Pathways to develop a career as a pilot

[7dwarfs]

Hi All,

Okies.. I guess you must have answered this questions a million times but I just finished my HSC (I live in Sydney) and my marks are not high enough to go straight into University to do Aviation, so now I'm left with two choices:

Do Tourism & Hospitality Management and be stuck with what I'm doing at the moment (I'm working as customer relations with a international cruise company since I finished high school (last november)) I do enjoy it, however not my first choice, I've seen all these ships people call "lovely" but I just don't seem to be into SHIPS... I prefer planes.....

Another choice is:
Do TAFE (college) and complete 2 courses called Aviation CERT IV and Aviation Airline Transport - Diploma (which they told me is all the theory you need for a CPL) and later on transfer into University of New South Wales and do either Aviation- management stream OR do Aviation- Flying Stream.. pretty Straight foward... Flying stream is hands on flying experience (looking at around 240 hours and a CPL, however.. a very HEAVY price tag comes with it of a grand total of $60,000 AUD... )
I have a family friend who was jobless for 3 years after he graduated from Areonautical Engineering so everybody is telling me.. after I pay that $60K I'll be jobless...
So I'm now thinking of completing a Bach Aviation Management and later on I'll apply to be a cadet (Qantas outlines that you need to do Physics and 3 unit Maths to be a cadet.. which I didn't do in my high school studies.. so Aviation Management will cover that) but I JUST noticed.. Qantas's cadet program.. I have to pay for ALL my expenses and tuition fees.. and that is apx $110,000 ....

So my BIG question for all you pilots out there is.. is there anyway I can be a pilot without parents who are LOADED....

Being a Lady Pilot... will be a dream come true.. but I honestly don't think I can afford the price tag involved...

I know several Airlines have cadet programs.. eg Cathay but is it a MUST to be a HK resident?

and also... being a pilot will there be any age restrictions?
I've just turned 18 this week.. so after I complete my 4 year aviation course... I'll be 24... is that too young??? and...a lot of people have been telling me.. airlines don't really employ female pilots... is that true...??

Just another question.. it I do the Aviation Flying stream and I don't get employed as a pilot later on (you never know what happens) other then being a SO is there anything else I can do with the degree..?? or will it be $60k & 4 years in the drain.. that's why should I just do the Aviation Management stream.. and if I don't get into being a cadet... because it's a management course.. I can utilise my degree and work in the management side of aviation....

so what should I do?
if you want to see the information about the courses they are avaliable here:

Aviation Cert IV:
http://www.tafe.com.au/cgi-rdb/rdbweb/handbook/XGETCOURSE_TO?VCOURSE_NO=1289&MODE=H&PRINTVER_IND=N

Aviation Diployma:
http://www.tafe.com.au/cgi-rdb/rdbweb/handbook/XGETCOURSE_TO?VCOURSE_NO=500&MODE=H&PRINTVER_IND=N

Bach Aviation Management" UNSW:http://www.student.unsw.edu.au/handbook/programs/3981.shtml

Bach Aviation Flying:
http://www.student.unsw.edu.au/handbook/programs/3980.shtml

Qantas Cadet Program info:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/about/employment/pilotsCadetInfo

If you could answer me ASAP it would be really good.. because I have to send my enrolment for TAFE in.. by the end of this month.. and I don't know any pilots.. so got no one to answer me... :ugh:

[redsnail]

G'day and welcome,
Being a female won't be an impediment to flying in Australia.
There's a couple of things you can do. Firstly, check out the AWPA website, they do have scholarships for female pilots (and some scholarships open to both sexes). AWPA (http://www.awpa.org.au/)
You can do maths and physics bridging courses that QF recognise. Not the cheapest but they are over in weeks rather than years. If I were you, I'd toddle over to Tech and do their course. They are pretty good. At the moment, a degree or diploma isn't essential to be a pilot in Oz. You can pick up a degree once you are working (been saying that to myself for years. One day I'll do it!) and you'll get credits for your aviation study.
Remember, all that is officially recognised by CASA is your CASA licences. A degree isn't recognised by them.
Your age is not a problem, the earlier you start the better really. Gives you more time to get to where you want to go. You can't hold an ATPL before 21 any way.
Good luck

[WhiskeyNovember]

Hello,

I'm not sure what kinds of grants and/or scholarships exist for aviation students in Australia, but here in the US you'd be eligible for all kinds. A few years ago I paid about $15 for a manual outlining a couple hundred scholarships and grants for aviation students and, being a white male, was eligible to apply for exactly four of them.

Do some research here (http://uaa.auburn.edu/msie.htm) and here (http://www.ninety-nines.org/). I think you'd be able to apply the money to the flight school or university of your choice.

I'm just finishing up a bachelor's degree in Aviation Flight Science up here in the US. I chose this route simply because I wanted to study something I enjoyed. Looking back, I'd say it was the easiest degree to earn in terms of book work and studying, mainly because I've been reading about and studying aviation for most of my life (not because I'm some wonder-student). If you're as hooked on it as you make it sound, you'll probably have a similar experience.

That said, a degree in something other than aviation offers some serious advantages. First of all, your career as a pilot is only as good as your medical certificate. Should something come up, like a heart or vision problem, your flying will be over. A degree in something unrelated to aviation will give you something to fall back on should the worst happen or should you simply change your mind and decide to pursue other things.

If you decide to get a degree in aviation, you'll probably be faced with the decision of whether to attend an aviation-specific institution or a traditional university that has an aviation program. I chose the latter and am glad I did. It's nice to have groups of friends from other walks of life who discuss subjects other than airplanes. Also, traditional universities offer a great, well-rounded college experience with a much greater variety of extracurricular activities and sports to choose from.

That's all the advice I can think of for now...I've been staring at a screen for too long today and need to get out. :) If you think of any specific questions, just let me know.

Best of luck to you!

-WN

[AIRWAY]

Qantas's cadet program.. I have to pay for ALL my expenses and tuition fees.. and that is apx $110,000 ....

Bloody Hell :eek: :ooh:

You have reddo as a sucessful, lady pilot, plus i know a few others in Oz so i dont think discrimitation will be a problem.

Why dont you do it the modular route? For Example while doing you university studies, start doing your PPL, that way you are advancing in your career as a future pilot and also in your education, slowly but progress will be made. Thats what i am doing at the moment, working/studying and flying.

All the best anything else just PM me
:ok: