Kara Blackburn, First Officer at Alliance Airlines
What is your Job? Airline pilot (First Officer) in an Embraer e190 jet
What does a normal day look like for you? After getting the family ready for the day, I start my planning for my upcoming shift. I study the weather, the route, operational notices, aircraft defects, fuel requirements etc. A flight plan with all the relevant information is provided to be cross checked. At sign on a briefing is conducted with the Captain and crew to discuss the flight(s) and operational needs for the day. I usually fly between 2 and 4 sectors a day, so the Captain and I alternate who sets up the aircraft and who conducts the walk around to externally inspect everything. The flying is the fun part, usually nothing too exciting other than the spectacular views, but at times we have various weather/aircraft/passenger issues that need dealing with. Most of the time I’m fortunate enough to finish at my home base so following the landing, we complete final paperwork and head home. Other times we travel to the assigned hotel to get ready to do it all again the next day.
Crazy story from work? Fortunately, nothing too crazy has happened with this company, although I have had some very exciting approaches as thunderstorms have been arriving. Watching the storms from above is always a highlight, although I much prefer to be on the ground for those!
What is your favourite part of the job? Every time I line up on a runway to take off and land. It never gets old. Also the ever-changing amazing views, I love being able to see the sunrise from above before the rest of the world.
How did you get to where you are today? So so much hard work and discipline. For me the dream started at an extremely young age but I just never quite knew how to make it a reality. I started flying as a teenager but didn’t know how I would ever be able to afford the lessons. I found a job to help me on my journey but that became a side quest of many other adventures. The dream of flying never went away but 12 years into my career I thought I was too old to start. Fortunately, I met an amazing airline captain who was gracious enough to give me her time and tel me her aviation story, it was just the boost I needed to make it happen. I sold my house, took leave without pay from my job and poured everything into making the dream a reality. 12 months after starting day one of ground school, I had completed my commercial pilot licence, passed my instructor rating test and started as a flight instructor. Five years of instructing, many exams, flight tests and qualifications later, I started my dream role as an airline pilot.
What qualifications do you need to apply for your job?
Similar to most airline jobs, ideally – 1500 hours total time including 500 hours as Pilot-in-Command of a multi engine aircraft, Completion of all ATPL subjects. A Multi Crew Cooperation (MCC) certification is beneficial.
What character qualities do you think suit this position? Strong communication and teamwork skills, keeping calm under pressure and high stress situations, be adaptable, always being open to feedback and learning.
What is involved in the training for your job or for the qualification you gained to get your job?
For my role I spent several months doing my type rating and line training. This often involves going interstate or overseas for the duration. Ground school provided instruction about the aircraft you will be rated on, learning about all the advanced systems and being examined regularly on that knowledge. There was airline specific training, security and emergency procedures. This was followed by the simulator type rating training. Hours and hours were spent learning how to fly the aircraft in a full motion simulator, practicing all the basics before moving onto advanced manoeuvres, adverse weather and many emergency situations. At the end of the training a type rating test is conducted to ensure safety for line training. Following the simulator flight test many sectors were spent flying with a training Captain to ensure I was capable and competent to fly the aircraft in real life. A final line check is conducted before being released to fly with any of the captains in the company. It took about 4-5 months from day one to being checked to line.
If you could go back and give your younger self some advice, what would it be? Just go for it! I spent so many years dreaming the aviation dream but not knowing how to start the journey. It was a dream for so long, I still can’t believe I’m here some days.
What advice would you give younger girls wanting to start a career in Aviation?
Try and go on a trial instructional flight (TIF) to get a feel for it. Network, network, network! There are so many wonderful women and people in aviation wanting to help the next generation and pay it forward. There are countless scholarships available to help offset some of the enormous costs involved. There are so many ways to get started, and no one path is the perfect one. Just make sure you’re having fun and enjoying the journey.
“Do it scared, do it alone, do it unmotivated, do it tired, do it anyway!”
