A pilot has revealed what really happens behind the scenes of the flight deck, including what passengers will never see.

As a passenger,it's hard to fathom what really happens behind the scenes and in the cockpit of a plane. From all the pre-flight preparations, plans and paperwork, to flying the mammoth aircraft while cruising at 41,000 feet, and the abundance of controls they know like the back of their hand.

Yet beyond the technical capacity to fly a plane, there are the unusual aspects that come with the territory, and moments that are worlds away from the passengers sitting beyond the flight deck. And now, Wizz Air pilot Tom Copestake has shared an insight into what it's really like in the wings.

"There are parts of the earth that we look down on that no one has ever walked on - it's really cool," Tom exclusively toldthe Express. "The way it makes you feel really small, but insignificant somehow. Looking down at this expanse of snow and mountains or sand and desert, but it's the most exhilarating feeling, I love it."

While enjoying those incredible vistas out of the cockpit windows, he even gets the chance to soak it all in with a warming cuppa. "We have some early starts, but having a cup of coffee and a croissant, going over the Alps, with this fabulous view in front of me, nothing beats it," he revealed.

"I've had people ask me, 'Don't you just sit there and literally fly?' but that's not the way it works. The aircrafts that [Wizz Air] fly, there's so much automation involved and assistance that flies the aeroplane for us.

"We're not literally controlling it, we're rather programming it to do what we want it to do and making sure it does that, safely and efficiently. It's not quite as exhausting as you might think."

Offering a closer insight, Tom further explained: "There's a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. We've all been sitting there as passengers when an announcement comes on that says, 'We're just finishing up the last bits of paperwork', but we really do mean it.

"There are so many things that are happening to get travellers from A to B, there's a long orchestra and backstage choreography happening, along with a huge amount of work that has already happened before passengers even step on board and take their seat.

"Unless you can see it from the flight deck, I suppose you can never really understand how much work goes on. It's a huge operation, and there are large support teams, so you can get to where you want to go."

And before Tom takes his seat in the cockpit, it appears that sipping coffee and tearing into a croissant is all part of his pre-flight routine. "Sometimes my alarm goes off at 3am, or sometimes I'm not starting work until 6pm in the evening. But no matter what, whenever I get to the airport, the first thing I always do is get a vanilla latte and an almond croissant. It somehow resets my mind to say, 'Okay, this is the start of my work day.' It's the first thing I do, and I think an airport ritual isn't a bad idea."

For more information on Wizz Air flights, or to book your next getaway, visit the airline's website.

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