Pilot
Job overview
Pilots are highly trained professionals who fly aircraft.
Most pilots are employed in the commercial and military aviation fields.
What do people do in this occupation?
There are a great many types of aircraft used in private, commercial or military aviation and the nature of pilots' work will therefore largely depend on the type of aircraft they fly and the purpose of the flights
Pilots can be divided between private and professional pilots:-
They may fly merely for pleasure, e.g. flying in competitions or may employ their flying abilities in the service of their business.
Those who fly for an airline join as first-officers, possessing the minimum entry qualifications.
They will then be trained to qualify as co-pilots.
Here they form part of the two- and three-man crews who fly these aircraft on the company routes, carrying passengers and/or freight.
In the transport field they carry military cargo and passengers.
In the reconnaissance field, high flying photographically equipped aircraft are used.
In the combat role the fighter aircraft is used as a weapon platform.
In the commercial airlines most passenger aircraft require a minimum of two pilots for operation.
On long-haul flights between continents it is not uncommon to find multi-crews, consisting of up to four pilots and two flight engineer officers.
Captains are overall in command of the flight and "manage" their aircraft in the transport system.
The crew functions as an integrated unit, all performing specific tasks, such as navigation, communication and assisting with the actual flying of the aircraft.
Training of flight crew in an airline is carried out by another group of pilots.
They qualify and re-qualify all the pilots in the airline for flying duties.
The working life of airline pilots is highly regulated by flight and duty regulations.
They are allowed to fly only a specific number of flying hours in any one month.
Throughout their career they will be evaluated and re-evaluated.
Pilots undergo a regular medical examination and flying tests.
What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Although aviation does not involve much physical effort, the nature of the work demands high levels of medical fitness, as well as skill and discipline.
Working hours are irregular and flying has to continue in all kinds of weather.
Moving between time zones can also be very tiring.
Prospective pilots must therefore be physically fit and in excellent health, and able to pass an exceptionally strict medical test.
Good eye-sight and good hearing are essential.
Colour-blind and deaf people cannot become pilots.
Intelligence and emotional stability are necessary too, because pilots have to think and act fast in emergencies.
Leadership and tact are further essential qualities.
Ultimately pilots must be able to carry the responsibility of being in charge of sophisticated and very expensive aircraft and having the lives of crew and passengers in their hands.
What qualifications are needed?
Pilots need a good all-round education, with bias on the science side, and then successfully complete the training for obtaining a pilot's licence.
On top of this they will need to undergo the rigorous further training required for qualifying as a commercial or military pilot.
