What Jobs Can You Get With a Private Pilot License?
A private pilot license (PPL) allows you to fly a single-engine aircraft for personal use. It is the first step on the path to becoming a commercial pilot. With a PPL, you can fly for recreation, travel, or business purposes. You can also use your PPL to become a flight instructor. In this blog post, we will discuss what jobs you can get with a private pilot license.
Jobs For a Private Pilot’s License
If you are a licensed private pilot and seeking work in an aviation career, you may be wondering what types of jobs are available to you. You may already know that you can only fly passengers and cargo for hire if you have a commercial pilot license. So what can you do with a private pilot license?
Here are some flying jobs for private pilots:
- Flight Instructor
- Air Ambulance Pilot
- Crop Duster
- Towing Gliders
- Aerial Photography Pilots
If you have a private license you can also tow gliders or banners, or fly for your own personal enjoyment. Each of these job types has different requirements, duties, and compensation. We will discuss each one in more detail below.
Flight Instructor
A Flight instructor is a pilot who is certified to teach other pilots how to fly. If you have a passion for teaching and helping others achieve their goals, this may be the perfect job for you!
Requirements for becoming a flight instructor include:
- Hold a commercial pilot license (CPL)
- Have at least 500 hours of flying experience
- Pass a written exam
- Pass a flight instructor rating exam.
Compensation for flight instructors varies depending on the number of students they have and the type of instruction they provide. However, the average salary for a flight instructor is $40,000 per year.
Air Ambulance Pilot
An Air Ambulance pilot flies patients to and from hospitals in an airplane or helicopter. This job is perfect for pilots who want to use their skills to help others in need! Requirements for becoming an air ambulance pilot include:
- Hold a commercial pilot license (CPL)
- Have at least 500 hours of flying experience
- Pass a written exam
- Be certified in CPR and First Aid.
You can also fly disaster relief flights and search and rescue missions with a private pilot’s license.
Crop Duster
A crop duster is a pilot who flies a low-flying airplane or helicopter to apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops. Crop dusting is important work that helps farmers produce food for the world!
To become a crop duster, you will need:
- A commercial pilot license (CPL)
- 200 hours of flying experience
- A clean criminal record
- To pass a written exam.
Tow Gliders
Towing gliders doesn’t require you to to have a commercial license to carry passengers, but it does require a special license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
To become a tow glider pilot, you need:
- A private pilot’s license (PPL)
- 100 hours of flying experience
- A clean criminal record
- To pass a written exam.
Aerial Photography Pilots
You can use your private pilot license to take pictures cross-country from the air!
To become an aerial photography pilot, you need:
- A private pilot’s license (PPL)
- 75 hours of flying experience
- A clean criminal record.
Careers For a Commercial Pilot’s License
If you are hoping to find a job flying airplanes for a major airline, you need at least two years of college, but airlines prefer a bachelor’s degree and some require one. To advance your career and become a captain or co-pilot, you will also need to earn an airline transport license. Airlines also usually want you to have at least 750 hours of flight time and experience as the pilot in command time too.
If you already have your commercial license and are hoping to find a new job flying airplanes, you’ve come to the right place! Finding Careers has never been easier than with our online job boards and you can also sign up for job alerts that go straight to your phone and email any time a new job is posted!
Find Pilot Jobs In Your Area:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to find a job as a private pilot?
Finding a job as a private pilot is not as difficult as one might think. There are many different types of flying jobs available to private pilots, from flight instructing to corporate aviation. The key is to research what kinds of jobs are available in your area and then network with people in the industry.
How much does a private pilot make?
The average salary for a private pilot is $60,000 per year. However, salaries can vary depending on the type of job you get and the location you work in. For example, a corporate pilot may make more than a flight instructor.
What to do after becoming a private pilot?
Go rent an airplane and fly! But seriously, you could continue your flight training to earn a commercial pilot’s license or an instrument rating. Perfect your landing skills and become a certified flight instructor and teach others how to fly. The possibilities are endless.
What are the benefits of being a private pilot?
The benefits of being a private pilot are many! You can use your skills to travel the world, visit new places, and see things from a different perspective. Plus, you’ll have an amazing story to tell everyone you meet.
Is getting a commercial pilot’s license hard?
Commercial pilots learn a lot more than a private pilot does about flying an airplane. They also learn about navigation, radio communication, meteorology, and what to do in an emergency. If you’re thinking about becoming a pilot, here are some questions you may have.
How long does it take to get a private pilot’s license?
The short answer is it takes most people between six and twelve months to earn their pilot license. The exact answer depends on what’s going on in your life, how your training and practice flights go, and how much you can afford to pay upfront because getting a pilot’s license is relatively expensive.
How much does it cost to get a private pilot’s license?
The average cost of flight training for a private pilot license is $13,500, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). However, the actual cost will vary depending on the type of training you choose and the number of hours you need to complete the course.
Do you need a college education to become a pilot?
To become a pilot you only need a high school diploma and obtain your license. Many airlines do require their pilots to have a college degree, but it’s still easy to find employment with experience and training.
What are the requirements to get a private pilot’s license?
The requirements to get a private pilot’s license include passing a written exam, completing a flight training course, and passing a practical test. You will also need to have a current medical certificate from an FAA-approved doctor.
Do commercial pilots make more than private pilots?
With a commercial license and experience, pilots can earn significantly more money than private pilots do. A private pilot can only fly for personal reasons or to transport people or cargo for free. A commercial pilot can be hired to fly passengers and cargo for money.
How many hours does a private pilot need before they can get a job?
The majority of jobs for private pilots require between 75-100 hours of flight time and additional training. Depending on what planes a company wants you to operate, you might need even more time to train.
Can a private pilot share their flight expenses?
Yes! As a private pilot, you can split the cost of aircraft rental and pro-rata share any other costs and money associated with flying your friends or family around. You cannot earn a profit on your service though. For example, if the cost of renting a plane and the fuel is $400 and you have 4 total passengers including yourself, the most you could be reimbursed is $300 (since you are using 25% of the plane by transporting yourself).
What can I do to get paid more as a pilot?
Many pilots choose to advance their knowledge and training with an instrument rating certification or by becoming a certified flight instructor. While there are many different types of flying jobs, most also will require you to have a commercial pilot’s license. To become a commercial pilot, you will need to have at least 250 hours of flight time and pass an FAA-administered written exam. Airlines usually want you to have at least 750 hours of flight time too.