The airline pilot job made it to the Top 10 Best Jobs in a global list. According to Oxford Royale, the prestige of the job is unrivaled given the travel opportunities and the best office view there is.
Mann Ed Demalata, one of the youngest airline captains in the Philippines and now capturing netizens’ attention with his everyday flying videos on TikTok, holds what many would just consider a dream job. Demalata says his work is challenging – from dealing with difficult passengers to ensuring the aircraft is on time and in good working condition. However, he adds, the job remains to be rewarding.
Tons of questions about his job were thrown in from Demalata’s curious TikTok followers. Here are five of the questions he compiled:
1.) Is it hard to be a pilot?
Demalata answered, “Just like any other career, being a pilot takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. Challenges don’t end when you get your license. You are accountable for the safety of the flight and of all the passengers. It’s a never-ending learning process so we do simulator training every six months to practice different kinds of emergency procedures. This way, we will always be on top of the situation in case anything beyond normal happens during a flight. At the same time, flying is such a rewarding and fulfilling experience and it’s something I want to keep doing until I retire.”
2.) What’s the strangest and most beautiful thing you’ve seen in the sky during a flight?
He responded, “Being in the skies all the time for work, I’ve pretty much seen all types and forms of clouds that looked like different types of animals and creatures from dogs, cats, mice to even dragons. It’s amazing how clouds form in unimaginable ways. One of the most striking things that I’ve seen up in the air are shooting stars. I’ve seen only about three shooting stars in my ten years of flying in the airline. I still get excited to see them and make my wishes in the sky.”
3.) Does turbulence bother pilots as much as it does passengers?
The airline captain quickly replied, “Flying for a long time, I fully understand the technical causes of air turbulence. It doesn’t bother me that much because I am aware of its effects. I know that it’s completely normal. And I know that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding turbulence. What bothers me most is the reaction of my passengers, especially non-frequent flyers. Safety and comfort are my priority for them so I try my best to provide them with the most comfortable and smooth experience every flight.”
4.) Do pilots take naps while flying?
Demalata said, “Every airline has policies for napping in-flight. There is what we call controlled rest where one pilot can sleep for a certain period while the other pilot takes full control. However, in my experience, I only fly short domestic flights so we don’t need to sleep during the flight.”
5.) How much money do pilots make?
He answered, “Pilots in the Philippines get paid depending on what type of pilots they are. There are flight instructors, cargo, spray, and helicopter pilots. But according to Jobstreet PH, airline pilots get paid the highest with a salary of more or less 128,348 a month. I know others are within the 100-400,000 range. This depends on the airline, seniority, and the position.”
Captain Mann Ed Demalata wishes to inspire aspiring pilots in the country. He is also thrilled that women now are up for the challenge. He reminds would-be pilots, “Never stop training and learning because technology advances. This job is really exciting.”
Mann Ed’s verified TikTok account is @pilotoncall
