Southwest airlines pilot salary: Southwest Airlines Pilot Salary | Salary.com

Опубликовано: January 5, 2023 в 6:38 pm

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Категории: Miscellaneous

Southwest Airlines Hiring Requirements| Pilot Information

If you plan to apply for job openings at Southwest Airlines Lines, you should first familiarize yourself with Southwest’s hiring requirements and pay so you can maximize your airline career. Skills, experience, and hours logged impact wages for both captain and first officer positions, therefore it is wise to always compare entry level pilot salary to the average to get a better idea of the rewards and opportunities provided through Southwest Airlines careers. How much do pilots earn is usually the first question applicants ask, but these jobs offer benefits beyond the pay, which is why you need to research everything from hiring requirements to income to other perks of the job.

Type of airline: U.S. Passenger

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

Hubs: Operating bases in: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, Denver, Houston-Hobby, Las Vegas, Oakland (CA), Orlando, Phoenix-Sky Harbor and focus cities: Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Nashville, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose (CA), St. Louis, and Tampa with service to 100 destinations.

Origin: The company was founded in 1967 and began operations in 1971.

Values:

  • Live the Southwest Way: Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart, Fun LUVing Attitude
  • Work the Southwest Way: Safety and Reliability, Friendly Customer Service, Low Costs

What are the hiring requirements for Southwest Airlines careers?

 

General Requirements:

  • Certificates/Ratings: U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. Unrestricted U.S. ATP
  • Age: Must be at least 23 years of age.
  • Flight Experience: 2,500 hours total or 1,500 hours Turbine total.  Additionally, a minimum of 1,000 hours in Turbine aircraft as the Pilot in Command* is preferred. Southwest considers only Pilot time in fixed-wing aircraft. This specifically excludes flight simulator, WSO, RIO, FE, NAV, EWO, etc. “Other Time” will not be considered.
  • Currency: Experience should include actively flying two of the last five years.
  • FCC Radiotelephone Operator Permit.
  • Medical: Must possess a current FAA Class 1 Medical Certificate. Must pass FAA mandated Drug Test.
  • Authorization to work in the United States: Must have established authorization to work in the United States.Must possess a valid United States Driver’s License and a valid passport or a Refugee Travel Document.
  • Education: graduation from accredited, four-year college preferred.
  • Letters of Recommendation: At least three letters from any individuals who can attest to the pilot’s flying skills, by having observed him/her over a sustained period of time.*PIC for this purpose is defined as Captain/Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls. For military personnel, Southwest Airlines will allow flight time logged as “Pilot in Command” (PIC) only if you are the Captain/Aircraft Commander, Evaluator, or Instructor Pilot. Primary time will only be considered PIC on a specific aircraft after an individual upgrades to Aircraft Commander n the appropriate aircraft. Time logged as “Other Time” will not be considered.Military Conversion: Military Pilots may convert flight time by adding .3 hours per sortie.

Physical Abilities:

  • Must be able to lift and move 40 lbs.

Skills, abilities, knowledge, work style:

  • Be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines.
  • Must be at least 23 years of age at the time of hire.
  • Ability to read, speak, write and understand the English language.
  • Be able to read documents, follow instructions, listen, comprehend and repeat detailed lengthy instructions, and understand and retain procedures, rules and regulations.
  • Must successfully complete initial and recurrent training programs, proficiency checks, and evaluation period.
  • Be aware of hazardous situations and be able to handle emergencies as needed.
  • Must be alert to moving equipment on the ramp and other aircraft in the air.
  • Able to work under tight time constraints to accomplish quick (15 to 20 minute) turns of aircraft.
  • Possess excellent interpersonal skills and be able to effectively communicate information verbally, face to face, over public address systems, via radio, and other communication equipment.
  • Be able to comply with company attendance standards and work rules, as described in labor agreements and/or established guidelines.
  • Ability to work well with others as part of a team, meet the public and work under stressful situations.
  • Ability to work rotating shifts, and or overtime and travel on a constant basis.
  • Must maintain a well-groomed appearance as per Company standards.

Other:

  • Applicants who have a B737 Type Rating must not have limitations other than “B-737 CIRC.APCH.-VMC ONLY” documented on their certificate.

So, exactly how much can I earn as a Southwest pilot?

Here is a sampling of Southwest pilot hourly wages. Pilot pay changes based on various factors, such as type of plane, years of experience, etc. For instance, this is for the Boeing 747.

First Officer Captain
Starting: $84/hr Starting: $241/hr
Average: $171/hr Average: $1256/hr
Top: $191/hr Top: $274/hr

Homepage: Southwest Airlines

Contact Information
Phone: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792)
Southwest Careers: Overview

We have tried to provide the most accurate information here regarding hiring requirements for commercial airlines, we encourage you to contact the airline you’re interested in working for directly to verify employment requirements. Learn how much you can earn as a pilot, and learn exactly how to become a pilot. We wish you great success as an airline pilot and hope you land your dream job! Before you fill out that job application, you will need flight training. If you are interested in pursuing a flying career with Southwest Airlines and are interested in receiving your training at our flight school in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, please contact us today!

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Airline Pilot Salary – How Much Do Pilots Make? [in 2022]

Nearly all pilots choose the career because of their love for flying, but the above-average pilot salary is a nice bonus.

But if you’re considering becoming an airline pilot, you’re likely wondering, “how much do pilots make?”

In this post, you’ll learn what a pilot salary looks like and discover just how much you could earn as a commercial airline pilot.

Right now is one of the best times in history to become a pilot. Pilot salaries have been increasing year after year as more and more people are flying and fewer people are entering this job field.

Whether you’re still in high school trying to choose a career or later in life considering a career change, an airline pilot career may be a great option for you.

Table Of Contents

  1. How is a Pilot’s Salary Calculated?
  2. Factors That Determine Airline Pilot Salary
  3. Airline Pilot Salaries
  4. Commercial Pilot Salary – A Timeline
  5. Sample Airline Pilot Salaries for Regional Airlines
  6. Current Airline Bonuses 2023
  7. Do Airline Pilots Receive Signing Bonuses?
  8. Commercial Airline Pilot Benefits
  9. Do Airline Pilots Make More with Overtime Pay?
  10. How Long Can an Airline Pilot Work?
  11. Do Airline Pilots Belong to Unions?
  12. International Pilot Salaries vs US Pilot Salaries
  13. Pilot’s Minimum Guarantee
  14. Will Pilot Pay Continue to Increase?
  15. Pilot Salaries for other Commercial Pilot Jobs
  16. How Much Do Pilots Make – Conclusion

How is a Pilot’s Salary Calculated?

Airline pilots don’t necessarily get paid a “salary”. Instead, pilots are paid per flight hour. Meaning a pilot is only paid while their airplane is running. As of May 2021, the median annual earnings for airline pilots was $202,180. But if you’re researching this as a possible career there is a lot more to consider than just the national average.

A pilot’s salary is calculated by multiplying the number of flight hours by their hourly rate. For example the year 1 pay rate for an Envoy first officer is $90 per hour. If the pilot flies 84 hours that month they’ll receive $7,560. Plus, they’ll receive a per diem.

A per diem is pay they receive for time away from base and is meant to cover food and other expenses while on the trip. It generally ranges between $1.50 and $3 per hour. So if a pilot is away from base for 15 hours and their per diem was $2.25 they would receive $33.75.

In order to ensure pilots are not overworked, airline pilots are limited to 1,000 flight hours per year.

It’s important to note that there are other benefits to working for an airline beyond the pilot salary, but we’ll get into that later.

Factors That Determine Airline Pilot Salary

Just like any other career, an airline pilot salary varies depending on a variety of factors. Each airline sets its pay rates based on the contracts it signs. These rates may be based on many different inputs.

Years of Experience

Years of experience is a key factor in the hiring of all commercial pilots, not just airline pilots. While the hiring at the airlines is based on experience, the offers for compensation are set by the contracts the airline has signed with their pilots. In relation to other commercial airline pilot opportunities, experience may dictate the amount of pay you are offered.

For example: A small corporation is looking to hire a commercial pilot for their multi-engine airplane and has two pilots pursuing the same job. One flew for 5 years for a banner tow company in an American Champion Citabria, and the other was a contractor for 5 years and has flown a variety of single-engine and multi-engine aircraft. The contractor will likely receive a higher offer as he/she has flown in a wider variety of aircraft and has more overall experience.

Total Flight Hours

As mentioned earlier pilot salaries are paid on an hourly basis, specifically per flight hour. Logically this means that pilots who fly monthly schedules with higher flight times are going to get paid a larger amount.

Aircraft Type

The airlines pay their pilot’s different hourly rates depending on which aircraft they fly. As a general rule, the larger the aircraft, the higher the hourly rate.

In 2022, an American Airlines 737 first officer with 3 years of experience will be paid $161 per hour while a 777 first officer with 3 years of experience will be paid $198 per hour.

You get to pick your monthly schedule of hours as well as the airplane you fly based on your seniority number (which is an essential aspect of being an airline pilot, as we have discussed in other blog posts. ) As your seniority number improves, you have more say in which aircraft and schedule you fly.

How Pilot Salaries were Calculated Here

All of the pilot pay listed on this page is based on a few important details. Due to the variable rate of pilot pay it’s difficult to give an exact estimate on how much you’ll earn as an airline pilot.

All pay listed here is assuming 75 hours of flight time per month or 900 hours per year. Many pilots will fly more than this. The pay listed here also doesn’t include any per diem a pilot receives over the course of the year which could amount to more than $7,000 in a year.

Airline Pilot Salaries

Major Airline Captain Salaries

Note that airline pay changes regularly.

A commercial pilot salary will vary based on the aircraft they fly. Where available, we’ve included the plane associated with the listed pay.

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 12
Alaska 737 $203,400 $210,600 $239,400
American Airlines 737 $256,000 $264,150 $279,000
Delta Airlines A320 $235,800 $243,000 $257,400
Frontier Airlines $177,300 $200,700 $235,800
Hawaiian Airlines A321 $227,700 $234,900 $247,500
JetBlue Airways A320 $221,400 $233,100 $254,700
Southwest Airlines 737 $216,900 $227,700 $246,600
Spirit Airlines A320 $175,500 $198,900 $234,000
United Airlines 737 $234,000 $241,200 $254,700

Current as of November 2022

Major Airline First Officer Salaries

Most major airlines are hiring first officers from a regional airline. As you can see, these pilot salaries start out quite low and in many cases, they start lower than the captain pay at the regional airlines. So pilots who make the jump are taking a small pay decrease.

In the past few months, many major airlines have started announcing bonuses for pilots who move from a regional carrier to a major so the pilot salaries listed under year 1 in the table below will likely increase significantly in the next couple of years for most major airlines.

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 12
Alaska 737 $83,700 $141,300 $161,100
American Airlines 737 $81,000 $152,100 $171,000
Delta Airlines A320 $82,800 $149,400 $168,300
Frontier Airlines $67,500 $125,100 $156,600
Hawaiian Airlines A321 $72,900 $144,900 $171,900
JetBlue Airlines A320 $84,600 $149,400 $170,100
Southwest Airlines 737 $75,600 $147,600 $171,900
Spirit Airlines A320 $54,900 $123,300 $154,800
United Airlines 737 $81,900 $154,800 $173,700

Current as of November 2022

Pilot salaries posted above do not include sign-on bonuses or other benefits.

Commercial Pilot Salary – A Timeline

It goes without saying – pilot salaries are at their lowest at the beginning of your career and highest towards the end. Before beginning your path towards a career as an airline pilot, it’s important to understand how much you will be making throughout your entire career.

The figures above are based on averages across different airlines but can give you a good idea of the airline pilot salary you can be expecting as your career progresses. It’s also worth noting that the timeline above is stretched out a little longer than what some would experience.

With the current pilot shortage the world is experiencing, some pilots have found the move from a regional airline to a major airline even faster.

For example, prior to Covid many regional airline pilots made it to the majors after only 3-5 years.

You probably noticed that at a couple of spots on the graph, pilot salaries drop, particularly when you jump from being a regional airline pilot to a pilot for a major airline. This does not necessarily mean you get a drop in pay.

As an incentive for pilots to start at a new airline, sign-on bonuses are sometimes distributed. You would technically earn more money during your first year due to that sign-on bonus.

Sample Airline Pilot Salaries for Regional Airlines

Regional Airline Captain Salaries

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 12
Air Wisconsin CRJ200 $72,900 $85,500 $98,100
Endeavor Air CRJ200 $81,900 $89,550 $105,300
Envoy Air CRJ700 $131,400 $144,900 $168,300
Horizon Air $72,900 $82,800 $99,900
Mesa Airlines CRJ900 $135,000 $147,600 $170,100
Piedmont Airlines ERJ 145 $131,625 $145,125 $168,750
PSA Airlines $135,000 $148,500 $172,125
Republic Airways $81,000 $89,100 $104,400
Skywest Airlines CRJ200 $126,000 $142,200 $172,800

Current as of November 2022

Regional Airline First Officer Salaries

Few pilots remain first officers at regional airlines for very long. Most will become a captain at a regional airline within a few years and then from there, move to a major airline. This is why some pilot salaries aren’t listed for year 5 and beyond.

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 8
Air Wisconsin CRJ200 $54,000 $54,000
Endeavor Air CRJ200 $46,800 $60,300
Envoy Air CRJ700 $81,000 $97,200 $97,200
Horizon Air $43,200 $53,100
Mesa Airlines CRJ900 $90,000 $99,000 $99,000
Piedmont Airlines ERJ 145 $81,000 $97,200 $97,200
PSA Airlines CRJ $87,750 $100,575 $100,575
Republic Airways $45,900 $49,500
Skywest Airlines CRJ200 $81,000 $89,100

Current as of November 2022

Current Airline Bonuses 2023

  • Endeavor Air offers a $10K training completion bonus.
  • Envoy Air, as an affiliate with American Airlines, offers more than $150k in their bonus package for those who are eligible. This includes a $15k signing bonus for all new pilots, a $30k bonus for those that upgrade to captains, a $70k flow bonus to American Airlines, and an additional $50k bonus paid at flow, earned pro-rata with qualifying hours over two years. In addition to these, Envoy offers $10k near captain entry, a $7.5k type rating bonus, and a $15k bonus for direct entry captains.
  • Horizon Airlines has a pilot development program where they will give private pilots a stipend of $12.5k while they get their training done. They also have a new hiring bonus of $5k – $17.5k, depending on the plane you are flying and up to $50k in bonuses for experienced pilots.
  • Mesa Airlines offers a $20k sign-on bonus for all new hires, with an additional $10k for all simulator instructor positions.
  • Piedmont Airlines, an additional affiliate with American, offers the same $150k+ in bonuses for their pilots as Envoy.
  • PSA Airlines, another affiliate with American Airlines, offers the same bonuses as Piedmont Airlines and Envoy Air.

Do Airline Pilots Receive Signing Bonuses?

At this time most regional airlines give out signing bonuses to attract commercial pilots due to the pilot shortage. Bonuses may vary based on the pilot’s experience. We’ve seen bonuses ranging from $5,000 to over $15,000.

For example, if you already have a type rating for one of the aircraft you’d be flying the airline may give you a bigger signing bonus since they don’t have to spend as much money training you.

[Searching for the perfect headset for your flight training? Check out our guide on choosing the best pilot headset.]

Commercial Airline Pilot Benefits

Pilots enjoy plenty of benefits aside from the pay. Especially during times when the industry is strong and, airlines are struggling to compete with the other airlines to bring qualified pilots to their airline.

Free Travel

Most airlines allow their pilot’s free travel on flights that have empty seats, including a seat for a friend or family member.

Many pilots use these free trips to explore the world or to simply visit friends and family regularly.

Per Diem

Airline pilots receive a very attractive per diem on top of their hourly wage. This amount is to cover your expenses while on trips. Often, the amount is larger than what you spend so could add to your annual income.

Healthcare and Insurance

To remain competitive with the other airlines, most companies have very attractive healthcare and life insurance benefits for their pilots.

Bonuses

While bonuses are not guaranteed in any business, in the good time’s airlines will offer sign-on bonuses to be competitive in hiring. Others offer yearly profit sharing based on the airline’s income as well as other contractual agreed-upon amounts.

Article continues below.

Do Airline Pilots Make More with Overtime Pay?

Overtime pay is available at many airlines. When an airline needs to ensure a flight happens they will offer anywhere from 100% to 300% (or more) to get pilots to pick up the job.

At this time in 2022, this is an incredibly common occurrence. And with no end in sight for the pilot shortage, this will likely continue for years to come.

So when looking at the pilot salaries above, remember that isn’t all you could earn. Your earnings could climb significantly higher with overtime pay.

How Long Can an Airline Pilot Work?

In the United States, the FAA requires an airline transport pilot to retire at age 65. This doesn’t mean you can’t be a pilot after 65, it simply means you can’t hold an ATP. While some pilots do retire at 65, others continue to work as charter pilots, flight instructors, or any of the other commercial pilot jobs listed below.

Do Airline Pilots Belong to Unions?

Most airline pilots belong to unions in the United States. These unions negotiate pilot salaries and other benefits. There are a few major airline pilot unions including Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association, and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.

International Pilot Salaries vs US Pilot Salaries

Airlines around the world are facing the same pilot shortage. While individual requirements vary from country to country to become pilot, the pay is actually quite similar.

Just like in the US, pay will depend on which airplane you’re flying and how many years you’ve been flying. If you’re considering non-US airlines to work for as an airline pilot you’ll want to carefully consider their base locations. That will dictate where in the world you can live.

Pilot’s Minimum Guarantee

Most airlines give their pilots a monthly minimum guarantee. This way pilots know they’ll receive some pay even if some of their flights get cancelled due to weather, maintenance, or other issues.

For most US airlines, the guarantee is around 75 hours per month but there are a few airlines that offer daily guarantees.

Will Pilot Pay Continue to Increase?

With the ongoing pilot shortage, it certainly appears that pilot pay will continue to grow. While there’s no way to truly predict the future, Boeing’s recent report indicates that the pilot shortage will be here for many years to come.

There are a high number of pilots forecasted to retire over the next 10 years which will likely make the pilot shortage only get worse in the short term which means pilot salaries will also likely increase.

Pilot Salaries for other Commercial Pilot Jobs

Flight Instructor

Many pilots will work at a flight school as an instructor as their method of gaining their FAA-required minimum hours, but some love it so much they choose to become a career flight instructors. A career instructor can expect a pilot salary anywhere from $40,000 to $75,000 annually.

Many instructors will go on to work as chief flight instructors for a flight school where your salary can go even higher.

Cargo Carrier

In terms of pay, cargo pilot salaries are probably the most competitive with commercial airlines.

The pay structure for cargo pilots is very similar to that of major airline carriers.

Cargo Airline Captain Salaries

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 8
Air Transport International 767 $147,000 $234,000 $255,000
Atlas Air 767 $92,000 $160,000 $172,000
FedEx Express 767 $276,000 $310,000 $326,000
Kalitta Air $154,000 $244,000 $266,000
Southern Air 767 $142,000 $160,000 $196,000
United Parcel Service $50,000 $312,000 $329,000

Cargo Airline Pilot First Officer Salaries

Airline Plane Year 1 Year 5 Year 8
Air Transport International 767 $83,000 $151,000 $181,000
Atlas Air 767 $87,000 $108,000 $137,000
FedEx Express 767 $81,000 $193,000 $226,000
Kalitta Air $116,000 $162,000 $193,000
Southern Air 767 $87,000 $108,000 $137,000
United Parcel Service $50,000 $200,000 $212,000

Charter Pilot

Charter services offer private flights to businesses or individuals. A charter pilot needs to have a professional attitude as they will be dealing with clients even more directly than pilots flying for airlines.

The salary is higher than most time-building jobs, with the average charter pilot salary in the US earning approximately $75,000.

Charter Pilot Captain Salaries

While there are quite a few small charter airlines across the United States, here are a few of the larger operations that post their pay publicly. These charter airlines typically fly large jets which is why their pay closely resembles airline pilot pay.

Airline Year 1 Year 5 Year 8
iAero Ways $168,000 $178,000 $192,000
Miami Air International $96,000 $116,000 $163,000
Omni Air International $192,000 $248,000 $270,000

Charter Pilot First Officer Salaries

Airline Year 1 Year 5 Year 8
iAero Ways $90,000 $98,000 $100,000
Miami Air International $47,000 $83,000 $98,000
Omni Air International $118,000 $154,000 $184,000

Corporate Pilot

A career as a corporate pilot is similar to a career as an airline pilot in many ways.

It’s a very competitive job, you will likely need a high number of hours to be considered, and you are typically flying larger turbine aircraft.

The differences are of course the number of passengers, the type of aircraft you are flying, and where you will be flying. Many may consider corporate pilot as more attractive than airline pilot due to the more consistent schedule and locations.

You will likely not be required to move as you would early in your career as an airline pilot.

A corporate pilot salary may start out around $60,000 annually (first officer) but has the potential to earn $180,000 or more as they gain more experience and stay with a corporation longer.

Stunt Pilot

For extreme thrill-seekers, aerobatics might be a fun career for you. Aerobatic pilots, or stunt pilots, perform in aerial shows, compete with other aerobatic pilots, and train pilots in aerobatic flight.

The pay of stunt pilots varies tremendously, but the median earnings of this job pay between $50,000 and $70,000.

It is a very difficult career to break into, and you will need to be passionate about the job in order to break out.

Tour Guide

The job of a tour guide could be for you if you enjoy small groups and consider yourself a people person. The job is location-dependent and can vary greatly in hours.

You could be doing a lot of hours during peak season, and be earning very little during the off-season, so this gig isn’t for everyone. Average earnings are around $52,000 annually.

Banner Towing

Like instructing, most who tow banners are using the job as a way to build hours. The pay is similar to instructing and can range from $20-$50 an hour.

Crop Duster

One of the more unique and niche commercial pilot jobs on this list, a crop duster (also known as “Aerial Applicator” or “Agricultural Pilot”) is a pilot that uses aircraft to aid in agricultural care.

They may apply pesticides, fertilizers, or even plant seeds using their aircraft. This job requires not only aviation training (commercial rating) but agricultural knowledge.

You will need to be knowledgeable on different types of pesticides and fertilizers, and familiar with agricultural practices. If you are able to overcome this knowledge hurdle, you are rewarded with a job that can pay higher than $100,000.

How Much Do Pilots Make – Conclusion

How much a pilot earns each year largely depends on how much time they are able to fly. As we’ve outlined in this article, as an airline pilot moves from First Officer to Captain and from a regional airline to a major airline their salary continues to increase. If you want to maximize your airline pilot pay, your goal should be to become a captain at a major airline.

Air Astana explained how pilots’ salaries are calculated

The salary of Kazakhstani pilots depends on the pilot’s qualifications, experience and flight hours, while there are additional payments, for example, for knowledge of aviation English, depending on the level of proficiency. As a result, the amount of payment for each pilot is different, and it is impossible to compare the salary of a young co-pilot and an experienced flight instructor, Air Astana said in a response to a request from Informburo. kz.

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“Therefore, the information on pilots’ salaries published in the media is incorrect, since there is no single equalized salary. In addition, Kazakhstani pilots, like all citizens of Kazakhstan, receive payment in tenge, which increases annually along with the pilot’s experience, but is not tied to foreign currency. Before last year’s devaluation of the tenge, the marginal salary of Kazakhstani flight personnel practically did not differ from the salary of foreign ones,” the press service of Air Astana said. nine0003

Air Astana employs more than 400 pilots, 68 of them are foreign citizens. In Kazakhstan, there is a shortage of flight personnel with a sufficient level of qualification to fly Western-made aircraft, so the airline attracts specialists from other countries, the response says.

The press service notes that the lack of qualified pilots is also typical for non-CIS countries. For example, in the aviation markets of Southeast Asia, including China, the Middle East and Africa. At the moment, the countries of the Middle East are attracting experienced personnel from more developed aviation markets, such as Australia, the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. nine0003

According to studies, the global demand for pilots annually averages 14,000 people.

“We attract foreign pilots at international rates and on the conditions under which they are ready to work with us on a temporary basis, without guarantees of long-term employment. Like any visiting specialist, we are obliged to provide them with a place of residence and flight. According to the Tax Code, income tax for foreign pilots are paid by Air Astana in Kazakhstan,” the press service explained. nine0003

In order to fill the shortage of pilots and educate a new generation of Kazakhstani pilots, since 2009 the airline has opened an ab-initio initial pilot training program. Within its framework, Air Astana sends young Kazakhstanis to study a prestigious flight profession in foreign training centers. During this time, 165 people were trained and went to work in the company. The cost of pilot training is about 100 thousand US dollars.

“As for the quality of training of flight personnel by the Academy of Civil Aviation, we did not have the opportunity to evaluate it,” the press service added. nine0003

The crew commanders of the Kazakh national air carrier earn about $10,000 a month. The salary of co-pilots is $6,590. The dispatchers of Kazaeronavigatsia receive less – about $2,000. This information was announced by the portal mojazarplata.kz with reference to the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee of the MID RK Beken Seidakhmetov.

Later, Air Astana President Peter Foster commented on the information about the salaries of pilots and confirmed that pilots receive high salaries in accordance with their qualifications. He also noted that the size of salaries in Air Astana does not depend on the nationality of employees. nine0003

Economic media observer Denis Krivosheev expressed his opinion about the high salaries of Air Astana pilots. He believes that Kazakh pilots receive half as much as their foreign counterparts.

On July 4, Air Astana pilots addressed their management with an open letter and stated that after the release of salary data, they fear for their safety and the safety of their families, and also stated that they do not receive such salaries.

On the same day, the head of the CAA, Beken Seidakhmetov, said that he did not tell journalists about the salaries of Air Astana pilots. nine0003

New Zealand pilot training

Aviation in New Zealand requires local licenses and local education. Thus, the following documents are required to work as a pilot in New Zealand:

  • Private Pilot License (PPL)
  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
  • Multi-engine instrument rating (MEIR)
  • Basic Turbine Knowledge (BTK) or Basic Gas Turbine Knowledge (BGT) examination paper. nine0040

In addition to being a passenger aircraft pilot, you must have a certain number of flight hours. How to get all the necessary licenses and experience?

NZ Diploma in Aviation Level 6

The North Shore Aero Club (Auckland, New Zealand) is proud to introduce a new program for international students who want to start a pilot career in New Zealand or abroad.

NZ Diploma in Aviation Level 6 (Flight Instruction strand) is an NZQA accredited program designed to a national standard that meets the needs of employers and students in the aviation field. nine0003

Duration: 2 years (278 credits)

Cost: ~NZ$137,000 for the entire program

Program Description

Why pursue an aviation degree from NSAC?

  • Recognized qualification accredited by the NZQA and compliant with Civil Aviation Authority pilot licenses.
  • Comprehensive training program containing all required licenses (PPL + CPL + MEIR + BTK (BGT)). You will be ready to work immediately after graduation. nine0040
  • Career opportunities both in New Zealand and abroad. With the NZ Diploma in Aviation Level 6, you can easily convert your licenses and experience to pilot in another English-speaking country or Southeast Asia.
  • Graduates are eligible for a one-year Post Study Work Visa.
  • The program meets the early 2022 entry exemption requirements for 1,000 international students, so you may be lucky enough to come to New Zealand and start your studies as early as next year. nine0040

North Shore Aero Club

Career Opportunities

Plan your career in three steps:

  1. Tourist/special flights, flight instructor, flight examiner. Salary NZ$ 42,000-100,000 per year
  2. Domestic, NZ$50,000-150,000 per annum
  3. International Airlines, NZ$100,000-300,000 per annum.

Entry Requirements

  • Student must be at least 18 years of age; nine0040
  • Applicants must earn 12 credits or more at NCEA Level 2 (or equivalent) and have good grades in English, math and science;
  • IELTS Academic with a total score of 5. 5 or equivalent;
  • CV and one personal recommendation;
  • Certificate of no criminal record;
  • Applicant must pass all PPL exams before admission;
  • A class 1 medical certificate is required for admission. The problem is that not all countries provide this option (see the list of countries here). If there are no accredited clinics in your country, you will have to come to NZ or look for doctors in other countries. nine0040

The last two requirements are quite difficult to fulfill if it is not possible to obtain a PPL and a class 1 medical certificate in your country. However, you can do this by coming to New Zealand for a short preparatory course. After 4-6 months, you will receive a PPL and undergo a medical examination to begin your Diploma in Aviation program.

Our educational consultants will help you enroll in the program and apply for a New Zealand student visa. Fill out our questionnaire using the button below and start the path to your dream.