§ Salaries vary according to the airline that you are employed with, the type of aircraft you fly and your experience. In Great Britain a pilot employed with a small regional airline may earn an annual income of £18,000 (salary data collected Jan 09).
§ Benefits usually include uniform, pension scheme, various allowances and discounted travel.
§ Pilots are expected to work shift patterns, meaning that they may have to work unusual hours. It is definitely not a nine to five job. The working day can vary in length, with some days up to 12 hours, while other days are only three to four hours.
§ Pilots are restricted to 900 flying hours per year.
§ The majority of commercial airline pilots are men, but a few women are now entering what is a very competitive profession.
§ Usually, on all but the smallest aircraft, pilots work in pairs: a captain with a first officer, who is usually a less experienced pilot.