| All professionals in the airline industry | | | | to commit themselves to a full understanding |
| should set their sights on a job that they | | | | of the airline industry. It is understandable |
| want to achieve as the pinnacle of their | | | | that many pilots are concerned solely with |
| professional life. While these goals can be | | | | their particular airline and their specific |
| lofty and often times difficult to achieve, | | | | airplane, as that is the context in which |
| it is important to set an ultimate goal which | | | | they work. But experience and longevity in |
| can lead toward a stronger commitment to a | | | | the airline industry are not the only two |
| current job. One of the loftiest goals for a | | | | ingredients that lead to advancement to fleet |
| pilot in the airline industry is to become a | | | | captain. Fleet captains often have records of |
| fleet captain. While it is important for a | | | | exceptional service, including active pursuit |
| pilot to have such a goal, it is equally | | | | of professional development and further |
| important that they understand the value of | | | | education on the airline industry. As well, a |
| going after such a high position. | | | | commitment to the success of an airline can |
| | | | go a long way toward advancement. |
| Fleet captains are highly ranked airline | | | | |
| pilots who are in charge of training, | | | | Young pilots also need to understand that |
| staffing, and administrating entire fleets of | | | | this hard work will at the very least lead |
| a particular airplane for an airline. For | | | | them towards higher positions in the |
| example, a European airline may have several | | | | industry. Pilots with a decade worth of |
| types of airplane including the Airbus A330. | | | | experience and an exceptional record will |
| A fleet captain is a pilot with significant | | | | rise to the position of captain, which allows |
| flight experience, typically several decades, | | | | them to gain more control over their flight |
| which is familiar with this particular | | | | crew. As well, experienced pilots can move |
| airplane and can sufficiently administer over | | | | from the cockpit into the executive offices |
| its use by an airline. As well, fleet | | | | by moving into administrative positions. |
| captains often end up as the public face of | | | | Finally, many experienced pilots move on to |
| an airline, presiding over press conferences | | | | teach and run flight academies in order to |
| about safety issues or the unveiling of a new | | | | get back to their roots. Indeed, the goal of |
| fleet of airplanes. | | | | reaching the fleet captain position can lead |
| | | | to many unintended positive consequences. |
| Pilots who want to become fleet captains need | | | | |