1. Life as an Airline Pilot
James Welch
Senior First Officer
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Airbus A & 600

2. A bit about me
Left school with no career plan. Left University after a year and got an office job with British Airways.
Realised my friends were leaving University with a career ahead - I had a job.
Decided to pursue a lifelong ambition to be a Pilot.

3. Life as an Airline Pilot
How to become a pilot?
My day at work.
Life as a pilot.
Questions?

4. Pilots unions in the US estimate a demand for 19,000 new pilots worldwide every year for the next 20 years to cope with expansion! Source: British Airline Pilots Association “Log” August / September 2008

5. How to become a Pilot What qualification do I require?
Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL)
(Commercial Pilots Licence with “Frozen” ATPL)
Which country should my licence be issued in?
Depends on where you want to work, USA (FAA) or Europe (EU OPS).
Both widely accepted worldwide, but only FAA in the US, and EU OPS in Europe.

6. Full time, residential course.
Training Routes
Integrated
Full time, residential course.
12 to 18 months.
Fully structured course combining ground school classroom based study with intensive flight training.
Downside
Cost: (£70,000 approx)
Modular
Part time course, with distance learning options available. One stage at a time as time and money allow. Not tied to one training establishment.
Downside
Takes longer

7. Your first aircraft

8. Integrated Course Summary
Ground school – 27 Weeks
Exams in 14 subjects, sat in two groups of 7
Basic flight training – 20 Weeks
Single-engine aircraft (120 hours)
Advanced flight training – 12 Weeks
Multi-engine aircraft + simulator ( hours)
Extra’s
Multi pilot jet training (simulator), Interview and CV preparation
Some training establishments allow the integrated course to form part of a Degree in Air Transport Management.

9. Advanced Trainer

10. First Job!

11. Did you know!
Did you know that the world's shortest commercial flight is considered to be Logan Air's flight between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkneys? The distance is one and a half miles, lasting 1 minute 14 seconds.

12. Shorthaul

13. My Day at Work Short Haul 3:30am Wake up
5:00am Report at the airport. Pre flight planning.
6:00am Depart on first sector
6:00am to mid afternoon. Fly up to four flights around Europe. Each flight 45mins to 2 hours long. 40 minutes between arriving and departing.
Mid afternoon. Hotel or home. Eat and sleep.
Next Day….Same again!
Roster pattern…Five to six days on, two or three days off.
Working day 8 to 10 hours. Flying time 4 to 5 hours.

15. 90 minutes before Departure (12:30pm)
My Day at Work!
Pre Flight (Crew Room)
90 minutes before Departure (12:30pm)
Check Weather and Information Notices (NOTAMS) for the route, destination and alternates. Check Flight Plan.
Plan Fuel Load. More fuel – More time
More fuel – More Cost
Check Cargo Information
Decide workload. Pilot Flying, Pilot Not Flying, Relief (3+ crew)
Meet Cabin Crew
Check aircraft state. Call engineers and ground handlers.
Drink Coffee!
Go out to the aircraft 1 hour before departure.

16. 50 Minutes before Departure
My Day at Work
Aircraft (Ground)
50 Minutes before Departure
Security check
Set up flight deck
Programme Nav computers
Do external walk around
Obtain final weight and decide final fuel
Calculate take off speeds
Obtain ATC clearance
Receive and check load sheet
Drink Tea and go!

17. My Office

18. My Day at Work Airborne PF
Flies the aircraft, with and without autopilot.
Updates Nav Computers. Wind Info, route changes.
Monitors Aircraft systems.
Decides best altitude.
Manages fuel balance.
Plans approach and landing.
PNF
Operates Radio.
Carries out abnormal procedures.
Updates flight plan and calculates fuel figures.
Updates Weather Info
Communicates with company
Both: Drink tea, eat, read the paper, chat

19. Arriving! Two days later return flight home
10am Arrive Shanghai – 48 hours free time
Two days later return flight home
Three of four days off before next trip – Average of four trips per month

20. Life as a Pilot Good Big Boys Toys Paid to travel
See interesting places
Cannot take work home with you
Good pay
Good time off
Travel perks
Live where you want (Longhaul)
Sociable Job
Bad
Life ruled by a roster
Constant training and checking (Simulator, 2 days every six months)
Work through the night or start work early / finish late. (50 nights a year)
A lot of time away in hotels
Don’t work with the same people regularly

21. Days Off!

22. Flying jobs Helicopter Pilot Corporate Pilot Survey Pilot
Flying Instructor
Engineering
Cabin Crew
Military Pilots
Air Traffic Control

23. My Dream Job!

24. Airbus A340 Facts
The Airbus A is 4 meters longer than a Boeing
Maximum Fuel Capacity 152,500kg
Maximum range approximately 7500 nautical miles, 16 hours flying time
The wing tips flex by over 4 meters on take-off
It uses about 95,000kg of fuel to fly from London to Shanghai
Maximum take-off weight 368,000kg
Maximum landing weight 259,000kg
Take off speed approx 160kts / 180mph / 300kph

25. Oops!

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27. Oops!

28. Questions?