Show time at the ramp for flights is an hour before scheduled departure. At the airport, the pilots go for a mandatory medical check-up that includes a Breathalyser test. Once cleared, the crew usually heads to Despatch. However, for cargo carriers, there is no specific location or room for Despatch and Quikjet’s pilots to get their documents on board the aircraft.
The documents are sent on company email well ahead of the flight; so, pilots can go through the papers at ease. “We check aircraft routing, fuel required and available, how much load we are carrying for the flight and if there is any NOTAM (Notification to Airman) where any specific information is given that affects our operations and, of course, the weather at departure, destination and alternate destination (in case of a diversion) along with the weather en route. After analyzing all the information, we sign the papers and head to aircraft,” according to First Officer Roshan Poojary, who started his career with a well-known passenger carrier.
While pre-flight preparations include planning the route, reviewing the weather and checking the aircraft systems, it is the flying experience that makes Quikjet’s pilots love their jobs. As Capt Anand put it: “Flying as a career is like no other. Every flight that we operate is different. We see different runways, airports, winds and weather on every flight. After each flight, we have a debriefing with the team to cover all good and bad aspects of the flight.”
It is no wonder that Yuthika Rai, a comparatively new entrant in Quikjet’s flying team, pointed out that “every day is a new day with new challenges”. She mentioned the close check on weather in addition to changes or new restrictions at the airports that Quikjet planes fly to. Each pilot follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Each SOP is “written with blood and every procedure is a must even the ones that might look irrelevant”.
Quikjet’s pilots specifically mention the great work being done by the Engineering team. The team is so efficient that pilots hardly ever encounter engine snags.
