There’s More to Do Than Just Fly the Plane When You’re an Airline Pilot

Work for an airline pilot before takeoff involves a lot more than just greeting passengers as they board: You will need to get information about the specific route you will be taking during the flight, the weather, the passengers and aircraft, work out a flight plan (that consists of the route, flying altitude, how much fuel to take), sometimes (depending on the airline) supervise the loading and fueling of your aircraft, carry out pre-flight checks on the navigation and operating systems, and of course,communicate with air traffic control. During the flight, you will make periodic checks on the aircraft’s technical performance, its position, plus weather conditions (they can change rapidly sometimes), and air traffic. You will also communicate with passengers and crew and be prepared to react quickly to emergencies or changes. You will also land the aircraft safely, under instruction from the air traffic control center, taxi to the gate safely under the guidance of ground control, and then write a report on the flight, including any problems experienced. Airline pilots fly on scheduled and charter flights, transporting passengers and cargo, or just cargo, depending on your airline. There are typically two or four pilots on each flight, depending on the type of aircraft and the length of the flight. The most senior is the captain. He or she has full responsibility for the safety of the aircraft and passengers. The captain is assisted by the first officer(s) and cabin crew. Depending on your airline and what you were hired for, you will be employed in scheduled passenger service, passenger charter service, freight service or business (corporate) aviation.