Airline pilot
Airline pilots fly passengers and/or cargo on long or short-haul flights for leisure, business or commercial purposes. The aircraft is typically operated by two pilots; one will be the captain who is the pilot in command, while the other will be the supporting first officer. The pilots will usually take turns to fly the plane to avoid fatigue, with one operating the controls while the other speaks to air traffic control and completes the paperwork. In some instances, such as long-haul flights, there may be three or four pilots on board so that the necessary breaks from flying can be taken.
The captain has the overall responsibility for the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft including crew and passengers.
Prior to the flight, pilots check flight plans, ensure that the aircraft’s controls are operating efficiently and calculate the required fuel for the flight. They are also responsible for checking the weather conditions and briefing cabin crew.
The job of a pilot comes with heavy responsibility and personal commitment. Stringent training courses have to be passed followed by recurrent training every six months in order to maintain the relevant licence required for the job.
There is more to the role than just flying the plane, which has to be done safely and economically, and tasks can typically include:
The usual qualifications needed to begin training as a pilot are a minimum of five GCSEs and two A-levels. A degree or postgraduate qualification is not required although some people may choose to take one to make them stand out in the tough competition. Bucks New University offers a BA in Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training but this degree is not essential to become an airline pilot.
The training to become a pilot requires a good level of understanding of maths and physics and so any qualifications that demonstrate this may be of an advantage.
In order to work as an airline pilot you must hold an Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL). This qualification is known as a 'frozen ATLP' and becomes 'unfrozen' when a certain number of hours and experience have been achieved.
The two main ways to achieve an ATPL are via the following courses:
Full or part sponsorship from an airline which pays for the student’s training is sometimes available, but usually only when the aviation industry is doing well and there is a high demand for pilots. It may be difficult to find such opportunities while the industry is still trying to recover its growth since the recession and when sponsorship opportunities are available competition is extremely fierce.
Required skills for an airline pilot include:
It is highly recommended that before you begin any training you take the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Class One Medical. It is a requirement that all airline pilots pass this medical and if you do not, you will not be able to complete the training to achieve the ATPL. It is therefore a good idea to take this before paying out on the expensive course fees. The medical is available at the CAA medical unit at Gatwick.
The Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN) provides an aptitude test which is useful for those with little or no flying experience to see if they may be suited to a career as a pilot.
It is also possible for those who have trained as pilots in the RAF, Navy and Army to become commercial airline pilots. To do so a civil aviation course must be completed and a conversion qualification should be gained.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Once employment has been secured, you will complete a type-rating course on a company aircraft which then allows you to fly that particular type of plane. If you needed to move to a different aircraft in the future another type-rating would have to be completed.
As a newly qualified first officer you would work alongside a captain, usually on short-haul flights to provide you with experience of a lot of take-offs and landings. Once you had achieved 1,500 hours of flying time (500 of which must be in a plane which requires more than one crew to operate it) your ATLP will become ‘unfrozen’ and you will be issued with a full ATPL. This is what is required to go on to become a captain.
All pilots have to pass certain examinations every six months in order to keep their licence and so it is important that the pilot takes control of their studies and ensures they are up to speed with the necessary information. It is also good to keep up to date with any developments in new instruments or technology relating to aviation.
Newly qualified pilots start with an airline as a first officer, where they will be second in command on the aircraft. The captain has the overall responsibility for the flight and safety of the passengers and crew but shares tasks with the first officer.
Limitations will be placed on a newly qualified first officer in relation to the weather they can fly in and the airports they can fly to. These limitations will be lifted however, as the pilot gains experience. After they have gained enough experience and flying hours they will progress to the role of a senior first officer.
After gaining further substantial experience, senior first officers can apply for positions as a captain. In order to gain a job as a captain an intensive training course needs to be completed. Promotion to captaincy might occur more quickly in a fast-growing budget airline than in a larger, more static organisation.
Captains could go on to become trainers of new pilots but this involves spending more time in simulators rather than actually flying planes, which some people may not want. Alternatively, they may take on an examining role.
Some pilots may opt to progress their career by flying a larger aircraft instead of becoming a captain. This will usually involve operating long-haul routes.
Pilots may also move into management roles. A small number move into senior positions within the wider industry as flight operations inspectors for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or become specialised air accident investigators.
There are many airline companies employing pilots in the UK, one of the biggest being British Airways . Others include:
For a list of airlines, you can refer to the membership section of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) .
General aviation is the largest sector and includes flying schools, companies operating their own aircraft and air taxi operators. Although there are many pilot training schools that rely on a regular stream of trainee pilots, there may not be a constant supply of jobs in the airline industry, especially during economically troubled times.
Specialist aviation recruitment companies include Direct Personnel , Parc Aviation and Paramount Aviation . Advertisements also appear in trade magazines and flight training schools are often notified of vacancies.
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