Horizon Air Pilot Recruitment 2026
Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against Horizon Air's official careers pages on .
Is Horizon Air hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes. Horizon Air is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Total time: 1,500 hours, or R-ATP qualified. Low-hour route: the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program. The selection process has 3 steps, set out step by step below.
Horizon Air screens with an aptitude battery before a human reads your application.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
Where are you with Horizon Air?
Selection runs on its own timetable, and what helps depends entirely on where you are in it. Tell us, and what we send you matches that — nothing else.
| Hiring status | Active— applications open |
|---|---|
| Country / Region | United States · North America |
| Bases | 4 bases · SEA, PDX, BOI, GEG |
| Fleet types | ERJ-175 |
| Contract type | Permanent with Alaska Airlines flow-through |
| Type ratings accepted | ERJ-175 |
| Assessment stages | 3 stages · 3-step pipeline |
Horizon Air pilot requirements
As published on Horizon Air's official careers pages, checked August 22, 2026.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total time | 1,500 hours, or R-ATP qualified |
| Cross-country | 500 hours — or 200 if R-ATP or military qualified |
| Night | 100 hours |
| Pilot in command | 250 hours total, including 100 hours cross-country and 25 hours night |
| Instrument | 75 hours in actual or simulated instrument conditions |
| Multi-engine | 25 hours required; 100 preferred |
| Certificates | FAA Commercial Pilot certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings, a current First Class medical, an FCC restricted radiotelephone operator permit and a valid passport |
| Age | 21 minimum |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent; a four-year degree is preferred, not required |
| Base | Must accept an assignment in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Boise or Medford according to company need |
| Experienced First Officer route | Horizon is hiring Experienced First Officers with at least 200 hours of FAA-approved Prior Qualifying Time to serve as PIC in Part 121 operations under 14 CFR §121.436(a)(3), and credits previous Part 121 service towards longevity pay. |
From student pilot to Horizon Air Captain
The hour figures are the FAA legal minimums (14 CFR Part 61); the time ranges are typical, not promises.
Step 1
Private Pilot certificate
40 h minimum 3–6 months 14 CFR 61.109Ground school, the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test (60 questions, 70% to pass), then the checkride. Most students log well over the 40-hour legal minimum.
Try free FAA Private Pilot written questionsStep 2
Instrument rating
50 h cross-country PIC + 40 h instrument 2–4 months 14 CFR 61.65Flying by reference to instruments in cloud. Another FAA knowledge test and checkride.
Step 3
Commercial Pilot certificate
250 h total 6–12 months 14 CFR 61.129The certificate that lets you be paid to fly. Add a multi-engine rating here or later.
Step 4
Build time (usually as a flight instructor)
250 → 1,500 h 1–2 yearsMost pilots instruct (CFI) or fly charter/survey to reach airline minimums.
Step 5
ATP minimums
1,500 h (R-ATP: 1,250 / 1,000 / 750) 14 CFR 61.159 / 61.160Restricted ATP at 1,250 h with an aviation associate degree, 1,000 h with a bachelor's, 750 h for qualifying military pilots. The ATP CTP course comes before the ATP knowledge test.
Step 6
Regional or entry-level airline First Officer
Turbine and Part 121 time 2–4 yearsWhere most US major-airline pilots build turbine and pilot-in-command time.
Step 7
Horizon Air First Officer
1,500 hours, or R-ATP qualifiedPay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.
Step 8
Horizon Air Captain
Seniority-based upgrade Depends on seniority and growthCaptain seats are bid by seniority; how fast you hold one depends on hiring and retirements, not on your logbook alone.
How to Apply: Horizon Air Pilot Application Process
The Horizon Air pilot selection process step by step, as the airline describes it (checked August 22, 2026). Where the airline does not publish a stage, we say so.
- 1
Online Application
1 weekApply through Alaska Air Group pilot portal.
- 2
Interview
1 dayPanel interview in Seattle.
- 3
Training
6-8 weeksE-175 type rating.
Assessment Stages: What Horizon Air Tests
1. Online Application & Screening
Initial review of qualifications, flight hours, certificates, and background.
Preparation Tips
- Ensure logbook is accurate and up to date
- Have all certificates scanned and ready
- Tailor your CV to airline operations
2. Aptitude & Psychometric Testing
Computer-based tests measuring cognitive ability, multi-tasking, spatial awareness, and personality traits.
Preparation Tips
- Practice with COMPASS or PILAPT test preparation
- Work on mental math speed
- Get adequate sleep before test day
3. Simulator Assessment
Fixed-base or full-motion simulator session evaluating hand-flying, instrument skills, and multi-crew coordination.
Preparation Tips
- Practice raw-data instrument approaches
- Brief out loud as you would with a real crew
- Manage workload verbally
Horizon Air Pilot Interview Questions
Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at Horizon Air. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.
- Q1
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a crew member and how you resolved it.
- Q2
Describe a situation where you made a critical decision under time pressure.
- Q3
Why do you want to fly for this airline specifically?
- Q4
Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for safety.
- Q5
How do you handle fatigue management during long duty periods?
Fleet You Could Fly at Horizon Air
1 aircraft types currently operated
Type ratings accepted at application
Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.
Horizon Air Pilot Bases (4)
Available pilot bases — bid by seniority
Cadet Program (No Experience Required)
Horizon Air Pilot Development Program
Pathway from partner flight schools to Horizon Air FO with flow to Alaska Airlines mainline.
Read full cadet program guide →
Insider Tips for Horizon Air Applicants
Alaska Air Group wholly-owned with flow-through to Alaska Airlines mainline
Pacific Northwest bases with great quality of life
Rapid captain upgrade
Knowing the Horizon Air process is step one. Being ready for the stages that actually cut people is step two.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No Horizon Air pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Horizon Air hiring pilots in 2026?
What are the minimum requirements to fly for Horizon Air?
What is the Horizon Air pilot selection process?
What aircraft does Horizon Air fly?
Where are Horizon Air pilot bases?
Does Horizon Air have a cadet pilot program?
Related Pilot Career Resources
Horizon Air Cadet Program
Tuition reimbursement up to $30,000
No-experience route into Horizon Air: training, requirements, and selection.
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