Joe Trott
Joe successfully completed the APS MCC at VA Airline Training and is now flying the Boeing 737 with Ryanair
What inspired you to pursue a career as a commercial pilot?
It was always a childhood dream of mine. Ever since visiting the flight deck at a young age and seeing all the buttons and switches, and my parents buying me a flight simulator for the first time, I knew it was the career I wanted to have - but, to be honest, never thought that I was smart or capable enough. It is amazing what you can achieve through pure grit and determination.
What did you do before starting pilot training?
I worked abroad for a number of years for Lufthansa, in an office-based role which I thoroughly enjoyed and had the opportunity to travel all over the world, but I always had the dream of one day working in the flight deck.
Which training route did you choose to follow, and why?
I chose the modular route as I was working at the time and it gave me control over the pace of how my training progressed, and gave me the option to pay for the training incrementally.
What challenges did you face before or during training?
The biggest challenge I faced during training was the Covid pandemic. I chose an in-house ATPL ground school as I didn’t feel distance learning would work for me, but in the middle of the course the country was plunged into lockdown and the ground-school became a webinar.
What were the highlights of your time in training?
I would have to say hour building. I really tried to push myself and get out of my comfort zone on every flight and did some amazing trips with friends and family to every corner of the UK and beyond, including a ferry flight from Oslo back to London.
How did the competencies you developed during your APS MCC help you afterwards?
I would say that all of the core competencies I developed during the APS MCC helped massively during the type rating, to the point where I actually found the type rating easier than the APS MCC. Not that the type rating is easy by any stretch of the imagination, but the APS MCC course at VA prepares you so well for every simulator session and scenario you face in the type rating and is almost like a mini type rating.
Joe (on the left) in the Boeing 737 simulator at VA Airline Training with fellow Mentored Programme graduate Stefano Sparacio
What have been the highlights since you started airline flying?
I think it was when I passed my line check after line training and realising that I’m now a fully qualified airline pilot, and the feeling following on from that of seeing the passengers boarding my flight and thinking that I am the one taking them to their destination. There are also some individual highlights of flying over the Alps, scenic approaches into places such as Tenerife, Lisbon or Rhodes, or pulling off a decent landing in tough weather conditions.
What advice would you give to someone about to start APS MCC training?
Prepare as much as you possibly can. The course has an incredibly steep learning curve which will come as a shock at the beginning of the course. As soon as you receive the pre-course material, learn as many of the SOPs, profiles standard calls as you can. First of all, you’ll be able to enjoy the course a lot more, and take away some invaluable skills to your airline assessment, type rating and beyond.