We recently caught up with Andy Wyatt, a Former Chief Pilot, who kindly shared what he did on an average day, the challenges he faced, and his hopes for the future of aviation.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in the aviation industry?
Becoming a pilot has been my lifelong dream. My first flight was with my primary school class when I was around 9 years old, in a Vickers Viscount. We flew from Speke Airport in Liverpool along the North Wales coast and I was mesmerised. I joined the Air Cadets at age 13 and flew solo in a glider when I was 16. I earned my PPL before I could drive and have been flying ever since!
Tell us about the first career highlight that comes to mind.
In 1989 I was lucky enough to be selected to join the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. I flew for 2 years as part of the synchro pair, where flying at 100’ at closing speeds of up to 800mph with my Moppo, has to be the most exhilarating flying I have done and the highlight of my career to date.
Have you faced any challenges throughout your career?
I have faced many, many difficulties during my career, from some phases of my military flying training courses to conversion and command courses in civilian life. Each day is different in aviation and there are challenges every day a pilot goes to work.
Give us an overview of what you do on an average day in your role
I normally wake up around 7 am and start my day with a 3-mile run around the Cotswold lanes near my house.
My mornings usually include catching up on emails and taking phone calls. Then I regularly conduct new-pilot interviews which can take up half my day.
Twice a week we have company Zoom meetings to analyse the previous few days’ work, discuss the week ahead, and find a better way of doing things in the future. As my company is Bermuda-based, these regular meetings are essential, but despite the 4-hour time difference, they work well in keeping everyone up to date.
The rest of my day is taken up with more emails and phone calls as I am on call 24 hours a day to field questions from pilots down-route about engineering issues or authorising policy waivers.
We are currently operating 3 Boeing 747 freighters. Although my role as Chief Pilot is mainly ground-based, I am still current and trying to fly every month to check on the operation to receive feedback from the front-line pilots. Our route network is worldwide but most of our business is currently in and out of the Far East to destinations in the US and Israel.
What do you enjoy most about working in aviation?
No two days are the same. There are always new experiences to gain and new challenges to face every single day, a constant learning curve.
Pilot Jobs
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What are your goals and plans for the future?
To expand Longtail Aviation and for it to become a world-class cargo airline.
What are your hopes for the future of the aviation industry?
I hope that post-Covid, things will return to normal soon and passengers will have confidence in the airline again.
What is the one thing you wish to have known before starting your pilot career?
How the long hours of flying can affect performance in pilot jobs.
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What kind of skills/characteristics do you feel you need to have to do your job – do you think these will change in the future?
I think that in the aviation industry, it is more important to be empathetic and to get along with people than to have superior technical skills. Yes, of course, aviation has a technical side to it, but it is a people-oriented business, and being able to deal with people is an essential skill for us to progress.
The digital age of consumerism and social media is already reducing the amount of time that people tend to spend together as it seems to be an acceptable replacement. I just hope that we can continue to engage with each other face-to-face and not allow digitalisation to take over.
Who is your role model?
Sir Alan Cobham.
Can you give 3 tips for someone who wants to join the aviation industry:
- Work hard.
- NEVER give up.
- Keep that burning desire to fly going for as long as you can. I have been flying for 44 years and the flame is still alive and well.
