Advise please!!

[delta x-ray]

Hello everybody,

New here, love the site. A little backround: My name is Ian, I am 18, live in Cork. I am like many here, an airline fanatic and deperatley want to fly for a major carrier someday. I am in the middle of PPL training and should have the licence soon.
Next year I plan on going to the U.S so I can take advantage of the low costs and the sunny weather to become a commercial pilot.

It brings me down to hear stories of people trying to find a job as an airline pilot and the struggels they go through. So if anybody has any advice, especially those with experience, can give me the best route to land an airline job. Instead of getting multi/commercial IR alone, would it be wise to build hours as a flight instructer or get a type rating to increase my chances. Any info would be great.

[G-SP0T]

If you go to the US, you will only have a US cpl/ir, not usable in the UK - unless converted, ie more money, it will also be harder to convert as its harder to fly in the uk...

[Charlie Zulu]

it will also be harder to convert as its harder to fly in the uk

Er...

UK:

Push the stick forward and the houses get bigger.
Pull the stick back and the houses get smaller.

USA:

Push the stick forward and the houses get bigger.
Pull the stick back and the houses get smaller.

Looks the same to me and no harder to fly in the UK.

After all an ILS approach is an ILS approach, no matter where in the world you fly it... not much difference to one. The tollerances are different between the JAA and FAA IR tests (JAA a little more tight) but if you went onto the FAA ATP test then you'll be flying to much tighter tollerances than the JAA IR.

The only differences are airspace but as you have learnt to fly in Ireland for your PPL, you'll be wise to the airspace over there. Just an hour or two with an instructor would get you used to the airspace in the UK if you so wish.

The radio procedures are slightly different but if you learn somewhere like LA, just as an example, then you'll definately be up to speed on using the radio.

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

G-SPOT, that is nonsense, I have to agree with CZ.

Flying in the UK is no more difficult, it is simply different.

DX, I wouldnt worry too much about landing that first job. Nature will take its course, if you want it bad enough, it will happen for you.

[conor_mc]

If you go to the US, you will only have a US cpl/ir, not usable in the UK - unless converted, ie more money, it will also be harder to convert as its harder to fly in the uk...

a) as per other comments here, the laws of physics, as they relate to aviation, apply equally both sides of the Atlantic.

b) It's a small point, but the assumption that everyone on this forum wants to fly in the UK is very irritating, especially when the lad has said he lives in Cork. Maybe his dream is to fly for EI?

c) There are plenty of schools in the US which provide JAA training, under the authority of the UK CAA.

d) even if you had an FAA IR, conversion doesn't necessarily mean "more money". As an FAA IR is significantly cheaper than a JAA IR, it may be just as economical to attain your FAA IR and then convert it to an IAA or CAA IR. Obviously, this will depend on the quality of instruction plus the students aptitude for instrument flying.

[delta x-ray]

Conor,
yeah, thats what I plan on doing. Get my JAA taining in the U.S. I'd like to fly for FR. Now I know the bad stories about working with them on these forums and others, but I don't want to make a long term comitment with them because I just want to build turbine time.

On another note, I must say that some stories involving FR here are either false or have been exagerated. I do agree with the fact there are some negative things in the company, but not to the extent that people say. 3 people who done a majority of their training at the flying club I attend are flying with Ryanair and they like it.:ok:

[willby]

Hi Delta X
Are you training with South Air or Atlantic ? Take a lot of what you read on here with a grain of salt. Some excellent advice but also lots have axes to grind for whatever reasons. As you have already observed lots of conflicting info re FR.
my own son did most of his training in Florida and his IR in Ireland
and is now waiting to do a type rating course for FR.
Regards
Willby

[delta x-ray]

Hi willby,

I'm training with atlantic air. Do you know anybody there by the names of Carl Horgan or John Darcy? Thats good news for your son, you must be proud. What was the name of the school he attended in Florida?

[conor_mc]

Spot on DX - my rule for info gathered here (or anywhere else for that matter) is take everything into account and then go find out the facts for yourself, as best you can.

Talking to pilots you know and whose opinions you trust is a good place to start.

To my mind, Ryanair has its advantages as a place to start out. Without getting into the arguments of SSTR's, you'll build your experience with Ryanair as quickly (and in most cases quicker) than anywhere else, as long as you don't mind putting in some hard graft. As a young lad, you'll probably be able to take the initally poor pay on the chin, in order to reach a better salary after a couple of years there (my mortgage sure wouldn't allow me to do that!). Then you'll have the option of moving elsewhere if you want to, or (shock-horror to some people) even staying there if you like the job/lifestyle.

[willby]

Hi Delta-X
Please check your pm's
Willby

[Cavallier]

Dont listen to Cat 3C. He thinks it is acceptable to teach Stalling before Turning in the PPL Course.


The Cav:cool:

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Oh my god, the claws are out, hello there great circle boy.

Well, I can only look upto the more senior instructors within the company, I must have picked up their bad habits ;).

[Send Clowns]

Charlie Zulu

If you really think that there is so little difference between flying in the US and in Europe, and that 2 hours retraining is sufficient, then you clearly have never been in the flight training industry. I have flown with such people who all recognised themselves that they needed much more. I work for a company that has to retrain people to actually pass a UK CPL after training in the US, and always have to give them extra training.

I gave a 190-hour pilot 7 hours of dual training, immediately before starting the CPL course. Still I know that the CPL course did not go smoothly, even though it was taken at the same airport.

US training is not good preparation for flying in Europe! Even those specialising in JAA trainig don't really prepare students well - in fact I would recommend a small FAA school if people insist on training in the US.

[Cavallier]

Your resignation will be accepted in writing. ;) ;)

No, No , You tell him you tell him !

The Cav:cool:

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Right CAV, for your mis-behaviour on these forums, I am going to make a point of contacting CS for his Arrow checkout, with YOU!!

DO NOT OVER TAKE THE B757!