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Description
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Would you like to tour the world? Meet people on the go and keep them safe? Fix some of the world's largest and most complex machinery? If any of these scenarios sound exciting, a career in air travel might be for you.
Air transportation is surging, which in turn should lead to an expansion of the industry. In 2006, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a record 741 million passengers traveled by airplane--and FAA forecasts show that that number could reach 1 billion by 2015.
This increase in passengers should lead to lots of jobs for the people who ensure that air travelers arrive safely at their destinations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an increase in wage and salary jobs over the 2004-14 decade. And most of these air-travel jobs come with an adventurous perk: the chance to fly for free or at substantially reduced rates.
But a career in the skies begins with solid training on the ground. Among other abilities, workers in air travel need technical skills, clear thinking, and the maturity to deal well with the unexpected.
Get started now by reading about occupations unique to air travel. Learn about the duties, earnings, training, and ups and downs of working in the air transportation industry. A few other occupations related to air travel are described in the box on page 10. And resources listed at the article's end can help you learn more.
Flight work
The business of air travel requires a variety of workers, from service-oriented ticket agents to business-savvy logistics managers. But when most people think of airline careers, they think of the workers in highly technical jobs that include airline pilots, air-traffic controllers, flight attendants, and mechanics.
Airline pilots and flight engineers
Pilots working as captains are in command of the aircraft and everyone on it. They supervise the work of the crew, give instructions, and make decisions aboard the plane. An airline pilot might oversee a twin-engine DC-3 on a 100-mile hop, a 4-engine Boeing 747 jet crossing the ocean, or a variety of aircraft in between.
Duties. Airline pilots plan each flight with the airline's flight dispatcher and meteorologist. Pilots brief the crew, check takeoff procedures, ascertain that the plane is operating normally, fly the plane over the designated route, land the plane, and file a trip report at the final destination.
But there's much more involved in flying. Before the flight, pilots must check the latest safety notices to determine, for example, if volcanic activity along the flight path might affect routing. They plan alternative routes and safety procedures. They also check to make sure that the necessary paperwork is aboard. The copilot usually carries out a visual inspection of the aircraft to ensure that the fuel lines, tires, and engine turbine blades are all in good condition.
When the air traffic controller approves takeoff, the pilot gets ready to fly.
Takeoff, when engines are at maximum power, is one of the most critical stages of a flight. The aircraft of major airlines often weigh about 280 tons and have about 2 miles of runway to attain liftoff. During takeoff, the pilot releases the brakes and applies power to accelerate down the runway. When the aircraft reaches a certain speed, the pilot gently pulls the control column back to lift the plane off the ground.
Larger aircraft climb at an airspeed of about 370 miles per hour and rise at a rate averaging 1,500 feet per minute to reach their cruising altitude. The pilot switches on the weather radar and other systems to detect aircraft that might accidentally fly into the flight path.
During flight, pilots normally follow designated airways--highways in the sky--marked on flight maps. Most planes have a Global Positioning System onboard that helps the pilot to navigate.
When cruising on a flight path, airline aircraft are usually on autopilot, under the control of an onboard computer. The pilot manages the systems by reporting the plane's location to air traffic control, keeping an eye on all the engine instruments to ensure that they are within limits, and, if necessary, taking over control of the aircraft from autopilot. On long-distance flights, most aircraft issue routine reminders to help the captain and copilot stay vigilant.
But the routine of autopilot is never completely routine. Pilots watch for turbulence on the weather radar screen inside the cockpit and attempt to avoid it. They monitor conditions during the flight and prepare for emergency diversion, if needed. And they plan safe alternative routes--ones that avoid mountainous terrain, for example--in case an unplanned descent becomes necessary.
When the plane nears its destination, the pilot checks the weather and other conditions. Unfavorable conditions might require a diversion.
Landing is the most critical phase of a flight, and it can be tricky. During the manual landing for... |
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