"The musings of a First Officer & my career so far..."

By Amanda Shaw

I’m writing this from a corner of Pret at Heathrow T5. Tucking into my second coffee of the day, whilst going through the latest flight plan for our flight to Glasgow. (My poison, if you’re asking, is an oat milk latte.) Myself and my Captain, who have been flying together for the last 3 days are sandwiched (‘scuse the pun) between flights. After a faster-than-fast turnaround to Geneva and back, we are now waiting for our second turn-around of the day… which has inevitably been caught up in London ATC delays (no shock there)! The life of a short-haul pilot isn't all about thrilling take-offs and heart-pounding landings. Instead, it sometimes feels like waiting for the microwave timer to hit zero, just with better views. But the moment you hear that distinctive “BING”, everything springs into action, and it's all over in the blink of an eye.

It pretty much mirrors the entire journey from your first flight lesson to your command upgrade and onwards – periods of slow-paced anticipation followed by a whirlwind of activity. My advice to aspiring pilots is simple: savour every bit of it. The slower times are just as significant as the fast-paced ones. Don't wish any of it away, because sooner than you think, you'll be 65 years old reminiscing about the feeling you felt after getting your uniform at your first airline, your first solo flight, or the time you landed a totally empty jet during your base training sector.

How it all began.

I, like many of my flight deck colleagues, always dreamt of becoming a pilot. It all started with my first taste of long-haul travel, when I was just 7-years-old flying from London to Hong Kong (yes, the memorable days of Kai Tak Airport). It was a pivotal moment that for some reason stuck in my brain and set the course for my future in aviation.

With none of my family friends or relatives even vaguely connected to aviation, I had no idea how to tap into an industry that was a classic case of being more about "who you know" than "what you know." I started on the "How to Become a Pilot" episode in my life. I strolled into the local Careers Centre on the high street, and asked the counsellor, "So, how DO I become a pilot?" She gave me this curious mix of pity and amusement, as if I'd just asked for directions to the moon. She hit me with the speediest Wikipedia print-of and sent me on her way. I learnt pretty early that the path to becoming a pilot isn't always spelled out for you!

My flight training journey and experience.

After navigating my way through the next few years of my school life, I stumbled upon the air cadets, the Combined Cadet Force at school, and finally reached University with a brief stint with the University Air Squadron. They were so polite that they basically gave me a one-year "appreciation certificate" and subtly hinted I shouldn't return for round two (but that’s a story for another time).

Following my graduation, I decided to take a leap of faith and applied for the Qatar Airways Second Officer program. And guess what…? I got in!! Securing a place in the MPL course at CTC Aviation. After over two years of training that took me between the UK and New Zealand, I eventually found myself in Qatar, ready to start my journey as an Airbus 320 pilot.

My aviation career so far…

Starting my career in Qatar was an incredible journey. From touching down in Kathmandu, right at the foothills of the Himalayas, to weaving around the monsoons in South East Asia, I got to experience the art of de-icing in North Europe, and then, of course, there was the daily challenge of handling the scorching Middle Eastern heat. I progressed in Qatar and moved onto the long-haul fleet until 6 years later c*vid unfortunately brought my time there to a screeching halt.

With only a mere two weeks to leave the country and no job prospects in sight, aviation was reluctantly put on hold. It's often said that you haven't truly experienced a proper aviation career until you've been through some kind of crisis. Well, let me tell you, c*vid was the mother of all disruptions. Lockdowns 1, 2, and 3 came and went, and it felt like an eternity before I found myself back in the flight deck. It wasn't until just after Christmas in 2022 that I finally landed a job with British Airways. Fast forward nearly a year, and her I am… back on the 320 where it all began.

I find genuine contentment in my current airline, where I'm surrounded by an uplifting and inspiring group of Captains and fellow First Officers. British Airways consistently champions diversity and inclusion in aviation, with over 10% of its pilot workforce being female, which is more than double the global average of the UK.

Facing challenges and animosity.

Feeling seen and valued isn’t something that hasn't always been the case throughout my journey. The list of strange looks, questions and encounters I've experienced during my time in the skies is extensive enough to fill a book. From my very first day of ground school, where I accidentally entered the wrong room, only to hear our instructor mumble to the class, "They call it a cockpit for a reason," just as I was out of earshot. These encounters persisted through my time in the skies, like the classic, "So, who does the cooking while you're flying?" And let's not forget the time in Jeddah when a father offloaded himself and his ENTIRE FAMILY from a flight, simply because he saw a woman in the pilot's seat. The skies have at times seemed like a cold, heartless less than welcoming place to be.

What motivates me to persevere?

Despite these challenges, these stories have become a canvas for my empowerment. They've motivated me to stand up and prove the naysayers wrong, rather than seeking refuge in the restroom and not re-emerging until the plane touches down - a thought that's crossed my mind more than a few times!

I believe that sharing the challenging and, at times, downright tough aspects of my journey is a vital part of the narrative. The path you're embarking on isn't always smooth sailing, and those moments when you feel down are just as significant as the highs. Reading an article on a random online platform and realizing someone else once faced the same challenges can make all the difference between quitting and persevering through.

This is why I'm genuinely appreciative of platforms like Elevate(her). They provide a safe space where an ever-growing number of us can openly share our stories without judgment or fear. It's a place where we empower, educate, and unite because a supportive community fortifies our resilience. Together, with our growing visibility in the industry, we can boldly affirm that the flight deck is as much our domain as anyone else's. We don't need to be the fourth generation of airline captains to earn our place in the right-hand seat; our skills and determination speak for themselves.