Jobs after commercial pilot license

After obtaining a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), pilots have a variety of career opportunities available to them, ranging from flying smaller aircraft to operating large commercial jets. The CPL allows pilots to be compensated for their services, which opens the door to numerous job options in both the private and commercial aviation sectors.

1. Airline Pilot

One of the most sought-after career paths for CPL holders is becoming an airline pilot. However, to fly large commercial jets, pilots typically need to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), which requires additional training and experience. Many pilots start their careers in lower-level commercial aviation jobs and work their way up to airline positions.

Types of airline pilot jobs:

First Officer (Co-Pilot): In most commercial airlines, CPL holders initially start as first officers, assisting the captain in operating the aircraft. This role involves taking turns with the captain for the flight and learning more about the airline's operations.
Captain: After gaining sufficient experience and hours, first officers can advance to captain positions, responsible for the overall operation of the flight.

2. Charter Pilot

Charter pilots fly on-demand flights for individuals or organizations. These flights are often non-scheduled and can involve flying smaller aircraft to locations not typically served by commercial airlines.

Private Jet Charter: Pilots can work for private jet charter companies, flying wealthy individuals or business executives to various destinations.
Corporate Aviation: Some companies operate their own aircraft for employee travel and may hire CPL holders to operate their planes.

3. Flight Instructor

A CPL holder can become a flight instructor, teaching aspiring pilots how to fly. This is one of the most common career paths for pilots with a CPL, as it allows them to accumulate flight hours, gain valuable teaching experience, and often provides flexible schedules.

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI): A CFI license is required to teach students at a flight school, and many pilots use this role to build the hours needed for more advanced flying jobs, such as those in airlines or corporate aviation.

4. Cargo Pilot

Cargo pilots are responsible for transporting goods instead of passengers. These roles are typically for larger cargo planes but can also involve smaller aircraft for less than cargo-load operations.

Freight and Air Cargo: Many pilots work for companies like FedEx, UPS, or other cargo carriers, flying dedicated cargo aircraft on scheduled routes or non-scheduled routes to transport goods globally.

5. Agricultural Pilot (Aerial Application Pilot)

Agricultural pilots fly aircraft equipped with specialized equipment to perform tasks such as spraying crops with pesticides or fertilizers. This is a specialized job that requires additional training for working in agricultural aviation.

Job tasks include:

Crop Dusting: Spraying chemicals or fertilizers on agricultural fields.
Seeding and Aerial Fertilizing: Using aircraft to plant seeds or spread fertilizers across large fields.

6. Banner Towing

Pilots can fly aircraft that tow advertising banners or other promotional materials over beaches, sports events, or other public venues. This is typically seasonal work and may not be as lucrative as other aviation jobs, but it offers opportunities for CPL holders to fly and build hours.

7. Survey and Patrol Pilot

Survey pilots are hired by companies to conduct aerial surveys, mapping, or monitoring tasks.

Aerial Surveys: These include land surveying, geological surveys, or environmental monitoring.
Pipeline or Powerline Patrols: Pilots may be hired to fly along power lines or pipelines to inspect for damage, conduct repairs, or monitor maintenance needs.

8. Government Pilot

Many governmental agencies employ pilots to perform tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting, and more. These positions often require specific training in the respective field, such as:

Law Enforcement: Flying police or customs patrols to monitor areas for illegal activities.
Search and Rescue: Assisting in rescue operations, flying aircraft to reach stranded individuals or disaster areas.
Firefighting: Flying planes or helicopters to drop water or fire retardant on wildfires.

9. Helicopter Pilot

A CPL-H (Commercial Pilot License for Helicopters) enables pilots to fly helicopters for various purposes such as emergency medical services (EMS), search and rescue, and private or commercial operations.

Opportunities for helicopter pilots include:

EMS (Emergency Medical Services): Pilots transport patients, medical teams, and equipment to and from hospitals.
Tourism: Many cities offer helicopter tours, providing CPL pilots an opportunity to work in tourism.
Oil Rig Support: Helicopter pilots transport crew and supplies to and from offshore oil rigs.

10. Government Aviation Contract Pilot

In some cases, CPL pilots can work under government contracts for specific aviation needs. This may include flying for the military, firefighting contracts, or assisting with government surveillance programs.

11. Air Ambulance Pilot

Air ambulance services transport sick or injured patients by air. These pilots typically fly helicopters or smaller planes to rapidly respond to emergency medical calls, often involving critical care during transport.

12. Test Pilot

Experienced commercial pilots may become test pilots for aviation manufacturers or government agencies, flying aircraft that are in development or undergoing modifications to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. This role is highly specialized and requires significant expertise.

Building Hours and Experience

For pilots with a CPL, building flight hours is a crucial part of advancing their careers. Many pilots use entry-level jobs like flight instructing, banner towing, or aerial surveying to accumulate hours and gain experience for higher-paying and more prestigious positions such as airline pilot or corporate aviation.

Conclusion

The Commercial Pilot License (CPL) opens up a broad spectrum of career opportunities in the aviation industry. From flying for airlines to flying agricultural planes, cargo aircraft, or providing flight instruction, there are various paths that CPL holders can follow based on their interests and career goals. Building flight hours, gaining specialized training, and pursuing advanced ratings (such as Instrument Rating (IR) or Multi-Engine Rating) can further increase career prospects and lead to more advanced roles in aviation.

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