Cadet Profile - Paul Emerson

I started my employment with Thomas Cook Airlines shortly after completing the Airline Qualification Course with CTC. My first few days with the airline were spent with two other CTC Wings graduates and a Training Captain whose responsibility it was to give us an insight into the airline, show us around Head Office, ensure our rosters had been organised and make sure we got to the curry house on time for a meal with Flight Operations management! Following my three days introduction I was sent to start my B757 ground school training with two fellow CTC graduates and three captains transferring from the airbus fleet. This was the first part of the type training and lasted two weeks. The ground school was conducted with the aid of Computer Based Training with support from the ground school technical instructors and six fixed-base simulator sessions, culminating in a closed-book written exam requiring a pass mark of 75%. The second half of the type rating consisted of sixteen, four-hour simulator sessions. These sessions were spaced over a period of approximately 5 weeks and were conducted by either a Type Rating Instructor or Examiner. The learning curve was steep and there was a great deal to cover. I found that preparation was the key by studying the pre-course guide prior to each session and constantly practising procedures and running drills in my spare time.

In the final two simulator sessions I completed the Licence Skills Test and, achieving a good standard, I earned the coveted B757/B767 type rating on my Commercial Licence. Before being allowed to move onto Base training – the day no pilot ever forgets - other training had to be completed. For example safety equipment training, fire and smoke drills, doors training and life raft drills. But finally the day came that I got to fly my first jet aircraft. Myself and two others pilots had to go to Manchester to meet up with our examiner and safety pilot. This was the first time I got to wear my uniform minus my wings –they would come later in the day. We were to fly to Shannon where the base training circuits were to be flown, and I was to fly first. I have to say I was a little nervous settling into the flight deck, but once I began to prepare for the departure I started to relax. As I had not previously flown commercially I had to complete six take-offs and landings and as each circuit passed everything seemed to get a little easier, and just when I felt I had cracked it, I was told I had to vacate the seat for the next pilot as I had met the required standard. On landing back at Manchester we debriefed and filled out the necessary paperwork for the CAA then had a quick celebratory beer before leaving to head back to base – in my case Newcastle. My line training followed a couple of weeks leave, but to be honest I really wanted to get back to work! As this was my first commercial flying job I had to complete forty sectors with a Training Captain; the first six being conducted with a safety pilot in the jump seat. Line training is when you really start learning to fly the aircraft as each day is always different, the priority of course being to make sure you fly the aircraft safely and to operational procedures.

Every day would start with a training brief before conducting the pre-flight planning and agreeing on a fuel figure. Once airborne the Captain and I would discuss several of the many scenarios and topics that must be signed off before the final line check is allowed. After completing the required sectors and achieving a good standard in the line check, I was now signed off as a fully fledged First Officer. One year on I still look forward to going to work (so much so I keep asking the rostering department for more flights during the quiet winter periods!) Some aspects of the job have been harder to grasp than others e.g. the night flights and the accents of foreign air traffic controllers, there is still barely a day goes by without me uttering those immortal words “Say again”! Being a low-hour jet pilot is of course hard work. The learning curve has been steep from the moment I started type rating and I can certainly see why usually only sponsored cadets seem to get into the right hand seat of a jet for their first job. But, by working hard and trying to use my time wisely e.g. discussing scenarios with the Captains and re-reading parts of the operational manuals, I feel I might have made up in some way the experience I may have lost by bypassing flying in the turboprop/regional airline market.

Unfortunately in today’s industry there is little opportunity to interact with passengers, but like my fellow pilots I understand that safety must come first. I do however always try to exchange pleasantries with the passengers whenever I can so as to try and contribute in just a small way to the high level of customer service that the airline offers. Thomas Cook Airlines has proved to be an excellent airline to work for, always professional and particularly supportive towards the CTC Wings graduates.

Base life at Newcastle is great, I enjoy being part of an eight person crew, the base nights out and the friendships I have made. One thing in particular I look forward to (though not always to everyone’s liking) is the variation of my monthly roster as each month of flying is always different. Like everyone I don’t know what the future holds; hopefully a Command and one day a management position. Whatever happens, I can only hope that the rest of my career is as enjoyable and rewarding as the past twelve months.