What personal skills or qualities are needed to become a Pilot?

Answer:
A Pilot is one who, technically speaking, steers,

guides, and otherwise directs and controls movement of a vehicle; generally aircraft or watercraft. This article focuses on Aircraft or Airline Pilot positions.

An Aircraft or Airline Pilot is one who is engaged in operating and flying planes and helicopters. All Pilots are highly-trained in safe and proper operation of certain aircraft; for a host of varied duties and services.

Some Aircraft or Airline Pilots might work for news-reporting companies, flying reporters and photographers to and from news events. Others might work for commercial airlines, flying passengers and goods around the globe. Still others might work for private corporations, jetting top executives to important business appointments. Still others might work for small aircraft operations involved in providing sky-writing and other advertising, shuttle-taxi service, crop-dusting, and the like.

Military and other Government sectors use many Aircraft Pilots; in all of the Armed Services, and even flying Air Force One (or two, or three?), with the President of the United States (and entourage) on board!

Aircraft and Airline Pilots, must be physically and mentally fit, since their work requires close attention to a wide variety of details, not the least of which is to ensure their craft remains aloft when it is supposed to! Pilots must also be trustworthy, clear-thinking, and capable of carrying out many duties simultaneously.

Depending upon the specific Pilot employment, most Aircraft or Airline Pilots must keep track of their altitude, air speed, weather conditions, air traffic, fuel consumption, passenger and cargo safety, communications, and many other demanding operational factors.

Aircraft or Airline Pilots must be detail-oriented, well-organized, and capable of maintaining level-headedness, should potential risks present themselves. For example, Aircraft Pilots who experience the loss of an engine in mid-flight need to be fully cognizant of necessary emergency procedures, and necessary passenger communications, and the like.

Aircraft or Airline Pilots must be familiar with aircraft construction and maintenance requirements, as well as all safety protocols surrounding safe operation of aircraft equipment. Since some Pilots might be called upon to operate a variety of aircraft types, they should be familiar with each type.

Aircraft or Airline Pilots for commercial airlines work with other crew members, including co-pilots, flight-engineers, flight attendants and other service crew members. Since the Pilot is "captain" of the aircraft, the Pilot is in charge of the staff on board.

Some Aircraft or Airline Pilots today are also trained to be Federal law officers, and are authorized to carry and use firearms, to protect the cockpit in times of attempted, unauthorized intrusion.


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