If you have decided to become a pilot, we are here to tell you that it can be a life-altering experience. Flying passengers across the globe with an office above the clouds (not to forget the spectacular views!) can be a job that is hard to beat. And if you have just qualified as a pilot, we know that the route to get your Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is not easy. You might be thinking about how to build hours as a pilot.
This blog will dive into this very topic.
1. Attend Your Flight Training Sessions
And we mean all of them! As a student, this is your primary source of accumulating flight time. You can build flight hours by attending each of the flight training sessions at your chosen pilot training school. This is because the amount of time you spend operating an aircraft with your certified flight instructor (CFI) is considered real flight time. This also includes the time you spend in flight simulator training, for as long as the simulator is local civil aviation authority certified and an instructor is present. Each flight with CFI contributes to your experience and fulfills the training requirements for various pilot certificates.
If you are serious about pilot time building, you have to commit to attending each scheduled flight lesson. Consistency is key to building flight hours at a streamlined rate.
2. Become a Certified Flight Instructor
The fastest way to build flight hours is to become a certified flight instructor. This is not just a great way to explore a different path in the aviation field, but you get to give back to the aviation community as well. After all, flight instructors play a crucial role in training the next generation of aviators, and the hours they spend instructing count toward their total flight time.
Of course, you have to meet certain requirements to be eligible. The number of flight hours may depend on the type of flight instructor course you’re applying to. For example, a flight instructor course may require applicants to have 250+ flight hours while a synthetic flight instructor (SFI) course calls for at least 1,000.
3. Volunteer for a Charitable Cause
If you are thinking how to build 1500 flight hours and have not thought about using your skills for a noble cause, you are missing out! Volunteering your skills for a charitable cause can be a fulfilling and productive option. In fact, many nonprofits and charities, especially those in medical transport, disaster relief, and wildlife conservation efforts, are always searching for talented pilots.
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These flights often require dedication and flexibility, as they can arise on short notice in response to specific needs. Keep meticulous records of your volunteer flight hours, including the purpose of each mission and the organization you supported.
4. Join a Flight Club
Pilot time building can be stressful. You are always on the hunt for finding the fastest way to build flight hours. If you are looking for a community of fellow aviators and opportunities to build flight hours, joining a flight club can be an excellent choice. This can help you in two ways. First, flight clubs provide a supportive environment where you can connect and share experiences with other pilots. Second, you have access to aircraft for personal use and training.
Look for clubs in your region and sign up to be a member of one.
5. Become an Air Tour Pilot
When you are thinking about how to build 1500 flight hours, why not look for jobs that only demand 200 hours of flying time. Enter air tour pilot. Air tour pilots fly passengers over scenic routes, whether in urban areas or over places with natural beauty. This can be one of the more fun pilot jobs for a low hour pilot if you are a people person.
One skill this job demands is that you have to be a people person. Your passengers, who will mostly be tourists, are looking for a good time and some memorable photo opportunities. As their pilot, you have a chance to showcase all the best sights plus share interesting stories and the history of the areas you are flying over. As a bonus, wherever you choose to work, you know it will be somewhere with a view that others are paying to see.
6. Aerial Surveying/Mapping
An effective way to build flight hours is to partake in aerial surveys or mapping. Both these activities use fixed and rotary-wing aircraft to collect various geographical information about a designated region from the air.
On your way to increase your pilot time building, you will also learn some new skills. In an instance where there is no engineer available on board, part of your job as an aerial surveyor will be to operate the imaging and other equipment yourself, so computer and technical skillsets can be helpful. As an aerial surveyor, you will use technology like calibrated aerial cameras, laser scanners, magnetometers, radar, and hyperspectrometers to position the hardware in/on the aircraft properly. You will also be required to fly a specific route at an exact altitude to meet the survey's needs successfully. An advantage of this type of pilot job is that it helps pilots to practice and enhance their precision and instrument flying skills.
7. Tow a Glider
When thinking about how to build flight hours, why not go for a glider tow pilot? Being a glider tow pilot is also easy because most employers ask for a private pilot certificate and a logbook of at least 100 hours to qualify for this role. Training must include just three tows as the sole control manipulator.
To maintain currency, glider pilots must make three tow flights under the supervision of a qualified tow pilot in each twelve-month period. If you have a PPL and are thinking about what you can do with a private pilot license, there are many areas to explore.
8. Become a Skydive Jump Pilot
Skydiving is a bucket list item for many. But before the jumpers make their breathtaking dive, they need a pilot to get them and their gear up in the air. This is where you come in. A good way to build flight hours is to become a skydiving jump pilot. It is typically a low-hour pilot job. But you get to be part of someone's memorable experience.
As a skydive jump pilot, you need to maintain altitude and airspeed even while jumpers climb out on the wing struts and create drag. Since jump pilots do roughly two takeoffs and landings per flight hour, you will quickly perfect those skills as well. But it is a good way to answer that question in your head, ‘how to build flying hours?’
9. Part 135 Pilot Jobs
If you are worried about how to build hours as a pilot, then there are options for Part 135 jobs. These jobs cover a variety of opportunities such as charter flights, commercial flights, and cargo flights. Working in these positions allows you to gain valuable experience in different aviation operations, increase your pilot hour building, and develop your skills in real-world situations.
The one hitch with these jobs is that they are typically location-specific and would require living near their base of operation. Another issue is that most of these jobs will require 500 or more hours, with few open to less than 500.
10. Aircraft Ferrying
When thinking about how to build 1500 flight hours, don't forget to add aircraft ferrying to the list. Aircraft ferrying offers pilots an effective way to build flight hours as they deliver aircraft from manufacturers. This provides valuable cross-country flight experience, enhancing pilots’ skills and versatility.
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You can provide ferrying services to flying schools or aircraft owners. Exposure to a variety of aircraft types and navigational difficulties further enhances your flying experience.
How to Become a Pilot?
Most countries have their own rules and regulations regarding pilot eligibility, but some of the rules are universal. It is always better to dive into the details of how to become a pilot to have a full view of all the important facets.
To give you an idea, you must obtain a To become a pilot, you need to meet the eligibility criteria, get a Class 2 medical certificate, join a flight school, complete ground training, accumulate necessary flight hours, pass theoretical and practical exams, and acquire the required pilot licenses like a Private Pilot License (PPL) or Commercial Pilot License (CPL) to fly commercially; depending on your chosen path, you may need further training for an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) to fly for major airlines.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about how to build 1500 flight hours, one sure way to impress airline employers is to show your dedication to flying. You can always go for alternative routes to increase your pilot hour building and gain employment in one of the numerous pilot jobs available.
Happy flying!
