Pilots have a serious job to do, flying planes filled with passengers across the world. In order to secure the job, pilots must first undergo between three to five years of intense training, clocking up at least 1500 hours of flying hours before you can even apply for a full Air Transport Pilot Licence. However, one pilot has revealed that there are some parts of the job they aren’t trained for at all, despite doing it every day.
As part of a segment on BBC Radio One DJ Scott Mill’s show, he and co-host Chris Stark interviewed a commercial airline pilot named Sam for the “ask me anything” section.
However, with so many secrets of the skies to spill, the pilot requested they change his voice to keep his identity hidden.
The pilot, whose name is Sam, explained that there is one daily task most pilots simply make up on the spot.
Co-host Chris prompted the pilot to explain more about the information and updates pilots provide to passengers over the flight intercom.
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His revelation shocked both radio presenters, who said they had always thought pilots must be trained on what to say since these announcements seem to be similar across the board.
“I get asked that question a lot about whether or not we put voices on but actually it kind of just comes out like that,” explained Sam.
The pilot also talked a bit about why he includes certain pieces of information in his passenger updates, admitting that he is “guilty” of giving passengers excess details that they might not necessarily need or understand.
He said: “I have to say I’m guilty of that. I’m guilty of giving the air temperature outside and what altitude and speed we’re flying at because I think it is interesting, and I think some people want to know, but then also I think you get some people that get scared about it when you tell them ‘we’re this high up’ and ‘we’re going this fast’.”
The pilot also revealed what some pilot terminology actually means, including how they “make up time” in the sky and beat delays.
Pilot Sam explained: “You can ask for shortcuts. We often don’t fly the most direct route because of air traffic constraints or if there is whatever around.”
With the busiest day for air traffic in British airspace peaking at 9,000 flights on 24 May this year, air traffic controllers have a task on their hand to ensure every plane is flying the safest route.
It’s no surprise then that the direct route isn’t always available to every flight that takes off.
Pilots must send requests for these routes to ground staff when they are running late.
“Sometimes we can ask or shortcuts which can knock two or three minutes off,” Sam said.
Sam continued: “Another thing is you can fly faster, you know often because obviously it’s a business, we try and fly at speeds that help burn less fuel for environmental reasons and for profitability reasons.
“So because of that we can sometimes fly faster to make sure we get there on time which then keeps the passengers happy and it also means we get home sooner as well.”