Julia H - Germania - A319/21

1) Tell us what made you want to become a pilot?

Becoming a pilot has been a dream which developed in my teenage years. During High School I have been abroad for a student exchange in Virginia Beach, VA and my host father shared my passion for aviation. He introduced me to some glider and helicopter lessons, still the "normal" airplane caught my agreatest attention.

2) Where did you train and describe your experience training there?

I completed my training with Pilot Training Network GmbH in Germany. Our theory phases took place in Frankfurt, whereas our practical training took place in Vero Beach, FL and in Rostock/Laage. The complete training lasted for two years. During those two years it had been a great experience to be able to learn from competent instructors and study with fellow students who shared the same dream. Since the obtained license has been a CPL/IR (commercial pilot license with instrument rating), the complete training was based on a single pilot operation. Commercial aviation requires pilots to work as a team, therefore a MCC (MultiCrewCooperation) course became vital after the final check flight. During such a course two aspiring pilots train in a simulator (I did mine on the B737 Classic) for a total amount of 20 hours, gaining experience in teamwork.

3) What aircraft did you fly during your initial training?

During my first flights I have been training on a PA-28-161 Warrior III. Thereafter, while training under IFR (instrument flight rules) we used the PA-28-161 Cadet. Those single engine Cherokees (as we called that particular type of airplane on the radio) use a four cylinder engine, which create 160hp at 2700rpm, thus reaching a cruise speed of 100-140 knots. The airplanes could accommodate four people, thus enabling us to “crew” with a fellow student in order to reach further away airports. One student planned their route towards the particular airfield, then we took a quick break and, if necessary, refuelled the airplane. Afterwards we switched positions and the other student has been able to fly the return flight. The last flight phase took place in Rostock/Laage and we trained on the PA-44-Seminole, a twin-engined light airplane. As the propellers turned in opposed directions, the airplane becomes more controllable in case an engine failed or has to be shut down (which, eventually, happened during flight training in every mission for training purposes).

4) What was your hardest part of training?

During flight training, every student pilot may encounters difficulties. Which part of training may create a personal obstacle, depends on every student, as every student grows individually. I remember one particular difficulty during my training experience. My personal standard is really high and I tend to be my strongest judge. Whenever I did a small mistake, which may have been quite normal at the stage of training that I was in, it took me quite a while “to get over it”. If I had been unhappy with my performance, I tried even harder the next time. I realized though, that I have created a pressure, which had been unnecessary. Thereafter I focused to work on my weakness. Whenever I made a small mistake, I took 2 seconds to breathe, focus and let go. Then went on to the next task. There was nothing I could do about the previous situation and I had to learn to move on, in order to perform well on the next task. Let me tell you, it has been quite a process.

5) What advice would you give to aspiring pilot?

Study hard, be honest and pursue your dream. Study intensively and be thorough, leave no space for interpretation when it comes to knowledge. Be honest with yourself, your fellow students and instructors. Admit your mistakes and work on your weaknesses to improve yourself. Learn to have empathy for your fellow students and future colleagues in order to assess their level of stress. Being a pilot is a responsible career, which is not to be chosen lightly. The job is not only all about traveling and great layovers. Those are merely a reward for your technical knowledge, management skills, communication skills and risk assessment. Having said all of the above, remember to have fun. Flying an airplane is fun, especially when you let the engines roar for Take Off !

6) What has been your best moment in the air?

I am fortunate to say that I have had many amazing moments in the air. Starting from learning new techniques, getting to know my colleagues (hello Crewlife), staring out of the window in Awe of the View. M most memorable moment has been my First Solo Flight though. It’s the first time your instructor puts faith in your capabilities, trusting you to be able to fly the airplane all by yourself. You start the engine, request taxi. You move your little airplane to the runway and receive your Take Off Clearance. You take a glimpse to your right side (during single pilot operations, the pilot sits on the left side) and realize there is nobody sitting next to you anymore; there is no more safety net. It is just you and your plane, you smile and take off.

7) What is your favourite destination to fly to?

My Honestly, I have no particular destination that I prefer over others. In general I enjoy flying to airports, which have demanding approach procedures and are challenging.

8) What is the biggest misconception that people have about your job?

One particular topic usually arises when I meet new people and my career comes up. “So, you are on vacation all the time. Nice hotels, beaches…” I am currently rated on the A320F and therefore fly short and medium haul flights. Usually I tend to fly a lot point-to-point flights, which means that I start and end the day at my homebase. Therefore I have only few layovers which would enable me to relax at the beach. If I have a rotation which requires me to stay at different hotels and destinations, the resting periods are usually quite short. During 10 hours (example) one has to eat, sleep and be ready (and well rested!) for the next flight, therefore there is little time for exciting adventures or sightseeing. Of course, if the resting time is longer, I love to explore new cities. When you are working long haul, the story becomes a different angle. The flights are longer, more timezones are crossed. Therefore, the crew need their resting time after the flight, enabling layovers with longer resting periods.

9) Was there something you wish you did prior to starting your flight training that would be beneficial for aspiring pilots to do?

Honestly, I do not have the feeling, that I have missed out on anything. After High School, I went traveling for over a year. It has been an experience that I would definitely put on every one’s heart. During flight training and thereafter while working for an airline, it becomes really hard to take such a long time off, as the license requires annual renewals, a certain amount of landings etc. So, if you have the chance, go traveling prior to your flight training. Your intercultural competence will broaden, your personal skills improve and your empathy develop. Soft skills are of utmost importance while operating and aircraft and interacting with the other crewmembers.

#Germania #Airbus #A319 #A321