Hi guys and girls!
This, as you may notice, is my first post so hopefully I wont do anything wrong or break any forum rules. I did read them all Scroggs, honest!
I, unfortunatley, am in the same position as dudeatstarwars
. I did however, by the looks of things, do a bit more research into the current situation believe it or not. I have started my proffessional training at a very bad time given the economic climate but decided to continue knowing that I could afford it now- something I may not be able to do further down the line.
Clearly there are no jet jobs for someone in my position but the advice on this and other threads has been invaluable so thank you to those who have come up with some useful advice and information.
It does appear that a lot of training providers these days are churning out students who really have no concept of the airline industry and think that just because they have a nice shiny new fATPL that an airline will take them on!! But I guess thats what happens when so many people are allowed to undertake proffessional pilot training having studied nothing but the 'Bristol database' for 6 months! IMHO this is a real issue because given 6 months to study the database I think my mum could pass most of the ATPL theory exams! Not enough emphasis is given to learning the technical side these days- it all just appears to be answer learning!!!
I have completed the first two years of the Kingston University degree in 'Aviation Studies for Commercial Pilot Training' at Cabair in Bournemouth. The course content is the JAA sylabus but taken further so in 18 months you learn what you need for the ATPL exams and a fair bit more. The university exams are not multiple choice and thus are subjective answer type questions. This forces you to know your stuff especially seeing as the majority of the exam questions require 'applied knowledge' i.e. not something you have ever been taught but require a good deal of understanding in other areas to answer. I plan to continue onto the third year of my degree at Kingston to complete the engineering degree.
Apologies for going a bit off topic there but I think that there are too many people with no real understanding of the job situation/industry today. A course like the one I have done is intended to draw in people who can think for themselves and who do not expect everything to be handed to them on a plate! I know plenty of people who have done their ATPLs and have no clue what to do with them. Many I expect will just let them lapse and never do anything- very sad having spent all this money.
Sorry if I have waffled on a bit but just thought I'd share my thoughts with everyone on 'fresh fATPL' holders! I myself hope to become one in the next month as my IR test is booked for 2 weeks time
.
Ad