Can you pls describe what life working at British airways mostly consists of and looks like , what do you enjoy most about working with British airways, and what are the most important skills you think British airways pilots have captain chloe?
Abdirahim M. asked a question to Chloe H.
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- Author: Abdirahim M.
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CHChloe H. Captain
Hey Abdirahim –
That mostly depends on whether you fly long-haul or short-haul aircraft as a pilot. If you are short-haul, you will be based out of London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City. You might fly 2–4 "sectors" (flights) a day. You get to see the sun rise over the Alps and can be back in your own bed by dinner. It’s high-energy and great for keeping flying skills sharp. If you are a long-haul pilot, you will based at London Heathrow, however can occasionally do some flights from London Gatwick depending on which fleet you are on. There are iconic routes to places like New York, Tokyo, or Cape Town, spending a few days at a time away from home, exploring new cities and managing the aircraft across vast airways.
Your day would start in the crew report centre at T5, Heathrow, checking in, meeting the rest of the crew and a thorough briefing on weather, fuel, and flight plans. Then, it's out to the aircraft to fly to whichever destination is on your roster (hopefully!).
People often think it's just the views (which are spectacular, nothing beats a moonlit flight deck at 38,000 feet), but for me, it’s two things:
- BA is a massive family. I might fly with a different First Officer or cabin crew every trip, but the shared culture of professionalism means we click instantly.
- One day I’m navigating a tricky approach into a snowy Innsbruck, and the next I’m managing a 12-hour round trip to the sunny Tenerife. No two days are ever the same.
While we are trained to be technically proficient, in my opinion, the soft skills are what truly make a Captain. At British Airways, as a pilot, it is important that you excel in the following areas: Situational Awareness, Communication & Teamwork, Workload Management and Resilience.
If you're serious about joining us, look into the Speedbird Pilot Academy. It’s our fully-funded training path that removes the financial barriers to entry. We want the best talent, regardless of your background! Sadly, applications have now closed, but crossing my fingers it will reopen again next year!
It’s a demanding job, but I wouldn't trade my office window for anything in the world.
I hope this has helped :)
Chloe
