How to become a Civil Aviation Pilot. “The more you fly, the higher the salary”: how much a pilot earns. In the service of the Air Force of the Russian Federation

The profession of an aviation pilot involves the management of various categories of aircraft. Under the general name, the specialty combines several positions. The pilots include the commander, co-pilot, flight engineer and navigator. Aviation pilots operate both civil and military vessels. Specific duties, in addition to piloting and landing the aircraft, include monitoring instrument readings. The crew commander signs the accompanying documents. Also, the profession involves timely decision-making by pilots in emergency situations. Do not forget that in the case of work in the field of passenger transportation, the commander is responsible for dozens of lives.

Personal qualities

The first requirement for a pilot is absolute health. Long flights and sensitive G-forces during takeoff and landing require endurance. Considering constantly changing weather conditions and the possibility of force majeure on board, stress resistance will be an additional advantage. Successful crew management requires leadership and self-confidence.

Where to study

Aviation pilot training takes place in secondary special and higher educational institutions. The applicant can choose between educational institutions civil and military orientation. The reason for refusing to accept an applicant may be even a slight deviation in medical indications. Main academic disciplines are navigation and routing. Students study the device, the ability to control the aircraft, get acquainted with the orientation of the vessel.

The educational status of an educational institution determines how much an applicant will study to become an aviation pilot. Typically, the duration of study ranges from 3 to 5 years. However, during labor activity the pilot passes a kind of refresher courses. In addition, flight schools offer courses for amateur pilots. Behind short course you can learn how to operate an ultralight vessel. This option is suitable for those who consider piloting a hobby.

Required exams: Russian language, mathematics, physics (optional), physical training standards.

Suitable specialties:

• "Flight operation of aircraft"
• "Aircraft testing"
• "Air navigation"
• "Operation of Aircraft and Air Traffic Management"

Examples of educational institutions where they teach for the chosen profession:

Civil Aviation:

Educational institutions of military aviation are distinguished by more rigid discipline and barrack-type dormitories. Students receive not only higher military education but also a civilian profession.

Military aviation:

• Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots named after Hero Soviet Union A.K. Serov
• Syzran Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots
• Chelyabinsk Higher Military Aviation School of Navigators

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros:

Demand in the labor market;

Decent salary;

The ability to travel;

Social security;

Early retirement age.

Minuses:

Emotional stress during the flight;

Lack of guarantee that the next medical examination will be passed;

Frequent absences from home;

Inability to maintain close contact with loved ones constantly.

Career, places of employment

After graduating from specialized institutions, a graduate has the required number of flight hours to get a job in a company. Although it should be noted that the more serious the organization, the more experience is required from applicants. There is fierce competition for prestigious positions in Russian airlines. In most cases, test pilots are graduates of military schools. The average salary of a novice specialist is 70,000-90,000 rubles.

There are many earthlings, and we are all very different. But among all people, some part is distinguished by a special temperament - an indestructible desire for the sky, a thirst for flight. It is from them that the best pilots of civil and military aviation come out. But other applicants also come to the selection committees of flight schools. Someone was simply attracted by romance, someone saw profitable prospects in a pilot's license, someone goes for a company with a friend obsessed with the sky.

In any case, it is better for each of the future cadets to know in advance what awaits them when they enter the flight school and after graduation. For a subsequent successful career, many points that should be considered before sending documents to admission committee schools.

Military or civilian?

The first thing that a future pilot has to decide is which school to prefer, civil or military. Military schools have stricter requirements, including disciplinary ones. They pay a small stipend, provide uniforms and housing (in the barracks). Upon graduation, you will receive not only the highest military special education, but in addition, the civil specialty "Operation of aircraft". the main problem in obtaining the specialty of a military pilot in the fact that in Russia today there is only one higher military aviation educational institution in Krasnodar, and enrollment there is far from every year. Accordingly, the competition is high and it is not easy to become a cadet. Education at a military school is free, a referral can be issued by a military registration and enlistment office. There, applicants will be able to get up-to-date answers to all questions related to the career of a military pilot.

There are much more opportunities to get the coveted crusts of a civil aviation pilot. But here you should first decide what these very crusts are for, what are your career aspirations and ambitions. You don’t need higher education to fly a light sport aircraft, but to work on large civil aviation liners you need not only higher education and a line pilot diploma, but also many flight hours.

Education in educational institutions of civil aviation can be both budgetary and on a paid basis. There are other tuition-related expenses. However, studying in a civilian school is a little easier, and the health requirements are a little softer than in a military one.

What is needed for admission

• Good physical fitness and impeccable health. Applicants undergo a thorough medical examination, and even with excellent grades in the certificate and high chances pass the exams "excellent" you can not pass on health. Moreover: if the state of health worsens during the study, the student may well be expelled.
• Age from 18 years old
• Pass exams in the Russian language (exposition) and mathematics, for some specialties they also pass physics
• Conclusion on professional suitability, which is issued after an interview with psychologists

What awaits a flight school graduate: career and professional growth prospects

Like a driver's license, pilot licenses can be of different categories, and the prospects that open up directly depend on the category. But not only the category is important: for example, graduates of higher educational institutions of civil aviation immediately receive a commercial pilot license, but this entitles them only to fly as a co-pilot on most aircraft, and there are restrictions. This is due to the low number of hours flown.

And in order to become a line pilot and get the opportunity to fly large airliners as an aircraft commander, according to Russian rules, at least 1,500 flying hours are required. Abroad requirements for the highest category pilots are somewhat lower, and getting the coveted crusts there is a little easier.

However, the situation in Russian aviation is currently changing. Most of the pilots who have received their specialty in Soviet time, are retiring, and modern graduates of flight schools have much less opportunities to get the necessary flying hours. Therefore, many airlines are forced to reduce the requirements for the number of hours flown. Moreover, airlines literally line up behind graduates who have proven themselves well. Such pilots receive additional flight hours already at the training centers of companies.

If you have no desire to make a career in the sky, and you need crusts only for flying for your own pleasure, you can not waste time studying at a flight school. It's easier to take courses at the nearest flying club. After fulfilling a number of standards and passing exams, you will be issued an amateur pilot certificate, which will be quite enough to fly light aircraft and helicopters for your pleasure and join the Flying Brotherhood with a light soul.

Flying brotherhood: what is it

According to official sources, the "Flight Brotherhood" is a public organization created by graduates of the Kharkov Air Force Academy. In fact, the “flight brotherhood” refers to the special relationship that connects everyone who is related to aviation. These relationships are based on friendship and mutual assistance. For example, in the old days, a pilot, finding himself in a hopeless situation in any city, could approach any unfamiliar colleague and ask for help - money, accommodation, etc. And get what you want. The debt was returned rigorously - by a simple postal order or mutual favor. “Flight brotherhood” meant exactly this - trust, readiness to come to the rescue of a brother in wings.

Unfortunately, all this is now in the past. Some schools and flying clubs have their own traditions of "initiation into the Flying Brotherhood", but these are rather exceptions than a widespread custom. "Flyers" simply communicate in their environment, help their own as much as possible - as it happens in other communities, united by a common passion, one hobby.

And the girls?

But for girls, no one covers the path to aviation with roses. Until recently, women were not admitted to any aviation academy for flight specialties, until in 2007 one of the applicants sued the educational institution and won the case. Today, girls can also apply for flying specialties, but airlines still prefer to hire men.

However, the growing shortage of personnel is forcing airline management to treat female pilots with ever greater reverence. The leaders of the Sasovo flight school even say that their graduates can outdo any male pilot.

The Last Frontier: How to Convince Parents

If parents believe that the profession of a pilot is too dangerous and not promising enough, and that it is better to choose more mundane and less adrenaline specialties, they need to be worked with, convinced. And you need to start as early as possible. The conversation should be conducted not on emotions, but with facts at the ready. For every argument of excited parents, a whole volley of counter-arguments should follow, with facts, statistics and mathematical calculations.

The list of common objections is always roughly the same:

• "The profession is not promising." Nothing of the kind - very promising! Behind last years The country's air fleet is increasing annually by several tens (or even hundreds) of aircraft, on which there will soon be no one to fly. Soviet-era pilots are retiring, and there are few new ones. The annual need for pilots is about 2 thousand people, and flight schools graduate no more than 500 people.
• "Low salary" is not true! The salary of pilots is more than decent, and increases proportionally professional growth. Even a co-pilot can receive about 200 thousand rubles shortly after graduation from the school. In addition, there are nice bonuses: a long vacation, early retirement, a good social package and big discounts on family flights. And there are also excellent opportunities to work abroad: many airlines are happy to hire Russian pilots.
• "Airplanes are falling, it's dangerous" - and if you compare it with car accidents? There are countless more accidents on the roads and while driving on the ground. Driving a car is much more dangerous than flying, but because of this, no one refuses to drive a car.

In addition, many flight academies have military departments, which saves the graduate from military service.

How do cadets live?

For those who entered budget places, the state provides full content: uniform, food, hostel for visitors, scholarship. Cadets are also provided with all study guides and materials. Cadets of paid groups provide for themselves.

Inside the campus and within the walls of the school or academy, discipline is strict. However, it is not as strict as in a military school, and with good motivation, cadets do not feel negative from disciplinary requirements. And the slobs and slobs in the sky have nothing to do.

The living conditions depend on each specific educational institution, as the internal regulations.

Training terms and cost

Training time for a flight specialty on the basis of secondary education (11 years) - 34 months (basic level).

The cost of paid education is determined by each educational institution independently. For example, in UVAU GA in the current academic year training in the specialty "Flight Operation of Aircraft" will cost almost 90 thousand rubles for theory. distance learning noticeably cheaper: 35,500 rubles. As for the cost of practical flights for future pilots, for those studying on a commercial basis, the order of amounts there is from $ 140,000.

Way in civil aviation usually lies through special universities, because the profession of a pilot requires a person is not only the ability to fly an aircraft, but And teaches you to be responsible life and the health of other people. Therefore, only a person can become a manager of a passenger aircraft, whose appropriate education.

How to become a pilot if there is no money? IN There are several universities in Russia where pilot specialties are taught free of charge, for example, State University civil aviation in St. Petersburg. For admission, you need to finish 11 classes and have high results independent exams. The future conqueror of the sky needs to pass several exams: mathematics, physics, the state language.

Applicants usually choose their own direction. You can become an ordinary pilot or an engineer pilot. Often, potential pilots choose "Operation of aircraft and air traffic management". Applicants, not admitted to budget, it is possible to learn the basics of the specialty on a paid basis.

Even a person can become a commercial pilot, not enrolled in university, or students with incomplete secondary education. Like after 9 class to become a pilot? Go to school. There professions are taught less than 3 years. For admission, you need to pass mathematics, physics and languages.

Behind for a long time, each student of the school fully masters the basics of the flight specialty, undergoes practical training, and receives a commercial pilot diploma. IN flight organizations provide students with everything they need. You can learn the specialty of a pilot here for free.

There is another way to become a commercial pilot. This way - private school. IN there is no competition for admission in these schools. Only a high school diploma is required to obtain a diploma general education And money, because the cost of education in private schools is quite high. By after school, a person becomes an amateur pilot with the corresponding certificate. WITH With this document, you can easily find your place in small aviation.

Many do not only want to fly a helicopter in within the specialty, but And sometimes they are the owners of such a device. To sit down for helicopter helm, you also need to get the appropriate education, because according to law govern it Only those with a degree can. Therefore, many people want to know where to go to become a helicopter pilot. You can do this by going to flight school or private aviation school.

This profession - Not just a certificate specialized education. A person who dreams of mastering this specialty must have nerves of steel and irreproachable physical training - the sky is not tolerate weak people.

Maybe can a woman become a pilot

Of course it can. This is proved by world practice. Behind overseas female aviators - Absolutely not rarity. IN our country now few girls dream of climbing into heaven and connect your life with aviation.
How can a girl become a pilot? flight academy civil aviation - here is the answer to this question. Enroll in this institution is now difficult even for men, but even a fragile girl can become a student of the academy. On extreme case of a persistent young lady, you can always ask for certificate in private flight school.

Before what age can you become a pilot

Often people for 30 years are decided on change of profession. Someone remembers their childhood dream, someone finds out that the pilots are well paid. Can whether in 30 years or after 40 become a pilot? Now in flight schools have no restrictions on age, anyone can become a student of this. The main thing is that he Not had health problems.

The most common reason for denial obtaining a flight diploma becomes a problem with eyes. Can whether with poor eyesight to become a pilot? Yes, and V Russian aviation in including. True, for this you are not must have chronic eye disease or vision changes greater than 4 diopter. Contact lens wearers and points can get an aviator's license in any private institution.

It is possible to become a pilot V 35 And V 40 years. However, older students of flight schools need to remember that they are less likely to be found Good work By completion of the training course, because major airlines and small private owners looking doubtfully at such graduates. They prefer to take job applicants younger. On such organizations will pay attention to a mature applicant only if there is a shortage of personnel.

Become a pilot after 30 almost impossible for free. To obtain a pilot diploma, older students are required to pay money for education. Education and aviator skills for adult men can be obtained at state flying schools contract, and also in many private schools.

Learn to the pilot can behind border. However, far from all officials of our state recognize diplomas foreign schools - keep this in mind when making a decision.

Civil aviation - a unified and standardized area human activity. National and international flights are carried out according to the same rules.

Civil aviation pilot training systems practically do not differ between countries. If there is a desire and free funds, anyone can learn to fly an airplane and become a certified amateur pilot.

Pilot training: types

Training programs and skills requirements vary depending on which aircraft and for what purpose the person is going to fly.

In total, there are 3 types of licenses for operating a civil aircraft (in Russia - certificates).

Table 1. Types of piloting licenses.

Recreational pilots have the opportunity to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL).

Where do you learn to fly an airplane?

In Russia, aviation training centers are engaged in training and issuing certificates. As a rule, there are such centers in every region, and in some, for example, in the Moscow region, there is not even one.

Training time - from 6 months. In principle, you can learn to fly faster. But flight schools have their own standards, which do not allow, for example, to fly more than 3 hours a day.

Flight practice is often limited to 1-1.5 hours. However, they do not fly every day. Plus - theoretical lectures.

In flight schools in the USA and Europe, if desired, you can study for 6 months. There are intensive courses in which the full curriculum can be mastered in 3-6 weeks. On an intensive course, they fly daily for 3-6 hours. It is believed that daily practice allows you to learn to fly faster and more efficiently.

How is the flight training going?

In order to learn how to fly, you need to master two courses: theory and practice.

Thematic courses are taught in specialized training centers. Some information can be gleaned from textbooks. Features of the device of the aircraft, its flight characteristics are contained in the operational manual.

Theoretical course for pilots

The pilot must learn the following theoretical aspects:

• elements of aerodynamics;
• device and design features of the aircraft;
• operation of onboard equipment;
• aviation meteorology;
• aircraft navigation;
• training in pilot-controller slang.

What a person who takes the course should know and what skills should he/she learn:

• know the basics of aircraft control;
• know the characteristics and operating limitations of a particular aircraft type;
• be able to calculate the center of gravity of the aircraft;
• be able to calculate the effect of loading on flight characteristics;
• have route planning skills;
• have an understanding of the principles of control of probabilistic threats and human errors;
• have an idea about the algorithm of actions in an emergency;
• understand and analyze meteorological reports;
• be able to use aeronautical charts;
• know aviation codes and abbreviations;
• have the ability to communicate with dispatchers.

In fact, all of the above is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Despite the fact that the course is theoretical, the information given on it is purely practical.

All this knowledge and skills are tied to a specific aircraft. Those. theory is given in a limited and dosed way, without loading students with unnecessary information.

The essence of theoretical studies is not that a person knows everything about aerodynamics at the level of an engineering university, but that he has basic information that will make the behavior of an aircraft understandable to him in certain conditions.

Practical course for pilots

Practical classes are held in parallel with theoretical course. On the first sorties, the aircraft is controlled by an instructor, the student observes and acts as a co-pilot. At a certain flight time, the instructor and the future pilot change places. At this stage, the student assumes the function of the aircraft commander, and the instructor prompts, corrects, and insures him against wrong actions.

In addition to flying during the daytime, it is necessary to learn how to fly at night, according to instruments, in the absence of visual references, to be able to overcome a long flight with several landings.

Table 2. Flying Requirements for Beginner Recreational Pilots in Various Countries

As can be seen from the table above, flight requirements for pilot training in the United States are more stringent: they involve large quantity flights at night, including one long, 3-hour flight in the absence of visual references, and the passage of one route with 3 take-offs / landings at different airfields.

It should be noted that the flight requirements given are the minimum. Nothing prevents schools from increasing the duration of training, including flight practice, if there are reasons for this (for example, due to the fact that a person is slowly mastering the technique).

In particular, some American flight schools offer intensive three-week pilot training courses with 60 flight hours. At the same time, every week there are 20 hours in the air, which, with daily flights, averages 3 hours a day.

Upon completion of training, pilots pass a theoretical exam and make a control flight. With satisfactory results, aviation The educational center issues a Private Pilot License to the applicant.

What does a Private Pilot License entitle you to?

A licensed private pilot has the right to:

• Fly within the borders of the country that issued the certificate on a certain type of aircraft (the one on which the training took place).
• Quickly retrain for flying on other types of aircraft.
• Having confirmed the Certificate abroad (by passing the exams without training), you can get a license for the right to pilot in any chosen country.

All civil aviation licenses issued in the world are standardized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This means that they are international driving licenses for private jets.

How much does it cost to learn to fly an airplane?

The cost of training depends on the aviation school, the type of aircraft used. In Russia, you can learn how to fly an airplane for $7,000-$8,000 thousand (500 thousand rubles).

Cheaper schools operate in the US and Europe. However, travel, living expenses, a visa and a mandatory language exam will bring the total cost of education closer to $8,000-$10,000, and possibly even more.

In the same time American learning traditionally considered the best. In any case, with organizational point vision.

What if I want to fly big planes?

You can learn commercial or linear piloting in Russia at specialized higher educational institutions after completing a full 5-year course.

In Europe and in the USA, this is easier. For 8 months you can get a commercial pilot license. For 12 months - become a real pilot of a linear flight with the right to control large passenger liners. The cost of such courses is from $50,000.