Airline pilot

Pilot training is expensive and highly competitive, but offers great career prospects and a rewarding salary

As an airline pilot, you'll fly passengers or cargo on long or short-haul flights for leisure, business or commercial purposes.

Flights are typically operated by two pilots: the captain (pilot in command) and the first officer (co-pilot). They take turns flying the aircraft - one acts as Pilot Flying (PF), while the other serves as Pilot Monitoring (PM), handling communications and safety checks.

On longer flights, a third or fourth pilot may be on board to ensure compliance with flight time limits set by bodies like EASA and the CAA.

The captain and first officer work closely as a team, but the captain holds ultimate responsibility for the safety and operation of the flight.

Responsibilities

As an airline pilot, you'll need to:

• check the flight plan you've received from the flight planning department to make sure all information is in order, including the route, weather and passenger numbers and ensure aircraft weights are all within limits
• decide whether to carry any additional fuel based on the weather information received from flight planning
• use the flight plan to input your route into the Flight Management Computer (FMC)
• confirm with the refuellers how much fuel you’re taking for the flight
• make sure all safety systems are working properly
• brief the cabin crew before the flight and maintain regular contact throughout the flight
• carry out pre-flight checks on the navigation and aircraft systems, as well as a physical 'walk-around' check to inspect the exterior of the aircraft
• communicate with air traffic control before take-off and during flight and landing
• ensure noise regulations are followed during take-off and landing
• understand and interpret data from instruments and controls
• make regular checks on the aircraft's fuel state, technical performance and position, on weather conditions and air traffic during flight
• communicate with passengers using the public address system
• react quickly and appropriately to environmental changes and emergencies
• update the aircraft's technical log at the beginning and end of the flight, noting any technical defects and incidents with the aircraft.

Salary

Salaries depend on the airline, the type of aircraft you're flying and your experience.

• Starting salaries for newly qualified second/first officers, working for a small operation, may be around £24,000. In larger companies, this can reach £32,000.
• Once you've built up your experience, salaries as a second officer tend to peak at around £58,000, while first officer salaries can reach £75,000. Senior first officers can earn up to around £85,000.
• A captain working for a medium-sized airline may earn in the region of £55,000 to £75,000, while those employed by major operators can earn salaries of £100,000 to £150,000+.

The above figures are the base salaries, with most companies offering sector pay on top of this. This is additional money paid for each sector (leg) of a flight, with longer flights paying more than shorter ones.

Some companies run apprenticeship schemes for fully-trained pilots looking for their first job, where salaries may be lower but further training will be paid for by the company. Starting salaries may be higher in other companies, but you'll be required to fund the additional training yourself.

A pilot's salary is often incremental, rising with each year of service with the company. Benefits usually include a pension scheme, profit-sharing scheme, discounted shares and travel and various allowances, such as meal allowances, overnight stay allowances and flight pay.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

You'll typically work shifts although they may not follow a set pattern with start and finish times. For safety reasons, maximum weekly flying hours are set for pilots but these hours may not be spread evenly across a week. Instead you may have some long working days followed by some shorter days and start times will differ depending on the route, with both early morning and late night starts a possibility.

Each airline has their own type of roster for their pilots and you may find that some offer more stability than others in terms of when your shifts are set. For example, some may offer a four-days-on/four-days-off policy while others will just state you'll get two days off per week but that these may fall at any time.

You'll be expected to work across weekends and bank holidays.

What to expect

• It's likely that part of your working hours will be spent on standby (or reserve). This means you won't be flying and can usually remain at home but for some specified hours of the day you'll be available to be called out for a flight at relatively short notice. For this reason, you'll usually be required to live near the airport where you're based.
• Your work/life balance tends to be more stable if you work for a short-haul airline as you'll generally receive your shifts a month or two in advance and will usually be able to return home at the end of each working day.
• If you work as a long-haul airline pilot you'll spend greater periods of time away from home, flying long distances. This means you'll need to be able to adjust to different time zones and may regularly stay overnight at your destinations.
• Pilots are restricted to 900 flying hours per year. On scheduled airlines the workload is spread evenly throughout the year, while on charter airlines the summer months are busier than the winter months.
• Most commercial airline pilots are men, but more women are now entering the profession. Initiatives are in place to encourage and support women, such as Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter.
• Aircraft cockpits are designed with comfort in mind, but as you'll spend most of your time sitting in it you may suffer tiredness, particularly if flying long-haul flights and either eastwards or westwards through different time zones. There are often bunks where you can take a nap on long-haul flight aircraft.
• Pilots are required to undergo simulator proficiency checks every six months and must maintain an annual Class 1 medical. Continued learning and regular assessment are key parts of the job.

Qualifications

To work as an airline (commercial) pilot you must hold an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). This qualification is known as a 'frozen ATPL' at first and becomes 'unfrozen' when 1,500 hours of flight time have been achieved.

There are three main ways to get an ATPL and it's important you consider each route fully to choose the one that's right for you.

An Integrated course is the quickest but most expensive route, taking you to frozen ATPL status in around 18 months. Costing between £80,000 to £130,000 depending on the training provider.

It's an intensive, full-time course that combines all training, including ground courses and flight training, into one programme with one training provider. You'll typically start with around six months of ground school followed by flight training and hour building in the aircraft. There are various stages to complete, including the following:

• ATPL theory course and exams
• Commercial pilot's licence (CPL)
• Multi-Engine Rating (ME) - allows you to fly a twin-engine aircraft
• Instrument Rating (IR) - which allows you to fly using the aircrafts instruments when there is low visibility
• Multi Crew Cooperation Course (MCC) - covers the importance of working as a team
• Jet Orientation Course (JOC) - helps the move from flying a single pilot aircraft to a type rating on a multi crew plane.

Modular training covers the same elements as those listed above with the addition of starting first by gaining a private pilot's licence (PPL) which covers ground school and exams, flight training, radio training and a flight test.

The difference with the modular training is that it is broken down into modules that can be completed at your own pace, allowing you to complete sections as you can afford them and work in between if needed. Although a cheaper option, it is still a big financial commitment.

The Multi Pilot Licence (MPL) is a newer and differently structured training route to becoming a commercial airline pilot. Like the integrated ATPL route, it's completed with one training provider, but it has some key differences:

• Airline-specific - You’re trained with a specific airline in mind, often for a particular aircraft type. If you pass, you'll usually be offered a job with that airline.
• Simulator-based - Most of your flying is done in a simulator rather than in a real aircraft. You'll still do some actual flying, but much less than on other routes.
• Different licence - You'll finish with an MPL, not an ATPL. This lets you work as a co-pilot on multi-crew aircraft for the airline you trained with. You can later upgrade to a full ATPL once you gain enough flying experience.
• Less flexible - It can be hard to move to another airline with an MPL, unless they agree to retrain you.

Find out more about training as a pilot and what's required from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

All airline pilots must pass a CAA Class One Medical to make sure they're safe to fly and without it you won't be able to complete the training to achieve the ATPL. It's therefore strongly recommended that this is one of the first things you do before committing to the expensive training costs of the ATPL.

Some related degrees, such as air transport management and aviation management, include training for a PPL or ATPL. However, while these degrees can increase your knowledge and provide additional skills, they are by no means essential for a career as a pilot and will increase the overall costs of the training.

Routes in are also available for those who have previously trained as a pilot in the RAF, Navy or Army. Contact training providers or airlines for further information.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• an understanding of maths and physics
• an ability to understand technical information, as pilots need to know how their aircraft works
• excellent spatial awareness and coordination
• strong communication skills
• teamwork skills
• the ability to think quickly and make decisions in difficult situations
• the capacity to remain calm under pressure
• discipline, self-confidence and commitment
• leadership skills, with the ability to give clear commands to cabin crew and passengers.

Work experience

It's a good idea to have some kind of flying experience before you start the expensive, intensive training courses. There are numerous small flying schools around the UK that allow you to take flying lessons in small aircraft. This can range from a single half an hour flight to give you a taste of it, to a whole course and exams that lead to you getting a private pilot's licence (PPL). This helps you to work out if you have the passion for flying as you'll need a lot of dedication to complete the training.

To help reduce the cost of training, some aspiring pilots choose to have a share in a small aircraft. This can be a more cost-effective way to build the required flight hours, particularly for those pursuing the modular training route, where hour-building is often done independently. Sharing a plane through a flying club or group ownership scheme can significantly cut the cost of renting aircraft for practice flights.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

There are many passenger airline companies employing pilots in the UK, including:

• British Airways
• easyJet
• Jet2
• Ryanair
• TUI Airways.

Jobs are also available with cargo airlines such as Amazon Air, DHL, TNT and West Atlantic.

It's also possible to get a job within general aviation in flight schools, with companies operating their own aircraft or with air taxi operators.

The industry is competitive, and it can take time to secure your first job as a commercial pilot. Networking with those already in the industry can be helpful in securing positions.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Aviation Jobsearch
• FlightDeckFriend.com
• Flightglobal FlightJobs
• LatestPilotJobs.com

You can also check the websites of individual airlines.

Specialist aviation recruitment companies include:

• CAE
• Direct Personnel

Advertisements also appear in trade magazines, and flight training schools are often notified of vacancies.

Professional development

Once you've secured a job with an airline, you'll need to complete a training course called a type-rating which trains you to fly the particular type of aircraft used by your employer.

Some companies will cover the cost of the type-rating or may pay a lower wage to compensate for it. Others will expect you to pay the additional cost, which could be around £20,000 to £30,000 depending on the aircraft. They may offer a payment scheme to help with this.

The type-rating course may take place at your designated base (where you'll usually fly from), at a different UK airport or at an overseas airport if the airline company has international training bases. If you move to a different aircraft in the future, you'll need to complete another type-rating or a shorter differences course.

As a newly qualified second or first officer you'll work alongside a training captain to begin with until a certain number of flights have been completed to ensure you've had adequate experience before you fly alongside a regular captain.

Once you've achieved 1,500 hours of flying time (500 of that must be in a plane which requires more than one crew to operate it), your ATPL will become 'unfrozen' and you'll be issued with a full ATPL. Once you have achieved this, you can progress to the role of captain.

All pilots have to pass certain examinations every six months in order to keep their licence, so it's important that you take control of your studies and ensure you are up to speed with the necessary information.

You'll need to pass a a Class 1 medical exam every six to twelve months, depending on your age.

Career prospects

The progression route for most airlines tends to be:

• second officer (SO)
• first officer (FO)
• senior first officer (SFO)
• captain
• training captain
• type rating instructor (TRI)
• type rating examiner (TRE).

A second officer, first officer and senior first officer all do the same role with the different titles reflecting the amount of hours and experience the pilot has. In these roles, you'll 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 you.

Limitations are placed on newly qualified first officers in relation to the whether you can fly in and the airports you can fly to. These limitations are lifted as you gain experience.

After gaining substantial experience and the required number of flying hours (typically around 3,000) you can progress on to intensive training to become a captain. Promotion to captaincy might occur more quickly in a fast-growing budget airline than in a larger, more static organisation.

Following this, it's possible to become a training captain, either training new pilots during flights in the aircraft or training and/or examining new and existing pilots in simulators. Depending on the type of training you carry out, you may spend more time in the simulator than actually flying aircraft, so you’ll need to consider whether this fits your career aspirations.

You could also become a base captain where you take on some HR-related responsibilities for all the pilots who work from the same base as you. This role is combined with some active flying time too.

You may opt to progress your career by flying a larger aircraft which usually involves operating long-haul routes. You may have to move airlines to do this, as some only cover short-haul flights.

A small number move into senior positions within the wider industry as flight operations inspectors for the CAA or become specialised air accident investigators.