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Becoming an Airline Pilot
Airline Pilots may start their career either in the Armed Forces or through obtaining a Private Pilot's Licence. They then build their hours up and attending courses on instrument flying and a range of other subjects. This is not cheap. Before the Pilot becomes an Airline Pilot he would have had to obtain an Instrument Rating and a Commercial Pilots Licence. Some airlines do sponsor candidates. The large amount of time building these hours up can see many a candidate fall by the wayside. Some pilots will fly Air Taxis initially building their hours up. Other ways are towing gliders or flying at Parachute Clubs. Some will become Light Aircraft Instructors all these hours count. No guarantee is made of an airline job even when qualified it is a risky business. Once a pilot is lucky enough to join an airline they will be put through and intensive course. Depending on what type of aircraft the airline has the pilot may start on turbo props or a 737. They will spend many hours in the simulator. Once they have passed the exams they will be fly under the guidance of a Training Captain until the airline is satisfied of the pilots competence. They will start their airline career as a First Officer. After some five years they are known as a Senior First Officer. Then later as the pilot becomes senior a command course is undertaken and the pilot may then become a Captain.
This may mean having to retrain on another aircraft or simply just moving from the right hand seat to the left hand seat. Pilots can elect to go on the Long Haul Routes or remain on the short haul routes.
There is a schedule of tests the pilot has to take this includes medical operating procedures instrument rating. these happen through his/her whole career. Some of this is done in the classroom. Some in the Simulator. And sometimes a line check in the cockpit. It is therefore not to be assumed that the pilot has his licence for life and that's that. For those pilots that fly long haul over water in twin engine aircraft ETOPS Procedures also have to be learnt and the special procedures required flying the Atlantic. We will be covering these subjects later in the course.
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