This week’s career memes pay tribute to the professionals who fly passengers and/or cargo for leisure, business or commercial purposes – pilots.
What they do: Examine data pertaining to flight plans and flight paths, carry out pre-flight checks, ensure the aircraft’s safety systems are working properly, monitor weather conditions, log technical issues, brief cabin crew, communicate with air traffic control, estimate fuel requirements for flight, relay information to passengers.
What they don’t do: Take passengers for a leisurely spin on an aeroplane.
Educational requirements: Pilots will have to earn a licence prior to flying an aircraft and will normally have to complete training courses. Ideally, they should also have a background in aviation, aeronautical engineering or a related field.
Required skills: Able to operate aircraft computer and navigation systems, excellent depth perception, quick reaction time, strong attention to detail, and strong communication and problem-solving skills.
Salary: In Ireland, an airline pilot, co-pilot or flight engineer can expect to earn an annual salary of €73,044, according to PayScale.com.
