If you’ve already spent your morning reverie to start again with your career, this feature is for you. Every Monday, the Money blog talks to someone another profession to discover what it is really. This week, we are talking with Martin Drake, a British Airways British 747 retired and representative of the British Airline Pilots’ Association.
Start -up salaries are often not as generous as people imagine it … With new pilots generally receiving £ 30,000 at £ 40,000 per year. If you become a long-haul captain, you would gain between £ 125,000 and 200,000, with senior captains on certain airlines earning more than £ 200,000. It can be difficult to quantify because pilot wages often depend on the type of plane, and the driving roads and the airline for which you work.
There are no specific loans to finance training, such as student loans … There are a handful of training plans funded by airlines, but budding pilots are largely necessary to finance their own training and will often have to reimburse any money they have borrowed once they are starting to work.
Do not wait, climb on the retirement scale as soon as possible … Retirement takes place faster than anyone awaits it.
I had four weeks of vacation everywhere between summer and winter periods … While we were working 365 days a year, my company gave us two additional weeks in free time for weekends and holidays. Pilot’s working hours are governed by legislation and cover the hours of service, flight hours and a rest period. This takes into account the start time, the number of flights, the number of crossed time zones and the previous rest period, to mention some. In terms of time in the air, pilots cannot fly for more than 100 hours in a period of 28 days.
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The biggest change I saw during my time in the industry was … deregulation of airspace. At the start of my career, there were more defined routes and airlines that led them. Now there are many more routes and more airlines that cover them. Although this has certain advantages, it can make things more complicated for pilots.
Passengers should always seriously take the lighting of the seat belt panel … First of all, it is a legal instruction from the plane commander who must be obeyed. The seat belt panel is lit at times when there is more chances of sudden movements of the plane, such as during takeoff, landing and turbulence. If you leave your place while the seat belt panel is on, you may injure yourself or another person, maybe very seriously.
When you don’t put your phone in plane mode … We occasionally obtain interference on audio circuits during communication with air traffic control, such as a repetitive dinging noise. It is mainly a nuisance rather than something more serious, although it is something that pilots prefer not to disturb them by piloting an airplane.
The best time to fly as a passenger is.. In the middle of the morning, because you tend to be better rested and more relaxed.
Martin Drake
One of the best places I have visited for work is … New York, because there is always something happening, no matter the time of the day. If you have 24 hours there, my advice would be to search and offer a plan in advance. Create where you want to go and have alternatives in case the plan A does not work. Do not try to pile up too much. Traveling is the quality of quantity.
Always transport a large square feather pillow in a cotton pillowcase … They can crash into almost nothing in your luggage and they make travel much more comfortable – and this gives you an additional pillow in your accommodation.
The most frightening experience I had was … When I was flying through Greenland. The turbulence was so bad – I could not keep the plane at its allocated altitude. It was extremely uncomfortable for everyone on board, people jostled in their seats and undoubtedly, a few glasses were overturned. While the pilots must generally keep the plane at a defined level of altitude, I was given permission to control the aircraft up to 2,000 feet above or below the original altitude. This allowed the plane to cover the conditions rather than fighting through them. Finally, we managed to go through turbulence, but it was certainly not pleasant for anyone on the flight.
In an emergency, pilots … Say it like that. There is no time for the secret codes of the squirrel – everything that would risk confusion at a critical moment. Although pilots can use words like Mayday or other codes, these are used to communicate with air traffic control.
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My favorite route to fly was … London Heathrow in San Diego. It is an excellent survaining route almost all the United States. It has an interesting approach to the airport because it is very steep – you essentially pass in front of the nearby hill – and the track is very short. And to add to it, you need to use GPS advice rather than using the instrument landing system – which is automatic – it is more difficult as a driver. I also like San Diego because it is a big city of destination. It has a lot of variety while being a relatively small city. Whether you like your story, you shop or just want to sit down and relax by the water, it has something for everyone. I would really recommend it.
On the other hand … The routes to the destinations of the Middle East could be quite tiring because they involve flying over many different countries, which allows a complicated airspace on the whole road. You must frequently change the air traffic control units and it is a very busy air space. It’s a bit like driving something like Spaghetti Junction.
The biggest threat to the aeronautical industry is … Crew fatigue. The pilots fly more and their routes are not always programmed to allow the right amount of rest. As a result, the pilots feel more tired. Tired people make mistakes and do not work at the best of their abilities. I am sure that we were all in a situation where we are so tired that we cannot chain a consistent sentence together. We need airlines and our regulator, civil aviation Authority, to listen to pilots and take appropriate measures to approach the level of fatigue among the pilots.
In terms of AI … Some manufacturers push to lead to a reduction in crew operations. Currently, all flights have at least two pilots who operate the plane, with more for long-haul flights. This protects passengers, because flight safety is built around the idea that there are two of everything that is essential, including drivers. In this way, you always have a backup if something is wrong. However, some companies wish to reduce crew operations, and finally this would involve replacing the second pilot with a certain degree of automation and ground support. This goes against the basic principles of flight safety. Pilots are essential to ensure the safety of the plane, so why do you compromise this by removing a driver?
When there is an unruly passenger on board … The crews are trained in the management of disruptive passengers and they are qualified in de -escalation techniques. It is not only unpleasant for other passengers, but it can also endanger flight security. As a last resort, the captain can authorize the physical deduction of a disruptive passenger. Airlines bear restraint kits for this precise circumstance, but it is very rare that it is necessary.
Being a pilot is a very rewarding career … As you help connect the world. Whether it is to transport people to their holiday destination, reconnect families or transport plots through the planet, each pilot has a role to play. It also allowed me to fly all over the world; There are very few places where I have not been. I do not remember an era when I was not looking forward to going to work. I would no longer hesitate to redo everything!