Pilot : A career

Pilot : A career

The pilot profession is first and foremost a passion, and that is the reason why the dreams, aura and fascination that surround this profession remain intact.

This profession requires more and more technicality and management ability, and less and less manual piloting ability. This is due to the construction of more and more sophisticated aircraft.

This profession has 3 basic requirements: precision, maturity and intellectual honesty.

Training is always an important feature of this job, as exercising the profession of pilot also means regular learning: professional development training sessions, practices, change of aircraft type, promotion to positions of flight Captain or instructor. All of these training activities are mandatory as part of the FCL 1 regulations that govern aircraft pilot licenses.

Links to regulatory websites:

www.dgac.fr
www.aviation.civile.gouv.fr
www.cempn.com
www.apna.asso.fr

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:

A pilot's career usually begins with a period as a co-pilot.

Entry levels are getting higher by the day, the number of French airline companies is increasing, new experienced pilots arrive from the JAA area: the first experience increasingly requires holding an aircraft type-rating qualification.

The pilot, who has 3-4 years experience at the minimum, will then be able to acquire the 1,500 hours required as a minimum in order to obtain his PPL and step up to the position of Flight Captain.

In terms of career evolution, those who wish it might, on top of their pilot functions, perform such positions as SFI (Synthetic Flight Instructor for co-pilots), TRI (Type-Rating Flight Instructor for Flight Captains) or even, examiner (TRE), those specializations requiring very specific pre-requirements.

The other alternative to a career of  pilot is a career in the Business Aviation industry or even in the Aerial Work industry (Agricultural, civil, training, etc).