Thinking of a profession as a pilot? Charné Steyn, First Officer on Global Airways’ Airbus A320 fleet and pilot for LIFT with 16 years’ aviation expertise, says good decision-making and powerful teamwork are simply as essential as technical flying abilities.
When requested what abilities a pilot requires, Steyn says folks hardly ever see the psychological aspect of the job.
“Good decision-making, situational awareness, staying calm under pressure and working well with your crew are just as important as flying the aircraft,” she says. She additionally lists stability, persistence, humility and a focus to element as important character traits.
“Aviation is a team sport,” she says. “Bringing collectively the flying, procedures and coordination so every little thing works seamlessly is extremely rewarding. Some of the hardest days of my profession are additionally my favorite reminiscences as a result of I shared them with distinctive crews.
“I feel women are generally very situationally aware and have good emotional intelligence – both valuable qualities in this line of work. But strong organisational skills are a must too. There’s a significant amount of preparation behind the scenes between the flight deck crew and about 10 other departments and service providers. Being able to follow procedures, be organised and multitask are other attributes that would be advantageous.”
A girl’s resilience
Steyun says that it might be remiss of her to not embody resilience as a required attribute for being a pilot, particularly as a girl.
“My expertise has been overwhelmingly constructive. For essentially the most half, I’m merely a pilot doing my job. Like many ladies in historically male-dominated industries, I’ve sometimes encountered inappropriate behaviour or individuals who had been uncomfortable with me as a result of I’m a girl. Those moments have been the exception somewhat than the rule, and over time I’ve learnt both to handle them professionally or recognise they typically replicate the opposite particular person somewhat than me.
“The overwhelming majority of my colleagues, especially everyone at LIFT and Global Airways, are supportive, inclusive, respectful and an absolute joy to work with. Still, I list being resilient as a key quality, because apart from women being less common in this field, becoming a pilot in general is not a walk in the park. It requires persistence and sacrifice.”
A day within the lifetime of…
Steyn says that as a First Officer, she works alongside the Captain to function the plane safely and effectively.
“Every flight begins lengthy earlier than passengers board. We overview climate, plane efficiency, operational info and laws, full all the required checks and calculations, and put together the plane for departure. Once everyone seems to be on board, our focus shifts to getting everybody to their vacation spot safely, comfortably and on time.
“No two days are exactly the same. Some mornings begin before sunrise, while others finish late at night, but a typical day involves two or three flights.”
Practical recommendation
Her recommendation for aspiring pilots contains one thing as fundamental as doing the analysis.
“It can prevent 1000’s of rands and lots of frustration. Reach out to ladies who’re within the trade, attend aviation occasions and make use of the net communities which are pleased to share recommendation and expertise.
“One of my biggest early challenges was financial. I worked while training, completed my licences part-time and relied on a student loan to make it possible. Large loans can become a big liability so I always maintained strict discipline with my finances.”
She says that a number of funding choices exist, together with pupil loans: “Not many people are aware that Standard Bank offers student loans for commercial pilot training, and that made a huge difference for me.”
She advises candidates to discover a mentor and belief those that are supportive of their goals.
“My parents always believed in me, and that gave me a strong foundation. Early in my career I was also fortunate to meet several women in aviation who became mentors and role models. One in particular was the Head of Training who interviewed me for my first commercial flying job. I don’t think she realises how much of an impact she had in contributing to the positive aspects of my career.”
“Most importantly, don’t let the journey intimidate you. Every pilot begins precisely the place you’re and in case you don’t like one thing, handle it professionally or discover an alternate route to maintain at it.
“It took me three years to complete my Commercial Pilot Licence, after which I spent ten years flying at a regional airline. I freelanced for two years, during which I flew as a passenger on LIFT, with my dog. I was intrigued enough to apply to work at Global Airways to fly for LIFT, and the rest, as they say, is history. I joined Global Airways a few months later in pursuit of a better quality of life and I found it!”