Getting 1500 flight hours as a pilot is a major milestone and a requirement for many commercial and airline jobs. While it may seem daunting at first, there are several pathways to efficiently build your hours and reach that target.
Become a Flight Instructor
One of the most common and effective ways to build flight time is to become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). As a CFI, you can log all of the hours you spend teaching students as Pilot in Command (PIC) time. You can expect to log 500-700 hours per year as a full-time CFI.
Advantages of Being a CFI
- Build hours quickly while getting paid
- Sharpen your flying skills by teaching others
- Flexible schedule as an independent contractor
- Give back to the aviation community
Steps to Become a CFI
- Obtain your commercial pilot certificate – you’ll need at least 250 hours total time for this
- Take a CFI training course – usually 3-4 weeks long
- Pass the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI), CFI-Airplane (CFI-A) knowledge exams
- Pass the CFI-A practical exam with an FAA examiner
- Apply for your CFI certificate
Once certified, build your CFI hours by instructing at a flight school, offering independent instruction, or instructing at flying clubs and universities. Teaching students for Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and other ratings will help you gain experience and hours rapidly.
Fly Tourist Sightseeing Flights
Pilots looking to build flight time can fly for sightseeing operators that offer tours and aerial adventures for tourists. These VFR flying jobs allow you to log PIC hours while taking passengers on exciting excursions like coastline tours, trips to local landmarks, and even aerobatic rides.
Benefits of Flying Sightseeing Tours
- Typically fly scenic routes in good weather
- Less stressful than an airline flying job
- Often fly out of interesting locations like Hawaii, Alaska, Southern California
- Opportunities to gain seaplane and tailwheel experience
To qualify for sightseeing jobs, you’ll need a commercial pilot certificate and 250+ hours. The best way to find opportunities is to search for sightseeing operators based near popular tourist destinations.
Aerial Survey and Photography
Pilots who enjoy flying low and slow can build hours doing aerial survey and photography work. Common projects include surveying land, monitoring pipelines, mapping, agricultural analysis, TV/film production support and more. Most survey flying can be done with a camera port equipped Cessna 172.
Benefits of Aerial Survey Flying
- Gain experience flying precise grids and low-level patterns
- See interesting sights from unique aerial perspectives
- Build cross country time flying to project locations
- Carry less passengers – often just you and a camera operator
Look for aerial surveying jobs with companies specializing in geospatial data. A commercial certificate with 100-200 hours experience is usually required. Be prepared to get additional training on operating specialized camera and sensing equipment.
Aerial Application Crop Dusting
Crop dusting, or aerial application, involves spraying fertilizer, pesticide and other agricultural chemicals on crops from low flying agricultural aircraft. This niche flying profession is an exciting way to rapidly build flight hours while supporting farmers and the food supply.
Benefits of Aerial Application Flying
- Fly low 500-1500 ft AGL at slower speeds (100-140 knots)
- Gain specialized experience in tailwheel aircraft like the Air Tractor
- Travel to agricultural regions across the country
- Satisfaction from enabling farmers to increase yields
Aerial applicators need a commercial certificate with 250+ hours and a second class medical. Look for opportunities with ag aviation outfits nationwide – there’s high demand for knowledgeable pilots in this field.
Towing Gliders
Opportunities exist at glider clubs and commercial glider operations to tow gliders into the sky with powered aircraft. Pilots can build PIC time towing gliders on the weekends or as a full time job at busy commercial operations.
Benefits of Towing Gliders
- Steady opportunities for hourly work year round, especially in warmer climates
- Gain proficiency in takeoffs, landings and stall recovery
- Enjoy scenic views from altitude
- Satisfaction from enabling others to soar
Look for glider towing jobs at glider flight schools and clubs nationwide. Requirements are typically 100-200 hours with a commercial certificate.
Banner Towing
Companies that fly aerial advertising banners at beaches, stadium events and other public gatherings provide steady towing work opportunities. Banner towing requires skill to safely takeoff and land while towing a large sign.
Benefits of Banner Towing
- Sharpen piloting techniques required for towing
- Fly along popular beaches and events gaining scenic experience
- Relatively low hour requirements to get started
- Steady work tempo at some operators
Search for aerial banner towing companies operating near large metro areas. Expect requirements of around 250 hours total time to get started. Be prepared for vigorous training on banner pickup procedures.
Corporate Aviation
Working as a corporate or charter pilot is an attractive option for rapidly gaining flight hours. Corporate flying involves transporting executives and employees for businesses using light jets and turboprop aircraft. Charter flying provides similar on-demand air taxi services for a wide range of clients.
Benefits of Corporate/Charter Flying
- Rapidly build PIC hours in turbine aircraft
- Gain experience flying to a wide variety of domestic and international destinations
- Opportunities to advance to larger and more complex aircraft
- Attractive schedules at many flight departments
The experience requirements for corporate and charter jobs vary widely based on the size, complexity, and needs of the operation. Larger flight departments and charter companies will require an ATP certification and 1000-1500+ hours for captain positions.
Cargo and Freight Operations
Cargo carriers provide essential transportation solutions for packages and freight across expansive networks. Pilots in cargo operations build valuable hours while supporting global commerce and logistics. There are cargo flying opportunities in piston twins, turboprops, and jets.
Benefits of Cargo Flying
- Rapidly build flight time on scheduled overnight cargo routes
- Gain experience flying large transport category aircraft – jets and turboprops
- Travel to log flight time across states, countries, and continents
- Opportunities to progress to larger long haul cargo jets
Major cargo carriers like FedEx and UPS require an ATP certification and thousands of hours to be eligible for hire. However, pilot jobs at smaller cargo outfits may be obtainable with 500-1500 hours.
Building Time as a Second-in-Command
Before reaching ATP minimums, many pilots looking to quickly build hours take jobs as a Second-in-Command (SIC) pilot at regional airlines. Time spent as SIC or First Officer counts fully towards flight time requirements.
Benefits of Flying as SIC
- Build flight hours rapidly with a major airline
- Gain invaluable experience in advanced jet aircraft
- Structured training and mentorship from experienced captains
- Opportunities to upgrade to captain at most regionals
Regional airlines hire pilots with a minimum of around 500 hours for SIC roles. However, many candidates will have 1,000+ hours from flight instructing, corporate flying, or the military.
Part 135 Charter Operations
For pilots looking to transition to the airlines, Part 135 on-demand charter flying provides an opportunity to quickly amass flight hours while gaining experience in turbine powered aircraft. Reaching 1,500 hours can be achieved in 1-2 years for full time charter pilots.
Benefits of Part 135 Charter Flying
- Rapidly build flight time to meet airline minimums
- Gain experience required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate
- Operate turboprop and entry level jets like the Cessna Citation
- Flexible work schedule with high flight hour potential
Look for charter pilot opportunities at established on-demand operators nationwide. Requirements range from 250 hours for turboprop SIC to 500-1,000+ hours for captain roles in light jets.
Federal Contract Flying
Government agencies like the Department of the Interior (DOI) contract aircraft and pilots for essential services like firefighting, wildlife surveys, infrastructure patrols, and passenger transport. These federal contract flying jobs provide stable work and flight time.
Benefits of Federal Contract Flying
- Build flight hours on contract routes and services for government agencies
- Opportunities to gain seaplane, tailwheel and mountain flying experience
- Travel to interesting destinations across the United States
- Stable flight schedule during contract seasons
Check USAJobs.gov for federal contract pilot opportunities. Experience requirements vary based on the agency, aircraft type, and mission specifics. 500-1,000+ hours are typical minimums.
Tips for Efficiently Building 1500 Hours
Here are some key tips for reaching 1,500 flight hours as efficiently as possible:
- Become a CFI – Instructing is likely the fastest way to build hours early in your career
- Fly often – Maximize your flights per month without sacrificing safety
- Fly longer flights – Choose trips that meet your needs but also efficiently boost hours
- Gain diverse experience – Pursue jobs offering new skills that set you apart
- Consider corporate flying – Corporate or charter flying can help rapidly build flight time
- Have a plan – Create a strategy tailored to your specific needs and goals
Conclusion
Aspiring airline and corporate pilots are faced with the challenge of accumulating 1,500 flight hours. While it’s not easy, opportunities abound to efficiently gain experience by flight instructing, towing gliders, flying tours, building turbine PIC, and more. With hard work and a smart strategy, reaching 1,500 hours is an achievable goal on the path to an airline or corporate aviation career.
