There are numerous misconceptions that the public has regarding the day-to-day lives of airline pilots and crew members, the hazards they face, and the benefits that they receive. Learn more about these myths from the team at Alliance Aviation below and contact us today for more information and to enroll in our training programs now!
One perk that the general public thinks that pilots and flight attendants get with their job is free flights. Unfortunately, “free” isn’t quite the right word. Airline pilots often get steeply discounted tickets, but they are rarely entirely free. Furthermore, these tickets are almost always on standby, which means that they won’t be able to fly unless a seat becomes available on their desired flight. This myth is borderline insulting to commercial airline pilots. While many professional pilots will joke about how the plane practically flies itself once you have hit cruising altitude, the reality is very different. Sure, there are many instruments and tools that assist pilots while they are piloting the plane, but it takes a trained professional to accurately make adjustments based on the information they receive and keep the plane in the air. It doesn’t matter if you do it most days of the week — hopping time zones in a rapid fashion as airline pilots do will eventually lead to at least a little bit of jet lag. You might be able to find a reliable concoction of caffeine that can get you through the roughest parts of it, but this is still something that you will have to deal with, even after spending years in the industry. Depending on what kind of person you are, the amount of time that pilots spend away from home can either be a benefit of the job or a personal and professional barrier. While there are certainly aviation professionals that spend a great deal of time traveling, airlines have made a greater effort in recent years to ensure that their employees are able to maintain a consistent work-life balance by building schedules that keep pilots on for several days in a row and then providing them with an almost equal amount of days off.
“Free” Flights
Autopilot Does the Work
You Get Used to Jet Lag
It Is Difficult to Have a Family
If you are interested in a career as a commercial airline pilot, make sure that you receive your training from a qualified team of experts who can prepare you to take to the skies. Enroll in one of the programs offered by Alliance Aviation now to start your career as a pilot!