Professional Pilot Interview
.... What are the major job responsibilities? The major job responsibilities are to become a master of your aircraft. You must know everything about it: how it flies, how individual systems work, and what to do in emergencies. You have to earn qualifications and are constantly being evaluated during every single flight. Your grasp of required technical information as well as operation procedures are tested every time you fly. 6. What do you enjoy about your occupation? What are the personal rewards? I love the freedom of flying. It’s very challenging but it’s rewarding in the end because you know how hard you worked. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and knowing that I’ve achieved that goal is gratifying even on a bad day. 7. Describe a typical day in your work? A typical day begins very early in the morning. It’s important to eat a good breakfast because you need all the brain power you can get when you’re up there flying. I drive into work and pick up my flight gear, and check it out to make sure that all my survival gear is with me and works properly. I sit down and brief every miniscule aspect of the flight with the other pilots flying with me to cover exactly what we’re doing, where we’re going, when we’re coming back and what to do in case of an emergency. I go and check out a plane looking it the maintenance log to be sure that it’s had proper maintenance and is safe to fly. I walk out to the plane and do a physical preflight check then go fly the mission. Afterwards I go back and debrief everything good and bad about the flight with the other pilots flying with me, turn in my gear and take a long nap. 8. What are the working conditions of your job? The working conditions vary every day. There are no two days alike because the flight schedule is always changing. The weather, physical condition of the aircraft, and many other factors has an effect. The work environment is always professional because what we do is dangerous. But everyone makes room for a few jokes now and then to keep sane. Everyone is always on the lookout for safety hazards whether in or out of the plane. In terms of dress, everyone was issued flight gear. The sole purpose of this is to keep us safe from anything that can go wrong in the plane. Everything is fireproof and designed with safety in mind. We are also evaluated on every flight to make sure that we remain proficient at what we do. 9. What are the starting and average pay scales for people in this occupation? The starting pay is fairly low; however it is much more that what you would be making at this level as a civilian pilot. As you advance in rank you earn more money and when your service commitment is up you have the option of working as an airline pilot where the pay is much better. But if you’re getting paid to do something you love, what you earn isn’t too much of a concern. 10. What are the typical fringe benefits? The biggest fringe benefit is that you get to fly some of the coolest aircraft in the world. You’re living a dream that most people will never be able to do. 11. What kind of future do you see for your occupation? After my commitment is up I’d like to have an aviation related job either as a commercial pilot or as an engineer in the aerospace industry. 12. What other occupations are closely related to this one? What part time work experiences could help me get acquainted with this occupation? In the military you can also be involved in aviation as part of the flight crew who perform various mission essential tasks aboard military aircraft or you can become an airplane mechanic. Any job at a local airport working around pilots and the aircraft they f...