Insights from a French fighter pilot

Several of you have mentioned that you would like to know more about the different career options in aviation. So, I decided to start a series of interviews with different aviation professionals to provide us some insights into their career paths.

I'm sure that many of you, like me, dream of being a fighter pilot one day. But how do you actually become one? And what's the experience really like? Today, I have the honor to exchange with retired French fighter pilot, Jean Jacques Troadec and ask him some questions about his career.

Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your career path?

Sure! Hello everyone! My name is Jean Jacques Troadec and today I am a young retiree, which is like an eternal vacation for me. I will try to summarize my career as briefly as possible. I joined the French Navy for pilot training in January 1981. As I had hoped, I was certified as a fighter pilot just over 18 months later at the École de Chasse. I then continued my training in the Naval Air Force to obtain all the qualifications of an aircraft carrier fighter pilot.

After nearly 10 years, I joined the French Air Force where I continued my career as a fighter pilot on different Mirages. During these twelve years, I also had the chance to be posted to a foreign Air Force to occupy the role of instructor. This experience allowed me to claim the position of instructor at Dassault Aviation to fly on the most successful version of the Mirage 2000. I did my last flight on a fighter plane after 17 years in the Middle East after having flown for 39 years on military planes.

Wow, that's incredible! Why did you choose aviation as a profession? What motivated you to pursue this career path?

I decided to try my luck at becoming a pilot after discovering aviation with a very close friend of mine who was a Private Pilot. As the son of a sailor, only the French Navy sector spoke to me initially. Fun fact: from the windows of my high school, I would see the Super Etendard and F8E Crusader passing by almost daily, so I figured "Why not me??"

Yeah, that's exactly what I think to myself! So, tell me, what is it that you like most about your job?

Of course, the flight and the sensations that it brings, especially on board increasingly efficient aircrafts. I enjoyed discovering the core business of being a fighter pilot in all its aspects, sophisticated systems, various missions, and wide variety of environments.

What skills and knowledge have been most important for your career? What type of academic background is required to get into your field of work?

First, you have to be lucky enough to meet the medical conditions. Then, the selection process focuses on your psychomotor skills and your ability to withstand stress. The more we advance in this profession, the more those skills will be solicited.

What advice would you give young students who would like to do the same?

There are different ways to become a fighter pilot, at least in France. The path I followed was to take a chance right after high school. In this case, your career will be limited in time with the status of officer under contract.

The other, more ambitious, solution with regard to the military career in France will allow you to occupy positions of responsibility. The course requires passage through preparatory schools and then the Grandes Écoles, such as the Naval School or the Air School.

In hindsight, if you could do anything differently, what would it be?

I could probably do it differently, but I have been so rewarded in my aeronautical career that I wouldn't have had it any other way. However, you must always be willing and not hesitate to embark on a new project, this is probably the explanation of my career path. My advice is: Try your luck and aim high!

What special memory comes to mind from your career journey?

There are so many that the choice is difficult, however often the first times remain engraved in one's mind. Thus the first carrier launch, day and night are unique moments, immediately followed by thrills like the carrier landing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my questions. It's been a great honor and a very inspiring conversation. Thank you!

The things you should know before starting flight lessons

The idea of starting flight lessons for your private pilot license is very exciting. It was my dream for many years and when my parents offered me flight lessons for my 16th birthday, I remember we suddenly started asking ourselves a lot of questions: Where to start? What are the requirements? How does the process work? The pricing is not straight-forward, so how much does it really cost? Is there anything I should learn about before starting my flight lessons?

Here are a few things I have learned along the way:

• The pre-requirements. Before I could register as a flight student in the USA, I had to submit all the required documentation, get an FAA Medical Certificate, purchase a 'non-owned aircraft insurance' policy, buy a Cessna Training kit (for academic ground course), a headset, an iPad and a kneeboard. (You don't necessarily have to buy those right away, but at some point you will want to have your own equipment.) As an international student in New York, I also had to get TSA approval. Before a foreign student can train in a U.S. Aircraft or Simulator, he/she must go through the FAA fingerprinting process in the U.S. This procedure is mandated by the government through the Department of Homeland Security and TSA, via the Alien Flight School Program (AFSP). The process was pretty easy and fast, and once I had all the required documentation and approvals, I could sign the student agreement and get started.

• The costs. The pricing provided on the website of your aviation school is probably just an approximate figure, so it's important to ask questions and find out what you are really paying for. Flying is expensive and there are lots of hidden costs! Therefore, make sure that you clearly express your goals and expectations. Ask what you’re paying for, so that you can manage your budget. Are they charging you for the time you’re in the air? Air time plus ground time? Are fuel charges, etc. included or added separately? Also, let your instructor know by when you'd like to get your license so that expectations are clear. You do need to be realistic though, as things like bad weather or limited availability of your instructor or the planes may impact your target date.

• Gain a basic understanding of cockpit controls. You don't need to have any prior knowledge before starting your flight lessons, but you will probably feel a lot more at ease if you've already familiarized yourself a little with some of the basics. Imagine seeing all the controls in the cockpit for the first time without having the faintest idea of what they are for! That can be a pretty daunting and stressful experience. So, get a head start by looking up information on the internet and learn about things like the direction of the throttle to give you more power, what a yoke does, where to find the altimeter, etc. When you get into the plane for the first time, you’ll feel much better prepared and you’ll get more out of the lesson.

• Learn the phonetic alphabet. When flying, you will need to use the phonetic alphabet. If you don't know it by heart yet, you may wish to print it out and start learning it before you start your flight lessons.

A = Alpha

B = Bravo

C = Charlie

D = Delta

E = Echo

F = Foxtrot

G = Golf

H = Hotel

I = India

J = Juliet

K = Kilo

L = Lima

M = Mike

N = November

O = Oscar

P = Papa

Q = Quebec

R = Romeo

S = Sierra

T = Tango

U = Uniform

V = Victor

W = Whiskey

X = X-Ray

Y = Yankee

Z = Zulu

• Get to know your flight school and instructor before your first lesson. When I arrived for my first lesson I remember feeling a bit lost. I didn't know who to address myself to, what to do or where to go. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

• Keep checklists. When you start your flight lessons, you will have to process lots of information and chances are high that you will forget some important steps. Pilots use checklists to help them during pre-flight, flight, landing, and more. You can find some online and you can use them to orient yourself with.

• Relax and enjoy. Flight lessons can be a little stressful at the beginning, as you struggle to remember all the information and feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility when you fly. But remember to enjoy the experience. Your flight instructor is there to guide you and teach you all you need to know. Relax, appreciate the views, and be proud of your accomplishments!