Meet Simon - Pilot
Since I was young, I've always loved the British Airways brand. Now I'm here. Working for an airline that offers a genuine career. Flying the latest generation of aircraft. Wearing a smart uniform. Meeting people from all cultures and backgrounds. And enjoying great benefits such as staff travel.
I'm proud to wear the uniform and fly the flag; I've never looked back
Not many people can say that they genuinely enjoy going into work. But I'm proud to wear the uniform and fly the flag; I've never looked back. The approaches over London Heathrow… touring beautiful cities over Europe… it's an amazing experience.
I'd flown the Airbus A320 family of aircraft at a previous airline so the ground, simulator and line training I received concentrated on operator differences. I was given an iPad containing apps with all the manuals and charts I needed – great for getting to grips with all the jargon! British Airways also provided all the tools for my Operators Conversion course so becoming a fully qualified Pilot was as seamless as possible.
Walking into the Crew Report Centre on my first day and seeing a lot of unfamiliar faces was a bit nerve-racking, but everyone has been so approachable and easy to get on with, while being totally professional. I have to work closely with the Captain, Cabin Crew and Engineers, many for the first time, and I feel that my team skills have improved considerably.
I get real satisfaction from transporting customers around the world, whether for that once-in-a-lifetime holiday, a crucial business meeting or to re-connect with loved ones. It's important that we interact with them, either by greeting them at the front of the plane or by showing them the flight deck on the ground. I never forget that delivering service excellence is about treating customers as individuals.
