| The only way to become a captain at an airline is to | | | | resources person and an interview captain and they |
| be a first officer first. But, if you haven't noticed, the | | | | will ask you questions about flying and you. They will |
| airline industry is not the airline industry of years gone | | | | weigh your answers against what they think are |
| by. So why is it that young men and women are | | | | pertinent and appropriate responses to being a pilot for |
| STILL drawn to a career in aviation? I see it all the | | | | their company and then make their decision. |
| time. There are still young adults attending flight schools | | | | If all goes well, you may be offered a first officer |
| and aviation universities throughout the United States | | | | position right then and there or you may have to wait |
| with their eyes set on becoming an airline pilot. | | | | for a phone call or a letter letting you know that they |
| I believe it is because flying airplanes is still fun, | | | | want you to fly for them and asking you when you |
| rewarding, and fulfills the need for excitement and an | | | | can start ground school. This is no small |
| alternative lifestyle rather than the typical nine-to-five. I | | | | accomplishment! |
| know that when I am sitting at the end of the runway | | | | What It Means To Be a First Officer |
| at some big airport behind a Boeing 747 waiting my | | | | As a first officer, you are basically an "apprentice" and |
| turn to takeoff, that there is no place I would rather be. | | | | an assistant to the captain while you learn how to |
| At times I wonder why I left a lucrative computer | | | | operate a larger, more complex airplane. At first you |
| programmer job to live the uncertain, irregular, | | | | will be overwhelmed with all the information you are |
| sometimes scary lifestyle as a professional pilot for an | | | | being asked to learn about the airplane but over time |
| airline. Then I remember. It was what I've wanted to do | | | | your field of vision will expand and what was once |
| for as long as I can remember. | | | | challenging will be easier. If you are a young pilot and |
| So, even now, in these difficult times, there are people | | | | you want to get a good flight log of real life cockpit |
| who want to be pilots, who want to fly for an airline, | | | | experience, paying your dues as a first officer is an |
| and who are daring enough to make their dream | | | | outstanding time in your career and one you will benefit |
| come true. And like most worthwhile endeavors, drive | | | | from tremendously. Unfortunately it won't pay well |
| and determination are the only way to become a first | | | | financially for many years but if you look at it as a |
| officer. | | | | type of "internship" to becoming a captain, you will |
| How Do You Get To the Right Seat and Become a | | | | have the right attitude and you will be on your way. |
| First Officer? | | | | Attitude As a First Officer Is Everything |
| There are many paths you can follow to become a | | | | Many new pilots sometimes have the tendency to put |
| first officer for an airline. One way to quickly build | | | | down the first officer position as unnecessary and |
| hours and become part of the team for an airline is to | | | | unimportant, but being a good first officer at an airline is |
| go to work for a freight company where you will be | | | | nothing short of priceless as you move forward in |
| piloting an airplane working on the back side of the | | | | your career. Along with learning about the aircraft itself |
| clock and flying in all sorts of weather. Another way to | | | | and how to respond to different situations, both on the |
| build hours is to work for a charter airline where you | | | | ground and in the air, you are learning how to manage |
| are the only one flying the airplane on each trip. This is | | | | an airplane full of passengers, evaluate and make |
| a demanding job because your employer controls your | | | | important decisions based on weather, and how to |
| schedule and you could be gone for long stretches of | | | | work as a safe, goal-oriented team. Being a first |
| time. My path was to hone my skills as a flight | | | | officer is a time of learning and it is a valuable time to |
| instructor teaching other pilots how to fly. These are all | | | | work with an experienced airline captain and crew |
| good options and all are respectable jobs using your | | | | who can help you understand the culture of the airline |
| pilot's license. All these paths help you reach your goal | | | | industry and eventually become a captain. |
| of becoming a first officer for an airline by helping you | | | | So welcome the opportunity to be a first officer as |
| get enough hours to apply for that airline job and to fly | | | | you start your journey in the airlines. Don't be hasty to |
| a "real" airplane. | | | | rush through this time but rather learn as much as you |
| You Have the Hours, Now What? | | | | can during this "internship" as a first officer. Learn from |
| Eventually the day will come when you have the hours | | | | your good captains and learn from you bad captains |
| to apply for a first officer job. If you meet the minimum | | | | as you slowly establish your style of leadership. |
| flight hours required by the airline you want to fly for, | | | | Furthermore, this is an outstanding time to build |
| you will be asked to come in for an interview. At the | | | | relationships, to network, and to demonstrate that you |
| interview, you may take a written test, you may be | | | | embrace your role as a first officer. |
| asked to fly their simulator, you will sit with a human | | | | |