Explore the licenses you need for a career in the sky or on the ground
Do you like airplanes and want to be a part of the industry? There are a lot of ways to launch an aviation-related career. Whether through a pilot-training school, a flight attendant program, or an airplane mechanics degree, you can find the education and training you need to get started.
Check out the information we have provided here and explore the options.
Aviation jobs vary widely in requirements and salary. Often this is dependent on the size of the plane one is working on.
Typical
Requirements
Program
Length
Average
Cost
Average
Salary (yearly)
A & P License
1.5-2.5 years
$41,000
$50,000-$100,000
Certification
4-6 weeks
$3,500-$5,000
~ $60,000
Pilot’s License
+ Flight Hours
4+ years
$4,000-$20,000
~ $130,000
The path to become a pilot depends on what kind of aircraft you want to fly, and what you want to transport. You can learn more about the different types of licensure from the Federal Aviation Association.
United Aviate Academy – This is a private program run by United Airlines, so it does charge tuition. UA does have a partnership with Chase bank to provide financial aid to students from low income backgrounds, which includes scholarships and loans.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website provides great resources for future pilots, including training manuals, study guides and several FAA recommended pilot training programs.
Flight attendant training programs usually take place after a successful interview process. Interview processes vary by airline, so you’ll need to do some research to know what to expect and how to prepare.
Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant program – View the link for information about the work of Southwest Airlines flight attendants and how their highly-regarded training program works. You will also find info on how to apply.
Looking for more?
Check out more career opportunities at Southwest
American Airlines Flight Attendant training – Click the link and scroll down to find info about the application and interview process and how the training program works. One bonus about being a flight attendant with American is free travel!
There is so much to learn about what makes a plane fly, what keeps it in the air, and how it lands. The industry needs intelligent, highly capable students like you to learn the mechanics of flight and to engineer solutions to problems as they arise.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website has a useful portal which can provide for you a list of FAA recommended airplane mechanics training programs in your area. Click on the link and enter in your location and click search to see what’s available.
Lewis University in Romeoville, IL., has a highly regarded pilot training program, as well as other opportunities to get involved in the aviation industry. Click the link to request more information.
Check out the 10-week Aviation Mechanics certification program at Olive-Harvey College to learn the basics and to get started. Upon completion of the basic certificate, students will be eligible to take the FAA General portion of the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician certification exam.
Also, if you are a Junior in high school, check out Olive-Harvey’s basic certificate in Aviation Maintenance pre-college program. This is a great way to get college credits while in high school and to set yourself up to work at one of the major Chicagoland airports after HS graduation!
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