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Pilot

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A pilot is a person who flies aeroplanes or helicopters. In the UK, pilots work for airlines, the military, or private companies. Being a pilot means you get to travel to lots of different places, but you also need to be very responsible because you are in charge of keeping everyone safe while flying. Pilots need to learn how to fly aircraft, read maps, and talk to air traffic control. They usually wear a uniform and must pass lots of tests to make sure they are healthy and know all the rules of flying.

Pilot

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Pilots in the UK usually earn between 40,000 to 120,000 pounds per year depending on their experience and the type of aircraft they fly.

Number of Pilots

There are around 10,000 commercial airline pilots currently working in the United Kingdom.

Training Time

It typically takes at least 18-24 months of training to become a fully qualified commercial pilot in the UK.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Helicopter Pilot

Flies helicopters to help people in emergencies, rescue missions, or transport.

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Aeroplane Pilot

Flies big planes that carry people or goods to different countries.

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Flight Instructor

Teaches others how to fly aeroplanes safely.

Learn about Flying

Find Out About Planes

Read books and watch videos about how planes work and what pilots do.

You can visit your local library or look online for simple books about flying. Watching documentaries or children's programmes about airports and pilots can help you understand what this job is like.

Visit an Airport or Airshow

Go to an airport or airshow to see real planes and talk to pilots if possible.

Many airports offer tours for young people. Airshows are fun events where you can see planes up close and sometimes meet real pilots who can answer your questions about flying.

Get the Right Education

Do Well in School

Work hard in subjects like maths, English, and science.

Pilots need to understand maths for navigation and science for how planes work. Doing your best in these subjects at school will help you when you are older and need to take more advanced studies.

Stay Healthy and Active

Take part in sports and eat healthily to stay fit.

Pilots must pass a medical exam to show they are healthy and have good eyesight. Playing sports and eating well will help you stay strong and ready for the tests you will need to take.

Train to Become a Pilot

Join a Flying Club or Cadet Scheme

When you are older, join a flying club or the Air Cadets to learn the basics of flying.

Many flying clubs offer lessons for young people, and the Air Cadets is a group where you can try flying small planes and learn about aviation. This is a great way to see if you enjoy flying.

Get a Pilot Licence

As an adult, take lessons and pass tests to earn your pilot's licence.

To become a professional pilot, you need a licence like a PPL (Private Pilot Licence) or a CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence). This involves flying lessons, exams, and a medical check. You can get advice from flight schools about how to start.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Pilot. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

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Career Progressions

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Sample Qualifications

Both airline pilots and the job title 'Pilot' refer to professionals responsible for operating aircraft to transport passengers or cargo. They require similar qualifications, training, and skills related to navigation, safety, and aircraft operation.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • applying directly
  • a trainee scheme
  • specialist courses run by private training organisations

University

You could do a university degree which includes pilot studies.

Your university degree will:

  • include commercial pilot training with an approved flight training organisation
  • lead to a 'frozen' Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) which allows you to work as a co-pilot and build up the necessary flying hours to become a captain

Medical certificates

You'll need to have a minimum of a Class 2 medical certificate before you start a course.

You'll then need to apply for the higher level Class 1 medical certificate during your course to get your Commercial Pilot Licence. You could choose to apply for the Class 1 medical certificate before you start your course.

Fees and funding

As well as standard university fees, you'll need to fund the flight training part of your course. Your university can advise you about this.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Direct Application

If you have flying experience in the armed forces, you could apply directly to the Civil Aviation Authority's Military Accreditation Scheme to become a commercial pilot.

Other Routes

You could apply to join a pilot training programme with a passenger airline.

Private flying school

You could also train with a private flying school to get your Commercial Pilot Licence. Courses can take at least a year and 6 months of full time study.

You can find details about flight training schools from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

More Information

Career tips

Pilot training is expensive so research which route is best for you and your circumstances. 

You can also research scholarships to see if you can get any financial support with your training.

Pilot salaries can vary widely, depending on the size of the airline, your rank, how long you've flown for, and company bonus schemes and allowances.

Further information

You can find out more about training to become a pilot through Flying Start and the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA).

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