Pilots train to handle aircraft flying at speeds of over 250 knots (around 290 mph) below 10,000 feet
A fully loaded commercial airliner can weigh more than 70 tonnes at takeoff
Temperatures at cruising altitude can drop to as low as –56°C
Each ATPL theory subject typically requires 40–60 hours of classroom study
Trainees complete around 85 – 100 flight sectors during the course of their integrated pilot training
A standard training flight could cover over 300 nautical miles in a single cross-country mission
Night flying requires a minimum of 5 solo night take-offs and landings to qualify for a Night Rating
Commercial pilot training can involve typically over 100 simulator hours, replicating real-world airline operations
A typical integrated trainee will typically log 200+ total flying hours by the time of their CPL Skills Test
Modern twin-engine trainers (like the DA42) cruise at 180 knots with fuel burns around 50 litres per hour per engine
Meteorology modules cover weather systems that can span up to 1,000 miles across Europe
Aircraft instrument panels monitor over 20 different flight parameters simultaneously
During MCC, cadets practise handling engine failures within 4 seconds of take-off