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Requirements for being a commercial pilot - Coggle Diagram
Requirements for being a commercial pilot
Professionalism
Grooming must be neat, personal hygiene must be above standard
Always be on-time for an appointment
Treat everyone you encounter (especially staff working below you) with friendliness and respect
Be ready to remain calm in a stressful situation, even when other people are panicking
Be hardworking, and don't be a complainer! The industry will require you to work long hours
Settle conflicts in a professional manner. Not over a WhatsApp group chat
Medical fitness
Undergo stringent medical tests annually, or if above the age of 60, every 6 months
Maintain a healthy diet and exercise frequently
Invest in inexpensive detection devices like an Apple watch to detect possible illnesses earlier
Maintain consistent and adequate sleep patterns
Don't engage in smoking or drug and alcohol abuse
Be a minimum stipulated height - otherwise you can't see over the dash!
Mental Aptitude
Have reasonable ability to work accurately in calculations. Bearing in mind that incorrect calculations + poor judgement = death
Have an analytical mind. Think before you act
Be able to think 3 dimensionally. And be able to predict the next 5/10 mins, given the current trend of the situation
Be an agreeable person. Be accommodating to crew members who are not from the same cultural background. Steer away from controversial topics
Legislation requirements
Minimum age to work in Airline operations is 21
Candidate must demonstrate annually to an examiner, a proficient level of flying in an approved simulator, or an aeroplane
Must have passed a significant amount of ground exams set by the Civil Aviation Authority, of which the pass mark is 75%
Must have gained sufficient experience (flight hours) in a given avenue of flying/type of operation before moving to a more intricate setup e.g. a larger/faster aeroplane
Must pay annual membership fees to the SACAA (regulatory body) for them to perform administrative functions like audits
"Common sense" and "Gut feeling" (ties in strongly with mental aptitude, but not exactly the same). Unfortunately not required legally
Make reasonably good choices even when working with incomplete information
Be willing to save the company (Airline) costs, without risking safety. The two usually conflict
Know when to follow a textbook, vs when to use judgement to deviate from a set of procedures
Be humble enough as to always be willing to learn, but be brave enough to stand up to authority when necessary
Know your own personal limits with regard to fatigue. Sometimes it's legal to fly, but not wise