Airline Career Pilot Program

near Plainfield, IL


Looking For a Career as an Airline Pilot?

Look no further than JA Flight!

You won't easily find a more satisfying and exciting career than being a professional airline pilot. It's a job in high demand with good pay. Not many people can say they get to fly huge airplanes or helicopters for a living! Plus, once you have your pilot's license, you'll get to travel to awesome places, and once you're established, you can pick the flights you want and make your own schedule!

Many are drawn to the cool lifestyle of being a pilot, but they might not know where to start. Don't worry, though! Reach out to JA Flight to learn if becoming a pilot is right for you. You might be surprised how doable this career actually is!

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Choose Your Starting Point

Choose Your Starting Point

Routes to Become a Career Airline Pilot

Becoming an airline pilot is a road that starts with getting your Private, Instrument and Commercial Pilot ratings. Once completed with these ratings students typically have 250 - 300 of total flight time. The requirement to fly "jets" is 1500 total hours.... how do you get there?


Our accelerated path to Southern is one way and the other is becoming a Certified Flight Instructor. JA Flight Training offers all Instructor ratings and hires our Instructors from from within.

From Zero Experience

Start your career pilot journey by earning your pilot's license.

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From Private Pilot Certificate

Already have your pilot's license? Jump into our career airline pilot program.

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Airline Pilot Salary:
How Much Do Pilots Make?

Before committing to an airline career pilot school, many people want to know how much pilots make. It’s a reasonable question since you will have loans to pay back or have to come up with your tuition upfront.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for airline and commercial pilots at $134,630 as of 2021. While it will take time and experience to reach this level, a good program will help you get there. It’s also important to note that the median amount means you can potentially make more depending on your employer, the cost of living in your area, and tenure.

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Requirements To Become an Airline Pilot

To become an airline pilot, you must first enroll in a school certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You will start by obtaining a private pilot's license and progress to a commercial license while also earning instrument and multi-engine ratings. This requires both ground schooling and many hours of flight time with an instructor.


Once you obtain your commercial license, you can begin flying for paid positions in industries such as agriculture and tourism while working toward your final rating, which allows you to fly for commercial airlines. For those with no prior experience, this process typically takes about two years to complete. However, accelerated programs are available for individuals who already hold a pilot's license.


While a bachelor's degree is not mandatory to become an airline pilot, having one may make you a more competitive candidate. The expectations for pilots vary between airlines, with some requiring more experience as a commercial pilot than others.

Explore Our Affiliated Collegiate Programs

Your Local Airline Pilot Program

How To Choose the Right Flight School

Choosing the right flight school is incredibly important if you want to become a professional pilot. It sets the foundation for your whole career. If you're looking for flight schools in Illinois, J.A. Flight Training is a top-notch school for aspiring airline pilots. It's located in Sugar Grove, close to Plainfield, IL.

At J.A. Flight Training, we have excellent instructors and offer various ways to finance your training, so you'll have all the support you need to achieve your dream of becoming a pilot. We also work hard to help our students find job opportunities right after graduation. Whether you want to get a bachelor's degree while training to be a pilot or secure a guaranteed job upon graduation, we have the perfect program for you.

Google Reviews

Achieving and maintaining a consistent record of 5-star reviews demonstrates the school's dedication to delivering top-notch aviation education and creating a supportive environment for students to thrive. 

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"Love training at Ja flight training."

Love training at Ja flight training. Great people and the best instructors. The airplanes are very well maintained, highly recommend.

Faisal Sweiss

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630.549.2152
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