Female Easyjet captain at 26
Discussion
crofty1984 said:
Sheepshanks said:
It was a serious question; what's the practical difference from being a captain vs first officer vs pilot?
I'd be interested to know the answer to that. You can, as happens at times, have two qualified Captains flying on a flight, but one of them will always be designated as the Commander.
Says me, gaining all my knowledge only from working at the airport, and watching a fair bit of Aircash Investigation.
SystemParanoia said:
where does an (assuming 3 years training) 23yr old get their hands on £50-100k ?
4 years at Uni (£36k in fees alone) and a one year masters (anything up to £15k) can see you with £70k+ of debt by the time you're 23 quite easily on a fairly 'traditional' University route through life, and the majority of parents of kids in that position certainly aren't funding that. An MBA at my workplace (a Uni) is £33k.That may not be coming out of your pocket immediately, but presumably there are loan options available in the sector (or privately).
vetrof said:
Lack of what experience though? A 30 year veteran with 10s of thousands of hours may be no better in the 'once-in-a-career' emergency that he's never experienced than the newer captain.
Attitude, aptitude and training are the important attributes for an airline pilot I would say.
Well, quite – as I said, it's a perception rather than an assertion.Attitude, aptitude and training are the important attributes for an airline pilot I would say.
ukaskew said:
SystemParanoia said:
where does an (assuming 3 years training) 23yr old get their hands on £50-100k ?
4 years at Uni (£36k in fees alone) and a one year masters (anything up to £15k) can see you with £70k+ of debt by the time you're 23 quite easily on a fairly 'traditional' University route through life, and the majority of parents of kids in that position certainly aren't funding that. An MBA at my workplace (a Uni) is £33k.That may not be coming out of your pocket immediately, but presumably there are loan options available in the sector (or privately).
All respect to those that do manage it. But it is undoubtedly dependent on your financial background.
surveyor said:
As well as the Captains abilities I assume that some of this must be due to airline expansion creating the captain slots?
As I understand it many of the legacy airlines it's much harder to get promoted simply as the only way up the list is as those retire ahead.
Rapid expansion and high turnover of crews going on to better Airlines, Newer airlines like easyJet Ryanair Norwegian etc all have harder working conditions and lower pay and pensions than the older airlines. EasyJet pilots only recently had a strike ballot over pilot fatigue. It's unlikely a 26 year old could or would want to operate the punishing schedules easyJet have for another 35 years or so.As I understand it many of the legacy airlines it's much harder to get promoted simply as the only way up the list is as those retire ahead.
I'd be very surprised if she is still at easyJet in 10 years even. More likely she will leave and become a first officer again at another airline. I know lots of ex easyJet and Ryanair captains who have left to become first officers, with an initial pay cut but better work life balance elsewhere.
A friend of mine has just become a captain with British airways on the B777 and he's been there for around 15 years.
Edited by el stovey on Monday 26th September 19:52
As stated above, Easyjet have lost probably close to 400 of their most experienced first officers this year, mostly to British Airways. That's one reason these relatively low houred first officers are seeing quick commands.
Fair play and that's not to take anything away from the achievement, but I know training captains from easyJet who have left to go back to first officers at BA because the work schedule and management makes it impossible to be a career airline.
Fair play and that's not to take anything away from the achievement, but I know training captains from easyJet who have left to go back to first officers at BA because the work schedule and management makes it impossible to be a career airline.
Edited by Spoof on Monday 26th September 20:34
SystemParanoia said:
The Moose said:
SystemParanoia said:
I see...
rich parents + child with drive and passion = Gaurenteed Success
poor parents + child with drive and passion = Potential for success.. maybe
Yep - that's how it's always been and I can't see it changing anytime soon.rich parents + child with drive and passion = Gaurenteed Success
poor parents + child with drive and passion = Potential for success.. maybe
Just needed to be sure which box I internally catégorise this 'achievement' into.
She borrowed £110k through the loans that CTC arrange for you with BBVA.
There will be younger captains than her soon. I flew recently with one who is 18. He will be in hours for a command in fours time at age 22. He was surprisingly good.
If you want to live in the regions and get home every night then easyJet can work very well. She's on £101,800 basic plus £12k sector pay plus 7% pension plus a 5% raise next year and another 5% raise five years after that plus whatever everyone else gets. Not bad at 26.
There will be younger captains than her soon. I flew recently with one who is 18. He will be in hours for a command in fours time at age 22. He was surprisingly good.
If you want to live in the regions and get home every night then easyJet can work very well. She's on £101,800 basic plus £12k sector pay plus 7% pension plus a 5% raise next year and another 5% raise five years after that plus whatever everyone else gets. Not bad at 26.
Telegraph letter today,
SIR – Young pilots can be highly capable. When I flew into battle as a Royal Navy commando pilot during the 1982 Falklands war, I looked up to my 26-year-old colleagues as experienced old hands.
We routinely flew at extreme low level, 15ft above the ground, were responsible for the safety of our aircrew and troops, were armed, often flew in tactical formation with other helicopters, were shot at, and usually flew without a copilot. Like others, I was aged just 21.
Harry Benson
Wiveliscombe, Somerset
SIR – Young pilots can be highly capable. When I flew into battle as a Royal Navy commando pilot during the 1982 Falklands war, I looked up to my 26-year-old colleagues as experienced old hands.
We routinely flew at extreme low level, 15ft above the ground, were responsible for the safety of our aircrew and troops, were armed, often flew in tactical formation with other helicopters, were shot at, and usually flew without a copilot. Like others, I was aged just 21.
Harry Benson
Wiveliscombe, Somerset
el stovey said:
A friend of mine has just become a captain with British airways on the B777 and he's been there for around 15 years.
FWIW, he'll have been in BA for nearer 20 years for a 777 command. The most junior long haul commands are sitting around the 18 year mark at the moment on the 747 (I think). Edited by el stovey on Monday 26th September 19:52
impetuous said:
Telegraph letter today,
SIR – Young pilots can be highly capable. When I flew into battle as a Royal Navy commando pilot during the 1982 Falklands war, I looked up to my 26-year-old colleagues as experienced old hands.
We routinely flew at extreme low level, 15ft above the ground, were responsible for the safety of our aircrew and troops, were armed, often flew in tactical formation with other helicopters, were shot at, and usually flew without a copilot. Like others, I was aged just 21.
Harry Benson
Wiveliscombe, Somerset
There were 18yr olds flying Spitfires in WW2.SIR – Young pilots can be highly capable. When I flew into battle as a Royal Navy commando pilot during the 1982 Falklands war, I looked up to my 26-year-old colleagues as experienced old hands.
We routinely flew at extreme low level, 15ft above the ground, were responsible for the safety of our aircrew and troops, were armed, often flew in tactical formation with other helicopters, were shot at, and usually flew without a copilot. Like others, I was aged just 21.
Harry Benson
Wiveliscombe, Somerset
And women too! Although they were just moving them around.
Eric Mc said:
Exactly. 26 is most definitely not too young to assume command.
We seem to assume that anybody under the age of 30 is an irresponsible idiot these days.
Well done to her.
That's probably because so many under 30s are still peeing it up the wall at Uni before they bother getting a proper job.We seem to assume that anybody under the age of 30 is an irresponsible idiot these days.
Well done to her.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff