I imagine the Wright brothers (inventors of the first successful aeroplane) would be pretty happy to know that people in the 21st century can now develop a career as an airline pilot and play an integral role in flying thousands of people across the world each and every day.
Pilots fly a variety of aircraft and are employed in both the civil and military aviation sectors.
However, we’re here to talk specifically about airline pilots. These guys are employed by commercial airlines, cargo and charter companies to fly aircraft on domestic and international aviation routes.
Airline pilots have full control and responsibility for the overall safety, efficiency and smooth operation of the flights they carry out. Each flight, depending upon the size of the aircraft and the route taken, has two or more pilots, with the senior most pilot acting as captain.
If you work in this profession, you will be responsible for preparing a detailed flight plan, having studied the route, weather reports and schedules for departures and arrivals.
It’ll also be your job to evaluate the fuel load required based on the total weight of the aircraft (including passengers and/or cargo), the distance to be covered and the altitude you will be flying at.
You will ensure that all the engines, systems and on-board safety and navigation equipment are in working order and have been checked over by competent technicians. Before you get airborne, you will complete pre-flight checks and brief the cabin crew.
When it’s game time, you’ll need to make sure that the appropriate procedures are carried out with respect to take-off and noise regulations.
Understandably, then, you will also be in charge of controlling the aircraft throughout the flight and liaising with air traffic controllers to plot the plane’s trajectory.
Throughout the journey, you will communicate with crew and passengers at periodic intervals during the flight, check that the appropriate instrumentation and navigation systems are working at full capacity and make changes in speed and altitude as necessary to ensure a smooth flight.
Finally, when you reach your destination, you will prepare a detailed log pertaining to technical issues and complete the standard flight documentation as required.