Unit 15: Assigment 1 - P1 by Alex LLEWELLYN

Job Description

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 00:24:52 UTC

On a day to day basis the role of a commercial airline pilot is to safely transport customers/cargo from point A to point B. A typical day may start with the pilot using computer skills to check weather and flight plans. The plane must be pre-flighted and all aircraft logs reviewed. When ready, the pilot will over ee the push-back and then taxi to the runaway. While flying, in addition to monitoring aircraft systems, the pilot must communicate with the Air Traffic Controllers and the company. Pilots may work long hours and strange shifts, often being away from home for several days.

Tasks

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 00:35:06 UTC

- Review on route weather, passenger information, route and aircraft

- Create a flight plan based on the above information

- Ensure ensuring the fuel levels balance safety with economy and supervising the loading and fuelling of the aircraft

- Make sure all the flight systems and safety systems are working

- Brief the cabin crew about the flight and maintaining communication throughout the flight.

- Communicating with ATC throughout the flight

- Reacting quickly and appropriately to environmental changes and emergencies

- Updating the aircraft logbook and writing a report at the end of the flight noting any incidents or problems with the aircraft.

Experience and Requirments

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 00:49:21 UTC

Based on the airline you would like to join there are different requirements and ways to get in. For example at Cathay Pacific depending on what type of experience you have there are different pathways and programmes they offer. Most airlines require you to have a certain amount of hours in addition you have to have a Private Pilots License (PPL), Commercial Pilots License (CPL) and a Airline Transportation Pilots License (ATPL), but some airlines allow you to apply with a minimum of a CPL with an instrument rating.

In addition to flight experience you also need to do a Class 1 medical test to ensure that you are fit to fly and incase of any circumstances there is a emergency such as a lost in cabin pressure that your body is still able to work when your body is under that kind of stress. Most airlines require you to have really good english as the international language used in aviation is english.

Joining an Airline

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 01:00:18 UTC

I will most likely apply for Cathay Pacific so I have listed the requirement below for applying to Cathay Pacific. Cathay has three different pathways for becoming a pilot of them. These pathways are based on flight experience. But before undergoing any of the training you have to pass a 4 stage interview process where Cathay will test you on your knowledge on aviation your personality, numerous of test including hand eye coordination and also team work skills.

Cadet Programme -

This is a 55 week training programme at a Flight Training Adelaide which is a flight training school in Western Australia. This programme is only for Hong Kong Permanent Residence. Through the training this programme includes 160 days of night and day flying in a single and twin engine light aircraft, as well as classroom learning and 40 hours of simulator training. After completition from this training you will be relocated back to Hong Kong to become a pilot for Cathay Pacific as a Second Officer

Advance Entry Programme -

This is for people who have had flight experience and have also obtained an ICAO CPL license and also have had a excess of 250 hours of flight time in specific aircraft. These entrants will also be sent to Flight Training Adelaide but the course is 31 weeks instead of 55 weeks.

Transition Training Programme -

This programme is the shortest out of all programmes and is catered for people who have a lot of experience in aviation and possess a ATPL. This is for people who have more than 500 hours of flight experience of a multi-crew pressurised aircraft and experience in a turbine powered transport aircraft that is heavier than 5700kg and also a minimum of 1500 hours totally of flying. This programme is a 6 week programme also taken in Flight Training Adelaide.

The Entry requirements that is needed for all these courses include:

- Have an excellent command of written and spoken English

- Have completed secondary school and have good passes in mathematics and science, or have a degree or diploma, or have passes in all ATPL subjects

- Be physically fit and qualify for a Class I Medical

- The minimum height of a Cadet Pilot applicant for consideration is 157.5cm. AE and TT applicants must meet flight deck reach requirements.

After successful completion of the FTA course, you will return to Hong Kong as a Second Officer, and embark on your new career. The first three to five months of your return will focus on induction, ground school training, full-flight simulator sessions, and line flying. These three months are intended to consolidate what you've learnt about multi-crew operations, as well as introduce commercial considerations and other operational requirements. You will also learn more technical aspects that are specific to the aircraft type that you will fly.n

Life as a Pilot

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 01:29:27 UTC

A video of a life as a Airline Pilot

Salary and Benefits

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 01:30:38 UTC

The benefits that Cathay Pacific offers include:

- 21 days’ annual leave, increasing to 42 days on upgrade to First Officer
- Loss of Licence, Life and Medical insurance
- Up to 90% education allowance to help with your children’s education in Hong Kong
- 50% reimbursement of nursery and reception fees
- Comprehensive private medical insurance for you, your spouse and your children
- Discretionary 13th-month salary and profit share
- Amazing travel discounts for you, your spouse, your children and your parents or in-laws
- 15.5% company contribution to a pension scheme
- Salary tax capped at 15%
- Annual salary increments within rank

The salaries for different rankings include:

- Second Officer HKD35,170 - 49,414

- First Officer HKD70,165 - 86,614

- Captain HKD102,339 - 151,954

What have I done to help me with becoming a pilot?

14llewellynat1 — 2015-03-23 01:44:50 UTC

I have done excessive research in what I have to do to become a pilot through online and also people who work in the industry. I have also tried to get experience into the industry where I can, but I am very limited to gaining work experience because of confidentiality, security and safety.

I underwent a one week work placement at Cathay Pacific. During the week I gained a lot of knowledge to do with Cathay, a large growing business and also aviation related studies. I worked along side the flight operations department and the corporate quality department and I helped on a few day to day work. Apart from working I was allowed to meet people from other different departments including the engineering, catering, crisis management, flight dispatch, medical and the peoples department. Through this I gained a bigger picture of the company itself and experience what it is like to be in the best airline in the world. During the week I had to really use my communication skills as I have never met the people that I worked with before and at the same time get work done.