How old do you have to be for any major airline to take you seriously for a piloting job?

Don't listen to the first two... There are many regional airline pilots under the age of 20. You have to be at least 18, because you need a commercial pilot's license, and that requires you to be 18 years old. You can't upgrade to captain until you are 23, as that is the minimum age for an airline transport pilot license. (you also need 1500 total hours for that.) Aside from that, your age shouldn't be even considered as a criteria for being hired. At least not directly. If you have very little employment history up to this point, that may be a hurdle, as someone with a solid employment history is more qualified than someone who has never held a job. You stand a decent chance at being hired at a regional airline after completing a course like the one you described. If, when you say "major" airline, you mean the "big" guys flying 737s and larger, then no, you need to build more experience before getting hired there. But a company that operates 50-seat regional jets will certainly look at you. My company, for example, requires only 600 total hours and 100 multi-engine hours, and they will consider you with less than that, depending on their needs and your other qualifications. One of the pilots in my class had 300 total hours with less than 50 multi engine hours. He proved himself in the interview and simulator, so they hired him. Long story short, the airlines desperately need pilots right now, and you no longer need thousands of hours to get your foot in the airline door. Good luck! It's not an easy path, but it's a lot of fun!

Nigel....you are so far off on your answer..you need vectors to get you back on course. Go for it, there are alot of young men and women who are under the age of 21 sitting right seat on ERJ and CRJ type aircraft. While it is true you will have to work hard to get some time and your certificates, it is not as far of a reach as alot of people will lead you to believe. If you start straight out of high school like i did you can be captain by 24..I made captain when I was 25 on a Learjet...Not a huge beast...but still a jet....so...go for it...reach for the stars....don't look back... There are alot of people on here that don't know about aviation that are trying to answer questions they know nothing about. Be cautious, I'm not saying everyone is wrong (for those of you who are right). Jonathan S ATP-LRJET,HS-125 CFI/AGI

You talking to COMAIR (Delta)?? I don't know if I'd trust these people. If you're thinking about flight school.. how about you join the NAVY...do some enlisted time...then get the NAVY to pay for your college..as a fleet input.. Or..Go to a college with an Naval ROTC program..join NROTC...express your interest in flight..get a commission and go to flight school... I was suggesting to be careful with some of these schools because for example.. The Delta Program wanted me to pay them close to $100K and then I had to be a CFI for them for 2 years (paying me $12/hour) before they would guarantee me an interview for a CRJ seat.. That's why I suggested going military. Dude.. I love flight. It is a huge dream of mine, I'd quit my job right now and fly for free if that's what it took..I'm just saying..be careful, there are a lot of crazy places out there that promise big promises and in the end you end up short on hours, certifications, sitting around because they don't have any planes to take you up on a needed lesson, etc.. Just do your homework. If you can do it w/o going the Mili route, then don't joint the military. I suggested that..cause it's great training and it's free..(you just have to be qualified)..that's the kicker. Good Luck man. Don't let time pass by though..trust me..time flies and you don't want to lose out. Congrats to the other real-pilots on here who were able to meet their dreams. Here are a couple of sites I found to be helpful. http://www.pilotjourney.com/option,com_smf/Itemid,281/ http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/school/index.cfm

Nick S and Captain J are correct. There is a pilot shortage! You may not even need a four year degree in the near future(but get it anyway, flying might not work out and it's good to have a plan B) The only thing I would add. Is there a school closer to home that maybe you could live at home to help save money? There are many FAA approved schools around the country. Also in this week Wall Street Journal and this months Flying mag. there are articles talking about the pilot shortage: Pinnacle Airlines having trouble finding pilot candidates,American Eagle lowering requirements to 500 hrs. total time 100 hrs. multi engine etc. Go for it and don't ever let anyone say you can't do it.

I'm with a major university in Arizona going to flight school. (pretty easy to figure out). After we're done with our four years here, we end up with a commercial ticket and about 300-400 hours and an opportunity for a job with a large regional airline. In three years i will be flying CRJ's. Basically, its the hours that any airlines are looking for not age. And there's a huge pilot shortage that's happening right now. If you have enough hours and you present yourself in the right way, any one will take you seriously. Good Luck!

You have to be 18 years old to be able to get a Commercial Pilot's License. But you need to find a way to get your CPL and that is usually through flying schools, or if you enlist in the army. Usually, major airlines won't hire such a young person, but by the time you try out for a major airline you have to accumulate a lot of flying hours; that will probably take you a year. I have never heard of major airlines hiring 18 year olds, so I advise you to get more experience in a couple of years and then try to apply for major airlines. During those years, you will be more experienced and more mature, and those two factors might enable you to be hired by a major airline.

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The intro of jetuniversity doesn't sound great... I don't recommend them