What are the requirements to fly for American Airlines?

Becoming a pilot for American Airlines is not an easy feat and there are several things that you will need to fulfill before being considered for the post. Recruiting pilots to fly their planes is a very delicate issue that every big airline in America has very strict policies about. The following is a breakdown of the requirements, including education, flight hours, licenses, skills, and experience.

Education and Training So, to get an interview, you will need at least a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. There are certain requirements that the candidate should meet: he should have a degree in aviation or aeronautical science from an accredited university. It is important to have a degree because it communicates to employers that you are serious about a career in aviation and that you can handle your studies. If you do not have your degree in Aviation, then if you had good grades in mathematics and science courses, especially the hardest ones, it will work in your advantage.

As with other careers, you also need a bachelors degree and then flight training to acquire the necessary certificates and ratings. This is as a private pilot, a commercial pilot, and having received a multi-engine rating. The ATP license is also needed for all major airline first officers. Complaints about LSA and Part 23 Aircraft The LSA has received some criticism and here are some of them The LSA and Part 23 aircraft have also been associated with the following complaints: These aircraft have also been associated with the following complaints:

Some of the complaints that have been made regarding the LSA and Part 23 aircraft include Some of the benefits you will receive once you achieve 1,500 flight hours. Cadet pilot programs:

Depending on the rules set by American Airlines, you may get help with the payment or get money back for your flight training.

Flight Experience

The FAA has put into place regulations that enable the operation of airliner aircraft only under the possession of an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. In order to get license, ATP requires the candidate to be twenty-three years of age and have a minimum of one thousand five hundred flight hours. For these flight hours, American Airlines recommends the candidates have logged more than 100 hours as pilot-in-command in a multi-engine aircraft. They also expect candidates to have already held a commercial pilot instrument rating with a minimum of 250 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight experience.

Besides the certificated flight hours required by the FAA to obtain an ATP license, American Airlines seeks pilots who have flown similar kinds of aircraft to be used by the airline. For instance, relevant work exposure entails flying high-performance turbojets or turboprops like Bombardier CRJ or Embraer ERJ. This experience in advanced aircraft can be gained if you graduate from one of the United States' affiliated flight schools or cadet programs.

Medical Qualifications

Any pilot who is employed by a wire service needs to have an FAA First Class medical certificate. It is very demanding for the health, vision, hearing and physical fitness standards to meet this test. Certain diseases which may result in disqualification include cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, substance use disorders such as alcoholism or drug abuse, and neurological disorders. They require that you have 20/20 vision or the ability to obtain 20/20 vision with the help of corrective lenses.

To retain a first-class medical, even if it is a limited one, you have to take an aviation medical examination annually if you are under forty years of age. That’s every 6 months for those who are 40 years old and over. Of course, the health requirements are very demanding, so it is important to always be in good physical and mental condition during your career in aviation.

Citizenship Requirements

American Airlines states that to join them as an airline pilot, you must be a U.S. citizen. It is possible to be either a ‘native-born’ or a ‘naturalized’ citizen, and, as such, there is no set age beyond which one can be designated as a ‘naturalized’ as opposed to a ‘native-born’ U. S. citizen. If you are a holder of dual citizenship, you should be willing to give up your non-U.S. citizenship. In some cases, there are grounds for hiring non-citizens, especially in certain flight schools or ab initio training programs. But ultimately, non-U. In other words, U.S. citizens cannot fly for American Airlines or any of the major passenger airlines.

Background Checks

As for me, I like that all the pilots have to go through a thorough FBI criminal records check for at least the last 10 years to work for American Airlines or any other commercial flight. Some of the tests may involve taking fingerprints for biometric purposes. Any conviction of a felony, certain misdemeanants, or other misdemeanants within the last ten years will likely lead to disqualification. If you have any other case against you, it is advisable that you tell the airline this before they run your background check.

Age Requirements

As for the current mandatory retirement age for all Part 121 airline pilots, it is already set at 65 years old. Many of these airlines prefer to employ candidates between 20 and 30 years of age who are willing and able to serve their tenure of 30+ years. American Airlines is known to have a specific candidate age limit, which is 52 years at most, given the circumstances. But they may offer age waivers where a candidate meets specific criteria; for instance, a learner with a compelling reason not to join the ABC company at the legal age may be offered an age waiver. For example, those with past employment in a corporate or military environment who move to airlines later in their career may be granted such age waivers.

Cognitive Health & Piloting Capability

Moreover, the medical standards are very rigorous, and in addition to that, pilots are expected to have excellent mental malleability, excellent problem-solving ability, good concentration, and the ability to navigate complex flight patterns with precision. All airline candidates are required to undergo an examination of an analytical type; there are two stages of a computer-based aptitude test. The first test is commonly known as the AT-SAT. If you are a successful candidate in terms of passing the test, then you will be privileged to a full simulator checkup.

During their entire working period, pilots are exposed to at least regular proficiency checks on advanced flight training devices. The former includes the specific hand-flying capacity, while the latter includes checks on the systems of an aircraft. Stress interviews may target testing subjects’ emotional stability, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the face of stress.

Upgrade Progression Opportunities

First officers or co-pilots at American Airlines receive an average yearly wage of $79,394 but can earn as little as $54,387 or as much as $109,537 based on longevity and aircraft type. Promotion to captain can lead to wages of $162,000–$269,737 per year. Experience-based pay remains steady as a skipper moves up the ranks with his or her company.

After accumulating flying hours necessary for the first officer, he/she can apply for a possible captain position that makes him or her join the upgrade training for the position. It also means those check rides help pilots transition from first officer to airline captain. This means that those first officers who have served their companies for a longer time are the ones that get the priority to upgrade first. As shown by its past safe flying and formative record, American has the mission of helping motivated pilots reach their next level.

This is a summary of the key qualifications needed before one is considered for a pilot’s position at American Airlines. For instance, the requirements for becoming a first officer or commercial pilot include possession of a bachelor's degree, certain flight training, flight hours of not less than 1500 hours, first-class medical fitness, U.S. citizenship, a clean criminal record, as well as passing complicated FAA and airline tests. Thus, reasonable and goal-oriented skills, accompanied by hard work and professionalism, will guide you towards this fascinating dream of flying for a living.

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