Pilot Essay, Research Paper

In these following paragraphs I will be explaining the responsibilities, salary, education and training required, employment rules, and much more about pilot and flight attendants.

To become a flight attendant you are required to be at least 20 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED. You must also be willing to relocate to any of the flight attendant bases and at your own expense for whichever airlines your working for. Also, some airlines require you to have a valid passport or foreign visa. Weight and height is not that big of a deal anymore, but that is not to say some don’t set a guideline still. You must be able to demonstrate that you can reach to a certain height and be able to lift and operate equipment aboard the aircraft. Also, if you speak a second language, that is a big plus with many airlines. It also means a little more money to be made when flying the international routes instead of just domestic flights.

Aircraft Pilots are trained professionals who fly airplanes for the transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail. Some pilots dust crops or take photographs of the earth.

Commercial Airline Pilots transport passengers and cargo, normally on fixed routes and schedules. Mostly two professional pilots are needed to operate the aircraft. The most experienced pilot, called the captain is in command and supervises other crew members. The copilot or the first officer assists and relieves the captain. A flight engineer second officer, is rarely used except in older aircraft, because new technology eliminates the need for many.

Pilots plan their flights carefully. Before departure they check to be sure that all equipment is in working order. Airline Pilots confer with company flight dispatchers and weather forecasters. They choose a suitable route, altitude, and speed, then check flight plans and have them approved by the FAA air traffic control personnel. Take offs and landings are the most difficult parts of the flight. The actual flight is relatively easy unless the weather is bad. Most of the time when the plane is in the air, it is being flown by automatic pilot.

However, to become a pilot you are required to fly in the United States as an FAA certified pilot, you must pass both a practical test and a written test, and meet three requirements. First, you must be at least 16 years of age to fly alone and 17 to receive an airplane pilot certificate. Second, for airplane certification, you must pass a physical examination from an aviation medical examiner designated by the FAA. Third, you must be able to speak, read, and understand English, the international language of aviation. This last requirement is important because all air traffic control flight instructions are transmitted in English, as is other vital flight information.

Flight Attendant wages start at a range of $12,000 to $18,400 annually. With several years of experience, Flight Attendants can expect to earn from $14,100 to $20,100 per annum. Top senior wages can reach from $20,100 to $42,000 a year. The hourly wage paid to Flight Attendants is quite high, but they are customarily contracted to work only from 50 to 75 hours per month.

Pilots working for the federal government currently start at the GS-9 level of $29,839 per year and can advance through the levels to GS 15, earning $74,243 or higher. Military pilots earn regular pay for their rank plus monthly incentive pay.

The average annual salary for beginning Agricultural Pilots is $35,000. Those with excellent experience who work year round make from $50,000 to $75,000. Some may make over $100,000.

All pilots paid to fly passengers or cargo must have a commercial pilot’s certificate with instrument ratings from the FAA. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have 250 hours or more of flying experience. They must pass a practical flight test, two written tests, and a medical examination. Captains must have an airline transport pilot’s certificate. Agricultural Pilots must pass a written test given by the State Department of Food and Agriculture to obtain needed State licenses. They must also serve a minimum of one year as an apprentice. Certificates and ratings for all pilots are valid as long as they continue to pass periodic checks of their physical condition and flying skills.

Minimum educational requirements for most commercial airlines are high school graduation or two years of college. However, 95 percent of pilots hired by large commercial airlines during 1991 had four years or more of college. Pilot training is done in military or civilian flight schools.

Education is a must if you expect to be considered for the position of flight attendant. Good English skills are needed for interacting with the many passengers you will be dealing with on your many flights. Before your final interview with the airline, they will insist on you furnishing them with your high school transcripts, showing the credits you have earned during your years in school and how well you did. So make sure you have your graduation diploma, go back and finish up if you have to.

Most pilots find employment by contacting employers directly. FAPA provides employment information and a computerized central application file to subscribers for an annual fee. The California Agricultural Aircraft Association aids Agricultural Pilots in finding employment.