Commercial Pilot Jobs in Oklahoma
Cities in Oklahoma with Aviation Schools:
- Ada
- Altus
- Ardmore
- Bartlesville
- Bethany
- Bixby
- Blanchard
- Broken Arrow
- Chickasha
- Choctaw
- Claremore
- Coweta
- Del City
- Duncan
- Durant
- Edmond
- El Reno
- Elk City
- Enid
- Glenpool
- Guthrie
- Guymon
- Jenks
- Lawton
- Mcalester
- Miami
- Midwest City
- Moore
- Muskogee
- Mustang
- Newcastle
- Norman
- Oklahoma City
- Okmulgee
- Owasso
- Ponca City
- Poteau
- Pryor Creek
- Sand Springs
- Sapulpa
- Shawnee
- Stillwater
- Tahlequah
- The Village
- Tulsa
- Wagoner
- Warr Acres
- Weatherford
- Woodward
- Yukon
Commercial Pilot Jobs Oklahoma

Oklahoma Commercial Pilot Salary - How Much Do Commercial Pilots Make?
Commercial Pilot Benefits

Depending on the company you work for, as a commercial pilot you may be eligible to receive health insurance, life insurance, and disability benefits, along with retirement plans and "per diem" pay for longer trips, but these benefits are fairly rare for most commercial pilot jobs.
Seniority Affects Pay
As a new commercial pilot, you can expect to make entry level pay, fly older, less sophisticated aircraft, and fly less desirable routes and schedules. New commercial pilots typically must "pay their dues" in this role in order to accumulate the required hours to apply for better jobs and move up the career ladder into higher paying jobs. Get more information about commercial pilot training.
Pilot Training - What you need to know to fly for a living

Commercial pilots with two years of college or more have an advantage over pilots with only a high school diploma. However, many operations do hire pilots with only a high school education. Pilots who have degrees in aviation-related fields like aeronautics have a better chance of landing a job. If you want to become a commercial pilot, there are two routes to take: military or civilian training. Military training is only a viable option for people with top grades and a four year degree, as competition for military flying slots is fierce, to say the least. The majority of new commercial pilot training occurs at flight schools, flight academies, and colleges with flight training programs.
Where to Find Commercial Pilot Training Near Oklahoma
Most schools, academies, and colleges offer pilot training for people with no experience. These programs will have a base price for earning all the required licenses and ratings to become a commercial pilot and begin building your flight hours to find a job. Keep in mind that the quoted price is for people who progress at the "average" rate, so the price can go lower or higher, depending on your personal progress.
Building Commercial Pilot Hours

Since you will need to build flight hours after earning your licenses and ratings, it's important to find a flight school or academy that offers jobs to its graduates. This way, assuming you are professional in your approach to flying and the flight training environment, you are virtually assured of having your first "commercial pilot" job after graduation, and have a chance to build those flight hours and experience you need to move on to your next position. Learn about commercial pilot jobs.
As a commercial pilot, you will be required to take additional training and check rides periodically, depending on the type of operation you work for, and the type of aircraft being flown. Ongoing training is a reality for all commercial pilots.
FAA - A History of Airplane Structures Facts for Oklahoma
There are five major stresses to which all aircraft are subjected: Bending. Bending stress is a combination of compression and tension. The rod in Figure 1-14E has been shortened (compressed) on the inside of the bend and stretched on the outside of the bend. A single member of the structure may be subjected to a combination of stresses. In most cases, the structural members are designed to carry end loads rather than side loads. They are designed to be subjected to tension or compression rather than bending.
Aviation Facts - High-Speed Aerodynamics
Listed below are a range of conditions that are encountered by aircraft as their designed speed increases. Subsonic conditions occur for Mach numbers less than one (100–350 mph). For the lowest subsonic conditions, compressibility can be ignored. As the speed of the object approaches the speed of sound, the flight Mach number is nearly equal to one, M = 1 (350–760 mph), and the flow is said to be transonic. At some locations on the object, the local speed of air exceeds the speed of sound. Compressibility effects are most important in transonic flows and lead to the early belief in a sound barrier. Flight faster than sound was thought to be impossible. In fact, the sound barrier was only an increase in the drag near sonic conditions because of compressibility effects. Because of the high drag associated with compressibility effects, aircraft are not operated in cruise conditions near Mach 1. Supersonic conditions occur for numbers greater than Mach 1, but less than Mach 3 (760–2,280mph). Compressibility effects of gas are important in the design of supersonic aircraft because of the shockwaves that are generated by the surface of the object. For high supersonic speeds, between Mach 3 and Mach 5 (2,280–3,600 mph), aerodynamic heating becomes a very important factor in aircraft design. For speeds greater than Mach 5, the flow is said to be hypersonic. At these speeds, some of the energy of the object now goes into exciting the chemical bonds which hold together the nitrogen and oxygen molecules of the air. At hypersonic speeds, the chemistry of the air must be considered when determining forces on the object. When the space shuttle re-enters the atmosphere at high hypersonic speeds, close to Mach 25, the heated air becomes an ionized plasma of gas, and the spacecraft must be insulated ted from the extremely high temperatures.
Commercial Pilot Jobs Oklahoma
Commercial Pilot License - Which License and Ratings Will You Need?
To become a commercial pilot in Oklahoma, you need to be at least 18 years old (although you can earn your private pilot's license at 17, you must be 18 or older to get your commercial pilot license) and get at least a third class FAA medical certificate. The medical certificate ensures that you are in good overall health, have good vision (corrected or uncorrected is okay) and don't have any disabilities which could affect your ability to fly, although the FAA may grant a waiver for individual cases. Learn about commercial pilot jobs.
List of Licenses and Ratings
Commercial pilots typically hold some or all of the following licenses, ratings, and certificates, depending on the operation:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Medical First Class - Certificate
- Private Pilot - License
- Commercial Pilot - License
- Instrument Pilot - Rating
- Multi-Engine - Rating
- Type Rating - Rating specific to the type of aircraft being flown, if necessary
The Road to a Commercial Pilot License
The first license you earn is private pilot. Next, most people get their instrument rating, and then go on to the commercial pilot license. Some operations don't require an instrument rating. However, possessing the rating is always beneficial both for piloting skills and getting jobs. If you'll be flying multi-engine aircraft (and you probably will), you'll need to earn a multi-engine rating, and, if flying larger aircraft (over 12,500 pounds gross weight) or turbo jet aircraft, you'll also need a type rating for that specific model or family of aircraft. Many companies offer type rating training specifically for this purpose. Get more information on commercial pilot training.
Oklahoma Commercial Pilot License Tests
Most, but not all, FAA licenses and ratings require that you pass written, oral, and practical (check ride) tests given by approved testing centers and designated examiners.
Accelerated Flight Training - Condensed training helps pilots retain info, earn more ratings, and get jobs
No matter how you look at it, flight training is a lengthy process. There are many new things to learn and hundreds of flight hours to gain. When it comes down to it, flight training can only be condensed so much before it bumps up against regulations. This presents a bit of a problem to someone looking to start a career in aviation. Training costs money, but it's going to be a while before flying will pay. So what's the best solution? Accelerated training. Accelerated flight training offers some notable benefits including being good for career pilots, quick progression through ratings, and increased job placement opportunities. Great for Career Pilots
Accelerated training is great for career pilots. It allows the student to condense their training into a few weeks or months rather than years. This works by allowing the student to fly multiple lessons per week while also taking consolidated ground school. The nature of the training typically demands the student train like a full-time job--eight hours a day, five days a week. This is great for someone who's looking to get started with a career in the quickest amount of time. It's unfortunately not so great for someone who can't devote more than a few hours per week.
Most accelerated training programs function similarly to military training in that students alternate between flying and classroom instruction before entering a phase of longer flights. Some accelerated programs even dispatch students and aircraft on a series of long flights that are intended to provide a large amount of flight time and allow the student a more varied cross-country experience.
Quick Progression Through Ratings
This type of training is primarily designed to fast track students to ratings. Rather than taking six months to obtain a private pilot certificate or an instrument rating, it can take as little as fourteen days. How can you take something that takes six months and effectively learn it in fourteen days? Attend ground school and flight training eight hours per day. The bottom line on all flight training is the more you do it, the more you retain. Accelerated programs are based on this concept and their success stems from the fact that their students are immersed in flying so much that they can't help but learn.
Job Placement Opportunities
Most of the larger accelerated flight training schools offer job placement to graduates. They have agreements with some airlines and often directly offer employment to some of the graduates. This is a great asset to someone looking to break into the aviation career field. When considering job placement agreements, some schools offer actual job placements while some offer guaranteed interviews. Either is better than nothing no matter how you look at it. It's debatable, but the single biggest employer of many accelerated flight training program graduates is often the schools offering the programs. After all, they need flight instructors to teach their students and someone who's familiar with the program is a great asset.
As you can see, for someone trying to launch into an aviation career, accelerated flight training has a number of benefits. Even people that are just trying to get several ratings at once can benefit from an accelerated program. So if you're looking for a flying career and you have time to devote to training, consider an accelerated program.
Helicopter Facts for Broken Arrow
On twin-rotor craft the rotors spin in opposite directions, so their reactions cancel each other. The helicopter is propelled in a given direction by inclining the axis of the main rotor in that direction. The helicopter's speed is limited by the fact that if the blades rotate too fast they will produce compressibility effects on the blade moving forward and stall effects on the rearwardmoving blade, at the same time.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Broken Arrow
The bulk of the FAA handbook is on the airframe of aircraft; specifically, the fuselage, booms, nacelles, cowlings, fairings, airfoil surfaces, and landing gear. Also included are the various accessories and controls that accompany these structures. Note that the rotors of a helicopter are considered part of the airframe since they are actually rotating wings. By contrast, propellers and rotating airfoils of an engine on an airplane are not considered part of the airframe.
Helicopter Facts for Edmond
Helicopters have been widely adopted by the military since their first appearance during the Korean War. During the Vietnam War, they became the preferred platforms for transporting troops and evacuating wounded; in the Persian Gulf conflict helicopter gunships provided air cover for advancing tanks.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Edmond
The airframe of a fixed-wing aircraft consists of five principal units: the fuselage, wings, stabilizers, flight control surfaces, and landing gear. Helicopter airframes consist of the fuselage, main rotor and related gearbox, tail rotor (on helicopters with a single main rotor), and the landing gear.
Fun Helicopter Facts for Enid To Share With Friends
British singerJay Kayalso owns an R44 (registry code G-JKAY), which he pilots in the music video to the songWhite Knuckle Ride.
That if the engine stops, the helicopter rotor continues to spin allowing the machine to slowly land, generally without crashing to the ground.
Since around 400 BC, Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys, and the 4th-century AD Daoist book Baopuzi reportedly describes some of the ideas inherent to rotary wing aircraft
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Enid
Aircraft structural members are designed to carry a load or to resist stress. In designing an aircraft, every square inch of wing and fuselage, every rib, spar, and even each metal fitting must be considered in relation to the physical characteristics of the material of which it is made. Every part of the aircraft must be planned to carry the load to be imposed upon it.
Helicopter Facts for Lawton
Best known among its developers are the French inventor Louis Breguet and the engineers Igor Sikorsky of the United States and Juan de la Cierva of Spain. The helicopter has become very popular for short-distance transportation, because of its maneuverability and ability to land and take off in small areas; it has been adopted for a wide range of services, including air-sea rescue, fire fighting, traffic control, oil platform resupply, and business transportation.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Lawton
The most common aircraft is the fixed-wing aircraft. As the name implies, the wings on this type of flying machine are attached to the fuselage and are not intended to move independently in a fashion that results in the creation of lift. One, two, or three sets of wings have all been successfully utilized. [Figure 1-12] Rotary-wing aircraft such as helicopters are also widespread. This handbook discusses features and maintenance aspects common to both fixed wing and rotary-wing categories of aircraft. Also, in certain cases, explanations focus on information specific to only one or the other. Glider airframes are very similar to fixed wing aircraft. Unless otherwise noted, maintenance practices described for fixed-wing aircraft also apply to gliders.
Fun Helicopter Facts for Midwest City
Chilean president Sebastin Piera owns one of these choppers, and has made several public appearances flying it. Since 2002, Belgian Prince Philippe flies a red R44 for personal leisure, with the uniqueregistry code OO-PFB, which stands for Prins Filip Belgi.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Midwest City
The skin of aircraft can also be made from a variety of materials, ranging from impregnated fabric to plywood, aluminum, or composites. Under the skin and attached to the structural fuselage are the many components that support airframe function. The entire airframe and its components are joined by rivets, bolts, screws, and other fasteners. Welding, adhesives, and special bonding techniques are also used.
Helicopter Facts for Moore
In 1937 German designer Heinrich Focke built an aircraft with two huge variable pitch rotors instead of wings and achieved a controlled hover. Months later, German Anton Flettner built the first true helicopter.
If the engine of the helicopter stops, the rotor continues to spin allowing the machine to slowly land, generally without crashing to the ground.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Moore
Airframe structural components are constructed from a wide variety of materials. The earliest aircraft were constructed primarily of wood. Steel tubing and the most common material, aluminum, followed. Many newly certified aircraft are built from molded composite materials, such as carbon fiber. Structural members of an aircraft’s fuselage include stringers, longerons, ribs, bulkheads, and more. The main structural member in a wing is called the wing spar.
Fun Helicopter Facts for Norman No One WIll Know But You!
Helicopter is a type of aircraft in which lift is obtained by means of one or more power-driven horizontal propellers called rotors. When the rotor of a helicopter turns it produces reaction torque which tends to make the craft spin also. On most helicopters a small rotor near the tail compensates for this torque.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Norman
An aircraft is a device that is used for, or is intended to be used for, flight in the air. Major categories of aircraft are airplane, rotorcraft, glider, and lighter-than-air vehicles. Each of these may be divided further by major distinguishing features of the aircraft, such as airships and balloons. Both are lighter-than-air aircraft but have differentiating features and are operated differently.
Helicopter Facts for Oklahoma City
TheRobinson R44is a four-seat lighthelicopterproduced by theRobinson Helicopter Companysince 1992. Based on the companys two-placeRobinson R22, the R44 features hydraulically-assisted flight controls.
In the early 1930's, Arthur Young, a brilliant young inventor, built and successfully demonstrated a viable, flyable helicopter model. Larry Bell, a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Bell Aircraft Corporation was so impressed with Young's efforts that in 1941 he set the youthful inventor up in a small shop in Gardenville, New York
Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Oklahoma City
The Ditching and Dunker trainer simulates a downed helicopter. Candidates undergo two-day training sessions that teach them how to escape from a helicopter that crashes and lands in water.
Modern Day Military Pilot Training: Army pilots start with flight school and move on to basic combat training. The Air Force's basic pilot training covers 12 weeks and Marine pilots undergo two phases of basic flight training. After basic training, pilots continue with helicopter-specific training. All branches also require the applicant to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
Fun Helicopter Facts for Stillwater
Helicopters can be flown across oceans if additional fuel is made available or in-flight refueling is employed.
Myth: Helicopters will drop like a rock when the engine shuts down. In fact, you have a better chance at surviving in a helicopter when the engine fails than you do in an airplane.
It was not until the early 1480s, when Leonardo da Vinci created a design for a machine that could be described as an aerial screw, that any recorded advancement was made towards vertical flight.
Facts of Fort Richardson
U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK), a subordinate element of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). The organization, commanded by a Brigadier General, provides USARPAC with focused, early entry battle command capability and acts as the Joint Force Land Component Commander for homeland defense and civil support in Alaska. USARAK's mission is to be prepared to deploy rapidly in the Pacific theater and elsewhere in support of contingency operations, USPACOM objectives
Helicopter Facts for Tulsa
Since Bell Aircraft Corporation's reputation for helicopter manufacture began to rival its reputation as a builder of conventional aircraft, the company created a separate helicopter division which was headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Today, with Bell helicopters flying in more than 120 different countries, they are logging another ten hours every minute of every day. And by 1951, Bell helicopters were in service around the world, breaking records as fast as they were setting them.
FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Tulsa
Many airframe structures are made of more than 50 percent advanced composites, with some airframes approaching 100 percent. The term “very light jet” (VLJ) has come to describe a new generation of jet aircraft made almost entirely of advanced composite materials. [Figure 1-10] It is possible that non-composite aluminum aircraft structures will become obsolete as did the methods and materials of construction used by Cayley, Lilienthal, and the Wright Brothers.