Communication With Air Traffic Assessment Answer

Key Topics

• Executive Summary
• Introduction 
• Body 
• Conclusion
• References

Your task is to write a report to your instructor that describes your targeted career area/promotion, including the following:
• Discuss the nature of the work, working conditions, necessary qualifications, and the future job outlook for the occupation, including any special considerations if you are in the US on a visa.
• Provide information about the career/position gained through interviews with one or more individuals working in similar positions. 
• Create a SWOT analysis for your potential to be considered for this career/position.
• Include any additional personal insights regarding information that would affect your employability/promotability.

Executive Summary

The primary purpose of the report is to convey the skills and knowledge needed to become a commercial and airline pilot. This report would summarize the qualification and skills needed for becoming a pilot and it would also discuss about the profession’s future prospects, growth opportunities and scopes. It would also constitute a SWOT analysis of my own in terms of my chances of becoming a pilot. 

Introduction 

I aspire to become a pilot and want to emerge as a professional pilot in the long-run. The nature of the work is quite challenging but as I am an individual who like to overcome challenges, the profession of a pilot would suit me more. The pay package is quite handsome and the future growth and development is also brighter in respect of the professional perspective. 

Body 

Pilots have the responsibility to fly and navigate planes and other flying aircrafts and they have some typical responsibilities to perform. Before and after every flight it is the responsibility of the pilot to check the overall condition of the aircraft (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Ensuring that the aircraft is quite poised and has not exceeded its load is also a responsibility of a pilot. Communication with air traffic control is among the pivotal duties of a pilot and it is the pilot who is responsible for preparing and submitting flight plans to air traffic control. To verify the fuel supply and adequacy is yet another responsibility of a pilot (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Operating and controlling aircraft along planned routes both during takeoffs and landing is a major responsibility of a pilot. To check the fuel consumption and to see if the aircraft systems are properly functioning should be considered as a pilot’s responsibility. Moreover, monitoring the engine is also the pilot’s responsibility. A pilot must always be prepared to respond to changing and challenging weather conditions in course of emergencies. It must be noted that “Takeoff and landing can be the most demanding parts of a flight. They require close coordination among the pilot; copilot; flight engineer, if present; air traffic controllers; and ground personnel. Once in the air, the captain may have the first officer, if present, fly the aircraft, but the captain remains responsible for the aircraft. After landing, pilots fill out records that document their flight and the status of the aircraft” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). 

Specific qualifications are needed to become a pilot. It is necessary for individuals eyeing at becoming airline pilots to typically have a bachelor’s degree in any subject, and along with this he/she needs a commercial pilot’s license and an ATP certificate from the FAA (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). It is usually seen that airline pilots start their careers flying as commercial pilots before becoming airline pilots. It should be noted that “Commercial pilots usually accrue thousands of hours of flight experience in order to get a job with regional or manor airlines” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Moreover, an individual must secure a commercial pilot’s license and a high school diploma or equivalent to become a pilot. It is to be taken into account that the most common path to becoming a commercial pilot is to “complete flight training with independent FAA-certified flight instructors or at schools that offer flight training. Some flight schools are part of 2- and 4-year colleges and universities” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Furthermore, training is also a part of process of becoming a commercial and airline pilot. Pilots have to undergo on-the-job training in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). It should be noted that “pilots must perform specific maneuvers and procedures a given number of times within a specified amount of time. Pilots also must undergo periodic training and medical examinations, generally every year or every other year” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). 

As per the job’s outlook it must be said that the profession of a pilot is going to experience more prosperity in the long-run. It has been estimated that employment of airline pilots, co-pilots, and flight engineers are going to grow 3 percent from 2016 to 20126, but the growth rate is quite a bit slower in comparison with other professions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). It has been predicted that scheduled airlines are expected to employ improved technologies and deploy airplanes with higher capacities for holding passengers and such practices might limit the demand for additional pilot jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). It has been predicted that over the next 10 years, many pilots are expected to retire and their post needed to be fulfilled by new pilots. Quite interestingly “Job prospects may be best with regional airlines and nonscheduled aviation services because entry-level requirements are lower for regional and commercial jobs. There is typically less competition among applications in these sectors than there is for major airlines” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018).

Through interviewing a pilot it has been learned that pilots need to have some specific and mandatory skills. To become a good pilot one needs to have good communication skills as they have to speak clearly while conveying information to air traffic controllers or other crew members. They must also have good listening skills (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). An individual, in order to become a good pilot must also have good observational skills. Pilots “need to maintain situational awareness by looking for other aircraft or obstacles. Pilots must be able to see clearly, be able to judge the distance between objects, and possess good color vision” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). Also, to become a good pilot one needs to have good problem-solving skills. The interviewee conveyed that pilots must be able to identify complex problems and they should be able to figure out appropriate solutions to the problems. Finally, what the interviewee told was that, pilots should have quick reaction time. They must respond quickly and they should possess good judgment so that any impending danger can be tackled. 

Conducting a SWOT analysis for my potential to be considered for this career it has been found that as for strength I have the qualification and skills needed for becoming a commercial pilot. I am quite confident of my communication, observational, listening, problem-solving and other needed skills. Moreover, my strength is my ability to overcome challenges in complicated situations. But as a part of my weaknesses I must admit that I must develop my skill of making quick judgments and must also be more inclined towards improving my planning and execution skills. Furthermore, I have great opportunity to join the profession due to my qualification and due to my determination to become a pilot. I am already preparing myself for the job role and I am sure that I would be able to accomplish my professional goals and objectives. As for threat, the downsizing of the aviation industry can be problem for me in terms of getting job, but as it has been predicted, the situation would be improving over the years. 

Conclusion

I aspire to become a pilot and want to emerge as a professional pilot in the long-run. The nature of the work is quite challenging but as I am an individual who like to overcome challenges, the profession of a pilot would suit me more. The pay package is quite handsome and the future growth and development is also brighter in respect of the professional perspective. 

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018). Airline and Commercial Pilots. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved February 1, 2018, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm#tab-4