Aircraft training programs generally are about 5-6 weeks. The ground school portion usually lasts about 4 weeks. It covers aircraft systems & performance and culminates with written and oral exams. Once those are passed the pilot then continues on to simulator training for a week or two and then the pilot goes for a checkride (proficiency test) in the simulator for their aircraft certification. If they are a captain transitioning to a new aircraft, this checkride will also be an exam for their new aircraft specific endorsement or "type rating". (Some airlines also type their first officers during training, some do not.) Once all the ground based training is complete the pilot will go for IOE/Initial Operating Experience training. Literally the first time they fly the real aircraft will be with passengers onboard under the guise of a Check Airman instructor pilot. After a few days on IOE (20-30 hours of flight time) if they perform well, they are given the OK to fly and will then be assigned as a pilot on the airlines <insert specific jet here> fleet. All pilots are trained to set proficiency and safety standards but how "well" they fly their new aircraft depends a bit on what standards you are judging them by. As far as pay goes, that varies wildly between aircraft and airlines. Factors affecting pilot pay include: ~ Time with the company (seniority) ~ Aircraft flown ~ Whether they are a Captain or First Officer (seat) ~ The hours in their monthly schedule ~ The payscale at their specific airline A pilots pay is figured upon the hourly rate for their seat and their equipment based upon the pay grade for their seniority. Each company also has a set 'minimum guarantee' flight hour pay in their pilot contract. This is generally about 75 hours per month but varies slightly by airline. (A few majors guarantee is only 65!) However, in no case will the pilot earn less than the 'minimum guarantee'. They may fly less than 75 actual flight hours, but they will still be paid for the 75 per their guarantee. If they get a flight schedule that is blocked for more flight hours than the minimum guarantee, they will then get paid for the greater amount of time flown instead, plus per diem. Flight crew make from $1-3 per hour in 'per diem' for every hour they are away from their domicile on a trip to cover expenses. This generally adds a few hundred dollars to their pay check. A general comparison of starting monthly First Officer pay by airline*: ~ AMERICAN - $2,240 ~ CONTINENTAL - $2,500 ~ DELTA - $3,640 ~ FED EX - $3,700 ~ NORTHWEST - $2,574 ~ SOUTHWEST - $3,744 ~ UNITED - $1,950 ~ US AIRWAYS - $1,875 ~ UPS - $2,187 *all without per diem, based on minimum monthly guarantee, first year pay in smallest fleet type Here is a Captain pay comparison* at 12 years of seniority, by the largest type in fleet (best paying): ~ American 777 - $12,352 ~ Continental 777 - $14,688 ~ Delta 777 - $14,040 ~ Fed EX widebody $14,874 ~ Northwest 747 - $14,586 ~ Southwest 737 - $14,196 ~ United 747 - $11,570 ~ US Airways A330 $11,520 ~ UPS (all a/c) $15,390 (*all without per diem, based on minimum monthly guarantee, 12 pay in largest fleet type) To find out what the specific base pay is for each major, cargo or charter operator by seat & seniority visit- http://www.AirlinePilotPay.com