Placement Overview

This Airline Pilot is a First Officer with Virgin Atlantic, piloting Airbus A340 aircrafts on long haul flights.

Generic Job Description for a Pilot

Airline pilots are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of an aircraft. The captain has full responsibility for the safety of the aircraft and its occupants. He or she is aided by the first officer/s and cabin crew. Aircrafts are usually operated by two or four pilots, depending on the type of aircraft and length of journey.

Pilots are employed in one of four areas:

• Passenger scheduled services
• Passenger charter services
• Freight services
• General aviation

General aviation is the biggest sector worldwide and includes: private aircraft, flying schools and companies transporting oil and gas workers to offshore rigs.

Skills:

• A good understanding of maths and physics
• Confidence in using technology
• Ability to interpret maps and 3D displays
• Good hand-eye co-ordination and spatial awareness
• Good written and spoken communication skills, with a clear speaking voice
• Self-confidence
• Ability to be calm and take charge in an emergency
• Good team worker

Pay:

• Entry from around £16,000 to £42,000 a year.
• Jet pilots with two or three years’ experience - at least £40,000 a year
• Jet aircraft captains earn from £45,000 to £65,000 a year, or more 

Please not that salary figures are a guide only. Actual salaries may vary depending on the organisation and geographical location 

Hours:

• Shift work including evenings, weekends and public holidays
• May involve periods away from home
• Restricted to 900 flying hours a year

Environment:

• Long periods spent in flight cabins, which are comfortable but confined
• Tiredness and jetlag can be experience on long haul flights
• Pilots have a strict uniform policy

Qualifications:

•  Three GCSE’s grade A-C including Math, English and a Science subject for full time integrated training
• Five GCSE’s grade A-C including Maths, English and a Science subject for Modular training
• Sponsorship requires at least five GCSEs grades A-C, including English, maths and a science subject, plus two A levels, preferably including maths and physics.

Training:

There are three routes to training:

• Enrol for a course at a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved aviation training school
• Apply to an airline offering sponsored training at such a school
• Enlist in the Royal Air Force (RAF), Fleet Air Arm or Army Air Corps Association (AACA) as a pilot and undertake a conversion course at a later stage
• Training is expensive with fees ranging from £55,000 to £100,000 for the full course
• Initial Pilot training usually takes 1-2 years, with further flight hours required for progression 

Opportunities:

• There are over 10,500 airline pilots in the UK.
• They are employed by around 30 scheduled, chartered and freight airlines
• Competition for vacancies is intense 

Links:

www.balpa.org - British Air Line Pilots’ Association (BALPA)

www.caa.co.uk - Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA)
www.ccat.org.uk - CABAIR College of Air Training

www.epst.com - European Pilot Selection and Training

www.raf.mod.uk - Royal Air Force (RAF)