Career Path: Pilot John Heffernan

Name: age and occupation:

My name is John Heffernan, I’m 25 years old and I’m a First Officer with Aer Lingus.

Education /Qualifications:

I went to Our Lady’s Secondary School in Templemore and completed my Leaving Cert in 2009. At the time, I couldn’t afford to go down the route of private flight training and there were no cadetships on offer. I went on and studied for a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Aircraft Systems at IT Carlow hoping it would stand to me when a flying career would present itself. In January 2012, only a few months before my final exams, Aer Lingus offered me a cadetship. Having not actually completed the degree, I can’t say I have the qualification but the knowledge I gained during the course proved invaluable throughout the interview process and in my flying career today.

How and why did you choose this career?

As far back as I can remember I’ve always had a fascination with aviation. At the age of thirteen, I took my first flying lesson in Birr Airfield with the Ormand Flying Club. From then on I was hooked. The chief instructor at the time, Joe Davy, used to pass by my house every Sunday on his way to the airfield and kindly offered to bring me along. He was an inspiration and an incredible instructor. Without him I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.

What were the biggest barriers you faced when you were starting out?

For anyone aspiring to become a pilot I think the biggest challenge is a financial one. It can cost up to and above €120,000 to complete a fully integrated Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) course with a type rating on an Airbus. I was incredible fortunate to have been offered a fully-funded cadetship with Aer Lingus which is one of the best in the industry.

Once the financial aspect is off the table, the course itself is intense. It consists of approximately 800 hours of classroom tuition, 14 exams in which the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requires a minimum grade of 75% in each to pass, 120+ hours of flying in single piston engine aircraft, 70+ hours of flying in "complex" twin piston engine aircraft and multiple flying exams in between. On completion of all that, you then continue on to jet training and that's where the fun really starts. The programme takes 14 months to complete and the actual traning takes place at Flight Training Europe (FTE) in Jerez, Spain. It is not a course nor career to consider lightly but if you have the passion and the drive to succeed it's worth it. I'm so proud to be able to say I'm a First Officer with Aer Lingus, our national carrier.

How important were your qualifications to you in developing your career?

Certainly my college studies stood to me and I couldn’t speak highly enough of my degree course. Having said that, Aer Lingus is an equal opportunities employer and among the twenty cadets in my class, we all came from different walks of life. Qualifications and previous careers ranged from Aeronautical Engineers to Maintenance Engineers to Civil Engineers to college graduates and even Leaving Certificates graduates. The cadetship offered by Aer Lingus equips you with everything you will need to become a pilot and it’s a programme that happens every year so each January new pilots are welcomed on board.

What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?

I think it’s the pride you feel being part of our national carrier and the recognition you receive from colleagues within airline and equally so from our guests on board. Small gestures from passengers such as a “Thank You” as they leave the aircraft smiling never go unnoticed and in turn make me smile too. Christmas is a great time of year in my job as you are playing your part in reuniting families for the holidays who for the rest of the year are maybe worlds apart – that’s true job satisfaction and leaves you with a lovely feeling.

Did you ever change/consider a change in career?

Yes and no. The beauty about my job is there are so many opportunities within the company. Aer Lingus boasts a modern expanding fleet and pilots are given the opportunity to progress to other aircraft types, apply for Management, Air Safety, Training and Standards roles. The list is endless. As I do this interview, I'm currently in the competition for a position as a First Officer Instructor. Many of my classmates have opted to move on to Transatlantic Operations but right now, I'm happy to stay on the European fleet and hopefully instruct.

What are the most important skills and abilities required for your job?

There are so many skills required to be a pilot. With Crew Resource Management (CRM) being such a vital component of modern day aviation, the ability to work as part of a team is of the utmost importance. The ability to act under pressure and respect and carry out the vigilant safety measures throughout every aspect of your role is essential. Good leadership and communication skills, along with a strong technical knowledge would also be key.

Does this career provide the opportunity to balance time between work and family?

In truth it does. EASA regulations govern pilot rest times and Aer Lingus exceeds these regulations in a practical way in terms of our rostering. Accordingly, my schedule is five days on, and three days off. It’s almost like a long weekend every week…almost!! On a typical working day I’d normally report for a duty anywhere from 5am to 7am and in the grand scheme of things, I’d usually be home by 2 or 3pm. This gives me plenty of time for family and past times.

What is the single thing you love the most about your job?

Flying is not for everyone. To leave home for work at 4am and be happy about it is a very unusual concept. I think that's my favorite part about being a pilot, it's doing a job I love, a career that doesn't feel like work......most of the time!! I think that's all anyone can wish for from whatever career they choose.