Pilots and training

Young pilot undergoing advanced training.

As in most countries you have to be at least 21 before you can hold a commercial pilot’s license in the United Kingdom or the USA. There are also higher grades of commercial pilot’s license leading to the highest license which is the Airline Transport Pilots License which will allow its holder to be a captain on a flight carrying fare paying passengers on aircraft of a certain size.

There is strict criteria of training and regulations for pilots including;

• A new pilot will undergo basic flying training of about 200 hours in addition to 18 months of ground school and examinations. After that a candidate will undergo basic training on large aircraft and then another 40 hours of advanced simulated flying prior to be able to fly the real aircraft.
• Airlines have to conform to regulations regarding the total number of hours which pilots can be on duty. Most flights are conducted with two pilots who monitor each other whilst flying.
• Flight simulators are now so sophisticated that experienced pilots will do all of their training on the flight simulator, only when they have completed all their training and been certificated will they actually fly the real aircraft.

All airlines have to conform to regulations regarding the total number of hours which pilots can be on duty. Short-haul airlines will be limited by the number of flights while long-haul pilots will be limited by the duration of a flight. Most flights are conducted with two pilots but on very long-haul flights an extra crew member is carried so that the main operating crew can rest during part of the flight.

Flight Simulators are used extensively in pilot training

There are very strict rules regarding who is responsible for the aircraft at any particular stage of the flight with regard to the various duties that have to be carried out.

Flight Simulators are used extensively in pilot training.

Pilots normally retire between the ages of 55 and 65 and according to which country their flights over fly then a maximum age may be imposed by the country concerned. For example France use to not allow captains older than 60 to operate in their airspace.

Throughout the world Aviation Authorities combine their resources to ensure that the training given to new pilots and the refresher training given to experienced pilots matches the needs of the changing industry.

The skills and competence of the crews on your aircraft are beyond doubt and you have every reason to be confident in them and realize that however much you would like to be in control, the job is better left to those qualified to do it.

Many of the members joining the LOGBOOK 24/7 Social Network mention that being in control is important. But what does ‘being in control’ actually mean and what would change if you were in control of the plane? Or does being in control mean controlling the circumstances around the flight or it may even mean wanting to be in control of one’s thoughts and feelings.

Don’t forget to visit our shop to get the latest and best help available to overcome your fear of flying. And don’t forget to join our social network Logbook 24/7 to share your experiences with others.