Two F-16 fighter jets raced to intercept a light aircraft straying into restricted airspace near Washington on Monday, November 22^nd. The little Cessna caused a brief security alert at the White House.

The fighter pilots made contact with the single-engine Cessna pilot and instructed him to land under their escort at an airfield in Manassas, Virginia. The pilot was to be interviewed by the Secret Service upon landing. It is suspected that the “suspect” was a student pilot.

Officials said that this sort of incident is not unusual as light aircraft do occasionally stray into restricted airspace, causing security alerts at the White House.

During the alert visitors were prevented from entering or leaving the White House and a military serviceman was seen climbing down from what appears to be a missile battery when the alert was over.

The two F-16 jets were acting under orders from the North American Defence Command (Norad) which protects United States and Canadian airspace.

This incident has come at a time of heightened focus on aviation security, with public dissatisfaction at invasive pat-down searches in airports.

A pilot for budget carrier Ryanair came up with a new money-saving idea Tuesday after the firm suggested axing co-pilots on flights — replace the airline’s boss with a flight attendant.

Captain Morgan Fischer, a senior pilot based in Marseilles, southern France, mounted the rare public challenge after the latest cost-cutting proposal from his boss, Michael O’Leary.

The Irish airline’s outspoken chief executive has generated headlines with a string of ideas that have cemented Ryanair’s reputation as the leading no-frills carrier, from “fat taxes” to coin-operated toilets. But news that he is trying to persuade authorities to let his aircraft fly with just one pilot — claiming that a flight attendant could do the job of a co-pilot if needed — appears to have gone too far for some. In a letter to the Financial Times newspaper, Fischer said he was aware of the company’s desire to reduce costs “whenever feasible” to keep ticket prices down for the travelling public. “I would propose that Ryanair replace the chief executive with a probationary cabin crew member currently earning about 13,200 euros (17,000 dollars, 11,000 pounds) net a year,” wrote the 41-year-old. “Ryanair would benefit by saving millions of euros in salary, benefits and stock options,” he said, adding there would be no need to get approval from regulators for the appointment. In a typically mischievous response, O’Leary conceded that a flight attendant would be a “far more attractive” chief executive and said the suggestion was being seriously examined. “Michael thinks that cabin crew would make a far more attractive CEO than him — this obviously isn’t a very high bar — so we are going to seriously look at the suggestion,” Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara was quoted as saying in the FT. “After all, if we can train cabin crew to land the plane, it should be no problem training them to do Michael’s job as well.” Source : Yahoo News

China is checking the qualifications of all its commercial airline pilots, after it emerged that more than 200 of them lied about their experience. The revelation follows an investigation last year by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Half the pilots worked for the parent company of an airline involved in a recent fatal plane crash. Shenzhen Airlines is the parent company of Henan Airlines, whose aircraft crashed last month killing 42 people.
» Read more: Chinese pilots lied about flying records

A pilot career can be a hugely rewarding way to live your life and it is understandable why people choose to try and find their way into pilot jobs. Pilot jobs however can be one of the hardest jobs to find your way into and it costs thousands of pounds in training to obtain your pilot’s license. If you feel a pilot career is for you however, read this article for more help starting out. How to Start a Pilot Career

• The first thing you need to do before you start a pilot career is to obtain your private pilot’s license (PPL). If you are unsure as to whether you are interested in pilot jobs, many places will let you take a single pilot lesson to get the feel for a pilot career. Your private pilot license will allow you to fly on your own or with passengers but not for commercial reasons (i.e. you don’t get paid).

• The next step in your journey for pilot jobs is to obtain your commercial pilot license. This is much more expensive and time consuming to obtain but it opens up a world of pilot jobs for you. You obtain your commercial pilot license from a certified flying school. Many people also train as a flying instructor as this builds up the number of flying hours required for the commercial license.

• The other main method of finding civilian pilot jobs is to undertake an Airline Transport license and this will open up the opportunity to find pilot jobs within a passenger or freight airline. People looking for an airline pilot job will start as a first officer and then progress to a co-pilot job and finally a pilot job as a captain.

• The military is another method of starting a pilot career and many people have done so using this method. The military pays for all of your training and provides you with thousands of flying hours in return for your period of service in potentially dangerous locations.

• Regardless of which method you use to start your pilot career, you will need to undergo a medical examination and you will need to be both physically and mentally fit. To qualify for pilot jobs you will need to have excellent hearing and eyesight as well as good overall health. Good maths and science skills are also a benefit for pilot jobs.

You can search for a wide range of pilot jobs here on Airline Pilots.

Are you considering a pilot career? If you are then this article will give you some advice on how to get there. After you have decided that a pilot career is right for you, you have the tricky decision about how reach your goal. In years gone by the only way of becoming a pilot was joining the military and then later changing to commercial flights. Now there are more options on how you can reach your pilot career goals. Now there is a split in pilots that have come from both military and civilian backgrounds. There are pros and cons to training with the military. One of the main positive points of training with the air force is the training is much cheaper, you obviously have a more intense lifestyle and are part of the army so have responsibilities above and beyond learning to fly a plane. If you decide that training with the military is not for you then you will find that training is incredibly expensive but you will have more control over your flight training and pilot career. In order to reach your goal and get pilot jobs then you will need to complete your flight training and then build up your flying hours. Some training courses allow you to gain a degree at the same time, this means that your training lasts a lot longer but you do get a degree at the same time so you have a back up if you decide that in the end a pilot career isn’t for you. After you have completed all the tests and have a pilot’s licence then you will be able to begin working towards your commercial pilot’s licence. You will then need to build up your multi engine rating by completing further qualifications. Once you have built up your multi engine rating you will be able to fly single or multi engine aircraft in any weather condition. After racking up plenty of flight hours pilot jobs will finally be in your reach and you can start applying for your dream jobs. You will find many different types of pilot jobs available to you from fractional, airline, cargo and business flights. Browse pilot jobs on Airline Pilot Jobs.

Thinking of becoming a pilot? If you then you have chosen a very exciting career. After you have chosen a pilot career you have to decide how you are going to reach your goal. In the past the only route to pilot jobs was to be in the air force; now you will find both ex-military and civilian pilots. There are benefits to training with both. The civilian training route is a lot more expensive but you will find you have much more control over your flight training and career. If you want to get pilot jobs then you will need to complete flight training and build up your flying hours. Some flight schools will enable you to get a degree while learning to fly. This is a good option as it will give you a degree to fall back on if you decide that you no longer wish to fly. After you earn your pilot’s licence then you can begin to work towards a commercial licence.  There are other qualifications which you can do to further your level in flying if you wish after getting your commercial licence you will begin to build up your multi-engine rating. This means that you will be qualified to fly single or multi-engine aeroplanes in any weather condition. After you have racked up enough flight hours then you will be able to start applying for pilot jobs. You will find many different types of airline jobs available to you in corporate, fractional, airline and cargo.  You will find that each type of pilot jobs have their pros and cons so it is best to do a lot of research before you choose which is right for you. Browse pilot jobs on Airline Pilot Jobs.

A pilot career is one of those professions that is dreamed of by many from an early age. However, many do not realise that pilot jobs are some of the most demanding positions and are not to be entered into lightly. There is also lots of training involved before being able to take pilots jobs. See the following guide for entry information to a pilot career. Qualifications Pilot airline jobs are extremely competitive and having a degree of an HND can be advantageous. However, this is not a requirement. Those wishing for a pilot career are normally required to have at least 5 A-C grades at GCSE level in subjects including maths and a science such as physics. At least 2 A Levels are preferred in maths and physics too. Certain airlines may require higher qualifications. Pilot Career Skills Candidates must be able to show the following skills and traits: •    Excellent communication •    Calmness and ability to make decisions under pressure •    Rapid mental calculation skills •    Problem-solving •    Self-confidence •    Coordination and physical fitness •    Fluent English •    Able to motivate and direct others Routes into a Pilot Career There are a few different entry routes towards successfully getting pilot jobs: •    Train with the Armed Forces and then take a conversion course later on. You must be aged between 17 and 24 to learn this way and be prepared to take on other responsibilities within the forces. •    Get a scholarship with an airline or training school and become a trainee commercial pilot. However, this is quite hard to find. •    Get a PPL (Private Pilot’s Licence) and then move onto the CPL (Commercial Pilot’s Licence). These qualifications are subject to medical examinations, examinations and skills tests. They are also very costly.

Airline pilot jobs are responsible for flying passengers and cargo nationally and internationally for leisure or business purposes. Typically, the aircraft will be operated by a team of up to 4 pilots according to the type and length of the flight. Captain pilots jobs are in charge of all staff on board. See the following guide to pilot airline jobs for more information if you are interested in a pilot career. Pilot Career Pilot jobs are very rewarding for those trained in the profession, both in terms of job satisfaction and financially. This is the type of work that is dreamed of by many, but in reality is only realised by a few. This is because a pilot career is a great deal more demanding than most think it is. Lots of time is spent away from home and training is tested twice a year. Pilots Jobs Activities The task of pilot airline jobs is to make sure that aircraft are operated both safely and economically. This is done by carrying out a range of tasks including: • Making sure that everything to do with the route, weather, aircraft and its passengers is alright • Checking that the flight plan details are accurate • Figuring out exactly how much fuel is needed • Ensuring that all safety elements and systems are in good working order • Briefing cabin crew before a flight • Maintaining communication with air traffic control from take-off, during the flight and when landing • Understanding the data from a range of controls • Checking the performance of the aircraft as well as the weather during the flight • Having quick reactions to changes in the environment and emergency situations in flight • Addressing passengers with a PA system • Filling out all necessary paperwork and reports after landing

Many people dream of a pilot career as it seems to offer it all - the thrill of flying, a chance to see the world and a salary that can't be matched by a 9-5 office job.

While it's true that life as a commercial pilot can be extremely rewarding financially, this particular career will involve plenty of sacrifices early on, both in terms of the finances involved with advanced pilot training and the time it will take to finally reap the rewards of years of training.

In this guide, we profile the salaries involved with pilot careers.

Pilot Careers: Airline Jobs Salary Guide

Advanced pilot career training can cost as much as £50,000 and above, so naturally you may expect a bumper starting salary to account for this fact.

However, this is not always the case - starting salaries tend to be fairly low, but career advancement will be fairly rapid, with salaries rising swiftly within a couple of years. However, entry level salaries still compare extremely favourably with the average office job.

After only a few years in the job, the majority of commercial airline pilots can expect to earn around £60,000 per year. Salaries may vary depending on the airline. In some cases, a pilot with several years of experience in a captain role can earn over £100,000 a year, although it's important to state that this level of salary is the exception rather than the norm even for extremely talented airline pilots.

Find pilot careers on Airline Pilot Jobs

Many people dream of one day becoming a commercial pilot, encouraged by the glamorous image of travelling around the world. However, a pilot career requires plenty of commitment and dedication - both financially and in terms of training - and it's a common misconception that all pilots, with a little bit of training, earn massive six-figure salaries with the minimum of effort.

Yes, it's perfectly possible to achieve a desirable, rewarding lifestyle as a commercial pilot - but you'll take a long old time getting there.

Learn more about pilot career training by reading the advice provided below.

How to Train For Pilot Jobs

• First of all, it's essential to bear in mind that acquiring the necessary experience for pilots jobs will not be a walk in the park - although it's a relatively niche profession, the competition to secure a place on a pilot training scheme can be intense.  Many courses will require some evidence of a passion for aviation - so before you apply, try and expand your knowledge of pilot jobs as much as possible.
• If you have little or no flying experience, you will need to train towards a PPL - a Private Pilot's Licence. Working towards this particular licence should give you some idea as to whether you are cut out for the challenging demands of a pilot job. The financial demands of acquiring this licence will also be far smaller than advanced training - although it will still set you back £5000-7000. It can take up to 2 years or more to work towards this licence.
• Next, it's time to consider advanced pilot training - and it's at stage that you will need to make serious considerations over whether this is the right career path for you. Training can be extremely expensive, with costs averaging from £50,000-£60,000 - although, as touched on above, completing flight training and gaining the qualifications needed to become a commercial pilot can offer you the chance to gain a high basic annual  income in the long term - in some cases over £100,000 a year.
• Medical examinations will naturally be a key component of advanced flight training, and you should expect regular tests throughout the length of the course. In order to complete the training process, you'll need to exhibit a clean bill of health in relation to eyesight and physical fitness.
• Finally, key ground studies explored in pilot career training will include aviation law, flight performance, navigational studies, meteorological studies, operational procedures and communication studies.

Find pilot careers on Airline Pilot Jobs