ABSTRACT
The sociology of commercial flight crew is complex. A significant minority of respondents came from relatively humble beginnings and/or struggled to find a career that interested them. More than fifty percent of respondents had not attended university. Not all respondents had well-paid, secure jobs and glamorous poolside lifestyles. As the industry adjusts to internal pressures (like more competition from the low-cost sector) and responds to external threats (like new plague-type diseases, natural disasters, terrorism and escalating fuel costs) it is possible that pay and conditions will be squeezed further. It is clear therefore that there is no simple, convenient pilot-stereotype (journalists please take note).
