Pilots at Lufthansa
“I want to be a pilot,” many children say when asked what they would like to be when they grow up. But this childhood dream only becomes reality for very few. Yet a career as an airline pilot holds many attractions, particularly at Lufthansa: the opportunity to travel the world, to broaden one’s horizons and operate state-of-the-art technology – plus the excellent financial prospects, unforgettable sunrises and much more.
But a career above the clouds also poses challenges: jet lag after long-haul flights, irregular work schedules, regular checks in the simulator or health check-ups by an aviation physician, responsibility – often for several hundred people – to name just a few of the special features of the job.
Each year, several thousand candidates apply for one of the sought-after places on Lufthansa’s pilot training programme – a sure sign that a career in the cockpit has lost none of its fascination.
Reportage
Did you know that ...
- ... there are always three pilots in the cockpit on flights over 4,100 nautical miles?
- ... the captain always sits on the left?
- ... all the important systems on the aircraft are redundant? In other words, the aircraft has several back-up systems which can all operate independently of one another
- ... crew members can submit one request per month for the destination they would like to fly to, and that they are frequently allocated to it?
- ... that every minute a long-haul flight is delayed costs the airline several hundred euros?
Flying is a skill that can be learned. Butterflies in one’s stomach, the passion and enthusiasm for this exciting and varied career come of their own accord. more ...