All 26 Career Specializations and How to Unlock Them in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Career mode in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 lets you build a flying career by completing missions for credits and reputation. Career specializations are the tracks of work that decide which kinds of jobs appear for you, from simple first flights to heavy cargo and airliner service. Each track has its own requirements, so knowing how they unlock makes it much easier to plan your career.

First Flight

Begin career flying with your first airplane certification and first flight missions.

Level

1

Certification Requirements

Private Pilot License - Airplane (10,000 Cr)

Ferry Flight

Move aircraft between airports on ferry flights.

Level

3

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Airplane (25,000 Cr)

Passenger Transport

Carry passengers on rotorcraft flights.

Level

3

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Rotorcraft (35,000 Cr)

Flightseeing

Take passengers on sightseeing flights by airplane.

Level

5

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Airplane (25,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

-

Skydive Aviation

Fly skydivers to drop zones and meet the jump mission objectives.

Level

8

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Airplane (25,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

• Score Airplane missions with C or above (5 missions)
• Perform Airplane missions with landing smoothness above 50% (3 missions)

Cargo Transport - Light

Carry light cargo on airplane jobs.

Level

10

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Airplane (25,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

• Score Airplane missions with C or above (7 missions)
• Perform Airplane missions with landing smoothness above 50% (5 missions)

Aerial Advertising

Fly airplane missions that advertise from the air.

Level

12

Certification Requirements

Commercial Pilot License - Airplane (25,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Flightseeing or Skydive Aviation missions with B or above (5 missions)

Search & Rescue (helicopter)

Search for people and provide rescue support by helicopter.

Level

12

Certification Requirements

Turbine Engine Rating (300,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Rotorcraft missions with C or above (7 missions)

Charter service - Private

Fly private airplane charters for passengers.

Level

16

Certification Requirements

Instrument Rating (175,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

• Score Airplane missions with C or above (10 missions)
• Perform Airplane missions with landing smoothness above 50% (7 missions)

Search & Rescue (airplane)

Search for people from an airplane and land on soft runways or bush strips.

Level

20

Certification Requirements

Tailwheel Endorsement (35,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Perform landings with an Airplane on soft runways or bush (10 missions)

Search & Rescue (hoist)

Use a rotorcraft hoist during search-and-rescue missions.

Level

20

Certification Requirements

• Turbine Engine Rating (300,000 Cr)
• Hoist Endorsement (500,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Perform Search & Rescue Rotorcraft missions (10 missions)

Cargo Transport - Medium

Carry medium cargo loads by airplane and follow full ATC procedures.

Level

25

Certification Requirements

• Turboprop Engine Rating (200,000 Cr)
• Instrument Rating (175,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

• Perform Cargo Airplane missions (5 missions)
• Perform flights with full ATC procedures with an Airplane (10 missions)

Cargo Transport - Hook

Move cargo by rotorcraft using a hook.

Level

30

Certification Requirements

• Turbine Engine Rating (300,000 Cr)
• Hook Endorsement (400,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Rotorcraft missions with A or above (10 missions)

Aerial Firefighting - Initial Attack

Respond to wildfires on initial-attack airplane missions.

Level

30

Certification Requirements

• Turboprop Engine Rating (200,000 Cr)
• Scoop Endorsement (750,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Airplane missions with A or above (10 missions)

Medevac

Fly airplane missions carrying patients who need medical transport.

Level

35

Certification Requirements

• Turboprop Engine Rating (200,000 Cr)
• Instrument Rating (175,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Airplane missions with passengers with B or above (15 missions)

Agricultural Aviation

Work agricultural airplane missions, including landings on soft runways or bush strips.

Level

40

Certification Requirements

• Turboprop Engine Rating (200,000 Cr)
• Tailwheel Endorsement (35,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Perform landings with an Airplane on soft runways or bush (20 missions)

Agricultural Aviation (helicopter)

Fly agricultural missions by rotorcraft.

Level

40

Certification Requirements

Turbine Engine Rating (300,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Perform landings with a Rotorcraft on soft runways or bush (15 missions)

Charter Service - VIP

Carry VIP passengers on private turboprop airplane charters.

Level

45

Certification Requirements

• Turboprop Engine Rating (200,000 Cr)
• Instrument Rating (175,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Private Charter Airplane missions with B or above (10 missions)

Passenger Transport - Airline

Fly airline passenger missions with a jet transport rating.

Level

50

Certification Requirements

Jet Airline Transport Pilot Rating (2,500,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

• Score Airplane missions with passengers with A or above (15 missions)
• Perform flights with full ATC procedures with an Airplane (20 missions)

Aerial Construction

Carry out helicopter cargo missions using a hook.

Level

50

Certification Requirements

• Airline Transport Pilot License - Rotorcraft (2,000,000 Cr)
• Hook Endorsement (400,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Helicopter Cargo Transport missions with S or above (1 mission)

Aerial Firefighting - Extended Attack

Take on extended-attack firefighting missions by airplane.

Level

60

Certification Requirements

• Scoop Endorsement (750,000 Cr)
• Turboprop Airline Transport Pilot Rating (1,000,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Firefighting Airplane missions with A or above (10 missions)

Cargo Transport - Heavy

Fly heavy cargo missions after completing medium cargo work.

Level

75

Reputation

-

Certification Requirements

Heavy Airliner Rating (5,000,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Cargo Transport - Medium missions with A or above (10 missions)

Cargo Transport - Super Heavy

Fly the highest-tier cargo missions after scoring an S on a heavy cargo job.

Level

90

Reputation

-

Certification Requirements

Heavy Airliner Rating (5,000,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

Score Cargo Transport - Heavy missions with S or above (1 mission)

Scientific Research

Unlock scientific research missions with a multi-engine rating and B reputation.

Level

-

Reputation

B or above

Certification Requirements

Multi Engine Rating (100,000 Cr)

Unlock Objectives

-

Charter Service - VIP Airliner

Unlock VIP airliner charter missions with an airliner transport rating and A reputation.

Reputation

A or above

Certification Requirements

Jet Airline Transport Rating (2,500,000 Cr)

Remote Cargo Ops

Unlock remote cargo missions with a turboprop airline transport rating and S reputation.

Reputation

S or above

Certification Requirements

Turboprop Airline Transport Pilot Rating (1,000,000 Cr)

What career specializations are in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Career specializations are the job tracks inside career mode. Each one covers a kind of flying work, such as ferry flights between airports, sightseeing trips, skydiving drops, search and rescue, or big cargo runs. A track you haven't unlocked keeps its jobs off your world map, so the tracks you open shape the work you can find.

The tracks are arranged so your career grows over time. Early ones cover ordinary work, while later ones move into specialist jobs. The system is flexible, so you can become a versatile pilot who takes any kind of job, or focus on one area. You can also blend paths or take them one after the other.

How to unlock career specializations

Unlocking a track happens in three stages. First, you complete a set of general career objectives. Next, you fly a special cradle mission marked with a golden icon at a set location. Once that mission is done, the regular jobs for that track start appearing on the world map.

Most tracks also ask for a level, and your career level rises as you earn experience. Many add mission goals too, such as scoring a set number of missions at a certain grade or landing smoothly on a set number of flights. Those scores come from the mission objectives and from general airmanship, like keeping the aircraft within limits, following air traffic control and taxiing with care. That's why a rough flight can hold you back even when you finish the job.

A few tracks use a reputation grade in place of a level. Scientific Research asks for a B or above, Charter Service - VIP Airliner asks for an A or above, and Remote Cargo Ops asks for an S or above. Reputation rises when your missions go well, so these tracks reward a steady run of strong flights.

Certifications and costs for career specializations

Every career specialization asks for at least one certification. You buy each certification with credits (Cr) and then earn it through training and an exam. Costs vary widely, from the entry pilot licenses to the airline transport and heavy airliner ratings that cost millions of credits.

Other tracks also need an endorsement for a specific kind of work. A hoist endorsement covers the rescue hoist, and a hook endorsement covers carrying cargo on a hook. Some tracks ask for two certifications at once, so the total adds up quickly, and it helps to keep some credits back for repairs and insurance.

Which career specializations matter most

The early tracks matter most at the start because they're where your career gets going. They cover everyday work such as first flights, ferry flights, passenger trips, flightseeing, skydiving and light cargo. Light cargo is a common first choice among players.

Tracks also matter once you want your own aircraft, because owning one happens through a company. Each company type has its own level, certification and specialization requirements. A light cargo company, for example, needs level 10, a Commercial Pilot License and the Cargo Transport - Light track.

The higher tracks add specialist work, including search and rescue, firefighting, medevac, airline passenger service, aerial construction and scientific research. Level requirements climb from First Flight, which only needs a Private Pilot License, up to the largest cargo jobs. Reputation also opens better-paid, more demanding work. Which route suits you depends on the aircraft you like and the work you want to do, so there isn't a single right order.

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