| You wouldn't get very far on a flight without pilots: | | | | Typically, flight engineers are fully trained pilots, but on |
| They are the people who put all that sophisticated | | | | an ordinary trip, they don't fly the plane. Instead, they |
| equipment to work. On commercial airlines, there are | | | | monitor the airplane's instruments and calculate figures |
| always at least two pilots, and on many flights, there | | | | such as ideal takeoff and landing speed, power |
| are three. | | | | settings and fuel management. In newer airliners, most |
| All airline pilots have had extensive training and flying | | | | of this work is done by computerized systems, |
| experience, often as part of military service. The road | | | | eliminating the need for the flight-engineer position. In |
| from the first training flight to the airline cockpit is a long | | | | the future, it will be phased out entirely. |
| and difficult one, but for many pilots, this is the only | | | | Flying an airplane is fun. Getting paid to do it is even |
| way to go. To learn more about this career path, one | | | | better. For some people, it's the perfect job: an office |
| should be aware of the intricacies in piloting. | | | | that travels, a view that's constantly changing and |
| On an airliner, the pilot in command is called the captain. | | | | challenges that are exhilarating. It has been said that a |
| The captain, who generally sits on the left side of the | | | | pilot's job is hours of boredom punctuated with |
| cockpit, is ultimately responsible for everything that | | | | seconds of sheer terror. This is perhaps hyperbole, but |
| happens on the flight. This includes making major | | | | sometimes not all that far from the truth. |
| command decisions, leading the crew team, managing | | | | A person who takes a multimillion dollar machine, |
| emergencies and handling particularly troublesome | | | | casually flies it off the ground and then safely returns it, |
| passengers. The captain also flies the plane for much | | | | fascinates people. They wonder what it's like to be |
| of the trip, but generally trades off with the first officer | | | | responsible for hundreds of lives or goods worth |
| at some point. | | | | millions. When passengers peek inside a cockpit, they |
| The first officer, the second in command, sits on the | | | | are amazed. They stare at the multitude of dials and |
| right side of the cockpit. He or she has all of the same | | | | ask incredulously, "Do you really know what they all |
| controls as the captain, and has had the same level of | | | | do?" |
| training. | | | | Pilots are the focal point and end operator in a huge |
| The primary reason for having two pilots on every | | | | team of highly trained professionals. They are the |
| flight is safety. Obviously, if something happens to the | | | | movie stars of the air transportation show, because |
| captain, a plane must have another pilot who can step | | | | they are the most visible people to the public, while |
| in. Additionally, the first officer provides a second | | | | most of the other team members remain "behind the |
| opinion on piloting decisions, keeping pilot error to a | | | | scenes." But movie stars rarely die or cause others to |
| minimum. | | | | die because of an on-the-job mistake. All pilots run that |
| Most airliners built before 1980 have a cockpit position | | | | risk. Piloting is a serious business. |
| for a flight engineer, also called the second officer. | | | | |