These licenses are also recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and there are no shortcuts to taking a seat in the cockpit of a commercial jetliner. The notion that an unqualified individual can find himself seated behind the controls of a modern jetliner couldn’t be further from the truth.
Here is a professional breakdown of what a pilot goes through to attain the privilege of flying a modern jet aircraft. These requirements are well documented in operations manuals for every airline and must be approved by the designated regulatory authority.
Airlines set minimum entry requirements and prospective pilots are shortlisted around parameters such as total hours flown, previous aircraft types flown, age, etc.
This is followed by a multi-phase process that includes competence checks, psychometric and psychomotor aptitude assessment to test IQ.
Other checks include problem-solving and eye-hand coordination as well as interviews conducted by experts. This culminates in a simulator assessment to check one’s flying skills. Successful completion of the above processes only allows one the opportunity to undergo a full aircraft type training.
This is the training that allows one to attain the knowledge, skill and certification to operate the specific type of aircraft. The full type rating course is undertaken in an approved training facility by independent competent instructors.
For Uganda, these trainings are done overseas at some of the world’s top advanced training centres. To pass the full type course one must undergo and pass both a theoretical systems test and a check ride (skills test).
This allows the regulatory authority (CAA) to endorse/certify the aircraft type on one’s personal flying license. Upon endorsement of an aircraft type on one’s license, they then proceed to commence line training (on job) on the aircraft, under the supervision of a CAA-approved company instructor (check airman).
At the onset of line training and in order to enhance safety, an extra safety pilot is required by law to be at hand, to take over in the unlikely case of an emergency. This training must be completed within a stipulated period and is conducted in three phases; observation, flying and a check ride (skills test).
After the line check, one is now ready and permitted to fly with the rest of the airline crew. However, aviation being safety-oriented, the pairing of crew is done in such a way that inexperienced crew are paired with experienced ones. This helps to bridge the skills gap and also aides in the transfer of knowledge.
It’s a requirement by law that pilots do regular recurrence training to stay competent, further improve their knowledge and hone their skill especially in emergency management.
This explains why every six months pilots go for simulator training overseas to some of the world’s best training facilities and must successfully complete a systems exam and a skills check ride before being allowed back into the cockpit.
This untold stress also explains why most pilots’ weight-mass fluctuates every six months. I have left out other multiple theoretical and practical trainings that go a long way in reinforcing competence and safety in commercial aviation.
From the health point of view, pilots undergo annual medical examinations at the hands of an approved CAA medical examiner to rule out any condition that might affect the safe outcome of a flight.
It’s noteworthy that failure at any stage/level above leads to immediate grounding of an individual until such a time they demonstrate satisfactory results, failure to do so will result in job loss at best and loss of a flying license at worst.
Although highly unlikely, it is possible to subvert one or two of the above checkpoints but that still won’t get one behind the controls of a jetliner let alone any aircraft, for one will need to subvert all the above to achieve that feat.
Additionally, most of the aforementioned requirements are conducted by independent entities and professionals with great pride in keeping their reputation to ensure that air remains the safest means of transport in the world.
Aviation being highly regulated allows it to retain the distinction of a proud safety record and the public should fly assured that the series of moving parts behind the scenes is airtight and dedicated to ensuring their safe arrival at their destinations. Piloting isn’t a taxi service; it’s a time-honoured serious business and reporting on it should be too.
The writer is the outgoing chairman of the Ugandan Professional Pilots Association and an ATPL holder with thousands of flight hours logged.
