Some airlines help grow their own next-generation pilots by offering pilot training sponsorships. But exactly what these sponsorships offer can vary significantly. The cost of becoming an airline pilot (with no previous experience) is over $100,000 – that represents a very significant investment for any future career. It takes between 2.5 and 5 years for a commercial pilot to fly airliners while it takes 5 to 6 years for military pilots.