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Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers > Airline Pilot
Transport | Travel and tourism
Airline pilots fly passengers and cargo to destinations around the world.
You could do a university degree in air transport or aviation, which includes commercial pilot training with an approved flight training organisation. To start a course, you'll need:
University courses lead to a 'frozen' Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). This allows you to apply to airlines to work as a co-pilot and build up the necessary flying hours to become an airline captain. As well as standard university fees, you will need to fund the flight training part of your course. Universities can advise you about this. You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree.
The Honourable Company of Air Pilots has a test for people with little or no flying experience. Pilot training is expensive and this could help you decide whether you're suited to this career before you spend money on training. English is the international language of flying, so airlines will expect you to have a good GCSE pass, or equivalent, in the subject. Skills in another language can also give you an advantage, for example if you want to work for an overseas airline. It may also help you to stand out from other applicants, as competition for jobs is strong.
You'll need:
You will usually be one of two or more pilots who take turns fly or communicate with air traffic control and complete paperwork. On a typical day you will:
You'll start by training as a co-pilot. When you’ve completed at least 1500 flying hours, you can apply for an 'unfrozen' or full Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and qualify as an airline captain. This will usually take 3 to 5 years after you get your full ATPL. With experience, you could become a flight training instructor or an operations manager.
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An amazing opportunity to join the team and to service business travelers needs for flights, hotels, car hire in a prompt and accurate fashion. You will learn and develop in a small company where you will be recognised as an important part of the team. There will be opportunities to travel as guest of their suppliers so that you can gain valuable first hand experience of how things work.
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