Questions about how to become a commercial airline pilot

Real World Aviation
1

Hi Infinite Flight Community!
Here I got some questions about how to become an airline pilot in the US

Back ground Info.:
Nationality: People’s Republic of China
Duolingo score: 110
Grade currently: 9 (still studying in China)

  1. As an Chinese, does US have any restrictions?
  2. If I choose the route of studying professional flying degree in college, how should I do to become an airline pilot?
  3. Do US airlines have restirctions of foreigners of becoming airline pilots?
2

Do you want to do your flight training in the US?

If so, you will need a F-1 Visa and there are no “restrictions” per say. But it’s a bit more complicated. Like you need to do a TSA screening, need to read, write,speak, and understand English, for each rating or certificate you’ll need a letter of authorization from TSA I believe, etc.

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3

Hi,
As a prospective (though American) commercial pilot myself, here’s what I know:

  • Most of the major flight schools don’t require any colleges education at all.
  • There are a number of college based flight schools (like the North Dakota State program) that have ties with regional carriers, like Skywest, making it easier to get a job at first.
  • Unless you become a US Citizen, you can study in America by applying for the “Alien Flight School Candidate” program under the TSA.
  • You must prove you’re fluent in English, both oral and written.

Of course, there is more nuance to it then this, but this is the bare minimum of what you must do to study in the United States to become a pilot as a foreign citizen.

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Hi, thanks for your information!
Currently I persoanlly believe I do not have any huge issue in speaking and writing in English. My plan for the future will be applying for a college based flight school in 12th grade.

5

Thanks for your information! It really helps me a lot with realizing my dream of becoming an airline pilot in US!

6

Have you tried looking at some of the cadet programmes with local Chinese airlines? I know here in Hong Kong we have Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines sending you to Australia or the US for training, but you have to be a PR. Is there anything similar in China?

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7

nah, I would want to become a pilot for US airlines

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8

I understand that, but I think to start out cadet programmes are the best way, once you have experience and knowledge US airlines will be more willing to hire someone who is not from the US. Because there are certain requirements for the sponsorship of a work visa and things like that.

9

A lot of the airlines in the US won’t sponsor.

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10

Even if you are coming in at a high level?

11

To my understanding they won’t.

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12

Good thing I am not aiming for the US then haha

13

What do you mean “major flight schools?” Do you mean major airlines? The no-degree-required to be a commercial airline pilot is still incredibly new in the industry due to the pilot shortage and having a degree is still heavily encouraged (and a good idea, in case being a pilot becomes impossible due to medical/other disqualifications).

North Dakota State doesn’t have a flight program 🙂 The University of North Dakota does, though (source: am attending the school), and we have ties not only with SkyWest but United, Delta, Frontier, SunCountry, and more.

This is accurate.

If you’re not sure of your answer or are taking a fairly strong guess, please don’t post it (or at least include a disclaimer) especially on threads like these where folks are looking for an accurate and helpful answer. Notice how I didn’t quote your third point because I don’t know what the proper answer to that is.

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Hi I would like to hear further information about this, if you can tell me about it, I will be very appreciate with it. :)

15

I mean by that all the major airline schools and most of the larger private schools. This requirement was dropped coming out of the Pandemic due to pilot shortages. It is still encouraged to get a degree, and looks amazing on your application.

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