Jenson Button test drives new career as British Airways pilot

Formula 1 star Jenson Button enjoyed racing through the skies this week after piloting a British Airways A380 flight simulator at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The former World Champion — who recently announced his retirement from the track — spent 90 minutes perfecting take-off, cruise and landing of the world’s largest commercial aircraft.
The simulator at British Airways’ state-of-the-art Flight Training Center near London’s Heathrow Airport — where the airline’s 4,200 professional pilots are trained — uses cutting edge motion, audio and graphics technology to deliver a completely immersive experience.
Button was coached on the flight deck by Captain Dave Thomas, the carrier’s head of technical and training, and William Swinburn, senior first officer.
The 37-year-old made three landings into Hong Kong International Airport in total and was thrilled to take control of the iconic double-decker four-engine aircraft, which forms the centerpiece of British Airways’ fleet along with Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Button said: “It was so cool! I’ve flown all over the world but this is the first time I’ve experienced what it’s like to be at the controls and it was a pretty incredible feeling.”
Button added: “It is like you are in a real aircraft and after a while you forget it isn’t the real thing. I think I did pretty well for a first timer — though if there had been passengers in the back we might have had a few complaints about my first landing. Let us just say it was a bit bumpy.”
Captain Dave Thomas was impressed by Jenson’s handling of the aircraft.
He added: “Jenson Button obviously has experience traveling at high speeds and he adapted well to taking control of the A380.”
He said: “Being a pilot is all about calmness under pressure, preparing properly and getting from A to B with safety being the foremost priority at all times, so I think coming from a Formula 1 background Jenson definitely has some of the attributes required of a pilot.”
British Airways’ A380 aircraft are now flying between London and Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Singapore, Washington, San Francisco, Miami and Vancouver.
The aircraft offers a choice of British Airways’ First, Club World, World Traveler Plus and World Traveler cabins and has a total of 469 seats.