William's Journey from L3Harris Student to British Airways First Officer
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An amazing training journey
I began training with L3Harris on the Integrated ATPL course in July 2022. As a new cadet, it is difficult to not be overwhelmed by the environment that has been created at the Academy. From day one you are rubbing shoulders with line pilots in the break room and Instructors that have had careers that you can only dream of achieving. That being said, over the next six months, the Ground School team did a phenomenal job to help me settle in and the large amount of content and knowledge required to pass the theoretical exams has been made accessible and engaging.
Unforgettable flying in Florida
After completing the Ground School phase, I headed off to Sanford for basic flight training. What an incredible place to learn to fly and live for seven months. State-of-the-art aircraft and equipment and world-class Instructors. I went from someone with zero hours of flying experience, to managing long distance solo flying, landing in three different states and visiting international airports. I have so many amazing memories from flying in Florida, but the one which stands out for me has to be the first solo flight away from the airport. This was the first flight where I felt totally responsible for the outcome and, once I was back on the ground, it was in this moment that I had the belief to know I was capable of being a pilot.
It was then back to the UK for two months of advanced flight training in Cranfield. An immediate step up with stricter application of standard operating procedures and more complicated airspace. The highlight was landing in Cambridge, an airport which is local to me. It’s a place that I have driven past many times growing up, always dreaming I would one day make it to the other side of the perimeter fence. During this time, I was also completing my application process for BA, an opportunity that was made possible due the relationship between L3Harris and the airline. Like any other aspect of training, the best way to tackle applications is through preparation. There is no secret to what the airlines are looking for, having an example for each of the 12 core competencies is essential. Once you get into the interview room, this is where your determination and resilience are put to the test. There is no shame in pausing after a question, taking a sip of water and allowing yourself a few seconds to produce a coherent and focused answer, a method I used multiple times throughout my own process. I was both surprised and exceptionally proud of myself to be successful with my application, and subsequently received a conditional job offer prior to completing flying training.
The final stage of the course took me back to Crawley for APS MCC. Yet again a big step up and yet again made accessible by the quality of the Instructors and training facilities. Going from a single-engine piston aircraft to a 70-tonne commercial jet within the space of six months is no small feat and it would not have been possible without a consistently high level of training. A journey that began from the first day I set foot in the academy until the last day leaving the very same building.
Landing my dream job
I have always considered myself well prepared for every stage of training, however, 10 days after graduating the course, I received a call which validated every sleepless night, all the pressure I’d put on myself and all the events I had missed out on. I was offered the chance to become a British Airways First Officer at London Heathrow. I somehow managed to get the word ‘yes’ out and, little did I know at the time, it would see me return to the Academy in July 2024, exactly two years after my first day, for my A320 Type Rating.
The theme of pilot training is that it is very much a steep learning curve, and this is something that absolutely continues as you progress into an airline and onto your Type Rating. The course, which lasted six weeks, should be taken as another necessary phase of training and is not something to be fearful of. If you keep the intense learning mindset that you have held during flight training, then it should be a smooth transition to the workload required for learning how to operate a commercial aircraft. Prior to starting the course, I was sent plenty of training material to work through by both L3Harris and BA. I found the L3Harris ETHOS software, which I used extensively, gave me an excellent foundation for both the theoretical and practical aspects of the Type Rating course. Having the opportunity to finally use the big full motion simulators was something I had been waiting for since my first day, when I saw them moving from the road whilst driving into the Academy. Throughout the simulator phase of training there is a genuine sense of jeopardy that teaches you the importance of making accurate and informed decisions in a timely manner. In addition, being able to use the latest in full motion simulator technology has provided me with the best possible preparation for operating the real aircraft later this year.
Well prepared for becoming a pilot
In terms of how you can prepare for the leap to an airline once you have a start date, I would say there is not a great deal you can do. The way the Integrated ATPL has been designed means that just by completing the course you are already well prepared. BA provided all of the relevant joining instructions and I was able to enjoy the induction process, especially getting to meet my new colleagues and exchanging our experiences from the various flight academies that we had attended. No matter what, on your first day, you will question yourself on how you’ve managed to get there. It is important that you remember everything you have achieved, how hard it was and that you wouldn’t have gotten to where you are if your airline didn’t believe you were capable. Embrace the experience, be proactive, ask questions and most of all enjoy it!
I am sure it has become apparent by now that I certainly have no regrets about being a part of L3Harris Airline Academy. I believe in the course and, that if you apply yourself 100%, you will be able to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot. It is hard work, it is intense, but I hope to some extent that I prove that it works. With regard to what’s next for me, I am keeping up the hard work and preparing myself as I look forward to flying for British Airways later this year.