Should I really do this?!

[RobJW]

I'm 29 and looking at leaving the Royal Navy, possibly into a flying career, so far with no flying experience. Having read a lot of messages on here I'm now not so sure - the risk seems enormous... with a mortgage to pay off, a huge loan for the training fees and then potentially earning less, possibly considerably less, than I do now (now on about £35k)- that's with the risk of actually getting a job!

Should I just stick to getting a PPL and enjoy flying at weekends and during leave? I fully subscribe to the 'living life to the full / if you don't try, you'll never know / etc, etc' approach, but at my age and with my financial constraints I wonder whether a dose of reality might be more appropriate!

Anyone with similar thoughts or suggestions... I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

Rob. :confused:

[Pilot Pete]

Rob

No-one can advise you either way really, only give their opinions on what they think and perhaps how they would make that choice faced with it today.

Obviously those who have made the choice to start are going to be blinkered somewhat to the 'dark side' of reality which is going to be unpalatable to them....the fact that they might not get a job!

Those who have been through the mill and spent their fortune and are a number of years further down the line and not where they want to be are going to be tainted by their experience and perhaps be yelling from the rooftops that you would be a fool to even think about starting this extremely risky gamble.

Then you get those of us in the middle, who have spent the fortune, had the tough times, gained life experience and are doing the job we dreamed of doing. Some are now tainted and don't see it in the same way as they dreamed about it and perhaps they will tell you that they wouldn't make the same career choice faced with it again. Some work for employers that have scant regard for you as an individual or as a professional. Some won't let you just get on with the job in a professional environment and have to keep 'directing' how you will make decisions.

And the final bunch are those who have had the ups and downs, had successes and failures, experienced the setbacks and stuck to our aim. We now sit where we want to be and enjoy going to work. Sure it ain't perfect, but show me a job that is. Terms and conditions are on the slide and many battles will lay ahead. World economics and events have a marked effect on this barometer industry and WILL lead to further problems and setbacks, but just some of us wouldn't want to do anything else for a living.

You have decide what sort of individual you are and if this career has the draw for you or not. You probably already know deep inside and if you are that unsure then it's probably not for you....

Good luck, rest assured it's not an easy option.

PP

[Sidestick Bob]

Hi RobJW,

I came into aviation at a very early age and ended up persueing my "ideal" job for over 10 years at great expense and after considerable effort and hardship. I would not like to sway your views either way but I would say this:

being an Airline Pilot has its ups and downs (excuse the pun) just like all other jobs. Don't go into it (as I wrongly did all those years ago) thinking that its the "perfect" profession - because its not.
All those early thoughts about gold bars and nice hosties have now turned to base checks, 5 am starts and roster changes! Believe me, the novelty soon wears off!

I am now flying for a major UK airline. Don't get me wrong - I'm pleased that I have acheived my goal, but if I had my time again I'm not so sure I would choose the same path. Easy to say with hindsight I know but thats how I feel.

Hope this helps.
:rolleyes:

[Jet2]

Rob

Pilot Pete hits the nail on the head really. It's all down to personal preference and circumstance.

I decided to do it because it was a lifetime ambition that wouldn't go away and leave me alone. For me the money was not important. I knew I could get the banks to tie me up for a few years and that they have done but I am doing what I wanted and don't regret a minute of it. It's a lot of hard work to get here and family/social lives suffer but with no wife/kids to support, the support of my family and the fact that I was going out socialising too much anyway made circumstances perfect to do it.

So ..... your choice is this ... if you can do it (taking account of your reponsibilities like mortgages, wife/kids, third world debt etc), your heart is 100% in it, you've researched and know what lies ahead, and you are doing it for the flying not the money then do it. Try and have a backup plan if you don't find a job straight away at the end of it.

Otherwise, save yourself the pennies and the risks and look elsewhere. There are no guarantess.

Hope this helps.

[Agaricus bisporus]

With a Naval background you would be well placed in the job market, and if its important enough to you to do this you'll have no trouble making the decision. But why not get Pusser to pay for it and stay in a few more years? No way would I choose civvy flying over the Navy if I had my time again.

[Half_Cuban]

I too was 29 when I decided I wanted to fly for a living, I had a ppl and once I made the decision my attitude was that nothing was going to stop me.

It took the best part of two years to pass all the exams and flying tests, another couple of years instructing for practically **** all money, I did this until I could afford to instruct no longer and eventually got a job at a local airport refuelling aircraft but at least I could aford to live on the salary unlike instructing to say that things were tight financially is a gross understatement.

I got my first airline job (turboprop) in 2004 that was 4 years after starting commercial flying training (Sept 11th 2001 hapened at the wrong time for me and there were no airline jobs)

18 months later I start a command course next week and also have had an interview with with a jet operator (passed the interview just a sim check to do), I was highly motivated and determined to get to where I wanted to be but know of several guys who fell by the wayside for one reason or another.

What I am trying to say is thats it's all down to you and how commited you are, if you KNOW that one day you will be in the left seat of a jet earning a decent salary then one day you will be, you could get lucky and get an airline job very soon after qualifying on the other hand it could take years.

The market is definetelly on the up just now but for how long, I don't think anybody knows.

When deciding whether or not to go ahead with what will probably be the most challenging time of your life you need to consider things like:

How will you survive financially while you do all this training, for me I didn't quite realise just how much it costs to live without an income (especially with a young family which I had)

Full time training or part time around your current job.

Are you prepared to move to the other side of the country if necessary, although if you in the Navy you'll have had to do that anyway i suppose.

What will you do after you have qualified if you cant get a job straight away.

Anyway good luck if you decide to go ahead, it's not an easy road to go down, if your determined and motivated the decision will be easy to make

[Fearless Leader]

Grow some....you girly man!
If you have to ask for premission to do anything, you'll be sadly lacking in this profession.

That goes for the rest of you as well.

[acbus1]

....looking at leaving the Royal Navy
Welcome to the rat race (the uncertain version). :rolleyes:

[RowleyUK]

Just do it because you'll only regret it if you dont!!!


I got my first job 6 months after my MCC and had to work on the ground during that time..........I learned more in that year than at any point during training.

Is it good? Y eah, I like going to work.

Is is bad? the pay leaves a bit to be desired at the early stages. On a crappy day at 0500z i'd rather be in bed instead of trawling through loads of icing with minimal fuel!


You choose.

One day its good......the next bad......

Its a job! I'd rather win the lottery and quit!

[The Otter's Pocket]

Resigned my commission three years ago with two other captains we are all now 32 and absolutely love the challenge. Its not easy to break through but we are all nearly there after a varied journey.

[screw fix diret]

Did you ever do the pilot/observer apptitude tests in the Mob? Not wanting to be a damp squib, but that may give you an indication whether you would enjoy/succeed in aviation before you start shelling out thousands.
BALPA are running an employment seminar in October (see thier web site). That might give you a feel for any sponsorship schemes that are around. The Mob should even pay for your travel and accomodation.
You could get hold of you're local NAS. They will almost certainly have reservists employed in commercial aviation, at all levels. They would be more than willing to talk over the various issues.
Why not talk to the likes of Oxford Air Training, Cab Air etc to see what job opportunities are available.
All the above posts are very valid and it all comes down to personal choice, but you would be putting any external life/relationships on hold for at least 12 months while you trained, and there is no guarentee of a job at the end of it.

Good Luck
its a big decision.

[Flap43]

hard to get the first job. been there, as all of us generally have but lucky also, got my next one and i am now on £52k. havent even got 1000hrsTT yet.
worht it if you can get it i would say.
never worked so hard in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or again. flying is just great!
try doing the www.flighttrainingeurope.com route or going ICAO licence in SA www.43airschool.co.za and convert it back up here in bristol flight school. then do MCC at parc aviation. good bunch who will help u get that job. dont listen to OATS hype! too expensive anyway....
good luck( and an understanding wife!)
Flap 43:ok:

[152wiseguy]

Flap43

I have to ask, which companies are paying 52k to pilots with so few hours??? You seem to have landed well on your feet.

[7373]

Yes, that sounds mighty impressive Flap43. Whom does one have to apply to for that position?:confused:

[7373]

Guess Flap43 is too busy working his 6 sector day, on a 6 on 2 off roster pattern to answer.:uhoh:

Well if the airline is going to pay you £52k per year as a new entry, they've got to get their pound of flesh:}

£52k is what I'd expect many new skippers to earn.

[englishal]

May mate recently got taken on flying airbuses.

£1000 per month for the first 6 mo (until type rating complete).
then £31,000 per year until 1000 hours on type.
then £39,000 per year.....