The cockpit crew of a SWISS airliner consists of at least two people: the captain, also called the commander, is ultimately responsible for his or her crew, operation and the aircraft. The first officer (or co-pilot) is second-in-command and supports the captain in all matters. It is routine for both captain and first officer to fly the plane in turns.

No day is ever quite the same

An airline pilot’s field of activity is very varied and begins with flight planning, weather analysis and calculating take-off: an in-depth knowledge of the aircraft technology is therefore essential. As the person in charge and decision-maker in a complex technical environment, the captain takes daily responsibility for his or her crew and passengers. During the flight, severe weather conditions and complex navigation, among other things, provide a challenge.

As pilot, you represent SWISS and act as a manager would, albeit in a rather unusual professional workspace. You coordinate the operation of numerous interfaces both domestically and abroad, and make sure that the flight proceeds efficiently and safely. The role of pilot is a fascinating one, and requires a high degree of service awareness, linguistic competence, flexibility, decisiveness and an interest in complex and networked technology. Your dream job will play out on an international stage, and each flight will be an experience in itself.

Career

After completing his or her training at SWISS Aviation Training (SAT), a pilot will enter professional life at SWISS as a first officer on short flights. After a few years, pilots are assigned to SWISS global long-haul routes where they will pilot an airliner as second-in-command and manage the entire flight operation together with the commander. A few years on, and after further training modules, the pilot will take the most significant step of his or her career and qualify as commander – the captain of the plane.