An insight into airline life, one flight at a time.
When most people think about being an airline pilot, they picture the obvious things: the uniform, the flight deck, the view from 38,000 feet and the privilege of traveling the world.
And, of course, those things are part of the job.
But there is another side to airline flying that passengers rarely get to see. The early starts, the planning, the decisions made long before the aircraft leaves the ground, the teamwork behind every departure, and the responsibility that comes with carrying hundreds of people safely to their destination.
Welcome to Diary of a Pilot.
A little about life on the flight deck
I’m an airline captain flying the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, flying in and around Europe and North America. My working life revolves around flight preparation, operating procedures, crew coordination and the many small decisions that come together to make every flight as safe and efficient as possible.
No two days are quite the same.
One duty might involve an early departure across Europe, with the city still waking up as we taxi towards the runway. Another might involve several sectors, changing weather conditions and a busy schedule that demands careful planning from the first briefing to the final shutdown.
And while the flying itself is a significant part of the job, it is only one piece of the picture.
A considerable amount happens before the engines start and after they stop.
What does an airline captain actually do?
It’s a question worth exploring, because the role involves much more than simply flying the aircraft.
The captain is responsible for the safe operation of the flight, but that responsibility is shared within a highly structured system of procedures, checks and teamwork.
Before departure, we review the weather, operational flight plan, aircraft status, fuel requirements and any relevant operational restrictions. We brief the departure, discuss potential threats and agree how we will manage situations that could arise.
Once airborne, the focus shifts to monitoring the aircraft, managing the flight path, maintaining situational awareness and anticipating what comes next.
Throughout it all, communication and decision-making are essential.
Modern airline flying is a team effort. The other pilot, cabin crew, engineers, dispatchers, air traffic controllers and ground teams all contribute to getting an aircraft safely from A to B.
That is one of the aspects of the job I find most interesting: how many people and processes sit behind what can look like a routine flight from the passenger cabin.
Why start this blog?
There is plenty of aviation content online, from detailed technical explanations to spectacular videos of aircraft taking off and landing.
What I want to share here is something a little different.
Diary of a Pilot will offer an honest, practical insight into the everyday world of airline operations. Some posts will follow the rhythm of a typical duty day, from the first briefing to the last sector. Others will explore the aircraft we fly, the procedures we use, the training that keeps us current and the thinking behind decisions that passengers might never notice.
We’ll start with the fundamentals and gradually work towards more complex subjects, making aviation accessible whether you’re an enthusiast, an aspiring pilot or simply someone curious about what happens behind the flight deck door.
There will be stories, lessons learned, operational insights and, occasionally, a look at the less glamorous realities of the profession.
Because while the view from the flight deck can be extraordinary, the job is built on preparation, discipline and attention to detail.
A final thought
One of the things aviation teaches you very quickly is that a good flight is rarely the result of one dramatic moment. More often, it is the outcome of hundreds of small decisions made correctly, by people working together towards the same goal.
That is the side of aviation I hope to explore here.
So, whether you’re a fellow pilot, studying for your licences, an aviation enthusiast or just curious about airline life, you’re very welcome.
There’s plenty to talk about.
Welcome aboard.
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