Pilot - Airline
Fly people and cargo all around the world — could the cockpit be your next career destination?
Also known as: first officer, co-pilot, captain
About the job
What it's like
As an airline pilot, your career will take off – literally! You’ll fly people, luggage and cargo thousands of miles around the world. Everyone on board will rely on you to make sure the plane arrives safely and on time.
Using your specialist skills, you’ll be in charge of the cockpit. The pilot also directs the aircraft crew during the flight and leads them calmly in any emergencies.
Of course, not all pilots fly big commercial jetliners. You may pilot a small plane and help to load and unload luggage or cargo.
On short-haul flights, you’ll work with a co-pilot – sometimes known as first officer. Whereas, on long-haul flights, you’ll also travel with a flight engineer. You could choose to work in other areas of aviation, such as crop-spraying, flight testing and flight training.
So, have you got what it takes to become a high-flying pilot?
Your tasks might include:
carrying out pre-flight checks of instruments, engines and fuel
making sure that all safety systems are working properly
working out the best route based on weather reports and other information from air traffic control
following landing instructions from air traffic control
checking flight data and adjusting to suit weather changes
keeping passengers and crew informed about journey progress
Hours
It’s not a standard 9 to 5 job! Your hours will vary depending on the flights you’ve been assigned to.
Air travel is a 24/7 business which means you’ll work nights, weekends and public holidays.
Working hours are strictly regulated for safety reasons.
Environment
You’ll spend most of your time in the cockpit. This is a high-tech space that’s comfortable but compact.
You’ll oversee lots of controls, screens and radios while sitting next to the co-pilot.
Travel
You’ll get to see the world – it’s one of the biggest perks of the job! How much time you spend away from home will vary depending on the routes you fly.
On UK and European routes, you may be able to return home at the end of each day.
Longer flights, especially those further afield, often involve overnight stays – sometimes for several days. When you do need to stay away from home, your employer will provide accommodation.
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
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Transport
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- reliable
- taking initiative
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- observation
- problem solving
- working with technology
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
English
Computing Science
Engineering Science
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Applications of Mathematics
You’ll face fierce competition to become an airline pilot.
Many commercial airline pilots have an undergraduate degree. But the most important qualification is an Airline Transport Pilot’s License (ATPL).
You’ll usually start your career as a first officer after gaining a ‘frozen ATPL’. Once you’ve completed 1,500 flying hours, you can apply for a full ATPL and qualify as an airline captain.
There are four different routes you can take to become an airline pilot.
Private training
You can train at a UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)-approved school. An ATPL course can cost between £70,000 and £120,000. You’ll usually need a minimum of five subjects at National 5 (SCQF Level 5) to get into a CAA-approved training school.
Sometimes, airlines provide sponsorship to help people access CAA-approved training. You’ll usually need at least three Highers, including Maths and Physics, to access sponsored training. Although, most entrants to these courses are university graduates. Maths, Physics, Computing and Engineering degrees are most relevant, but all degrees are acceptable.
Company training schemes
Several passenger airlines, such as Virgin and British Airways, offer pilot training schemes. These allow you to train with the company and gain your ATPL licence.
Generally, these schemes will pay your training costs – you then pay them back once qualified. Some companies may ask you to pay a ‘bond’ upfront. This is then repaid to you over several years once you’re working for them as a pilot.
Armed forces experience
Fancy qualifying as a pilot in the armed forces? Once you qualify, you can take a conversion course to gain a commercial pilot’s licence.
Competition is strong for pilot training in the armed forces. You’ll also need to serve a minimum term before leaving to become an airline pilot.
University
Some universities offer specialist courses. These courses combine pilot studies and training with a relevant degree. For example, you could study aviation engineering or air transport while learning to be a pilot alongside it. Keep in mind, you may have to pay for the flight training yourself.
Entry into these university courses is competitive. As a minimum, you’ll need multiple Highers at B or above.
The more experience you have of flying planes, the better! You can start private flying lessons from the age of 14. Although, you can’t fly solo until the age of 16.
Once you turn 17 years old, and have completed your training, you can hold your private pilot’s licence (PPL). Remember, your PPL doesn’t allow you to fly commercially or become an airline pilot.
You must be aged 21 or older to hold a full ATPL. To secure an ATPL, you’ll need to pass a medical check and get a class one medical certificate. You should have a class two medical certificate before you start training.
Airline pilots should be physically fit, have good hearing and eyesight and normal colour vision.
Some airlines have height and weight restrictions.
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