Is there a destination you enjoy flying to the most?

Alexandra: It may sound unspectacular, but I love German airports. When communication with air traffic control works well, it is really enjoyable, and I always have good experiences at German airports. My favourite flight is from Zurich to Stuttgart. Such a short flight can be quite a challenge, sometimes it takes under 20 minutes. You are constantly busy. As soon as you have taken off, you are already preparing for the approach again.

Benjamin: For me, it is definitely Nice. The flight route takes you relatively low over the Alps, and there is usually little approach traffic. Air traffic control often allows us to manage the approach ourselves once the airport is in sight. The contrast is London. There, due to dense traffic, the approach is highly structured and we are given step-by-step instructions on speed and altitude. Personally, I find Nice much more enjoyable.

 

What experiences or flights have particularly stayed with you?

Benjamin: I remember a repatriation flight during the COVID-19 pandemic. We flew to Pristina at the time. No entry was permitted in Kosovo, so we flew in empty, but on the return flight we carried 192 passengers to Zurich on the 180 seats available on our A320. That was only possible because there were twelve small children on board who were seated on the laps of family members. It was the fullest aircraft I have ever flown. The passengers were incredibly grateful.

Alexandra: For me personally, I simply enjoy going to work every single day. I often think about how special it actually is that I get to do a job like this, which others might only know from a video game. I really enjoy my work.

 

How are breaks organised in the cockpit?

Benjamin: We both operate short-haul flights. Unlike long-haul operations with more than two pilots, no fixed breaks are scheduled on these shorter to medium-length flights. We manage our energy throughout the day. There are periods of high workload, but also quieter phases. On the ground, as well as during climb and descent, we are quite busy. In cruise, it is usually calmer, and we take turns eating. For example, a flight to Lisbon takes about two and a half hours. That is more relaxed than a one-hour flight from Zurich to Düsseldorf.

Alexandra: There is also a division of tasks in the cockpit. There is the “pilot flying”, who is responsible for the flight path. This person flies the aircraft, either manually or using the autopilot, and also handles the approach and landing. The other person, the “pilot monitoring”, takes care of the radio and other tasks. We split responsibilities in a way that still allows time to eat.

 

How do you support passengers who are afraid of flying?

Alexandra: It may come as a surprise, but I used to have quite a strong fear of flying myself. Because of that, I really understand passengers well, as a feeling of losing control can arise. I always try to explain that our flight is just one of many taking place at the same time. Depending on the situation, I also mention that this is already our second flight and that the outbound flight went smoothly. Such comparisons usually help a lot.

Benjamin: What also helps me is knowing what exactly the passengers are afraid of. Is it the loss of control or specific situations? Then I can better explain what is happening and when. Certain noises are easy to explain, and turbulence, for example, is caused by changes in the wind. These are usually felt more strongly in the cabin than they are visible to us from the instruments up front. What may feel like a hundred-metre drop is often hardly any loss of altitude at all. Passengers are often reassured by hearing that the aircraft’s operational limits are still a long way from being reached in such turbulence.

 

Which aspects of your work happen behind the scenes, unnoticed by passengers?

Benjamin: One aspect is flight planning: how we manage speed and altitude during descent, for example, to fly as efficiently as possible. What many people may not realise is that on a short-haul flight, we are already planning the next one, including how much fuel we need to load.

Alexandra: Something I wasn’t fully aware of before is the role of the captain. That person is not only the highest authority on board but also carries responsibility on the ground. For example, if there is an issue with a powered wheelchair where the batteries are not properly secured. Of course, the ground crew is also present, but the final decision lies with the captain. It is a role with a great deal of responsibility and varied demands.

 

What do you value most about your profession?

Alexandra: There are countless ways to fly an aircraft. As the flying pilot, you make many decisions within the given framework. That can be challenging, but it is also something I really appreciate.

Benjamin: I very much enjoy flying manually, meaning without autopilot. Depending on the situation, that can last for a shorter or longer time. On approaches into Zurich, where we are very familiar with the procedures, I like to disconnect the autopilot earlier. I really enjoy the manual aspect of flying.

 

Who would you recommend your profession to?

Benjamin: I previously worked in an engineering job. In my case, that was a classic nine-to-five role with its advantages and disadvantages. As a pilot, I experience everyday working life much more intensely. There are those special moments when we emerge from the clouds during the climb and see the sunrise over the Alps in perfect visibility. I can hardly believe how beautiful it is. At the same time, the profession requires flexibility. It can happen that the monthly roster does not quite match my social life. Therefore, I would recommend the job to people who have a strong passion for flying.

Alexandra: In our job, you need to be able to multitask. In addition, confidence and enjoyment of teamwork are important. We are two people in the cockpit plus the cabin crew. A successful flight is not the result of a “one-man show”.

 

What misconceptions about your job have you encountered?

Benjamin: Sometimes people believe that we rely exclusively on the autopilot. It is important to say that we, of course, fully master everything the autopilot can do. We use it in a targeted way to relieve ourselves of routine tasks and thereby create more capacity.

Alexandra: In addition, even when we use the autopilot, we are still determining the flight path. It is not the case that we are doing nothing then. We continue to regularly instruct the autopilot on how to fly; the system does not think for itself. Factors such as speed or rate of climb are still determined by the pilot flying.