| The position of airline first officer can often be a | | | | captains. |
| thankless one in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. | | | | Another way which an airline first officers can develop |
| After all, first officers have to put in years of hard | | | | the virtue of patience is to think of every flight as an |
| work and low pay in order to advance to their dream | | | | opportunity to prove themselves. Almost every airline |
| job as a captain or administrator. Indeed, first officers | | | | flight runs along a fairly routine protocol, which is |
| do a lot of work with little short term reward. However, | | | | developed in order to maintain the safety and security |
| first officers who think this way need to realize that | | | | of each flight. First officers should follow these |
| the years they put into their work with the airline are a | | | | protocols to the final letter and ensure that their |
| test of their patience. In various ways, airline first | | | | colleagues are also following protocol at every turn. |
| officers can develop patience and bide their time for | | | | Even the slightest deviation, whether it is a skipped |
| the next chance at advancement. | | | | step by a stewardess or an innocuous omission from |
| One way in which an airline first officer can control | | | | a flight report, should be seen as an opportunity to build |
| their ambitions while going through the long process of | | | | a reputation as a stickler for safety. |
| advancement is to set short term goals for | | | | Finally, first officers with airlines in the United Kingdom |
| themselves. Airline first officers have a number of | | | | often perform many of the administrative tasks that |
| tasks that they need to do before every flight, including | | | | the airline captain needs to do before flight. In these |
| reviewing the flight plan and performing pre-flight | | | | ways, a first officer can often be a sounding board to |
| checks. One short term goal by a first officer could be | | | | a captain who needs advice or is looking to solve a |
| to take more time with these materials or perform a | | | | problem mid-flight. First officers who acquit themselves |
| second check of pre-flight gauges. In this way, they | | | | well in safe situations, like pre-flight checks and flight |
| can be assured that they have done their job to the | | | | planning, can gain the trust of their captain. In turn, a |
| fullest. These short term goals may not seem like | | | | captain who has a trustworthy first officer is likely to |
| much in the beginning but they are strong motivators | | | | recommend them for advancement. |
| for first officers and draw notice from supervisors and | | | | |