Taking a look at the American Airlines OO-AAL aircraft, I can say this is one of the most beautiful as well as most complex flying machines. The advancement in technology has made flying a relatively easy task. But have you ever wondered what are the factors that determine your salary as an airline pilot? And why do we hate turbulence?
The average salary for an American Airlines pilot is approximately $156,000 per year. This includes their base salary and any additional bonuses they may receive.
The base salary of a pilot is determined by their experience level and is calculated on a monthly basis. The minimum salary for first-year pilots is $8,500 per month and increases to $12,000 per month after 5 years of service.
Pilots may also receive additional compensation based on the number of hours flown in a given month, which is usually referred to as “flight pay.” This can be anywhere from $200-$800 per hour depending on how many hours were spent flying that month.
Finally, certain airlines offer bonuses for pilots who fly long-haul flights or perform other tasks such as training new pilots or supervising the training of new flight attendants.
Salary for american airlines pilot
Flying internationally as a pilot for the American Airlines company is a demanding job, but it also allows you to travel around the world, potentially enabling you to earn some additional money for your extended flight time. While qualifications can vary among different airlines, working for this major airline requires that you already have significant experience as a private and commercial pilot, such as meet medical requirements and have a thorough understanding of a plane’s components, safe flying procedures and government regulations. While flying internationally means that you have longer work hours and more time away from home, an international pilot’s salary for American Airlines is very generous, and includes bonuses for these extended shifts, as well as significant pay increases based on experience.
Job Description
Whether flying across the United States or internationally, an American Airlines pilot’s job description goes beyond taking off, navigating the plane along the scheduled route and then landing at the destination. It also includes understanding physics, math, the plane’s components and aerodynamics to ensure the plane is safe to fly in different conditions. Common tasks include operating instruments in the cockpit, keeping in contact with air traffic control, checking the plane’s weight and fuel supply, and having quick reactions to make important decisions that ensure the plane can fly and land safely if the weather becomes bad or some malfunction occurs. Since an airline pilot career requires that you can intensely focus and make decisions quickly, being an observant problem solver is important for safely flying.
Education Requirements
Becoming an a pilot for American Airlines requires a bachelor’s degree, pilot training, licensure and mandatory flight hours. Common fields of study include aviation, aeronautical engineering and aeronautical science, although American Airlines allows the degree to be in any subject. Aspiring pilots also complete flight training and obtain a series of licenses, starting with a student pilot license and progressing to obtain credentials to work as a private pilot and commercial pilot; this enables them to gain around the 1,500 mandatory flight hours for obtaining an airline transport pilot certificate to work at an airline. Other requirements for this airline include being at least 23 years old, having excellent vision, having a permit to operate radio communication equipment and passing background checks and screenings.
How much American Airline pilots make on international flights includes their salary along with bonuses they receive for international travel and time spent away from their homes. While it did not differentiate between pilots who flew domestically and internationally, PayScale.com reported in May 2018 that pilots, copilots and flight engineers working for American Airlines made a median salary of $157,143, meaning half of them earned more and half earned less. It listed their salaries ranged between $64,252 and $262,358 a year. With added bonuses (such as for extended flight time) and profit sharing, their total pay fell between $40,851 and $477,003. Indeed.com also reported an average salary of $152,461 for American Airlines pilots in April 2018.
Industry
Most American Airlines pilots work for major airports where they fly scheduled routes domestically or internationally. They may be a copilot or the main pilot for the flight and work with other crew members to ensure a safe flight. Working as an airline pilot flying internationally involves fatigue, because of the extended flight time and focus needed to safely navigate the plane for potentially thousands of miles. As a result, pilots must comply with hour requirements for resting and working to ensure safety. International flights can require you to be away from your family for multiple days at a time, and pilot schedules can vary, based on how long you’ve worked for the airline, including different days off each week.
Years of Experience
In addition to earning more money for their extended time in the air on international routes, American Airlines uses a pay scale system that enables pilots to make lot more money with experience, allowing them to earn a six-figure income as they gain tenure with the airline. While it didn’t report these figures specifically for American Airlines, PayScale.com showed how much airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers made on average by experience as of May 2018:
- 0 to 5 years: $69,000
- 5 to 10 years: $91,000
- 10 to 20 years: $129,000
- 20 or more years: $197,000
Job Growth Trend
Since planes have become capable of carrying more passengers on a single flight, this has caused airline and commercial pilot job growth to slow, at an expected rate of 4 percent rate between 2016 and 2026, according to the BLS. While airlines will need fewer new pilots because of this increased efficiency, airline retirement requirements will create openings to replace aging pilots. You can expect the greatest competition for jobs at major airlines like American Airlines, while you can have a better chance at entry-level piloting work for smaller regional airlines.
