How to become a Pilot with Delta Air Lines 2025

Assuming that you already hold a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), to become a pilot with Delta Air Lines, you should meet the following minimum requirements:

• At least 23 years of age.
• Graduate of a four-year degree program from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization.
  • Degrees obtained from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
• Current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple reentry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents).
• FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument – Airplane.
• Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate.
• All aeronautical experience requirements for an ATP, Airplane category rating, as set forth in 14 CFR §61.159.
• Current ATP written exam.
• Minimum of 1,500 hours of total documented flight time.
• Minimum of 1,000 hours of fixed wing turbine time (airplane and powered lift combined).
• Minimum of 250 hours PIC or SIC as defined in 14 CFR §61.159(a)(5) in an airplane category.
• Minimum of 50 hours of multi-engine airplane time.

You must also take note that Delta Air Lines nearly always hires pilots with well above 1,500 hours. Valuable attributes are something they consider like: quality, quantity, recency, and verifiability of training; the complexity of aircraft flown; types of flight operations experienced; and hours flown as PIC (pilot-in-charge) in turbine-powered aircraft.

To give you an overview of its training process for newly-hired pilots, from start to recurrent, please refer to the below:

• Intensive two-day interview

1. 1. 1. Includes face-to-face interviews, technical knowledge evaluations, psychological evaluations, record reviews, and cognitive skills tests.

• Pilot Indoctrination

1. 1. 1. Hired pilots undergo a two-week indoctrination process that is predominantly classroom-based. The course lays the foundation for operational and administrative policies, cultural immersion, familiarization with Delta manuals, emergency procedures training, and completion of all administrative functions to introduce pilots to Delta Flight Operations.

• Initial Qualification Training

1. 1. 1. 100 Series: Mastery of aircraft systems. Pilots are tested for retention and comprehension.
      2. 200 Series: Systems integration training that is conducted in a non-motion simulator. Pilots are tested on their ability to apply normal and non-normal procedures.
      3. 300 Series: Full-motion visual simulation is used to learn the mechanics of flying the aircraft. Pilots are tested in a maneuvers validation check ride.  
      4. 400 Series: The capstone to training, new Delta pilots are exposed to every phase of flight in a line operational environment. If the pilot successfully passes, he or she is issued an FAA certification, or type rating for the aircraft.

• Operational Experience in Aircraft

1. 1. 1. An FAA-approved process of exposing trained pilots to real line operations by flying with a Line Check Pilot.  After completing the necessary number of hours, landings and flight segments, the pilot must then pass a final evaluation: a Line Check. Once the Line Check is complete, the pilot is now a fully qualified First Officer at Delta Air Lines.

• Continuing Qualification

1. 1. All Delta pilots undergo recurrent training every nine months and must successfully perform emergency procedures, abnormalities, instrument approach procedures, customer services and safety situations, and manual (hand)-flying exercises.

You can find the latest Delta Air Lines First Officer Opening and Hiring Requirements here.

Propel Collegiate Pilot Career Path is Delta’s new career path for students at select universities.  Successful candidates will be provided a Qualified Job Offer (QJO) detailing a defined path and an accelerated timeline to become a Delta pilot.

In this career path, pilots will choose among three (3) main career routes to Delta Air Lines:

1. Flying for one of the Delta Connection Carriers 

• 42 Months or less progress to DAL (Min 1,000-hr DPJ turbine time)

2. A job-share instructing for your University and flying corporate aircraft for Delta Private Jets

• 42 Months or less progress to DAL (Min 1,000-hr 121 turbine time)

3. Flying military aircraft for the Air National Guard or Reserve 

• Achieving “Mission Qualified” Status 42 Months or less progress to DAL (Min 750-hr heavy or fighter turbine time)

For you to be able to apply in this pilot career path, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an R-ATP eligible major at one of Delta’s 12 partner institutions. The program is open to Juniors, Seniors, and Flight Instructors at one of our partner universities who graduated within the previous 6 months.  

1. Arizona State University
2. Auburn University
3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Florida
4. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Arizona
5. Inter American University of Puerto Rico
6. Jacksonville University
7. Kent State University
8. Middle Georgia State University
9. Middle Tennessee State University
10. University of North Dakota
11. Minnesota State University, Mankato
12. Western Michigan University

• Pilots must hold, at minimum, a Private Pilot certificate
• Have completed at least one additional Part-141 flight course at the partner institution. 
• Hold a First Class Medical (note:  it is acceptable if privileges have lapsed to second or third class second or third class).

With this program, pilots are expected to do the following:

• Earn their Certificated Flight Instructor Certificate
• Flight instruct for their University Flight School
• Flight instruct until the end of the semester in which they reach their R-ATP hours 
• Fly in one of the three career routes: Delta Connection, Delta Private Jets, Air National Guard or Reserve
• Take the first available Captain upgrade

Pilots participating in Delta Propel (Connection Route) will be expected to build their flight hours by instructing at the university where they trained.  Additionally, since Propel pilots have an accelerated timeline to Delta of 42 months or less, they will be expected to instruct until the end of the academic semester in which they achieve Restricted-ATP minimums (before beginning employment at a Delta Connection carrier).  

You may check the latest updates through the Delta Propel website here.

Delta Air Lines Pilots earn $66,853.80 per year for a new first officer up to $257,657.40 per year for a senior captain.

The Annual salary figure varies in the above range starting from a new first officer to a senior captain. Information was sourced from AviationInterviews.com.

All information provided above is based on the official website of Delta Air Lines and other credible resources. We have provided you with the information as accurately as possible. However, we highly encourage you to always check the Delta Air Lines website and the Delta Pilot Career Path Program directly to keep updated on their hiring statutes, opening of pilot career path program, and additional requirements, if any.

Last Update: October 2024

Check out how to become a Pilot in the USA to know more about the minimum requirements, pilot training options, and airline programs.