All commercial aircraft are commanded by pilots, these men and women are highly skilled aviators training to safetly navigate their aircraft through the aiways of the world. These aviators are trained initially by FAA Certified Flight Instructors. As a Flight Instructor the it is a remarkable responsibility to be entrusted with the training of a pilot at the most fundamental level of education for any aviator. This experience is an excellent preparation for pilot interested in filling one of three position on a commercial airliner.
The three positions in the airline piloting profession are captain, first officer (co-pilot), and second officer (flight engineer). Not all airliners require a second officer; in fact, all new aircraft now are designed to be flown with a captain and first officer sharing all the duties.
On most airlines, a pilot progresses into the captain’s position of ultimate authority and responsibility through experience. Experience is vital because no two flights are alike, with such varying factors as weather on departure, en route, and at the destination; available navigation aids and air traffic control; aircraft loading; airline and regulatory requirements; and of course, passenger comfort. To meet all these changing—and sometimes conflicting—considerations safely and effectively requires knowledge and skill that can be gained only with experience. And only experience prepares a crew for those rare occasions when it is confronted with an emergency that, if not dealt with promptly and precisely, could become a tragedy.
Each pilot position requires a pilot certificate and a currently valid medical certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, offers extensive educational resources as well as a comprehensive list of aviation-related publications and organizations. As the aviation industry’s governing body in the United States, the FAA is a foremost point of contact for current and future pilots.
NavCanada, a not-for-profit organization monitored by Transport Canada, is responsible for developing and administering aviation-related policies, regulations, and services set by Transport Canada. However, unlike the FAA, NavCanada neither certificates pilots nor registers aircraft. Transport Canada retains these authorities and should be contacted for inquiries.
http://www.airlinepilotmentor.com