Former Scotland international and Edinburgh legend Stuart McInally has taken to the skies after hanging up his boots to become a commercial pilot. The former Scotland rugby union captain now flies families on holiday for Jet2.
From Rugby Pitch to the Cockpit
McInally earned 47 international caps during a memorable career on the pitch. He decided to retire in 2023 to achieve his childhood dream of a career in the skies. The 36-year-old built his flying hours while still playing professionally, and the day after completing his final season, he began studying for his commercial pilot licence.
Stuart said: "While it's a world away from the rugby pitch, there are more similarities than you might think. Teamwork, preparation and staying calm at all times are just as important in aviation, so I'd like to think my rugby career has helped me in pursuing my dream."
A Career Built at Edinburgh and Scotland
McInally joined Edinburgh's academy in 2009 and made his professional debut against Munster in 2010. He made his name as a promising back-row player, captaining Scotland at youth levels before making the decision to move to hooker to improve his international chances in 2013. His decision to retrain paid off, and he went on to captain Edinburgh and Scotland, leading the national team to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Speaking ahead of his retirement in 2023, McInally said: "It was really tough knowing this was the moment to move on. I always thought it would be really easy to retire because I've always known what I want to do after rugby - become a pilot - but stepping away from the club I love is massive and it's been a huge decision. However, I feel ready and this is such an exciting opportunity. I drive under a flight path every morning on my journey into BT Murrayfield and so often see planes landing at Edinburgh Airport. I start to think 'what is the pilot seeing', 'how are they adapting' - and that itself gets me excited for the next steps in my career. While I'm obviously sad to be moving on, this decision has really been 10 years in the making. I started flying back in 2013 and a lot of work has gone in to get to this point. I'm now massively excited to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot."
Jet2 Welcomes a New Pilot
Jet2 first came onto Stuart's radar through Captain Mike Stewart, who he met during his rugby career. Mike invited him to Edinburgh Airport to visit a flight deck and meet fellow pilots. David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2, said: "Stuart's journey is a fantastic example of the incredible people we have across our business. His achievements in rugby speak for themselves, and we're just as proud to see him succeeding in his new career with Jet2. It's clear that the qualities which made Stuart such a successful athlete have carried through into aviation, and we're delighted to have him as part of our team."
