Pilot Internships & Employment in the USA

It is essential for a comprehensive professional pilot flight training program to include a pilot internship opportunity following the completion of flight training. This is crucial because most airlines are reluctant to hire freshly-graduated pilots with only 200 hours of flight time, even if they possess a commercial pilot license and all the necessary ratings. This obstacle poses a significant challenge to the career development of new pilots. To address this issue, our program offers a professional flight instructor internship lasting up to 18 months, during which pilots can increase their flight time from 200 to 1500 hours. They will have the opportunity to accumulate flight experience on both single and multi-engine airplanes, gain initial professional pilot work experience, and obtain excellent references from their employer. Moreover, pilots can recoup a significant portion of their tuition fees through a salary of $20 per flight hour, with the potential to fly up to 80 hours per month.

Upon completion of the initial flight instructor internship, pilots will be provided with another type of career development support: an advanced internship as an international ferry pilot with Global Air BVI Inc. This role involves flying light and medium piston and turboprop airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) under 5700kg, transporting aircraft from dealers in the United States to buyers in other countries across Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. This internship allows pilots to accumulate valuable international cross-country flight time, gain familiarity with different aircraft types, experience flying in international airspace over the Atlantic Ocean, and further enhance their aeronautical expertise. The international ferry pilot internship is also a paid opportunity, with pilots receiving a salary ranging from $250 to $500 per flight day during their journeys. Additionally, our experienced ferry pilots provide free initial training to participants.

Obtainment of permanent employment at the US airlines for a foreign graduate is possible, but it is not an easy and straigh-forward process. To understand why, and get tips on how to streamline the employment process, we recommend that you review our article on the US Employment for International Pilots on EB-1 visa.

At Aerocadet, we take great pride in our students and are committed to equipping them with the necessary skills for success in the aviation industry. Therefore, we have developed two levels of pilot internship programs that are exclusively available to our graduates. Please note that these internship programs are not open to pilots who have graduated from other schools or academies.

Background

Graduates of the fully-integrated airline pilot programs (FPAP-US, FPAP-IND-US, PA-ATP) who complete the training phase as fully-qualified commercial pilots and flight instructors, will be offered opportunity to work as flight instructors at our FTP's flight center in Souther Florida. During this period, students will be able to obtain up to 1500 of flight time, including at least 500 hours of cross-country time, 100 hours of instrument time and 75 hours of night time. Approximately 25% of this flight time will be conducted on multi-engine aircraft. All of the flight time will be logged as PIC (Pilot-In-Command) and conducted in a multi-crew environment. Expected pilot salary is: $20 per flight hour x 80 hours per month. (This internship is optional and is offered as a part of our alumni support program. Pilots can leave internship at any time to peruse their airline interviews).

Alternatively, pilots may opt to complete only 500 hours on CPT part of the internship, and then seek employment as commercial pilots to build turbine time (on such airplanes as King Air or Cessna Caravan, or Shorts 1900, etc) with other charter companies, and get additional turbine 1000 hours. Aerocadet will provide employment placement assistance with this option. Read about building turbine time on F-1 visa OPT here >>>

Internship Acceptance

Upon successfully completing the fully-integrated airline pilot programs (FPAP-US, FPAP-US-IND, PA-ATP), graduates who have obtained the necessary qualifications as commercial pilots and flight instructors will have the opportunity to work as flight instructors at our flight center. This phase offers numerous benefits, including the chance to accumulate up to 1500 hours of flight time, comprising a minimum of 500 hours of cross-country time, 100 hours of instrument time, and 75 hours of night time. Approximately 25% of this flight time will be conducted on multi-engine aircraft. Importantly, all flight time will be logged as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) and carried out within a multi-crew environment. Permanent employment in the United States may be achieved by qualified candidates through EB-1 visa application.

As part of our alumni support program, this flight instructor internship is optional and provides valuable experience and training. Pilots participating in this program can leave at any time to pursue airline interviews as they see fit. Throughout the internship, pilots can expect a competitive salary of $20 per flight hour, with the opportunity to fly up to 80 hours per month.

This internship serves as a significant stepping stone for graduates, enabling them to further enhance their flight experience and skillset while gaining valuable PIC time and multi-crew experience.

Remuneration Package

Salary for this internship will be paid by the FTP directly to Student. Student will be allowed to fly up to 20 hours per week under F-1 visa program at a rate of $20.00 per hour. Hourly rate is subject to change without notice by the FTP.

Term

This internship is limited to 18-24 months or 1500 hours, whichever comes first. The recommended duration is 24 months.

Flight Instructor & Charter Pilot Resume Building Tips

To increase your chances of success when applying for internship positions, it is crucial to have a properly formatted resume that includes relevant information tailored to your employment target. Follow the guidelines below to ensure your resume is acceptable to potential employers in North America:

1. Keep your resume confined to a single page. Even if you have extensive experience, refrain from spreading it across multiple pages. If necessary, employ creative formatting techniques to condense your resume onto one page.

2. In addition to your resume, attach a cover letter that provides a more detailed overview of your skillset, personal abilities, motivations, and experience. Clearly explain why you are specifically applying for an instructor or charter pilot position with the particular company. Ensure that your cover letter does not exceed one page.

3. Include a professional reference letter or employment recommendation letter with every job application. This letter is typically issued by your flight school or another reputable organization that can vouch for your qualifications and suitability for employment. Upon graduation, the FTP and Aerocadet will provide you with such letters. Unlike the resume and cover letter, a recommendation letter does not need to be limited to one page.

Please refer to the provided download for a commonly formatted and worded recommendation letter for a new pilot's first employment.

What you must include in your resume when targeting a North American company:

-	Name, address, email phone number
-	Objective (what position you are applying for)
-	Profile (a brief summary of your skillset, experience and licensing and safety record, nationality, employment authorisation type and duration, etc)
-	Flight experience (summary of your flight hours by flight category and type)
-	List of your flight crew licenses and ratings, type-ratings, medical certificates, etc
-	Relevant work experience (employment history, military service, etc)
-	Education history, including high school, flight school, college, etc
-	Professional Associations (such as AOPA, ALPA, etc)
-	Volunteer work (if any)
-	Additional skills (languages, computer literacy, sports, etc)

 

What you should avoid including in your resume when targeting a North American company:

Photograph	Most companies in North America would not even review a resume containing a photograph of the applicant because such screening may expose them to a number of legal liabilities, including racial bias and ageism. Your professional pilot resume is not a beauty pageant, so your appearance should not matter at all. You will be hired based on your skillset, licenses, safety record and experience.
Date of birth	Again, as stated above, stipulating your DOB will expose comanies to the legal liabilities of ageism (deciding whom to hire or not hire based on their age). In the US and Canada such screening is illegal. Therefore, do not stipulate your DOB in your resume.
Place of birth	Same as above: place of birth should not matter when it comes to hiring you. You will be hired based on your skillset, licenses, safety record and experience - something you could control. Your place of birth was completely outside of your control - so it should not matter to the employer.
Hobbies	Your hobbies are your personal business - the employer should not care about your personal life. You will be hired based on your skillset, licenses, safety record and experience - not your favourite sports.
Political activism	Political views are your personal business, and the employer should not be interested in them. You will be hired based on your skillset, licenses, safety record and experience - not the virtue signalling.

 

You can download a sample aviation resume here:	Sample Aviation Resume
You can download a sample Flight Instructor employment application Cover Letter here:	Sample Instructor Resume Cover
You can download a sample Charter Pilot employment application Cover Letter here:	Charter Pilot Resume Cover
You can download a sample Flight Instructor employment recommendation letter here:	Instructor Recommendation Letter
You can download a sample Charter Pilot employment recommendation letter here:	Charter Pilot Recommendation Letter

 

 

Background

This optional internship course is available to our graduates who wish to continue accumulating valuable flight time and expanding their aviation experience by working as international aircraft delivery pilots for our partner, Global Air BVI Inc. This company specializes in aircraft sales and delivery, catering to international clients across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. As an intern, pilots can expect a salary ranging from $2500 to $4500 per aircraft transfer.

Upon completing the flight instructor internship, students will have the opportunity to partake in an advanced commercial pilot internship. In this role, they will serve as international ferry pilots with Global Air BVI Inc. Throughout this internship, students will be based at their permanent residence and provided with the chance to transfer light single and multi-engine piston and turboprop aircraft, registered under the FAA, from the United States to other regions around the world. Global Air will offer suitable aircraft delivery projects to students based on their experience and requirements, enabling them to work as independent pilot contractors.

Internship Acceptance

In order to qualify for this internship, Student must: [a] have completed the entire flight training program in accordance with the section 7 of this agreement; [b] logged at least 1500 hours of total flight time; [c] hold FAA or Transport Canada CPL or ATPL licenses with single- and multi-engine endorsements and instrument ratings; [d] must have no accidents, incidents, FAA violations, arrests or DUIs.

Remuneration Package

Salary for this internship will be provided after Student completes at least two initial trans-Atlantic crossing under the supervision of a qualified ferry pilot and is found to be proficient in the international route planning and navigation. Thereafter, Student’s salary will be negotiated on case-by-case basis, starting from $250 USD per flight day. [a] Hotel accommodation en route, airline tickets to ferry departure point and from ferry arrival point, as well as daily per diem will be paid by Global Air or the party commissioning a particular ferry project. [b] Ferry flights availability to the Student on week-by-week basis during his/her internship is subject to aircraft type, weather, maintenance issues, route availability, operational requirements and other factors. [c] Personal insurance and documentation, such as valid passport, visas and valid license are sole responsibility of the Student.

Term

This internship is limited to 24 months.

Main Benefits

This internship offers pilots the following benefits

Background

Working in the United States for an airlines requires a special work permit. The following pilots are normally able to secure temporary or permanent employment for the US airlines:

 

 

 

Lets discuss the aforementioned options one-by-one to ensure utmost clarity:

F-1 Visa Holders

F-1 visa holders who have completed a minimum 6-month academic study program in the United States and possess over 1500 flight hours and an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) at the time of program completion, but have not yet started their Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) internships, may be eligible to apply for a 12-month internship with an airline or charter company in the US.

It is important for students to note that if they have already utilized their OPT for time-building programs such as flight instructor internships, they will not be able to extend their OPT to work for airlines. Moreover, it should be understood that internships with airlines are typically temporary, and airlines generally do not sponsor pilots for permanent employment visas such as the H1B visa.

However, in rare cases, certain interns who demonstrate exceptional piloting skills, outstanding academic records, and strong leadership abilities may be sponsored for the EB1 visa category, specifically the EB1 visa for individuals with great piloting ability. It is crucial to emphasize that such cases are fairly uncommon and reserved for the most talented aviators who can demonstrate their contribution to the aviation by writing articles and manual. More about it here >>>

Therefore, while internship opportunities with airlines exist for eligible F-1 visa holders, it is essential to understand the limitations and potential paths for visa sponsorship, considering the rarity of opportunities for permanent employment visas like the H1B and the exceptional criteria required for the EB1 visa. Permanent employment in the United States may be achieved by qualified candidates through EB-1 visa application.

Exceptional pilots on the EB-1 visa

Persons of extraordinary ability (EB-1) may become US PR holders if they can demonstrate, and provide proof furnished by several businesses and individuals that they possess an unusual talent in a required for the economy profession. In fact, such persons do not need an employer to submit a petition to the USCIS on their behalf since they are permitted to “self-petition”. The employer, however, will need to provide recommendation letter with the statement that the candidate has exceptional abilities, with substantial explanation why the employer thinks so.

Also, in addition to employer's reference letters, candidate must also be able to present at least a dozen reference letters from various aviation professionals (flight instructors, airline pilots, etc) stating, on the official record, that they know the candidate personally and that the candidate has demonstrated extraordinary ability as an aviator.

In order to demonstrate the applicant have sustained national or international acclaim and that their achievements have been recognized in their field of expertise, applicant must either include evidence of a one-time achievement (major internationally-recognized award) or 3 of the 10 listed criteria below (or comparable evidence if any of the criteria do not readily apply):

• Evidence of receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence (which may include military air-force/aviator medals, ribbons, commendations and other such awards).
• Evidence of your membership in associations in the field which demand outstanding achievement of their members
• Evidence of published material about you in professional or major trade publications or other major media (pilots or flight instructors who published acclaimed books and manuals).
• Evidence that you have been asked to judge the work of others, either individually or on a panel (could apply to designated flight examiners)
• Evidence of your original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance to the field (again, pilots who have published books and manuals in the aviation or aerospace field)
• Evidence of your authorship of scholarly articles in professional or major trade publications or other major media (may apply to those who have successfully defended their PhD thesis in the aerospace field).
• Evidence that your work has been displayed at artistic exhibitions or showcases (air-show pilots, etc)
• Evidence of your performance of a leading or critical role in distinguished organizations (leader of a pilot union, an aviation organization or a chief pilot of a charter company or an airline)
• Evidence that you command a high salary or other significantly high remuneration in relation to others in the field

Needless to say that the approval rate for such petitions is not 100%. However, there are things that you do in order to dramatically increase your chances of success. Read our Blog for the latest tips >

Experienced pilots on the EB-2 NIW visa

The EB-2 New Immigration program (EB-2 Visa Pilot) is designed for experienced foreign airline pilots wishing to settle in the USA through the National Interest Waiver program. Successful candidates and their qualifying family members are granted an unconditional Green Card (permanent residency status) in the USA in 12 to 16 months. To foster the arrival of qualified professionals into the United States workforce, this specially curated visa program is targeting the need of professionals in areas of national interest. The EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) visa is designed for foreign professionals who have exceptional ability and advanced academic background, such as a pilot. The EB-2 grants legal permanent residency in the United States as it is in the national interest to have more pilots in the United States.

The applicant for EB-2 visa Must meet three of the following criteria listed below:

• At least 10 years of full-time experience as a pilot.
• A license to practice your profession or certification for your profession or occupation.
• Evidence that you have commanded a salary or other remuneration for services that demonstrates your exceptional ability.
• Membership in pilot professional association(s).
• Recognition of achievements and significant contributions to your industry or field by your peers, government entities, professional or business organizations.
• Academic records showing a degree, diploma or certificate related to the aviation industry from a college, university, school or other comparable institutions
• Other comparable evidence (anything that makes your training and/or experience special or noteworthy, including management and/or training duties) *

Most applicants who apply for this visa are very experienced airline pilots from major international airlines (such as Emirates, Cathay, etc) who want to move to the United States and work in the US airlines in order to take advantage of the employment security benefits offered through the complex system of the US pilot labor unions, such as ALPA.

Sponsored pilots on H1B visa

The H1B visa for specialty occupations is similar to the EB2, but requires sponsorship from the employer. At the moment, none of the airlines in the United States sponsor pilots for the H1B; but some major universities may do so, providing that the candidate has studied in the university and worked there as an intern in the field of aviation. Normally, such candidates need to hold an advanced degree from such university in order to secure H1B visa sponsorship.

The pilot occupation in the US airlines currently qualifies for the H1B application, as it requires:

• Theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge; and
• Attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. (most airlines currently do not require a degree for employment, but it is a preferred qualification);

The position must also meet one of the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation:

• Bachelor’s or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the particular position (applies to US airlines as a preference, not a requirement; see below)
• The degree requirement is common to the industry in parallel positions among similar organizations or, in the alternative, the job is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree (applies to all US airlines).
• The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position (applies FedEx only)
• The nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree. (somewhat applies to the employment requirements).

For a pilot to qualify to perform services in a specialty occupation, applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

• Hold a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree required by the specialty occupation from an accredited college or university; or
• Hold a foreign degree that is the equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree required by the specialty occupation from an accredited college or university; or
• Hold an unrestricted state license, registration, or certification that authorizes you to fully practice the specialty occupation and be immediately engaged in that specialty in the state of intended employment (applicable to the FAA ATP holders).

Have education, specialized training, and/or progressively responsible experience that is equivalent to the completion of a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree in the specialty occupation, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty.

So, what are your chances to obtain an H1B visa? It all depends on the personal circumstances and, above all, employer's desire to sponsor you for the position. Such sponsorships are rare.

Australian citizens on the E-3 visa

The E3 visa is designated for the Australian citizens only. It is the easiest and the fastest way to obtain employment as an airline pilot in the US with many airlines. Most budget and cargo airlines, such as Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, Atlas, Kalitta and so on, will accept pilots from Australia on the E3 visa program for indefinite period. The visa is normally good for 2 years, but renewable as many times as requested, hence, it is de facto permanent.

 

The only program that allow students to apply for the aforementioned internships are: