Airline pilots fly passengers and cargo to destinations all around the world for commercial, business and leisure purposes. Their job is exciting and challenging, but it also carries a lot of responsibility.

Pilots' duties vary slightly depending on the organisation they work for, but typically include:

• carrying out pre-flight checks of onboard instruments, engines and fuel
• making sure all safety systems are working properly 
• working out the best route based on weather reports and other information from air traffic control
• briefing the cabin crew and following take-off instructions
• monitoring in-flight data and making adjustments to deal with changing weather patterns
• telling passengers and crew about progress
• following airport approach and landing instructions from air traffic control
• writing flight reports, detailing any problems wit the aircraft or the flight path
• helping to load and unload luggage or cargo (on small aeroplanes).

On short-haul flights, there is usually a pilot (captain) and a co-pilot (first officer). On long-haul flights, there are normally two pilots and often a flight engineer, who monitors the instruments.

Some pilots work in other areas of aviation such as crop spraying, flight testing and flight training.

Hours and Environment

Airline pilots' working hours are strictly regulated for safety reasons. They will usually include nights, weekends and public holidays.

The amount of time you spend away from home varies. On domestic and European routes, you may return home every evening, but flights further afield often involve overnight or longer stays in other countries. When this happens, your company will provide accommodation.

You may fly across several time zones, depending on the destination, so jet lag fatigue can be an issue; because you have to concentrate for long periods, for example, during take off, on landing and in bad weather, the job can be mentally demanding.

Skills and Interests

As an airline pilot, you need:

• the ability to follow spoken instructions from air traffic control
• the ability to give clear, confident instructions to crew members and passengers
• good teamworking skills
• the ability to work with technology
• have good hand-to-eye coordination
• the ability to interpret maps and 3D displays
• good written communication skills
• the ability to remain calm and able to take charge in an emergency.

Entry

You normally start work with an airline as a co-pilot or first officer. To do this, you need to achieve a minimum of an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (ATPL). This is known as a 'frozen' ATPL until you have completed sufficient flying hours to apply for a full ATPL and qualify as an airline captain.

There are several ways you can qualify as an airline pilot:

Private Training
You can fund your own training at a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)-approved training school, but you would have to pay the full cost of the course (around £50,000 to £60,000 in total). You can get a complete list of training establishments from the CAA personnel licensing department and the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) in Further Information.

Sponsored Training
Some airlines offer places on sponsored training schemes. You normally need at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), including English, maths and science, and two A levels/three H grades, preferably in maths and physics. The entry requirements can vary between companies, so check with individual airlines.

Armed Forces' Experience
If you are a qualified pilot from the armed forces, you can take a conversion course to obtain a commercial pilot’s licence. There is strong competition for pilot training in the forces and you must serve a minimum term before taking up employment with an airline.

University Route
Several universities offer courses in air transport and operations with pilot training pathways. Some of these allow you to study up to frozen ATPL level. In most cases, you have to fund the flight training modules yourself.

To search for colleges and universities offering these courses, visit the website of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Please check with the individual colleges and universities for their entry requirements.

In all cases, the minimum age of issue for a full ATPL is 21. You should be physically fit, with good hearing, eyesight and normal colour vision. Some airlines impose height and weight restrictions, and you must pass a strict medical examination.

BALPA and the Air League have details about routes into this career, airline sponsorships, bursaries and scholarships. The Royal Aeronautical Society and GoSkills also have information about this job. See their websites in Further Information.

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) provides an aptitude test and assessment scheme for people with little or no flying experience. Although not a requirement for flight training, it can prove a useful way to decide whether you are suited to this career, before you make a financial commitment to training.

Training

Your training to reach the frozen ATPL level can take between 9 and 36 months, depending on which entry route you follow. It may be shorter if you already have a Private Pilot's Licence, Commercial Pilot's Licence or have experience from the armed forces. The training normally includes:

• principles of flight
• navigation and communications
• meteorology
• operational procedures
• aviation law.

You also fly simulators and real aircraft. As a trainee, you sit exams and take a skills test for all pilot licences.

During the training period, you learn basic flying skills and usually work towards the frozen Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL). You must complete a minimum of 150 hours' flying practice for the CPL, going up to 195 hours' flying time for the ATPL.

You will normally start work as a co-pilot, alongside a training captain, on short-haul flights to give you maximum experience of take-offs and landings. A full ATPL is normally awarded after 1,500 flying hours (with at least 500 as a co-pilot). Eventually you will become a fully-qualified captain.

As a pilot, you must renew your instrument rating (IR) and take skills tests for specific aircraft every six to twelve months. You also have regular medical examinations.

Opportunities

Pilots work for scheduled and charter passenger airlines, freight carriers and private business charter companies. Airline companies all over the world employ pilots, and you can be based in the UK or overseas.

Once you have around five years’ experience, you can apply to be a co-pilot on long-haul flights. You need at least 5,000 flying hours before you can apply for promotion to captain. This usually takes between seven and ten years to achieve.

As a pilot, you can take on training or management roles alongside flying duties, or transfer to ground-based management.

Other opportunities include flying instruction, ferry-flying, bush flying and agricultural flying in remote areas.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

The basic salary for co-pilots starts at around £21,000 a year.
For first officers this rises to between £30,000 and £40,000 a year.
Experienced captains can earn between £55,000 and £70,000 a year.

Further information

Concorde House
Trinity Park
Solihull
Birmingham
B37 7UQ
Tel: 0121 635 5520 4 Hamilton Place
London
W1J 7BQ
Tel: 020 7670 4300 Balpa House
5 Heathrow Boulevard
278 Bath Road
West Drayton
UB7 0DQ Cobham House
9 Warwick Court
Gray's Inn
London
WC1R 5DJ RH6 0YR