Flying as a Commercial Pilot

What is the work like?

Airline pilots are responsible for flying aircraft safely and efficiently. A pilot's duties typically begin an hour before the plane takes off. Before the flight, the pilot:

· checks the details of the route, flying height and weather

· checks the amount of fuel needed

· checks the aircraft visually and confirms that the instruments are working properly

· briefs the cabin crew

· supervises the refuelling and loading of the plane

· contacts air traffic control for departure instructions and co-ordinates the departure time.

Throughout the flight, the pilot:

· checks data on the plane's instruments and monitors progress using a computer

· responds to instructions from air traffic control and ensures safety at all times

· maintains contact with the cabin crew to make sure that the passengers are comfortable

· makes announcements to keep passengers informed.

At the end of the flight, the pilot brings the plane in to land with the help of air traffic control, taxies the plane to its final position and writes a flight report, noting any problems they may have experienced during the flight.

Pilots fly on short-haul flights (within the UK and Europe) and on long-haul flights (for example to the USA, India and Africa). On short-haul flights, there is usually a pilot and a co-pilot. On long-haul flights, there may be up to two pilots and two co-pilots, so that they can both take breaks throughout the journey.

Starting salaries are from around £16,500 to £42,000 a year.

Hours and environment

Airline pilots work shifts. Their working hours are strictly controlled but include nights, weekends and public holidays. They may be on call at certain times. They spend long hours sitting in flight decks, which are usually comfortable but very confined.

The amount of time spent away from home varies. On domestic routes, a pilot might return home every evening. On longer flights, pilots spend nights away from home.

Pilots wear a uniform and are expected to look smart.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

· Starting salaries may be from around £16,500 to £42,000 a year.

· Jet pilots with two or three years' experience usually earn at least £40,000 a year.

· Turboprop aircraft captains usually earn between £33,000 and £40,000 a year. Jet aircraft captains earn around £45,000 to £100,000 a year, or more.

Skills and personal qualities

An airline pilot should:

· have a good understanding of maths and physics

· be confident using technology

· be able to interpret maps and 3D displays

· have good hand-eye co-ordination and spatial awareness

· have good written and spoken communication skills, with a clear speaking voice

· be self-confident

· be reliable and responsible

· be calm and able to take charge in an emergency

· be a good team worker.

Interests

It is important to:

· be interested in flying as a business

· enjoy travel.

Getting in

There are over 10,500 airline pilots in the UK. They are employed by around 30 scheduled, chartered and freight airlines. The number of airline pilots is increasing, mainly because of the growth of low-cost airlines. Competition for vacancies is intense.

Vacancies are advertised in Flight International, on airlines' websites and on the website of the British Air Line Pilots' Association (BALPA).

Training to become an airline pilot is usually very expensive, so before starting training it may be useful for potential entrants to ensure that they have basic aptitude. The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) offer a pilot aptitude testing scheme at RAF Cranwell and includes a number of tests followed by a personal debriefing and advice from experts. It is also sensible to have a Class 1 medical carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at Gatwick Airport. Unless potential entrants are assessed as a low risk for training and have passed the medical examination, there is little point in pursuing a career as a professional pilot.

Entry for young people

The minimum qualification required for an airline pilot is a 'frozen' Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). This involves passing written examinations for the ATPL and conducting around 200 hours of flight training, including flight tests. They are awarded the full ATPL when they have 1500 hours flying experience, including 500 hours as co-pilot on a multi-pilot aircraft type. A full ATPL is required to be considered for training and promotion to captain.

There are different routes towards obtaining an ATPL licence:

· Full-time integrated training - entry normally requires at least three GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) in English, maths and science, or equivalent qualifications, or a pass in maths and physics tests. The minimum age for entry varies from 17 to 18 years. This method of training costs at least £50,000.

· Modular training - the first step towards modular pilot training is to gain a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL). Many flying schools in the UK offer PPL training, which normally costs over £6,000. Pilots then need to gain 150 hours' flying experience and pass a medical examination before they can undertake training for their frozen ATPL through a modular route. Modular training normally costs over £20,000.

· City University and London Metropolitan University offer degree courses that can include pilot training to frozen ATPL level. Leeds, Liverpool, Salford and Sheffield Universities also offer degree courses that include some pilot training. Students usually have to pay for the flying element of the courses.

There may also be height and weight restrictions for some jobs.

Most pilots have to pay for their own training. In the past some airlines have sponsored training, but the number of sponsorships has reduced considerably since 2001. Sponsorships involve an airline paying for all, or part of, the training. Another form of financing training is by a bond that reduces gradually over a number of years and is only payable by pilots if they leave earlier than the expiry date.

Sponsorship of any form usually needs at least five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3), including English, maths and a science subject, plus two A levels/three H grades, preferably including maths and physics. Alternative qualifications may be considered. Age requirements on entry are usually between 18 and 30 years. Previous flying experience is sometimes desirable.

British airlines insist that applicants have the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK and EU and are eligible for an unrestricted world passport.

Entry for adults

Adult entry is possible, although those over 30 years of age are unlikely to find places on sponsored training schemes.

Qualified pilots from the Armed Forces, or with similar flying experience, have to undertake the ATPL licence to fly civilian aircraft.

Training

Full-time integrated pilot training takes place at private training schools. Visit the website of the CAA for a list of approved training schools that offer integrated training leading to full ATPL standard. Training usually lasts between twelve to eighteen months. Students finish with a Commercial Pilot License with Instrument Rating and a frozen ATPL.

Modular pilot training leads to a frozen ATPL and involves periodic attendance at air training school for around 26 weeks. There are several CAA-approved flying schools that offer training modules.

Every six months throughout their career, pilots have to take refresher training and tests. They also undertake training as new aircraft and instruments are introduced.

Getting on

Airline pilots start work as co-pilots. Eventually they become fully qualified first officers. After about five years' experience they can apply to be a co-pilot on long-haul flights. Promotion to captain usually requires at least 5,000 flying hours, which can take around seven to ten years to achieve.

Pilots may take on training or managerial roles alongside their flying duties. They can also transfer to ground-based management and may reach very senior positions.

There are opportunities for working abroad. Airline pilots can also move into other flying work, such as flying instruction or agricultural flying in remote areas.

Flight Training in Spain for Your Commercial Pilots Licence

Flight Training in Spain....

So you want a commercial pilot’s licence or a frozen ATPL as they call it and you fancy sitting up front in the cockpit of a Boeing737 or even an Airbus 320. What exactly do you have to do to get the necessary qualifications and more importantly the job?

I won’t kid you. Starting a career in aviation can be an arduous journey and an expensive one at that. Forget the cosy pictures of the deliriously happy British Airways Pilot, coming home to his lovely cottage in the country, open fire burning and his sweet wife ready to serve his every need. Unfortunately that’s the publicity and it doesn’t work that way in real life.

Reality check! More likely to be a career of loans to fund the flying training, sponsorship if you are incredibly lucky and living hand to mouth for the best part of 12-16 months and then with no guarantee of a job at the end of it. More likely you are going to have to go and become a flying instructor, get scared silly by crazy students, just to build your hours up to make yourself attractive enough to be hired by the airlines.

However, there is a small respite. That is, that there is currently a shortage of pilots around the globe. But don’t kid yourself that the airlines are going to be falling over themselves to hire yours truly!

Anyway, what type of flight training should you consider when spending all that hard earned (or borrowed) mullah and where should you do the training?

Easy isn’t it? Um sorry, no it’s not!

You could train in the UK. Well, you could if the weather holds out long enough. But unless you are considering getting webbed feet from all the rain and water, I suggest you look further afield. Costs for flying training can also be prohibitive in the UK, with everything being incredibly expensive.

So why bother with training in the UK? Er…well actually, I live here!! OK. Fair enough!

Look! These are just a few of the reasons why so many students are now making a point of training abroad – America, South Africa, Malaysia, Europe ….it just makes more sense for the time they can spend flying and for reasons of lower cost.

So why do your flying training in Spain? Easy! America is great, it’s cheap and its fast and the weather is good, but the end result is usually an American FAA licence. If you want to fly airlines in Europe, then you are better off with the JAR ATPL recognised licence, which you can use all around Europe and is also recognised worldwide. Secondly it’s the distance. Spain is only 1.5 hours away… how many hours is America away and finally who wants all the hassles of security, visas, paperwork that was caused by 911…not me!

So, to summarise, make it easy on yourself and do your flight training in Spain. Find a reputable school, that is professional, speaks English and will accommodate your needs. Spain is closer than the USA, it’s cheaper than the UK, the people are extremely friendly and the weather is great. The most important thing for you will be that you will finish with the all important JAR licence, with no need for messy conversions from American to European standards and you will have spent a lot less time away from your loved ones.