First Officer Job Description
An aircraft's first officer is like the plane's second pilot or copilot. Their jobs and control over the plane are similar to those of the captain, but they guide and help the captain during a regular flight and work directly with the control towers. They work closely with the air traffic controllers and the captain to make sure the plane doesn't have any broken parts. In case the captain is unable to fly the plane, they take full control of it. As a first officer, you are also in charge of running the plane in case of an emergency. On Aviation Job Search, you can find out more about the latest first officer openings.
First Officer Job Responsibilities
First officer pilot jobs are very challenging because they require both a good education and technical knowledge. They work with the plane's captain to manage the plane's operations and talk to the air traffic controller to get directions. Before the plane takes off, the first officer writes the flight plan with the captain and takes control of the plane when needed. First officers are licensed pilots who let the captain know if anything goes wrong during a flight. So, people should make sure they meet all the requirements before applying for first officer jobs. Visit the Aviation Job Search to explore new first officer vacancies.
Skills Required For Building First Officer Career
Even though you need a good education and training to become a copilot, these things aren't enough on their own. The most important skills for a first officer's job are operation monitoring, technical dexterity, active listening, critical thinking, and solving hard problems. As a copilot, you need to be able to do more than one thing at once. Some of the things a first officer does at the same time are work with air traffic controllers, guide the captain, check for possible dangers, and be on the lookout for anything unexpected. To fly the plane safely and well, you also need to be patient and pay close attention to details.
Training to Become a First Officer Pilot
The first step is to find a good school for pilot training or flying. Most of the time, they offer integrated and modular training for professional pilots. Students who have never flown before can get their ATPL in 18 months if they take integrated courses. The classes are hard, and you have to finish the training all at once. The integrated courses teach both the theory and how to fly. As the name suggests, modular training is done in parts. This means that trainees can work and pay for their studies at the same time. For a modular training program, you need a Private Pilot License and 150 hours of flying experience. This choice costs less than the integrated one, but it takes longer to finish.
How to Become a First Officer Pilot
Even though a degree in aviation isn't necessary, many universities offer courses that are related. Bucks New University has a BSc in Air Transport and Commercial Pilot Training, and Kingston University in London has a BSc in Aviation Operations and Commercial Pilot Training. Both of these can be finished in three years. But the Kingston course can take an extra year in the middle, which makes it a 4-year program.
What You Need to Know About Being a First Officer
Getting a job as a first officer is the best thing that can happen to someone who wants to be a pilot, but getting there isn't easy. First, becoming a pilot is expensive. The training is expensive and hard. Second, you need to be ready to spend a lot of time away from home. It might be easy if you're single, but people with families say it's hard at home. Third, and most importantly, the level of responsibility is very high. Being a first officer pilot has its perks, and it pays well, but with good pay comes a lot of responsibility. You and the captain are in charge of making sure everyone on the plane stays alive. So you have to have steel nerves because the smallest mistake at a crucial point can kill you and everyone else on board.
