The life of a commercial pilot, some argue, is quite a glamorous one. They fly people (sometimes, famous, and on rare occasions, VIPs), and have become more beloved in culture, pop or otherwise than their freight pilot brethren. However, that’s only because so many people have very little clue as to what freight flying entails. Image source: crowley.com Take a close look at freight aircraft. They are heavy duty and gargantuan. If one would liken them to road vehicles, freight aircraft would be 18-wheelers barreling down freeways. Being able to pilot such a large piece of machinery halfway across the world takes a lot of skill. Compare that to piloting 10-seaters. Equipment that’s usually brought around the world via freight aircraft are simply too big for ordinary jets, and they’re tons heavier than people. Top flight skill, however, is not the only significant asset a freight flyer should have. They also need to be in tip-top shape both mentally and physically for the flights ahead. Most freight flights are long. And since the cargo is almost always needed to be delivered ASAP, the flight also has to be fast. Now, take all those considerations – cargo that much heavier than average, on an aircraft that’s much bigger than the garden variety plane, to a destination that’s on the other side of the planet, requiring the top speed at all time – and it’s obvious freight flying isn’t a walk in the park. Image source: dallasnews.com Scott Beale has been a business leader in the aviation industry, turning around some big-name companies for the better. Learn more about the fascinating world of aviation by checking out this blog.
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