The road to becoming a pilot. What they don't tell you?

I want to be a pilot or I wanted to be a pilot

Here are a couple of things that no one will ever tell you as it would shatter your hopes and dreams.

When people strike this vision of soaring in the sky, they visualise so many things such as:

Big salary

Travelling the world

Free travel for family and friends

Beautiful uniform

Beautiful flight attendants

Ease of the modern flying due to automation

It is the BEST job in the world when you are single

It is the WORST job in the world when you are married

HEADPHONES REQUIRED HERE

By the age of three I knew what I wanted to be

It was born in my blood

Through HELP

Through OPPORTUNITY

Through PERSEVERANCE

Through LOVE

Through FAITH

By GOD's grace and mercy it came to be so

Gerald Chiweshe the little three year old boy with the blue and white hat on. That is me.

Young boy waiting for his pilots and crew to arrive

Lufthansa

Every kids dream

Every kid who wants to fly

Many have this picture in the mind

Reality is not quite like that

It is not IMPOSSIBLE

The engine is the heart of the aeroplane, the pilot is it's soul

The bird who dares to fall is the bird who dares to fly

You don't have a fear of flying, you have a fear of crashing

Captain Matambanadzo Chakoreka Emirates

Captain Mat Chak's has shown through his faith in God

Through the love of his family

Through the support of his countrymen

That nothing is IMPOSSIBLE

One of the youngest black pilots to get the left hand seat on the A380 the BEAST

A380 "the real boys"

Emirates A380

Hello tomorrow

Dubai airport

Fleet of wide bodies parked next to each other

A380 gear retraction

Amelia practicing a SNAP ROLL

Adam

Passion

Dreams

Belief

Obsession

His dream to be like Matambanadzo Chakoreka of Emirates

His dream is to fly the Airbus A380

He has a passion

He has FAITH

The FAITH the size of a mustard seed is enough

Fan that FLAME

Work that FAITH

Without it there is nothing

FAITH is everything

Flightdeck of the future

Pilot and his dog

Pilots feeds the dog

Dog will make sure the pilot does not touch anything

Mandisa Mfeka

First black female fighter pilot

Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa

Acceleration to the top of the world

Every pilot needs motivation

Top Gun theme soundtrack

Air Zimbabwe BAE 146 taxying out for departure

This aeroplane operated a strict schedule to serve and bring International passengers closer to their bucket list vacation

Air Zimbabwe BAE 146 on landing with the AIRBRAKE open at the tail end into Kariba airport

Air Zimbabwe BAE 146

Beautiful Zimbabwe, beautiful aeroplane , beautiful Zimbabwe

Flame Lily

Bud Cockcroft (I have seen the sunshine in Zimbabwe)

Air Zimbabwe B737 taxying in to park

Air Zimbabwe B737 OR Tambo airport Johannesburg

Air Zimbabwe B737

Experienced crew operate this aeroplane to a high and safe standard

Great CRM (crew resource management )

Air Zimbabwe B707 taxying out for departure

Air Zimbabwe B707 in the landing configuration

Captain Darryl Tarr

Air Zimbabwe B707 LOWEST FLY PAST EVER

Air Zimbabwe B707

Passengers boarding a flight on this Air Zimbabwe B767

Pilots are highly skilled

Pilots are passionate and dedicated even when poorly paid or harsh economic climate

Air Zimbabwe B767 preparing for departure

Air Zimbabwe B767 on the take off roll, rotation, gear up and acceleration

B777 on rotation out of Toronto YYZ Pearson airport

Flight time fourteen hours

Four pilots

Twelve cabin crew

Four hundred fare-paying passengers

Pilot Gerald Chiweshe

B777 during flap retraction after take off phase

Etihad Airways B777 on rotation

Positive climb identified

Gear up and acceleration to flap retraction in the climb out on departure

Initial climb out the aeroplane flies a SID (STANDARD INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE)

B777 flightdeck

Flightdeck of the B777 on entry prior operating the flight

Four man crew in the flightdeck to operate a sixteen hour non-stop flight to Los Angeles LAX

All the PLANNING is done on the GROUND

A successful PLAN on the ground ensures a successful flight

We brief ALL the THREATS

We know everything that is on board including all the passengers

We programme the FLIGHT MANAGEMENT COMPUTERS

We check ALL the aeroplane SYSTEMS

We check the ENTIRE TECHNICAL STATUS of the aeroplane

We conduct ALL PROCEDURES TO THE BOOK

We conduct ALL PROCEDURES COORDINATING WITH FELLOW PILOTS

We develop CRM (CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT)

We use ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCE TO ENSURE A SAFE FLIGHT

Yes we laugh

Yes we smile

Yes not easy some days BUT vital to create a workable environment and mutual respect

B777 short final approach and successful landing after a sixteen hour non-stop flight

Victor Pswarai

PASSED PPL

Waiting for the rain to STOP

Pure passion

PRE FLIGHT INSPECTION CHECK

FLIGHT TEST

Passed TWIN ENGINE INSTRUMENT RATING flight test

Congratulations time to sew on that third stripe (3 bars)

Ground school

Pilots begin their flying career in the classroom

Pilots get together to study

Pilots have to pass extensive exams in various subjects :

Air law

Navigation

Radio communication

Aircraft technical general

Single engine training Cessna 172

Single engine training Piper Cherokee or Piper Arrow

FIRST SOLO

A FLIGHT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

Twin engine training aeroplane Piper Seminol

All ATP flight training centre United States of America

Conduct training to obtain an FAA License

CPL FLIGHT TEST

ATPL FLIGHT TEST

SPL 1 BAR (Stripes)

PPL 2 BARS (Stripes)

CPL 3 BARS (Stripes)

ATPL 4 BARS (Stripes)

Every pilots dream to get THREE stripes COMMERCIAL PILOTS LICENSE

Congratulations now the real learning begins

You can now fly for a living

Every airline pilots GOAL is to get the upgrade to captain. FOUR STRIPES (4 bars)

ONLY THEN THE REAL LEARNING BEGINS

It's called EXPERIENCE

Brand new BARS are CLEAN

Old BARS are dirty and worn which clearly show experience

Ethiopian airlines have one of the best airline training facilities in the world

Ethiopian airlines produce highly proficient pilots both male and female

They operate Boeing and Airbus worldwide

Airline pilots fly to strict rules

Choose your airline carefully

Some budget airlines take RISKS

After that video this sound comes to mind

HEADPHONES REQUIRED HERE

Helicopter pilopilot have extensive training to use their skill to help others such as resuce

Airline pilots are generally flown to full rosters

Airline pilots especially long haul or short haul with many sectors

Airline pilots flying short haul with many days or nights in succession

Are generally exhausted

Are generally not rested to FULL potential

Are often taking rest wherever they can grab it

HEADPHONES REQUIRED HERE

Airlines have realised the threat and consequences of fatigue

Airlines have allowed pilots to take controlled rest up in the flightdeck ONLY one at a time

Airlines use two three even four pilots to reduce FATIGUE and EXHAUSTION

Pilots pray for a safe flight too

Pilots pray for a good crew

Pilots pray for strength

Pilots pray for the airline and their and collegues jobs

Pilots pray for GODs hand over mother nature for a safe flight

Pilots pray for wisdom and clarity of mind

What a wonderful world

What a SMALL world

After been given all dominion over this little blue marble

After only a short space of time we have managed to ruin her

After HATE SLANDER GREED MALICE UNFORGIVENESS and UNLOVE

We have managed to lose control over it

Western Greenland, melting glaciers

Massive icebergs setting afloat into the north Atlantic ocean

How graceful

How sad

How true

Navigating around numerous thunderstorms in Indian airspace

Pilots avoid thunderstorms by flying LEFT by flying RIGHT

Pilots DO NOT climb above a thunderstorm

Most cases it is LEFT or RIGHT

Scattered thunderstorms just before sunrise

How ferocious

How beautiful

How much RESPECT

Flying is sheer BOREDOM sprinkled with a few seconds of sheer TERROR

Always have your seat belt fastened regardless turbulence or not

When you here these words from the COCKPIT "CABIN CREW TAKE YOUR SEATS"

SIT DOWN ANY SEAT AND FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT ON TIGHT

B777 circumnavigation around thunderstorms

Seat belts fastened tight

Aeroplane engines throttled back

The massive wingspan riding the turbulence

B777 on rotation and gear up selection after a positive climb is identified

B787 lightning strike

This event is totally safe, though can catch the crew unexpectedly

The aeroplane is designed to dissipate lighting strike through a static discharging system

Mother nature has been here longer than all of us

She is to respected

Every flight has beauty hidden outside the windows

All you have to do is be present to watch her as she dances across the sky

Air travel is the safest and most efficient form of travel

Air traffic control all over the world coordinating every single flight

Air traffic control is a delicate though massive job

Air traffic controllers are a unique personality

Air traffic controllers ensure that aeroplanes do not hit each other

Air traffic controllers ensure separation

Air traffic controllers ensure you reach your destination safely

ATC IS THERE TO HELP

IN GOOD AND BAD TIMES

Romantic dance between ATC and aeroplanes

Aviation is a PRECISE SCIENCE

Your knowledge

Your skill

Your performance

EQUALS YOUR EXPERIENCE

This is your UMBRELLA

Passionate and happy pilot

HAPPY and SAFE PASSENGERS

Gerald Chiweshe O'R Tambo airport

It is the BASE OF YOUR FAITH THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

Inspired by

Luanna Hutton

Matambanadzo Chakoreka

Bud Cockroft

Victor Pswarai

Happy and safe flying