When you announced that becoming a pilot is your calling, you must have surprised quite a lot of people. Most of the people in the world must have traveled on an aircraft at some or the other point of their lives but only a few aspire to fly aircrafts. For some it can be stressful but the others who aim at becoming a pilot it is definitely a very precious dream.
Commercial pilots do look smashing with that uniform and glasses but there is much more than glamor that will help you in becoming one. It needs a lot of dedication and focus to finally be able to live your dream. As an outsider, you must be curious about what exactly is the environment of the aviation industry and what are the inside stories.
Do not worry because it is a perfect place to nurture your dreams. Stepping into a totally different space can be daunting but the aviation community is no place to be anxious around. Here is a list of some facts that many commercial pilots feel that they wish they knew before entering the industry.
1. JUST ENJOY THE PROCESS.
It is natural to be apprehensive and overwhelmed when you step out of your comfort zone. Here going beyond your comfort zone means choosing something out of the box.
The international flight training academy believes that stress is the last thing on your mind as a commercial pilot for it can mar your sense of judgment in a very negative manner.
You are flying a machine and could be stressed out because of that immensely. The experienced pilots are of the opinion that you should just concentrate on being a thorough professional and not stress about the rest. Do not waste your time over small stuff, rather enjoy the process of flying. As your experience increases you will realize that sweating over the small stuff was never a good idea. Hence, if you have just started your commercial flying career, pay heed to the experts.
2. IT IS NOT SIMILAR TO DRIVING A CAR.
It is absolutely true that you are in charge of the aircraft and you might think it should be similar to driving a car which it clearly is not. Flying employs a totally different set of rules like thermodynamics. Flying a plane involves a totally different approach where you have to maneuver the aircraft and be always ready with a solution if anything goes wrong. There are backups that will pad you in case of a potential mishap. Driving does not involve anything like that.
3. IT IS NOT AT ALL THAT GLAMOROUS.
Apart from thrill, glamor is another factor that attracts people towards flying as a profession. Mind you people have to work extremely hard to be able to complete their training at a training academy. You will have to spend a lot of money and train to acquire a skill, which is definitely not glamorous.
4. IT IS EXTREMELY DEHYDRATING UP THERE.
In the coziness of the aircraft, many times you do not realize how dehydrating it can get up there. Remember to take care of your hair and skin from the initial days. It is better to be cautious than be surprised and dehydrated all the time. Consuming water regularly is also a necessity to keep you going because the long hours of flying can be extremely tedious.
5. YOU CAN USE GLASSES.
If someone told you that you should have perfect vision in order to fit the criteria of a pilot and that your inability to do so can come in between your dreams, do not listen to them. You can use non polarized glasses during the flight without giving up on your aspirations.
Some of the that have been mentioned can be surprising but in no way are they shocking. These are somethings that will just give an insight of what it takes to be in the cockpit.