The pursuit of becoming a commercial pilot takes dedication, hard work, and perseverance. For many, it is a childhood dream that starts with an early fascination with airplanes. While commercial pilots in major airlines typically have thousands of flight hours under their belts before being hired, some achieve the milestone of becoming commercially licensed pilots at a very young age.
What are the requirements to become a commercial pilot?
The basic requirements to obtain a commercial pilot license in the United States include:
- Being at least 18 years old
- Holding a private pilot license
- Having at least 250 hours of flight time
- Completing specified training and earning certificates
- Passing a knowledge exam and practical test
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established these minimum requirements. However, most major commercial airlines require significantly more flight hours, specialized ratings and training, and a four-year college degree.
What is the typical process to become a commercial pilot?
A typical pathway to becoming a commercial pilot would be:
- Obtain a student pilot certificate (usually by age 16-18)
- Earn a private pilot license (requires 40 hours of flight time)
- Build flight hours and earn advanced ratings
- Obtain an instrument rating (requires 50 hours as pilot in command)
- Earn a commercial pilot license (requires 250 hours total time)
- Obtain a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate
- Work as a CFI and continue building flight hours
- Apply to and complete an airline training program
- Get hired by a regional or major airline
This entire process generally takes 5-7 years at a minimum. Pilots can work as flight instructors and charter pilots to build flight time until reaching the experience needed for an airline position.
Who are some of the youngest female commercial pilot examples?
While reaching 1,500+ hours to get hired by an airline takes most pilots until their late 20s or 30s, there are exceptional individuals who have achieved their commercial license at 17-19 years old. Here are some of the youngest female commercial pilot examples:
- Julie Clark – earned her commercial license at age 17 in 1973
- Jessica Cox – earned her license at age 18 in 2006, born without arms
- Shannon Walker – earned her license at age 18 in 1988, later became a NASA astronaut
- Tammie Jo Shults – earned her license at age 18 in 1979, later captained Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 that made an emergency landing in 2018 after an engine failure
Julie Clark
Julie Clark earned her commercial pilot license in 1973 at just 17 years old. Growing up in California, she paid for flight lessons by working multiple part-time jobs. She went on to become a renowned aerobatic pilot, air show performer, and commercial pilot. She founded the Julie Clark Aviation Scholarship to inspire other young women to pursue aviation careers.
Jessica Cox
Born in 1983 without arms, Jessica Cox earned her commercial pilot license in 2006 at age 18. After years of training, she became the first armless licensed pilot. She went on to become the first armless black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association and a renowned motivational speaker. She co-founded the Jessica Cox Motivational Institute to inspire people with disabilities.
Shannon Walker
Shannon Walker earned her commercial pilot license at age 18 in 1988 in West Virginia. She graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in physics. Selected by NASA in 2004, she served as a flight engineer on two space missions, logging over 163 days in space on the International Space Station.
What country has the youngest female commercial pilot?
While there are exceptions like the women listed above, most commercial airline pilots are at least 21-23 years old when they complete their training. However, one country that stands out for having an extremely young female commercial pilot is:
India
In 2017, Prakriti Banerjee became India’s youngest female commercial pilot at just 19 years old. She had obtained her student pilot license at 16 and commercial license at 18 after extensive training. She was hired by IndiGo Airlines at age 19 after completing her commercial license exam.
In India, IndiGo and other carriers hire pilots who complete their training and licensing at around 19-20 years old. This allows them to enter the workforce earlier than typical in countries like the United States.
What is the typical age for new airline pilots in the U.S.?
While a select few earn their commercial license before age 20, the typical age for new airline pilots in the U.S. is:
- Median age of 28 among regional airline first officers
- Average age of 31 among first officers at major airlines
- Average age of 42 among captains at major airlines
Here is a table summarizing the typical ages of new pilot hires in the U.S.:
| Pilot Position | Typical Age |
|---|---|
| Regional Airline First Officer | 28 |
| Major Airline First Officer | 31 |
| Major Airline Captain | 42 |
Reaching 1,000 to 1,500 flight hours typically takes pilots until their late 20s before getting hired at regional carriers. Captain positions require several more years to accumulate the flight time and experience needed.
What additional factors allow early commercial licensing?
Some key factors that allow exceptional individuals to earn their commercial pilot license before age 20 include:
- Starting flight training at a very young age
- Having the financial means to pay for flight time
- Attending an intensive flight school
- Flying as much as possible – maximizing flight hours
- Having advanced instruction and mentorship
- Consistent skill, dedication, and focus on earning the license
While most follow the traditional multi-year pathway, those who start early and dedicate themselves fully to flight training can expedite the process. Some parents fully support the costs to help their aviation-passionate child achieve this goal.
What are the benefits of starting flight training early?
Here are some of the main benefits of starting aviation training at a young age:
- Learning and honing skills during formative years
- Developing stick-and-rudder instincts earlier
- Building experience and confidence in teens vs. 20s or 30s
- Lower cost of flight instruction for younger students
- Ability to earn advanced ratings and flight hours sooner
- Starting an airline pilot career earlier
- Higher lifetime earning potential
While most have to gain experience later in life before becoming airline pilots, those able to start as teenagers have a significant head start. They can progress smoothly from student pilot to commercial pilot and airline pilot in their late teens and early 20s.
What are some of the risks or disadvantages?
However, there can also be some risks or tradeoffs associated with becoming a commercial pilot at a very young age, including:
- Higher risk due to lack of experience and maturity
- Potential lack of education beyond high school
- Questionable hiring practices by some foreign airlines
- High costs if flight training isunsupported financially
- Burnout from intense focus on flying
- Lack of life experiences beyond aviation
While proper training can mitigate risks, younger pilots may need to focus more on developing maturity, judgment, professionalism and other “soft skills” to complement their technical piloting abilities.
Does the early start trend apply to major U.S. airlines?
Within the U.S. airline industry, the trend has gone in the opposite direction. The average new hire at major airlines has increased from about 23 in the 1960s to 31 today. This is driven by several factors:
- Need for 1,500+ flight hours before applying to airlines
- Airline preference for mature, experienced candidates
- Many pursue aviation degrees to be more competitive
- Strong hiring environment enables airlines to be selective
While starting early remains beneficial, U.S. airlines still expect pilots to have substantial flight time and experience before applying. The need for quality education and training will continue to drive new pilots to complete thorough programs before beginning an airline career.
Conclusion
Earning a commercial pilot license at 17 or 18 years old is an exceptionally rare achievement. While a few exceptional individuals have accomplished this, most airline pilots still undergo extensive training into their late 20s or 30s before flying for major carriers. Starting early can provide advantages, but there are also tradeoffs to balance against education, experience, and life development outside aviation. U.S. airlines still expect high qualifications and thousands of flight hours, limiting how early pilots can reasonably enter the career. But for uniquely motivated individuals starting as teenagers, the early start in aviation can pay dividends throughout their career.