Confessions of a Commercial Pilot

Piloting an aircraft is one of the most powerful jobs because anyone who travels by air is forced to trust the commander

Everyone I meet is fascinated by my job, and by me. Piloting an aircraft is probably one of the most powerful jobs because anyone who is someone travels by air and an aircraft is probably the only place where they are totally powerless, forced to trust the commander. You can be average looking but still turn heads in the airport. Even a ship’s captain does not command so much fascination.

There is no room for sloppiness, either in dressing or at the controls. Will you sit in an aircraft whose pilot is badly turned out? When I enter an aircraft, I feel like a king but when I sit down to pilot it I am a slave to the machine. Before take-off, I say a prayer. In these times of labour unrest, we have to be careful. There was a time when one was not on tenterhooks dealing with air traffic controllers.

Though unions are needed to safeguard the rights of an employee, I personally feel the aggression of the unions has compromised the quality of airline crew.

It is a rule that pilots should refrain from consuming alcohol while flying. But it is violated often. Since there is a brotherhood amongst us, no one squeals.

The entry of foreign pilots into our workspace has created a problem for us (in this tight market). But foreign pilots are thorough professionals. There is talk of pay cuts. I can’t afford that as I have a lifestyle to maintain. Being a pilot is a status symbol. I will have to look for another job if they cut my salary.

Some airhostesses enjoy flirting with the captain. Affairs are common but discreet. Close friendships with the crew are not advised as there has to be a hierarchy between pilot and the crew.

It is tough to separate the personal and professional. Once when I had to fly, my wife called to say my daughter needed to be hospitalised. I had to fly so I called friends. It was not easy to concentrate but I had to. I have clear instructions to my wife against informing me of family matters when I have to fly.

Many people ask me to get their sons jobs as pilots. When I say it involves strenuous training, I often lose out on that friend. Younger colleagues tell me a pilot commands high dowry. Truth is, at the end of each day I say a prayer to safeguard my job.

This person has been a commercial pilot for over a decade

About The Author

Haima Deshpande