Career Options and Next Steps After Completing Your First Type Rating Training (EASA certification)

Completing your first type rating is a major milestone in your aviation journey, but it’s also just the beginning. As a newly EASA certified pilot, you’re likely wondering what your career after-type rating training will look like. The good news is that opportunities are abundant. 

Global demand for pilots is high, as Boeing’s latest outlook projects 660,000 new pilots will be needed over the next 20 years. In line with ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals initiative, the industry is focused on ensuring a strong pipeline of qualified pilots for the future. 

This blog will guide you through the next steps: from base training to job hunting by mapping out the airline pilot career path. We’ll also show how Simaero supports your journey with specialized training and career tools. 

What’s Next After Type Rating Training?

Earning a type rating on an aircraft (such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737) is a key qualification – now it’s time to put that training into practice. 

• Base Training (only for first type rating): The first step is the base training which includes training in take-off and landing sequences on real aircraft with an instructor. 
• Line Training: Before line training begins, pilots must complete an Operator Conversion Course (OCC), also known as Operator Conversion Training (OCT). This includes both theoretical instruction and practical sessions in a full-flight simulator (FFS). According to EASA Part-ORO (ORO.FC.120 and ORO.FC.220), the OCC covers company-specific procedures, safety and emergency equipment training, and an operator proficiency check, all of which must be completed before starting Line training.Typically, the next step is line training which is part of the practical phase of OCC, officially known in EASA terms as “Line Flying Under Supervision” (LIFUS). This means conducting real flights under the guidance of a training captain to build experience. During these initial line flights, you will refine your competencies, learn airline-specific operations, and gain confidence operating your rated aircraft in commercial service. What happened when you are not part of a line training? - Under EASA rules, Operator Conversion Course (OCC)can only be completed as part of an Air Operator (Airline) Certificate. As per EASA, which requires that after completing a type rating, a pilot must perform a number of supervised line flying sectors under the operator’s procedures before being released for unsupervised operations. This means that if you are not part of an airline (or not temporarily integrated into one), you cannot complete LIFUS independently through an Approved Training Organization – it must take place within an airline environment with a designated training captain overseeing the flights.
• Job Applications: In parallel, you should actively job hunt. Update your CV with your new type rating and start applying to airlines – both major carriers and regional operators. Networking is vital: attend pilot recruitment roadshows, join professional pilot associations, and connect with industry contacts on LinkedIn. Often, it’s a combination of the right qualification and the right connection that lands your first airline job.
• Networking: Attend networking events and pilot recruitment roadshows to build strategic connections in the industry. Some graduates take jobs as flight instructors, skydive pilots, or ferry pilots to build hours while awaiting an airline vacancy. Others may find opportunities in corporate or charter flying. Every bit of experience counts and can keep your skills fresh. 
• Honing your competencies: The period right after type rating is all about staying proactive, continue studying your aircraft systems, practice in simulators if possible, and be ready for airline interviews or simulator assessments at short notice.

What Is the Career Path for an Airline Pilot?

The airline pilot career path is a progression through several stages of responsibility and experience. Each step builds on the last, requiring dedication, learning, and compliance with EASA standards.

Entry Level: Second Officer or First Officer (FO)

• Starting Point: Most new pilots begin as a Junior First Officer after training – essentially acting as a co-pilot assisting the captain.
• Alternative Titles: Some long-haul carriers may use a “Second Officer” rank for relief pilots during cruise segments.
• Primary Focus:
  
  • Develop technical competencies.
  • Master standard operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Accumulate flight hours under supervision.

Progression to Senior First Officer

• Over time and with experience, you can move up to Senior First Officer.
• This title may be informal at some airlines but usually reflects a copilot with significant experience and nearing readiness for upgrade.

The Goal: Captain

• License Requirements: To upgrade to Captain, you must hold a full Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
• EASA Regulations: Require at least 1,500 total flight hours, including 500 hours in multi-pilot operations.
• Timeline:
  
  • Many pilots reach 1,500 hours after a few years as FO.
  • Promotions vary: typically 5–10 years in Europe, sooner in boom times, longer during slow periods.

Beyond Captain

• Experienced Captains can expand their careers into roles such as:
  
  • Type Rating Instructor (TRI) or Examiner (TRE).
  • Fleet Manager or Chief Pilot in airline management.
  • Simulator instructor or safety auditor roles.
• These paths allow you to contribute to training, safety, and leadership within the industry.

How Simaero Supports Your Career

As you navigate the early stages of your professional pilot life, Simaero is here to support you every step of the way. 

• Type Rating: As an EASA-approved training organization with a global footprint, offering the courses and resources you need to launch and grow your airline career, we begin with: Simaero’s Type Rating programs that cover a wide range of aircraft, from the ubiquitous A320 and Boeing 737 to advanced jets like the Airbus A350 and regionals like the ATR 72. These programs are designed not just to check the box for your type rating, but to truly build your competence and confidence in operating the aircraft. 
• Refresher / renewal course and Command upgrade: Simaero also keeps alumni engaged with refresher/renewal training options – for instance, if you’ve completed a type rating but haven’t used it immediately, you can do periodic simulator sessions or a refresher/renewal course to keep your skills current and your qualification valid.
• Mentorship: Simaero’s instructors are experienced captains and examiners who provide guidance and mentorship from day one through your final certification. You’ll train on our global standard full-flight simulators, ensuring you experience realistic scenarios and learn best practices drawn from real operations.
• Beyond technical training: Simaero offers career support services to help bridge the gap between training and employment. Simaero offers an Airline Assessment Preparation option, wherein you can training in the simulator for a few hours with an instructor.
• Practice Simulator Assessments: Many airlines will test your flying competencies in a simulator assessment. To prepare, consider booking a session on a simulator (ideally the aircraft type you’re likely to be tested on, such as a 737 or A320). During practice, focus on basic instrument flying, raw-data ILS approaches, single-engine handling, and CRM with a safety pilot. Simaero can arrange simulator practice sessions with instructors to mirror an airline assessment scenario. Being comfortable in a sim environment can greatly calm your nerves on the day of the exam.
• Access to Global Network: Furthermore, Simaero’s global training centers (in Europe, Asia, Africa) expose you to an international environment, networking you with fellow pilots and instructors from around the world. Building these connections can open up job leads in various regions. 

Tips to Launch Your Aviation Career

Breaking into the airline world can feel daunting, but with the right approach you can significantly improve your chances. Here are some essential tips to help launch your aviation career:

• Polish Your Pilot CV: Your curriculum vitae should be concise, factual, and aviation focused. Include key details like total flight hours, licenses (e.g. “EASA CPL/IR with ATPL theory completed”), type ratings, and language proficiency. Highlight any unique experience (glider hours, instructing, etc.) that shows your pilot competencies set. Most importantly, ensure your CV and cover letter are free of errors and tailored to each airline – mention why you want to join that airline specifically.
• Tailor Your Applications: Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach when applying to airlines. Research each airline’s fleet, route network, and company values. Then customize your application to match. If an airline is a regional ATR operator, in your cover letter you might emphasize your interest in turboprop flying and mention any ATR ground course or reading you’ve done. For a legacy airline flying A350s, you might highlight your familiarity with advanced avionics. Little details – like referencing the airline’s recent news or expansion plans – can make your application stand out as genuinely interested.
• Network and Attend Job Fairs: Attend aviation career fairs, airline open days, and industry conferences. Dress professionally and be ready with a 30-second introduction about yourself. Ask informed questions to airline recruiters – this shows your passion and knowledge of their operation. Even during training, build a network: stay in touch with instructors and classmates who get airline jobs; they might refer you when their airline is hiring.
• Stay Positive and Persistent: Finally, a mindset tip – resilience is key. You may face rejections or a slow hiring market, but don’t get discouraged. Use any setbacks as learning opportunities. Seek feedback when possible, work on any weak areas, and keep improving yourself. The aviation industry is cyclic; when the hiring wave comes, you’ll be ready to ride it.

Launching your pilot career after completing type rating training is an exciting challenge. Every pilot’s journey is unique, but the common thread for success is continual learning and proactivity. As a certified pilot, you have a world of opportunities ahead in a thriving global industry. 

Now is the time to apply your skills, seize opportunities, and build the foundation of your future in the cockpit.