The Flying People podcast explores the skills seen as essential by aviation recruiters, but largely ignored in training. These so-called 'soft skills' often prove the hardest to define, let alone develop. They are not only essential for successful job interviews, but also the key to long, safe and happy careers.

But they are far from well understood - it's one reason that aviators are struggling to find work despite a global pilot shortage.

With expert guests, we break down the interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that are the bedrock of successful aviation careers, and uncover the science, research and industry expertise behind them.

In each episode, we are joined by experts from both inside the cockpit and beyond, from industry recruiters and instructors with responsibility for selecting and training new pilots, to researchers and specialists in fields ranging across the human sciences.

We touch on topics including pilot workload, cockpit design, training methodologies and much more. And we go deep on the skills that pilot require, regardless of the types of aircraft or the part of the industry in which they fly. Communication, decision making under ambiguity, resilience, leadership and more; it's all up for discussion.

Through it all, we aim to learn about the challenges that face the aviation industry in finding the right people, and the skills that aspiring pilots can equip themselves with to maximise their potential.