I toured American's pilot training academy, where new hires learn to fly Airbus and Boeing jets. Here's what the 3-week program looks like.

• American Airlines employs more than 15,000 pilots to fly its fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes.
• New hires spend 19 days doing ground and simulator training before flying passengers.
• Students train for everything from wind sheer and go-arounds to engine and hydraulics failures.

Airline pilots, who are responsible for hundreds of lives daily, dedicate years of training and studying to earn their seats in the cockpit.