8 Best Things About Being A Regional Airline Pilot

Are you considering a career in the airline industry? Those pilots who’ve completed their airline transport pilot (ATP) license or are well on their way, are entering the field of aviation at the right time. Thanks to a large shortage of pilots, regional carriers are hiring by the thousands, so you may be able to land a high-paying job quickly. But, that’s not the only great part about becoming a regional airline pilot – let’s take a look at some of the things you can look forward to in this exciting job.

Because of the shortage, regional airline pilots are in-demand now more than ever. Major airlines are snatching up all the competent pilots from regional airlines rather than from the military. As such, there are large amounts of hiring happening in order to fill vacancies around the industry. Additionally, regional airlines are enticing new employees with hefty perks. In other words, your value as a skilled pilot likely won’t go unnoticed.

Some rookie pilots are making upwards of $90,000 a year signing on with regional airlines. As such, you’ll be able to afford a comfortable lifestyle, assuming you don’t have crushing debts or a lot of mouths to feed. In the U.S., $90K is in the top 20 percent of earners and should go far with a responsible financial plan in place. From there, it only goes up. If you continue advancing, regional airline captains often make upwards of $125,000, increasing regularly as experience grows.

Outside of flying for work, regional airline pilots do often fly for free or at heavily discounted rates. You might even be able to score free or discounted tickets for family and friends as well. This is just a perk of working for a regional airline, but will depend on things like your employer’s rules, your rank and how busy your schedule is. On your time off, you can travel the world, enjoying new cultures and exotic locations.

Like other specialized professions, you’ll be rewarded with great job benefits, from health care to retirement packages to generous time off. In fact, most junior pilots get around 12 days off per month, while veteran pilots often get several weeks off per month.

At the end of the day, being a regional airline pilot is a customer service job. You’ll be interacting with not only customers and clients from all walks of life, but a talented flight crew and co-pilot. If you’re someone who loves interacting with others, then becoming a regional airline pilot may be the ideal position.

This might go without saying, but being a pilot and flying narrow body planes on short flights throughout the United States is one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world. Everytime you take-off in an airliner will be like the first time you stepped foot in the cockpit – you’ll have an undeniable sense of excitement. Rather than sitting at a desk, your office will be thousands of feet in the sky as you command your craft safely from point A to B.