It was a proud moment when I was selected for British Airways’ Cadet Programme. The process was extremely rigorous, but little did I realise things were about to get tougher! During my 18 months at Flying School, there was a vast amount of info to absorb; it wasn’t necessarily complex, but the sheer volume made it very challenging. I found the practical elements of the training more enjoyable but they stretched me mentally, too. You’re tested for co-ordination, as you have to manually handle an aircraft with precision. And for your multi-tasking skills, as you have to communicate with Air Traffic Control and monitor the aircraft systems while you’re flying. Then there’s the little matter of passing the Instrument Rating exam…
“The thrill of doing my dream job has not waivered once.”
”But here I am: a pilot of four years’ standing, flying the British Airways Airbus. The thrill of doing my dream job has not waivered once. There’s a tremendous sense of pride among all our pilots when we put on the uniform. No two flying days are the same and different challenges make the job what it is. Bad weather, technical issues, a customer taken ill – whatever it is, you work with your Cabin Crew team to ensure a safe outcome.
Call me biased, but British Airways is the best place to forge a flying career. Uniquely, we can bid for what we want to work on monthly. This has allowed me to see our long-haul network in detail and I can say when I want to spend more time at home. Then there’s the future – with demand for air travel increasing year on year, we’ll be flying modern aircraft to destinations all over the world. I want to be a part of that.
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