Being an Airline Pilot

Being an airline pilot is a stressful job, especially if you are the captain. Being in command of hundreds of lives, making quick decisions and taking on a leadership role is a lot of responsibility. The flight deck is definitely a man’s office, so imagine being a woman and having the same responsibilities.

Airline pilots are held in high regard and thus make a good living. They get flown over from their home country for the interview. If they pass their family is flown over and helped to settle in the Middle East. The Airline does everything they can in order to assist the pilot in his or her move. Generally the big airlines pay a good salary, they give the pilot and his or her family appropriate accommodation or accommodation allowance. The company also pays for part of, or all of the children’s primary and secondary education. Furthermore the perks of being a pilots are great. The family of the pilot get discounted tickets and can be upgraded to business class on their trips. The lifestyle that comes with the job is opulent.

There are also cons to a job such as this one, especially for families. One does not get to spend every evening with the family, as a person with a 9 -5 job might. The pilot may miss out on children’s birthdays, school plays and events due to work responsibilities. Being a woman in this industry is particularly challenging if you have a family. However the rewards do counteract the negatives.

There are more and more female pilots in the industry and it’s fantastic to see more and more females in command in the Middle East. We interviewed the first female airline captain in Abu Dhabi and got her take on the industry and how she handles family life and a demanding career.

Name: Sophie Blanchard

Profession: Airline Captain

Why did you choose to be an airline pilot: I grew up in the aviation world, my step-dad was running a small cargo company and pilots were always coming in the house. It was kind of natural that I follow this
way.

How old were you when you realised this is what you wanted to do with your life: As I was told by my mother, I said to a captain once, when I was only 7, that I will not marry a pilot, I would be the pilot myself…Actually I’ve never really thought about doing anything else. I started going on flights when I was only 15, during the holidays. I did a simulator at 16 and it was just magical to “really” fly that big jet. No question…I will be a pilot!!!

Give us a brief insight of a typical day at work, what are the positive and negative aspects: First you take some rest before the flight to be fit for the coming duty, depending where you are going you prepare your suitcase, as a mother, you have to check that the fridge is full for the next 3 days you will be away, that everything is organized for the kids. You give them a big kiss and you go.

The positive aspect is that you can breathe a little bit out of the house, the negative aspect is that if something happen while you’re away, you cannot do much, you need a real good support. But it’s always a gift to come back as you permanently realize what you were missing.

Actually my life, at home and in my job, is just a big question of being organized.
What does it take to become a pilot: It takes a lot of energy, a lot of your time, good discipline and a constant readjustment of your knowledge. You have to sacrifice your family sometimes but the aim is to
do something that makes you happy so you can share with the other.

How do you handle the responsibility of being a leader in your field: I’m really proud to be in that position, I’m trying to give my energy to my colleagues, to be a good example for my kids. I fully realize what is my position when I travel as a passenger and I look at the captain of the crew, I’m saying to myself: woah, that’s how I look like!!! I’m constantly being congratulated by the passengers, as being a female captain, the feeling is great and I thank my company for giving me this opportunity.

What advice do you have for young girls aspiring to become pilots: Go girls!!! The cockpit is a man’s world but we have our place as well, and it’s quite well accepted by the men. In 2012, the society is giving the women the chance to be equal to men, we should take it and prove that we are as good as anybody else for that position.