There are two different ways to become an airline pilot. Before you can get near a commercial jet, you have to pass 14 ground school examinations and a number of flight tests to obtain an Air Transport Pilots License. Once you have obtained this license you can apply for a job as a First Officer. To obtain these licenses, you can either apply directly to airlines who are currently recruiting cadet pilots or you can go and obtain your licenses through a flight training organization and then apply to an airline directly. If you apply for an airline cadet program, you will probably have to pay for the flight training yourself, but you have the security of walking straight into a First Officer job on completion of the course. This is the most secure way of entering the industry. There are lots of flight schools across Europe and the world who offer specific commercial flight training. Generally speaking, it would take around a minimum of 18 months to obtain all the required qualifications when starting from scratch.
"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."- Leonardo da Vinci
