Airship pilot
Dream
Being a pilot of an airship is a dream of a lot of children. The idea of being at the helm of the flying machine being able to go where ever when ever appeals plenty a young men's mind.
Reality
A pilot, is a general name for a crewman that operates the airship. Only very few air ships (Odonats are not counted as airships in this article.) are operated by a single person.
Normally there are in the command station, a commanding officer, a navigator, a helmsman, a balloon operator, a look-out. To name a few. Some bigger ships have many more, smaller less. Not to mention the airmen, engineers and stokers.
Commercial airships often sail with smaller crews. Because for an owner: Any crewmember that is not on board, is a wage you don't have to pay.
Career
Air Corps
By far the most pilots are members of the Upperclass of the Glorious Kingdom of Eglen, who can afford to go to the Aviator Training in Ivoryhall Air Base.
Occasionally airmen who are exceptional are advanced towards to Aviator Training, to get the qualifications. But many struggle with studying.
Navy
Naval aviators are drawn from the Imperial Eglonian Navy's own officer corpse. Those who have already learned to navigate a ship, and spent time on the bridge as a junior officer. Can on their own cost move on to specialise into becomming an Aviator. Most naval aviators are from lesser noble houses.
Commercial
To become an pilot outside the military world one has to go to the Guild of Airman and start out as an apprentice. To join the guild one has to pay, obviously. But the Guild changes the price based on the market desire of crew. Are there no companies that are asking for crew, the price for new apprentices to join will go up. If there's a shortage of crew, the price will go down. One can find a company to learn with them self or let the Guild assign you a ship. Learning is mostly on the job. But the Guild does offer basic lessons and the exams are done in the Guild Hall.
Schooling route
If you want to be a pilot in the Air Corps you can join the Royal Army of Eglen and sign up for the Aviator Training Squadron.
If you wish to fly airships for the Imperial Eglonian Navy, you can apply for to be schooled at the same Aviator Training Squadron after you've become an officer, or engineer on a ship.
If you want to be a commercial pilot, you join an airship company as apprentice and follow the schooling via the Guild of Airman.
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Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2026
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