Pilot seniority levels

i don’t know how to explain this but what is a pilot called at entry level when she/he is first hired, and when she/he moves up are they called second officers or first officers ?

Ewa,

Pilots in the US ALL begin as First Officers and eventually upgrade to Captains. Some foreign airlines do have Second Officers (also called "Cruise Pilots) who can man the controls during cruise flight but cannot takeoff or land but there aren’t many.

Adam

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How long does it take to upgrade from first officer to captain ?

Ewa,

That depends on many factors. Upgrade times are shorter at Regionals than they are at Majors. It also depends on the aircraft, the size of the pilot group, growth within the airline and other factors. Short answer I’ve seen pilots at Regionals upgrade in under a year and I’ve seen pilots at Majors that have taken 15-20yrs.

Adam

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Ok thank you so much

When you first get hired do fly as a reserve pilot ?

Ewa,

In most cases yes. I recommend you take a look at our FAQ section. There’s a ton of great info there that will surely answer many of your questions.

Adam

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It took me ten years to upgrade to Captain at my airline.

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Ok, thank you for your time