A pilot is a pilot who flies an airplane. This pilot is often the airline’s first employee and receives the initial training for that job from a student pilot who has passed the required training program. A private pilot flies only his own airplane. Commercial pilots fly larger airplanes that can carry more fuel and passengers. Some commercial pilots have several planes that they operate. A pilot can also fly military planes.
The most basic part of the airline pilot job description is flying. In order to qualify for a pilot’s license, he must obtain one thousand hours of flight time. Pilots usually start out by applying to a certain carrier, such as Eastern Airlines, United Airlines, or Delta Airlines. After passing a medical exam and completing a training course, a pilot can apply to fly for any airline.
The salary for airline pilots varies depending on the type of airline he works for and the time spent flying. For example, if a pilot works for a major airline, his salary will be higher than those who work for smaller carriers. Also, airline pilots earn more when they have more experience, especially with bigger planes. They earn even more money when they take extra courses, complete extra hours of training, or take advanced pilot lessons. The longer a pilot flies, the more experience he gets, and the more money he makes. A pilot may begin his career as an airline stewardess, but in the long run he will almost certainly fly most of the time, landing him a position as a pilot.
Most pilots start their careers by applying for free pilot training programs, usually sponsored by major airlines. If a pilot gets enough free time, he can decide to become a flight engineer, or perform additional training in other types of planes. He may also want to apply to become a commercial airline pilot, which is awarded to people who successfully complete a certain number of non-precision airplane flights. Commercial airline pilots must be licensed by the FAA before they can legally fly commercial aircraft. Some pilots also go into the military and serve as flight crew members for a fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter, earning combat pilot wings.
Some pilots gain more flying experience by being involved in aircraft crashes. Pilots can be involved in any type of crash, which can include an engine failure, mechanical failure, or passenger fatality. Pilots can be injured seriously in these crashes or even killed. The best way to avoid being involved in a crash is to be a good pilot, and learn crash techniques as quickly as possible. After the crash, pilots should make sure that they know exactly what they should do, where they should go, and what they should do in the event of a crash, since the landing sites might still be hazardous.
In addition to flying a plane, pilots can work for aviation companies or other firms. These pilots fly airplanes that are meant for general aviation, which is used by private aircraft. Some pilots choose to fly large scale corporate planes, such as jets, which are required by most businesses. Many pilots also choose to work as a consultant or a freelance air traffic controller, which can be very lucrative and satisfying.