technicians. This creates the foundation for a world-class flight training school that prepares students for a successful future in piloting with flexible classes and affordable programs.

3. Geographical Familiarity

Whether you decide to train as a commercial or private pilot, you will likely direct a plane over international waters on several occasions outside of your logged flight requirements in training. However, learning to fly locally will extend your appreciation of the bird’s eye view over domestic land. When flying over astonishing landscapes such as the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon, you will be able to enjoy the views as you grow accustomed to domestic flight paths.

Initially Avoiding International Waters

When your aviation training transitions out of flight simulators and into true takeoff, in-flight, and landing procedures on aircrafts, you may be more comfortable doing so in a familiar geographical location. Attending a local flight school allows more time to grow confident with domestic flights before taking off to international locations.

Shorter In-Flight Distances

Since domestic flights remain within the country, your in-flight hours have a shorter duration. This allows you to continue practicing take-off and landing procedures as you gather your 50 hours of cross-country flight time prior to moving onto overseas destinations.

4. Weather Mastery

Though flight simulators help you grasp how to navigate various weather conditions, domestic flights across the United States allows you to physically experience multiple weather types. In sunshine states with consistent forecasts and reliable weather, you will learn in-flight basics. However, with all climates from snow to desert available in one country, you can quickly grow accustomed to turbulence brought by various forecasts. Especially during winter and spring seasons, this will allow you to learn how extreme a storm needs to be before canceling or delaying an unsafe flight.

5. Flexible Private and Commercial Pilot Programs

Learning to fly locally allows you to easily explore the programs for commercial and private piloting.

Commercial Pilot Aviation Programs

Becoming a commercial pilot allows for multiple piloting avenues. With a commercial pilot license, you can transport cargo, pilot tours, or even become a flight instructor! You will also be able to operate blimps and helicopters in addition to planes. Enrolling in a commercial pilot aviation program through a local institution prepares you for any piloting direction you wish to take.

Private Pilot Aviation Programs

A private pilot’s license allows you to fly non-commercial air crafts. Obtaining a private pilot license permits you to fly an aircraft for recreational purposes – however, you cannot pilot a commercial aircraft with passengers or cargo. For your benefit, you can travel domestically and abroad on your own and also apply to become a flight instructor. A private pilot aviation program also equips you with the skillset to navigate aircraft maintenance.

Aviation Training at Its Finest

Flying is not taught solely through classroom activity, requiring a significant amount of personalized mentoring. At J.A. Flight Training, we focus on equipping our future pilots with the best aviation certification through advanced training methods. All our ground and flight training sessions are completed one-on-one with your instructor. Regardless of your choice of aviation school, J. A. Air Center is here to help you with any questions or aviation needs. Contact us for more information about our pilot training programs.