Career Pilot

Professional Training

Training for your professional flying career will be an ongoing effort, even after you’re hired. While your primary flight training may not—and need not—differ from any other student’s initial flight training, professional pilots must learn subjects far beyond the initial sport pilot, recreational pilot, or private pilot certificate. It’s not just the difference between visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, either.

Many of these subjects relate to flying as part of a multi-person crew. Coordination of multiple crew members, especially in an emergency situation, can be more challenging than some aspiring professionals expect. At some point in your education, you will receive formal training on the concept and practices of crew resource management. Learning how to work effectively with others is a requirement for your career.

AOPA has compiled a list of articles to help get you started:

• Airline Captain for a Day: What’s it like to drink
  out of a firehose?
• Crew Resource Management: Communication is the key
• Jet Takeoff Planning: Follow the V speeds for a
  victorious takeoff
• Would You Be Ready? Emergency-procedures training
  for corporate aviation
• Need to Know, Nice to Know: Too much information is
  overload; too little spells trouble