Everyone has dreams. Everyone has ambitions. Mine was to be a pilot - so here are my favourite things about being a pilot.
Before you start scrolling down and I reveal the top 10 things about being a pilot, I want to talk to you about what I currently do and the experiences I´ve had so far...
So as you know in November of 2018 I graduated from Flight School after training for about 18 months. At that point I was offered to work for the company so I decided to go ahead with that to get more hours and experience rather than going straight into the airlines. I plan to apply and join the airlines in 2020. Currently I am a Flight Instructor so I am teaching today´s new generation of pilots how to fly.
I´ve experienced many great things about being a pilot so far so here we go!
10) Develop New Skills
As a pilot you will constantly learn new skills. Each day, each flight is challenging; you will always be faced with something new to deal with. This allows you to become a very adaptable person to different sitations. You´ll become a better decision maker and more importantly, more assertive and confident - you will be the pilot in command so everything will be your responsibility.
9) Reputation
Pilots are respected everywhere you go. When a pilot walks through the airport most people stop and stare, children look up to them in awe. When you put on your uniform you´re not just going to work, you´re inspiring other people.
8) Money
A lot of people think about being a pilot and their second thought is about the money. It´s true that pilots do get really good money however this should not be the reason to become a pilot, you should want to become a pilot because you have a passion for it. The money that we get as a pilot allows you to live a comfortable life and opens up more opportunities.
7) Solo
When you first fly solo it is an incredible feeling, at this point it will probably be your best flight and certainly your most memorable. I think everyone still remembers their first ever solo flight, even captains with over 30,000 hours will still remember that feeling. That feeling of the aircraft being much lighter than usual, the slight panic and nervousness that you get knowing you are totally on your own. Not knowing whether you´ll be able to safely get back on the ground or not, but of course you can do it. I´m kindly going to post my video of my first solo flight for you so enjoy :)
My first solo
6) Over the Coast
After flying over terrain after terrain, when you finally reach the coast and get the chance to fly over the sea, it is an incredible feeling. You get to fly over beaches, over ports, and maybe you find yourself lucky enough to fly over big cruise ships like I did when I went to Vigo, Spain.
5) Nights
And then it comes to flying at night - flying at night is something else. When you have the stars above you and the lights on the ground to guide you. You are guided into land by the runway lights, flashing, leading you home, all lit up just like a Christmas tree. When most of your flights are during the day, flying at night really feels special.
Flying at night over Vitoria, Spain
4) Different Approaches
Like I said before, each flight is different. Each airport is different. The weather is constantly changing, so you may fly to the same airport but the wind can be from different directions so you will land on a different runway - one time it may be raining, the next cloudy, the next sunny. One airport may be surrounded by mountains, another completely flat, and another by the sea.
(Far Left) Asturias Ruway 11 (Left) Santander Runway 29 (Centre) Asturias Runway 29 (Far Right) A Coruna Runway 21 (Far Right) San Sebastian Runway 22
3) Crossing the mountains
For me I love both flying and hiking, so flying over the mountains is a real treat! The mountains constantly change in appearance. During the summer you can see things really clearly, and in winter everything looks spectacular, like a winter wonderland. And since I go hiking a lot it's really interesting to fly over places that I have climbed.
2) Sunrises and Sunsets
My first flight at sunset happened quite early on in my pilot training. The pure orange glare from the sun lit up the ground, it soon became one of my favourite flights. Then taking off during sunrise, it's very early in the morning but when you get into the air and see the sun stretch over the horizon to meet you it's so worth it.
1) Travelling
And at Number 1 on my Top 10 list of things about being a pilot is all of the travelling. Being a pilot I travel all the time. I travel when I fly to different airports, I travel to go back to England, I travel when I go on vacation and even on my days off. That's the great thing about being a pilot, the rosters I currently get are really good. I choose when I want my days off in the month and most of the time I get it, so I can plan ahead and go travelling in my free time.
Here's a quick recap!
My Top 10 List
Travelling
Sunrises and Sunsets
Crossing the mountains
Different approaches
Nights
Over the coast
Solo
Money
Reputation
Develop new skills
Above all, for me it is the views that really stand out. No matter where you go and no matter what the weather is like, each place is different and unique. You can go again to the same place another time and I guarantee you the experience you will have will be different.
I would never want to do anything else, being a pilot is what I have always dreamt of! I'm so lucky and thankful to be where I am and who I am today. What career would you most like to have? Leave a comment and let me know!
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