| Pilots young and old throughout the European | | | | test out new control configurations and |
| continent need to stay sharp in their | | | | flight simulators. |
| piloting skills. The flight deck can become a | | | | |
| difficult place to work for those pilots who | | | | Another way for pilots to get some extra |
| don't practice, stay focused, and understand | | | | flight hours into their busy work schedule is |
| every aspect of their job. While the public | | | | to pick up some hours flying charter planes. |
| may think that hours upon hours of flight | | | | Often, this option is best used by airline |
| experience are enough to make a great pilot, | | | | pilots that have just left an airline |
| they don't understand that taking a look at | | | | position, as the flight schedule can be |
| the airline industry from a different | | | | rigorous. Charter flights allow pilots to |
| perspective is important from time to time. | | | | work on smaller airplanes with fewer |
| As well, pilots need to work on their skills | | | | functions, which require pilots to be more |
| outside of the flight deck in order to stay | | | | intuitive and thoughtful in their jobs. As |
| current with their licensing and | | | | well, charter flights are a welcome reprieve |
| certifications and prove their continued | | | | from the pressures and rigors of the airline |
| ability to safely fly airliners. | | | | industry. Charter planes often carry less |
| | | | than twenty people, allowing a pilot the |
| One way in which pilots can get more | | | | chance to speak with passengers and break |
| experience and a different perspective on | | | | away from their routine. |
| their jobs is through flight simulation | | | | |
| programs, available at flight schools and | | | | In any event, airline pilots need to fly |
| training facilities. These flight simulators | | | | extra hours for a number of reasons. Pilots |
| range from simple computer programs to large | | | | need to see their positions from a different |
| simulators where pilots sit at a functioning | | | | perspective, even if this requires |
| control board. The reason why pilots often | | | | sacrificing a bit of personal time with |
| choose this route in their efforts to stay | | | | flight simulators. As well, pilots can always |
| sharp is that it is less strenuous than | | | | use experience in a variety of different |
| actual flight and is a quick way to get some | | | | settings to keep them on their toes. Finally, |
| practice in between work days. As well, | | | | pilots need to understand the importance of |
| flight centres and training facilities are | | | | their jobs to the hundreds of thousands of |
| becoming more plentiful in the United Kingdom | | | | passengers they help travel throughout the |
| and Europe, which allows travelling pilots to | | | | year. |