Claire
Captain - A319/320
Airline Pilot Experience:
Most Recent Aircraft Type:
Training Route:
Aviation Specific Degree:
Languages:
Location:
Captain
Airbus
Modular ATPL
Yes
English
UK
Additional Experience/Qualifications:
MHFA, EMCC, Career Transition
Passions, Interests and Experience:
Aviation Talent, Transferable Skills, Mentoring, Coaching, Aviation Training
Why did you want to become a pilot?
I was introduced to flying through gliding. I was focused on flying from my early teens because I enjoyed the independence it afforded me and I loved the feeling of being airborne.
How did you fund your training?
I self-funded by working and completing my flying training in stages.
Was training a breeze or did you find it a challenge?
It was definitely a challenge, however it was very rewarding to complete all the requirements and attain the required qualifications.
What was most challenging?
Getting my first job, then my second, third and fourth jobs because of the aftermath of Sept 11th. The impact on the job market was significant and it became very challenging to find a job that didn't end in the company going bankrupt or being made redundant.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working in an ever-changing, challenging environment with motivated people who love what they do.
What is most challenging about your job?
Managing the volume of information which is constantly being updated.
Which of the Pilot Competencies are of most interest to you and why?
Clearly all the competencies are important. If I have to pick one it would be leadership and teamwork: A pilot's ability to bring all their skills together so they work effectively with all the resources available is critical to the safe outcome of every flight.
Additional info
I worked as a Skills Assessor and consultant at Oxford Aviation Academy for 8 years. I conducted cadet assessments and ran workshops for First Officer Fundamentals and Interview Skills.