With 72 new aircraft due to join the British Airways fleet over the next five years, Airbus A380 Captain Dave Wallsworth gives the inside track on how to fly a brand new plane

Which new aircraft have you learnt to fly?
I went on to the A380 within about six months of it being in service, and flew the A318 when it first came in. They are surprisingly similar, considering they’re of such different magnitudes. On the ground the A380 is a completely different beast because it’s so wide, the biggest commercial airliner on Earth – it’s like moving a football pitch around an airport. 

What’s the most important thing you’re taught when learning to fly a new aircraft?
Do your homework, don’t rush anything and discuss your thoughts with the other pilot. Don’t think you must do everything yourself. Ultimately you make the final call, but make sure you have input on what you’re doing. 

What does the training involve?
As a pilot, when you join BA you’re assigned to either an Airbus or Boeing plane, and if you’re changing aircraft type, you’ll be sent the new manuals of that plane to your company iPad. You then attend an intensive ground school course where you train in mock-ups of the aircraft, before moving on to a simulator to practise those systems. After a fortnight there’s an exam, followed by a simulator course. If you’re more senior you’ll fly a minimum of eight to 12 flights, while new cadets will train on up to 30 flights. 

Can you move between Airbus and Boeing? How are they different?
I did – I was a co-pilot and captain on the Boeing 737, then switched to the A320. They’re different in some ways, to the point where you think the companies are deliberately being contrary. For instance, to turn on the Airbus headlights, the switches come towards you, but with Boeing they move away. The basics though, are the same – you pull back on the control stick and the plane climbs upwards.

Are there any standout innovations in the new aircraft you’ve flown?
The A380 has systems that can sense turbulence before the passengers do, and will slightly move the controls on the wings to try to keep the aircraft stable. I’d like to fly the A350, which has some great technology and is expected to join the fleet in 2019 as part of British Airways’ £4.5bn investment in new planes, interiors, Wi-Fi and food.

Four new aircraft types will be joining British Airways in the coming years: the A350, B787-10, A320neo and A321neo. To find out more about the fleet, click here

Interview by Marisa Cannon

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This article has been tagged BA, Technology