A commercial pilot from the Rutland and Stamford area answers your questions about flying
As summer approaches and holidays abroad are being booked, we asked a local pilot some of the top questions our readers have about flying…
What checks do pilots go through to make sure they are fit to fly?
The medical is pretty comprehensive and there are regular checks of our ability to fly, which are carried out in a flight simulator. These are also used to prepare us for emergencies, such as if an engine fails. Engine failure doesn’t happen often but it’s better your first experience of it isn’t with passengers
Would you tell passengers if a plane was going to crash?
If the engines stopped working at 40,000 feet we have 40 minutes before reaching land or sea, so there is time to figure out a best course of action. So, in that situation we wouldn’t announce it.
Why do we need to put phones into ‘flight mode’? Does it make a difference?
Phones can interfere with aircraft electronics, particularly those for automated landing. It’s also important people listen to the safety briefing before take-off rather than being on their phone.
What is turbulence and should we be scared of it?
Close to the ground, it’s caused by the wind coming around buildings and trees, the same as you might feel on the ground. In the air, it is like two smooth-flowing rivers of air coming together. It is annoying and uncomfortable but it isn’t unsafe.
Would a seatbelt save your life?
If we had to stop suddenly during a take off, it is helpful for keeping people safely in their seats, just as it would if a car braked suddenly. If there’s turbulence, it makes sure we don’t all bounce around and bang into things.
Is there a speed limit in the sky?
No, but we are often given a speed to stick to, particularly in places without much radar control.
Can a stiletto heel burst an evacuation slide?
Yes!
How long can a pilot fly before needing to rest?
There isn’t a fixed length of time. Taking a rest depends on factors such as which time zone your body clock is set to, and how many crew members there are on board. Pilots make common-sense decisions based on these.
Where do you sleep?
It depends on the type of plane and how far you’re going. Crew don’t need to sleep on short trips but on long-haul flights we have rest areas. Pilots have sleeping bunks either above the first-class area, or behind the cabin. Cabin crew have a little room with four to six sleeping bunks or, in a double decker aeroplane, these are in the lower hold.
Do you struggle to get to sleep while on board?
No. I’m used to it!
What’s the point of the co-pilot?
A philosophy of passenger flights is ‘redundancies’, so if you need one engine to get somewhere, you actually have two or more. It is the same with pilots. If you need one, you have two or more. We all have the same qualifications to fly and, if there are any problems, can all make decisions.
How much are you flying the plane yourself?
A pilot has to perform the take off, and on the runway we have to do the taxiing. But, once airborne, autopilot can be used to fly and land a modern aeroplane. If I’m flying into a busy airport in poor visibility, I would rather supervise an autoland because a human can’t necessarily land it more safely.
Have you ever announced the wrong location before landing?
Often. When you are mid-announcement it’s surprisingly easy to forget where you’re going. Several times I’ve also forgotten my co-pilot’s name when introducing them, and the joke in the cockpit is to cover your badge so the pilot making the announcement can’t read it. The pilot’s usual response is to make up a new name for them.
Why do the blinds have to be up and the armrests down for landing?
If there’s a problem and the lights go out, then having the blinds up gives people a better chance of seeing what they’re up to. The trays are folded up so passengers can get out easily, but the armrests being down helps to hold people in their seats, in case it’s bumpy.
Could you land on the Hudson River, like the pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger had to?
It isn’t a case of ‘could you?’ - a pilot would have to. I would try to land as gently as possible and tell passengers to ‘brace’.
What are your thoughts on people clapping after landing?
We can’t hear it, but they can clap and cheer if they think we’ve done a good job!
If someone dies on a plane, what happens?
The cabin crew would move them to the most respectful place possible. On a long-haul flight that would probably be one of the crew bunks, or into a spare row of seats. If that’s not possible, they would have to cover them with a blanket. We would continue to the flight’s intended destination.
What’s the likelihood of suffering blood clots or UV skin damage?
The risk of blood clots is no different on an aeroplane as it is sitting for a long time elsewhere. UV isn’t a problem for passengers, who are mainly behind metal. People don’t receive much direct sunlight in modern planes.
If you bring chocolates for the crew can you get a seat upgrade?
No, but we would be appreciative!
What is the training like to be a pilot?
It’s ridiculously expensive if you pay for it yourself. One way is to apply for an airline training scheme - they train you up, usually at a reduced wage to cover costs - but these schemes aren’t always available. There is an option to take out a training loan and pay it back when you’re earning. This costs about £100,000. Or, people can learn to fly in the armed forces.
Do you have to pay for your own meals and hotels?
Almost all airlines will put their crews in a decent hotel. This isn’t judged on the rooms having a flash TV and minibar. It is about it being quiet, air-conditioned and with blackout blinds. If they were to give staff money to book their own accommodation, there’s a risk of people choosing cheap rooms and pocketing the difference. But the problem with cheap hotels and hostels is that they’re not always quiet, and this risks pilots and cabin crew not being properly rested for the return flight.
Do you eat in-flight meals and if so, what is the best meal to get on a plane?
If you fly from Heathrow, the curry is really good! Meals tend to reflect the culture and cuisine of the place you’re flying from - and they vary. In some locations the food they put on the plane is fantastic.
What have been your best and worst passenger experiences?
Celebrities tend to be associated with both.There are those we don’t expect to be nice but are, or those we thought would be friendly but are really awful.
Have you ever seen any UFOs?
I have seen lights but there always tends to be an explanation. A formation of lights across the sky over the Atlantic, which was being discussed over air traffic control radio, turned out to be Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites.
Have you seen the Northern Lights?
Yes. Sometimes they’re mediocre, sometimes they’re spectacular. I see them three or four times a year.
Where is the dirtiest place on a plane?
Undoubtedly the toilets!
Does the toilet empty into the sea?
No. It goes into large waste tanks and we carry it back to the airport with us. There are also 1,000 litres of clean water on board, stored in a separate tank, which can be used for drinking or hand-washing.
How drunk do you have to be to be refused on board?
It is subjective. Passengers are being checked while they are on the jetty to the aeroplane. People shouldn’t end up at the aircraft door if they are not fit to get on.
Why serve alcohol at all?
It’s a hangover from the past. Passenger flights used to be for the wealthy, and they were served drinks and full meals. It was almost silver service!
Where is your favourite place to go that most UK people don’t see?
I really like the Middle East and would suggest Oman as somewhere different to visit.
When you travel to different countries, do you feel safe?
You can make yourself unsafe by going around with a great big camera or expensive watch, or by making yourself stick out in other ways. But the same could be said if you did this in London. I never wander around looking lost - walking with confidence prevents you becoming an easy target - and I research where to go and where not to go before leaving the hotel.
Do you have to exchange currencies before travelling?
Most places take cards - even street vendors. Some airlines give cash allowances or, with an ID card, you can withdraw cash at the hotels and give back what hasn’t been used. I do keep small amounts of different currencies.
What do you think of charging passengers for their baggage, using the loo, or having standing seats?
You can’t charge people for using the loos - that won’t happen. I don’t believe standing on a plane would ever receive safety approval either. Cheaper tickets allow more people to travel to different places but we can’t expect everything to be included without paying for it. If you buy a cheap ticket and then decide you want to bring a bag, the cost might well turn out to be the same.
What do you do if a passenger is terrified of flying?
If we have a third or fourth pilot on board, and there is a spare seat available, one of us will sit with them for the take-off and landing. Usually, it’s the strange noises on a plane that concern people. A sound changes and they think something is going wrong. If we sit with them, we can talk them through the cause of each noise, which can be the sound of the wheels taxiing, the engines powering up and then working together to stabilise the aircraft, and then the undercarriage coming up, which causes a sudden reduction in noise.
Does the novelty of travelling wear off?
No, and if it does you’re probably in the wrong job. We work with different crew members all the time and in some airlines it’s rare to work with people you’ve worked with before.
Do you ever get travel sick?
No!
If you’re not flying, do you have ‘back seat driver’ thoughts?
Yes. As a passenger looking out of the window, I’ll think about what I would be doing right now, particularly if it’s somewhere I’ve flown into before. You know when the undercarriage should be lowered and you’re listening out for it!
If you weren’t a pilot what would you be?
I really don’t know - I have never had a ‘plan B’.
