Warren Dickson
Warren successfully completed the AirlineReady® APS MCC at VA Airline Training and is now flying the Embraer E190 with British Airways Cityflyer, based at London City Airport
Warren is now flying Embraer E190 jets with BA Cityflyer
What inspired you to pursue a career as a commercial pilot?
It all started for me as an 11-year-old when we flew with Virgin Atlantic back to South Africa where I was born. It was the first time I had flown since I was a baby and I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't really looking forward to it, but I recall that when I saw the pilots, I decided that's what I wanted to do.
What did you do before starting pilot training?
I started flying fairly young, starting my PPL at around 17 with some help from my dad, but I always worked alongside my training. I was lucky enough to be able to work my way up through my company to help pay for various courses along the modular route, and eventually started my own 3D printing company on the side also to help pay for the training.
Which training route did you choose to follow, and why?
I took the modular route, as it's the only one we could realistically afford. My family helped with some of the funding, but the majority was paid with bank loans that I would continuously take out, pay off, and then take out another for the next stage of training. When I started my commercial training, I was working during the week to help pay the loans and then driving to the airfield at the weekend to do the training. It was a very busy schedule, but worth it looking back.
What challenges did you face before or during training?
One of the biggest challenges that I faced was the weather. Because my availability was fairly limited, trying to align this with flyable weather was always difficult. The airfield where I did most of my training isn't IFR equipped, so we would need to take off VFR and fly to Southend for the IFR elements of the training. I spent many weekends 'grounded' just revising instead of actually flying.
What were the highlights of your time in training?
The highlight for me was probably the hour building, where I would fly the PA28 up and down the coast of the Dorset and Devon, and visit various airfields from the Isle of Wight to Bodmin for lunch, before flying back. It was always great to be able to take passengers and let them experience the thrill of aviation in a way that not many people have.
How did the competencies you developed during your APS MCC help you afterwards?
The competencies were very useful during my interview process, and several questions came up based on them. For example, 'Tell me a time that you showed leadership.' Furthermore, they were an integral part of the type rating as we were assessed against them. During the break in aviation caused by COVID-19, I made sure that I revised the competencies from time to time to remind myself of their importance as the job market came alive again.
What have been the highlights since you started airline flying?
One of the best highlights was on a recent trip to Faro. Whilst saying goodbye to passengers, several mentioned to me how pleasurable their flight had been. It's great to hear that everyone's hard work is being appreciated.
What advice would you give to someone about to start APS MCC training?
My best advice is to get in the habit of studying beforehand. Learning to fly a jet for the first time is a huge learning curve, and getting ahead of the game is always useful. Throughout your aviation career, you will always be required to self-study, whether for a new type rating, recurrent training, or Category C airfield training, so it's good to go into the course with that in mind.