Job Description and Responsibilities of Flight School Graduates

Learning to fly is a dream for many people. Some learn to fly for recreational purposes; others as a career. Attending a flight training school and gaining certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are basic requirements that all potential pilots must fulfill.

Duties and Responsibilities

In most aircrafts, the cockpit crew consists of two pilots – the pilot and the copilot (also known as the first officer). They share duties and responsibilities and are expected to:

• Plan flights with precision and accuracy
• Thoroughly check the proper function of aircraft instruments and systems
• Communicate with air traffic controllers and aviation weather forecasters
• Closely confer and coordinate with each other during takeoffs, landings and in-flight journeys
• Regularly check the instrument panel during flights
• Complete flight records and aircraft maintenance status

Airline pilots face unique risks and challenges on the job. Recognizing this, airline companies impose aptitude and psychological tests for potential applicants and reject those who do not pass. Periodic physical and ophthalmic examinations are required to maintain a valid license.

Most aircrafts manage well with only two pilots due to the advanced technology that facilitates computerized flight controls. However, a flight engineer may sometimes be present on large aircrafts. The responsibilities of a flight engineer include:

• Monitoring and operating flight instruments and systems
• Repairing minor in-flight problems
• Assisting pilots with air traffic control and cabin crew communications

Career Options After Flight School

Graduates of flight schools can consider careers as pilots, copilots, flight engineers and flight instructors. The most common area of work is in the transportation of passengers and cargo. About 20% of flight school graduates find work as commercial pilots, engaged in activities like crop dusting, aircraft testing, rescue missions, and traffic monitoring. Air-taxi companies also hire commercial pilots to fly small planes.

Aviator Skills Exhibited at Air Shows

An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows".

Air Show Venues

Most air shows are held for commercial motives and held as a business or trade events where aircraft, avionics and other services are promoted to potential customers. Others are held on military bases in an effort to support and raise money for local, national or military charities as well as promote military careers. Ideally, these shows are arranged at airfields to provide viewers with a display of variety of aircraft and helicopters.

Air shows highly depend on the weather and vary around the world. Whereas the United States enjoys a long season that generally runs from March to November, other areas often have much shorter seasons. The European season usually starts in late April or Early May and is usually over by mid October. Off seasons are used for maintenance and practice.

In addition to the weather, pilots and organizers must also consider local airspace restrictions.

The types of air shows vary greatly. Some are large scale military events with large flying displays and ground exhibitions while others held at small local airstrips can often feature just one or two hours of flying with just a few stalls on the ground.

Flight training students, flying enthusiasts and future pilots are encouraged to attend air shows to see first hand the mastery, skills and capabilities of aviators.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show usually attracts a total of 150,000 to 200,000 spectators on both days.

For air show events and schedules near you please visit the following websites: milavia, airshow, and justluxe.
Happy Flying!

Aviation Career and Pilot Jobs

When considering embarking upon a career in aviation, choosing the right flight school is the first and most important step in your evaluation process. Look for the flight school that emphasizes the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary for a fulfilling career in aviation.

Flight Training Education

Do your research to find out which institution is committed to offering quality education that meets the needs of its students and assists them in clarifying and pursuing their professional and educational goals in aviation.

It is important to evaluate and examine what flight environment and flight time is offered with the flight training. Experience and professionalism of flight training instructors plays an instrumental role in the lives of each student learning to fly. It is highly recommended to visit the school, speak with attending students and flight instructors, inquire about campus and housing facilities so you can get a better understanding of what each school has to offer.

As the president of Aviator College Mike Cohen correctly notes, “Flying at the college is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rain or shine. Learning to fly in these conditions will give you the ability to fly anywhere in the world with the knowledge and experience required”.

Landing a dream job of a pilot begins with your investment into the right flight school. Make sure it is the one that delivers the skills you need to succeed.

Take a listen to the samples of videos from Aviator College. These are the types of responses you need to get from attending and past students of the flight training school you wish or plan to attend.

Facts and Tips for Flight Training Students

Have a passion for flying? Now is the best time to go to flight training school. Location is an important thing to consider when you are looking for a flight training school. What state the school is in and what the weather is like is critical for your getting your commercial pilot license. Here are some facts and tips to help you choose the right school for your flight training.

5 Facts About Flight Training

• FACT: The current recession has created fierce competition for jobs in all industries. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to start your flight training in an industry that has tremendous potential!
• FACT: Airline jobs are not going away, the demand is beginning to increase. For many current airline pilots, the mandatory retirement age is approaching!
• FACT: The FAA is now taking a more serious look at airline pilot flight training. This is forcing the airline industry to take a harder look at candidates for pilot replacements!
• FACT: Professional Pilots must now have first-rate knowledge and continually upgraded skills if they want to hear the word "Hired!" Pilots who train at quality aviation schools and who possess the technical knowledge, first-rate flying skills and a professional attitude will have the hiring edge!
• FACT: Professionalism and knowledge are now prerequisites for entrance into the worldwide airline industry. Fast paced, "fast track" programs, or self-study courses will not meet the new airline industry standards.

Q and A for Future Flight Training Students

Where can I get flying lessons?
To find the top flight schools in the United States, visit flight school directories at the following websites: pilotjourney,
Bestaviation, aopa, and aviationschoolsonline.

All of these directories offer a search by zip code, city, state or name of the school. Choose a couple of schools first so you can compare. Do your research, call and talk to the instructors, visit the school if possible and then decide what flight school will give the best education for your money.

Is It Hard to Learn to Fly?
If you have the passion, the skill will come. People of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities have learned to fly. It’s fun, and from the beginning of your training, you get to do most of the actual flying! On the practical side—While flying isn’t a difficult skill to learn, you’ll have to be willing to stick with it until you meet all the requirements.

Is Flying safe?
A well-built and well-maintained aircraft flown by a competent and prudent pilot is as safe or safer than many other forms of transportation. Flight schools aircraft are also highly maintained.

What is the difference between a recreational pilot’s certificate and a private pilot’s certificate?
As a recreational pilot, you have to fly within 50 nautical miles of the airport where you learned to fly, you have to fly during the day, and you can’t fly in airspace where communications with air traffic control are required. You are better off just getting your private pilots license. It will only take you a couple more hours. A private pilot doesn’t have these limitations. It usually takes fewer lessons to get a recreational pilot’s certificate than a private pilot’s certificate. Some flight schools do not offer the recreational pilots certificate.

Financing
Now is the best time to go to flight training school. The economy is improving and the commercial pilot job market is opening up. By 2011, experts predict the commercial aviation business will be booming again.

FAFSA - or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is your first step for flight school financing. Use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, student loans, and college work-study. Most states and schools use FAFSA information to award their financial aid. Visit FAFSA website for more information.

Flight School is Fun in Florida

You know how hard your flight training is going to be. You will be devoting 2 + years of your life to the most grueling and intensive schooling you can imagine. We don’t have to keep reminding you about this. Today, we want to point out the fun part of a flight training school – and why it makes a lot of sense to get your flight training in Florida.

Florida has a sub-tropical climate with long summers and short, mild winters. It is perfect for year-round outdoor activities. The average median temperate in central Florida is 75 degrees and the skies are clear and sunny about 280 days out of the year. The good weather allows you to log more flying hours faster, get your degree quicker and be on your way sooner to an aviation career.

The state is abundant with diversity. From Key West to Pensacola, there is variety everywhere you look. It is the fourth largest state in the United States with a population of over 18 million people. It has a total coastline of 1,197 statute miles.

The beaches are spectacular. Florida has three of the best beaches in the country, according to National Geographic Magazine. Flight training schools that are right next to the beach like Aviator College in Ft. Pierce and schools in Daytona Beach give flight students a great respite from all the hard work and studying.

The attractions in Florida are endless. There is the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It is the nation’s gateway to exploring, discovering and understanding the universe.

Orlando has been called the tourist destination of the world. It is the home of Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld and Walt Disney World Resort. Perhaps the most interesting attraction for flight training students at Walt Disney World is EPCOT Center. The park is dedicated to international culture and technological innovation. The name Epcot comes from the acronym EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow), a utopian city of the future and a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.

Recreation and exercise are also important for a flight training student. A flight student needs to be in good shape mentally and physically – and Florida is the best place in the world to stay in shape mentally and physically.

If you like golf, you will like Florida. Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the country – over 1,200 public and private courses. There is swimming, tennis, jogging and health clubs galore. There is water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. In 2009, fishing was a $6 billion industry in Florida, employing 60,000 jobs for sporting and commercial purposes.

Florida – Flight School, U.S.A.

When you add it all up - the quality of the flight schools, the climate, the environment, the variety and diversity, you will see that flight training in Florida will not only give you a superior education, it will be a fun and enjoyable experience as well.

5 Helpful Tips For Flight School Financing

Now is the best time to go to flight training school. The economy is improving and the commercial pilot job market is opening up. By 2011, experts predict the commercial aviation business will be booming again. So what are you waiting for? Here are the best ways to get financing for a flight school and make your dream come true.

FAFSA - or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is your first step for flight school financing. Use it to apply for federal student financial aid, such as the Pell Grant, student loans, and college work-study. Most states and schools use FAFSA information to award their financial aid. Visit their website for more information.


1) Pell Grants: These are one of the most popular government loans. The award amount is directly related to the student’s expected family contribution as determined by the FAFSA form and the student’s enrollment status.

2) Federal Perkins Loan: This low-interest loan is dependent on availability of funds each year and must be repaid to the flight school you are attending. The loan accrues no interest while the student attends school or during a nine-month grace period.

3) Federal Stafford Loans (FFEL): Amounts may vary each year and are dependent on need and the grade year of the student. The FFEL PLUS loan can be borrowed by the parents of the dependent undergraduate student to help pay for their child’s education. The PLUS loan is not based on financial need. The amount borrowed each year is limited to the cost of attendance less other forms of assistance.

4) Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): This federal grant is for full-time, undergraduate, Pell Grant-eligible U.S. citizens who have completed a rigorous High School curricula and are in their first two years of study. ACG grants are for first and second-year students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

5) Sallie Mae Career Training Loan: This loan may be able to provide you with all the benefits of a traditional alternative student loan. It can fund up to the full cost of the flight school. The Career Training Loan from Sallie Mae is one of the most practical loans for students pursuing a trade program. It allows applicants to apply with a co-borrower if necessary, borrow up to the full cost for the program along with all related expenses and still benefit from flexible repayment terms and interest rates.

There are plenty of other ways to get financing for flight training school. These are five of the best government loan programs. Get your financing, get your training and good luck with your new career.

Does Your Flight Training School Teach You About Volcanoes?

London - Many European flights took to the skies yesterday for the first time in days but the chaos is far from over. London's airports were still closed, a massive backlog was growing and scientists feared yet another volcanic eruption in Iceland. Airports in London - including Heathrow, the busiest in Europe - won't reopen until today (4/21/10) and forecasters said more delays were possible if the volcanic ash cloud stayed over the country. Still, it was the first day since Iceland's big volcano erupted last week that travelers were given a glimmer of hope.

"Everyone was screaming in the airplane from happiness," said Savvas Toumarides of Cyprus, who finally arrived in New York after being stuck in Amsterdam for five days.

"The situation today is much improved," said Brian Flynn, deputy head of Eurocontrol, the organization that supports air traffic across the European skies.

How Volcanic Ash Threatens Aircraft

Volcanoes are not a hypothetical hazard, they are a real and serious threat. There have been over 100 encounters of aircraft with ash clouds since the early 1970s, and the majority of these have involved aircraft damage.
In 1989, a KLM Boeing 747 flew into an ash cloud near Mt. Redoubt in Alaska. Within 60 seconds, microscopic volcanic glass shards shut down all four of the engines. With 245 passengers on board, the plane plummeted 13,000 ft before the pilots managed to restart engines and steer the damaged craft to an emergency landing. Since the 1970s, eight planes are known to have lost engines. Six known airplane-ash encounters have occurred over the last 12 months. Here are the different kinds of damage that volcanic ash can cause to an aircraft :

Sandblasting
Ash can "blind" pilots by sandblasting the windscreen requiring an instrument landing. Sandblasting can damage the fuselage, coat the plane and damage the landing lights, making their beams diffuse and unable to be projected in the forward direction. Propellor aircraft are also endangered.

Lack of Oxygen
Simple lack of oxygen is given as a probable cause of engine failure.

Clogging of the Plane's Sensors
Accumulation of ash can also block an aircraft's pitot tubes. This can lead to failure of the aircraft's air speed indicators.

Electromagnetic Wave Insulation
Volcanic ash particles are charged and disturb communication by radio.

Combustion Power Failure
Volcanic ash damages machinery. The effect on jet aircraft engines is particularly severe as large amounts of air are sucked in during combustion operation, posing a great danger to aircraft flying near ash clouds. Very fine volcanic ash particles sucked into a jet engine melt at about 1,100 °C, fusing onto the blades and other parts of the turbine. They can erode and destroy parts, drive it out-of-balance, and cause jams in rotating machinery.

This often causes a jet engine to cut out and failure of all of a plane's engines is common. The standard emergency procedure when jet engines begin to fail had been to increase power, which makes the problem worse. The best procedure is to throttle back the engines, and to lose height so as to drop below the ash cloud as quickly as possible. The inrush of cold, clean air is usually enough to cool, solidify, and shatter the glass, unclogging the engines.

Now you see why - in spite of all the money that was lost because of the Iceland volcano - safety always comes first in aviation.

There are only a few flight training schools in the world who teach you everything you need to know about aviation - including the threat of volcanoes. Make sure you find a flight training school that gives you a complete flight training education.