Emirates A380 pilot, Captain Lee Nightingale discusses the reality of long-haul flying, from magnificent cockpit views and underground airport tunnels to maintaining family life in Dubai.

Why did you decide to become a pilot and what made you choose Emirates?

"I’ve always wanted to be a pilot and travel the world - I remember loving planes as a child and some of my earliest memories were my visits to air shows in the UK. When it came to progressing my career, Emirates naturally stood out to me with its global network of over 150 destinations. Getting the opportunity to fly to such a modern fleet was a big pull for me, too, as it had always been a dream of mine to fly the Airbus A380.

"My wife was already living and working in Dubai, and beyond the tax-free salary, the lifestyle here suits us. The support Emirates offers - from accommodation to healthcare and education - made the transition smooth. It was a no-brainer for me to make the move to Dubai and work for Emirates."

What does a typical long-haul flight actually look like for you from start to finish?

"Being a long haul pilot operating out of a major international airport, we depart at various times but if I can I’ll always say goodbye to my wife and 3 young daughters. I then travel via Emirates’ transport to Emirates Group Headquarters at Dubai airport, where I check in and meet with my fellow flight deck colleagues and cabin crew for a briefing. This is when we review the route, weather conditions, operational updates, and anything else we need to know to ensure a smooth and safe flight.

"We then board Emirates’ buses to travel through an underground tunnel that connects the headquarters to the airport. Dubai is a huge airport, so the ride can take anywhere from two to 25 minutes. Once boarded, the pre-flight phase focuses on flight deck setup, clearances, safety checks, performance calculations, and final coordination before we push back and taxi out for take-off.

"When operating a short turnaround flight, we return back to base in Dubai. But for longer layover flights we stay back in the city for 24-48 hours and are free to explore. No day is ever the same."

What's the part of the job that passengers never see but defines your experience?

"Watching the world go by from a passenger seat window is something travellers love doing – but looking out from the cockpit is truly incredible. During cruising altitude, we always enjoy the view at 40,000 ft. Some of the best views can be seen when flying over the Himalayas. Flying the Airbus A380 is a real privilege. From the flight deck, you experience the incredible engineering that makes this a truly amazing aircraft.

"While passengers appreciate the luxury features, behind the scenes, the A380 is such a joy to operate. Flying it is as smooth and satisfying as it feels in the cabin."

What's been the most exciting milestone in your career advancement?

"The most exciting milestone for me was becoming a Captain on the A380, however a very close second was becoming a Training Captain and having the ability to train other pilots on the fleet. It means I now have a mixture of flights and simulator sessions each month which gives me real variety, and the reward of being able to help develop colleagues on their career path.

"Flying for Emirates allows me to benefit first-hand from its world-class training and state-of-the-art simulators, and I’ve honed my leadership, command, and technical skills. It’s been a great environment to develop as a pilot."

How do you maintain personal relationships and hobbies? What do you do to decompress after particularly demanding flights?

"I have a young family, so for me there is nothing better than getting home and spending time with them after either a flight or a simulator session.

"I get 42 days of annual leave, and my schedule means I often have multiple days off in a row, so I can really make the most of living in Dubai. My wife has a rewarding career and the kids are in an amazing local school, so we always make the most of the weekends. Whether it’s spending the day at the beach, enjoying a family brunch with friends at one of the many incredible hotels Dubai, or setting off on a road trip to explore the UAE, there is always plenty to do!

"While I love living here, we get great travel benefits and discounted flights for ourselves, as well as for our friends and family. This makes it easy to tick off places on our bucket lists or visit my family home near London. The next destination I’d love to visit is Orlando to take the kids to Disney."

What's the biggest misconception people have about your job, and what advice would you give to someone considering following the same path?

"One common misconception is that pilots work the same hours each week and fly the same routes to the same destinations. In reality, it’s constantly changing, which keeps the day-to-day interesting. However, we can put in requests for our routes, which means I can always go back to my preferred countries.

"Most recently I flew to New York, which is always a favourite destination for me and many others as the hotel we stay in is very close to Time Square in central Manhattan giving us a great opportunity to explore."

What aerospace tech advancements do you predict will revolutionise the flying experience?

"Aviation technology is moving fast, which is really exciting for our community. From a pilot’s perspective, connected, data-driven tools like FlightPulse are making a real difference in how we plan, operate and optimise flights. It helps us reduce fuel burn and enhance flight safety, including monitoring weather information and turbulence forecasts.

"The new aircraft coming in, like the A350 and 777X, are also quieter, more fuel-efficient, and packed with features that make flying smoother for everyone.

"For passengers, this means better air quality, faster wifi and more personalised inflight entertainment. It’s exciting to see how far things have come - and where they’re headed."