What kind of planes do commercial pilots fly?

What kind of planes do commercial pilots fly?

A commercial pilot license is not restricted to any particular plane. That is why we cannot provide you with a short answer to the question of what kind of planes do commercial pilots fly.

A commercial pilot license works a bit like getting a taxi driver’s license. The taxi driver’s license allows you to get paid driving a taxi. The commercial pilot license allows you to get paid to fly a plane.

Of course, airplanes are more complex than cars. That is why pilots often undergo specific training before they can operate a particular complex airplane.

What is a type-rating?

A type-rating is basically a course that focuses on a particular airplane.

A type-rating usually involves a ground school part and a simulator part. Depending on the level of the simulator and type of plane, you conduct a short flight in the actual aircraft (a few consecutive landings).

What is the cost of a type-rating and how long does it take?

A type rating usually takes about 2 months to complete. Price varies, but usually the cost of a type-rating range from 20.000 – 30.000 USD for most commercial aircraft that airlines use for short-haul. Some biz-jets planes can be very expensive to get a type rating. The cost of a type-rating could be even higher. If you complete a type rating for a B737, there are different variants you can go for. For example, there is the 737 classic and the 737 new generation (NG). If you want to jump from the classic variant to the NG variant it is not a full type rating again. A short conversion course is possible. Same thing with the Airbus family.

If you want to go from a short-haul aircraft to a long-haul aircraft, let’s say a move from a B737 to a B787, then this would require a full new type rating.

Is the A380 harder to fly than the B747?

The A380 and the B747 are long-haul aircraft. Historically it is very rare that pilots start on a long-haul aircraft.

Many will probably claim that the A380 is easier to fly than the B747.

Flying Airbus or Boeing can almost be like religion. Most pilots really like the type of plane they fly. Generally, and we may get in trouble for stating this, Airbus is probably an easier and (from a pilot view) more enjoyable office.

Airbus vs Boeing

Airbus airplanes are generally a lot more automatic than Boeing planes. The exception is probably something like the B787 and its rival the A350. Both are full of the latest technology and it is hard to pick a winner. The “old school pilot” would perhaps more enjoy Boeing than Airbus and claim that Boeing requires a lot more “hands on flying”. The truth is, in our view, that both Boeing and Airbus produce great planes. As we said, it can quickly turn out to be like talking about religion, so we better leave it high-level.

So if the A380 is easy to fly how come you don’t get to fly it as your first type?

You will, in our view, not find any regulations preventing you from flying the A380 (apart from maybe the experience requirement in the US to fly for an airline). The answer is probably more down to prestige, pay, and safety in regards to a long-haul operation. If you want to find out more about why pilots usually don’t start their career flying long-haul read this post.

If you feel you need a little help

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Happy landings

Ask A Pilot