The B-777 Captain

Name: Geoffry Noble

Occupation: B-777 Captain, Emirates

Number of Years in Profession: 34 years

Nationality: Australian

SS: What made you choose this career path?
GN: When I got bored of studying accountancy and working for a shipping company I joined the Royal Australian Airforce, and that's how I ended up here.

SS: What qualifications do you require for this job?
GN: Year 12 passes in Maths, Physics and English, as well as Australian University Entrance.

SS: Describe your typical day at work.
GN: My days starts long before the plane takes off. I arrive at the crew briefing centre, where I sign on and review the destination details and weather information and brief the cabin crew. I then proceed to the aircraft, where I meet the ground engineers and the dispatcher.

The passengers board and the fuel and load sheets are checked. I then program the flight management computers and make the captain's announcement to the passengers. Finally, we taxi and take off. I then manage the safe progress of the flight, plan our arrival and then brief the crew for descent and manage the landing at our destination. Once we have completed the flight, we handle the paperwork, brief the engineers on the ground, and head home for some rest.

SS: What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
GN: At Emirates, the best part is being able to fly modern equipment to various destinations with a team of fellow professionals.

SS: What is the single most challenging aspect of your job?
GN: To always meet and then exceed my own high standards for a safe flight, completed on schedule.

SS: What advice would you give to Skysurfers who wish to follow a similar career path?
GN: Work hard at school, follow your own dreams, and remember that perseverance wins over everything else.