Is it worth it?

[Andrén]

Hi!
My name is Annette and I’ll start my pilot education in less that three months
I’ve been planning this for over one year, but now I’m starting to have some second thoughts about it.
What I’m worried about is how a 19year old girl is supposed to get a job when all the companies require over 1500 hours and 500 hours on the type they are flying?

This sounds like impossibility to me. I can’t afford paying a type-rating and then fly 500hours on the type!

Should I abandon my dreams of becoming a pilot and settle with a PPL?

I would appreciate all kinds of advices.

(I’m sorry if this topic has been up before)

[stefair]

Hey Annette,

Who said you have to have 1500TT and who said you have to come up with the money for your T/R as well as for your line training yourself? Admittedly, there are some companies that make their newbies pay for everything out of their own pocket, but who says you have to apply to those companies?! There are so many employment options in aviation, it just depends on what goal you have set yourself.

If you are unsure about how to launch your career in aviation, just get a University degree first and start flying in your spare time. An advantage is that if your career in aviation will not take off as you hope, you can fall back on your degree. Also it will boost your resume as well, in particular, if you major in an engineering field! Plus, it gives you enough time to think about what you really want to do for a career!

Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

[soviet bloc]

Hi,
NO NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM
even if you have to stress over money, training, the what if's etc. for 2 years like most of us it still beats ending up in some mediocre job and one day realising you're 40 something and saying to yourself "I wish I'd done it when i had the chance" don't let that happen.
whenever I meet people who ask me what i do... then they go misty eyed and say "oh I always wanted to be a pilot" it ramms the sad truth home that so many people for whatever reason don't throw hemselves into their dream.
Also if you've already passed various things like medical, selection or a ppl then you already know your goal is within realistic reach.
Being a girl is actually a plus, although it pisses the rest of us off, airlinews will snap you up, girls get interviews quite easily - just don't mess the first one up !!
many airlines will either take TR funds out of your pay or bond you for a few years, others, yes, will expect a lump sum up front.
Otherwise you could always fly something else for 500 hrs and then start on the bottom of the ladder like many.

Stefair is right about a university degree, it will help in general, but don't forget about the huge cost of uni, a 3 year degree course probably equals a modular cpl/ir.
good luck
and JUST DO IT !!!
sb

[stefair]

soviet block,

Yes, I agree. You're so right. However, as I'm over 25 years old the DES actually pays for my tuition. Also besides uni I got a part time job as a delivery driver, which pays rather well so I will be able to not only get through college without a loan, but also to pay for my FAA PPL. It's very hard and there are often times I'm asking myself why I am doing all this, but hey, I know where I am going to sit in a few years and who said that life was supposed to be easy... :ok:

[degothia]

Andren kolla dina PM
D

[Özcan]

Hejsan!

I think that if it really is your dream i think you should go for it, the job market is very tight with not many opportunities unless you're experienced. I think you should start with a PPL and feel if heavy metal is what you really want

watch out with the different aviation schools, there are many bad alternatives around!

If you start with a PPL you're not gonna be in big trouble if you lose motivation and your dream... flying general aviation is lots of fun as well but you should listen to what you really want in the long term, if you're ready to do what it takes to be able to enter the competition about the jobs i think you should go for it :ok: it most likely won't be an easy journey but if you get employed in the end it might well be worth all the work!

mvh

[5 RINGS]

Annette,

like many others said....if you want it...GO FOR IT!

The only guys I know who never ever managed to land anything, are those who gave up.

Starting one's flying career is not the easiest thing to do in the world, but it's still possible.

Best of luck.

5 Rings

[freeflyer28]

Hi Annette,
I believe you have to live your dream and not dream your life. But unfortunately it does cost a lot of money and the truth is, if you don't have it you cant do it! You must be realistic with your self and be ready for disappointments and moments that you will say to your self that you wished you never started. But if you hold on and succeed at the end of it, you will have a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life!
Good luck and good decisions:ok:

[Andrén]

Hi!
Thanks for all the support!!
I just want to let you guys know that I’ll follow my dreams and I WILL become a successful professional pilot.
I’ve already got my class one medical and a student permit and I’ll start with a PPL the 6th of June.

Can’t wait :D
If you have anymore pointers or things I should know or think about please fell free to PM me or post in on the forum :)

/Annette

[ANDRE25i]

Hey Annette.
I too am a firm believer that if aviation is truly your number one passion; you should go for it.
The mere fact you went on pprune and posted your thread shows good attitude. In aviation there can be a lot of setbacks along the way; somebody would be a fool not to acknowledge that. You have to be able to grasp an opportunity when it arises, if it does, and make the most of it. Keep in mind that since your passion is aviation; as long as your flying your happy right! It doesn't matter whether your flying a light-single engine piston or whatever; if flying is what you like then you'll be fine.
For the major airlines, the much publicised aspect of financial reward is commensurate with the time, effort and work required to qualify for and maintain the position.

Happy Landings

btw; once u have a taste of avgas, ull be hooked

[An2]

btw; once u have a taste of avgas, ull be hooked
Nah,...av-gas is highly over-rated. :hmm:
It's the jet-fuel that'll get ya! :=
Once that's in your system, there's no turning back.....:E

[Boingy]

It is worth it...

I am in a similar position, I took a job as an operations manager for a flying school and charter company to pay for my JAR PPL, I qualified in about 6 months.. Enough about me..

The best way to look at the situation is to break it down into parts, then you'll realize the task isn't actually that daunting and is easily accomplished if it is your dream... But in my opinion you are always better off doing your PPL then working from there. I know have my Class 1 and am working towards the next stage, JAR ATPL exams. Then I can look further.. Step by Step £ by £...

[m0rt1L]

Hi guyz ive been reading though the threads and ur all a top set of guyz im in the options part of what to do.
My dream is flying and im 23, ive just got financially set to do my PPL onto my ATPL and frozen after some hard graft saving up, im also half the way through doing a degree in cisco networking which i think will help me along the way being quite technically minded.
I start my PPL and the lot very soon on a big intensive coarse the modular route, But like i say ive always wanted to be a pilot and never ever got helped with money to start but now most of it is there in some way so follow your dream like me and you will get there.
But i would take the route and do a bit at a time.You have plenty of time.

PS top forums and advice from top guyz and gals :)

Regards

Craig

[Cipri]

Hi!
What I’m worried about is how a 19year old girl is supposed to get a job when all the companies require over 1500 hours and 500 hours on the type they are flying?


In fact you are not supposed to get a job with those requirements if you are 19, and have no other experience. It would be helpful if you started worrying about how to get some experience, and a lower requirement job (that you are talking about is probably a jet job).

[Andrén]

In fact you are not supposed to get a job with those requirements if you are 19, and have no other experience. It would be helpful if you started worrying about how to get some experience, and a lower requirement job (that you are talking about is probably a jet job).

I guess that's true....well as longes I get at job that I can live on I'll be happy :)

[piperindian]

this thread is full of bad advice.
I would get the PPL but not the fATPL part. Its too big an investment and the end result is like a lottery. At leats when you play lottery you dont pay 50K for the entry ticket.
at 19, you can get always fATPL in the future if conditions improve but i dont believe it in the short term.

even if you have to stress over money, training, the what if's etc. for 2 years like most of us it still beats ending up in some mediocre job and one day realising you're 40 something and saying to yourself "I wish I'd done it when i had the chance" don't let that happen.
whenever I meet people who ask me what i do... then they go misty eyed and say "oh I always wanted to be a pilot" it ramms the sad truth home that so many people for whatever reason don't throw hemselves into their dream.

well, is it better if you posess a JAR fATPL, will be 40 in a few years, are looking since 2001, are realising that you wont get any chance soon to get any decent position in the aviation industry ?
Is it better to have spent 50K and the rest for the JAR training + lost professional revenue ?

[ANDRE25i]

It's the jet-fuel that'll get ya! :=
Once that's in your system, there's no turning back

I suppose avtur, jet-fuel does the trick as well. But for the moment Annette, itll be avgas.
cheers

[Andrén]

I suppose avtur, jet-fuel does the trick as well. But for the moment Annette, itll be avgas.
cheers

hehe someone told me that the planes I'll be training on will use jetfule :)

not sure about this but it's a DA-40TDI

[ANDRE25i]

really, uuum, sounds interesting..... :hmm: ;)
So whats the weather like in Sweden? Good for flying? Down here in Australia, cant complain compared to the UK; heaps of major airlines use the facilities down here to provide training for their cadet pilots; with the weather encompassed as a bonus.
I used to live in France before; so i'm used to fairly extreme climates; where in winter it reached around -10c at times.

By the way; whose your flag carrier? (merely cant remember at the moment)

cheers

[An2]

not sure about this but it's a DA-40TDI

SPU? If that's the case, then it'll be the TDI, and they do drink jet-fuel.

Not much difference between diesel and kerosene, you know!

An2:8

[Black Fire]

"Stefair is right about a university degree, it will help in general, but don't forget about the huge cost of uni, a 3 year degree course probably equals a modular cpl/ir."

The difference is that in Sweden all University Degrees is free of charge. The only thing that costs is your living expenses and they´re the same if you´re doing flight training. It doesn´t mather what you study. M.D, Civil Engineering etc, it´s free. We have a University Degree in Aviation that incorporates Flight Training up to CPL/ME/IR+MCC.

[Andrén]

the only time the weather is good is during the summer :P

flag carrier? Not sure what that is, but I guess you’re referring to SAS

An2 yeah it’s SPU :) do you got some gossip about the school or news pleas feel free to tell me :)

/Annette

btw, yes it’s true that a degree is free here in Sweden but if I want a degree before starting a flying career I would get a master in engineering and then become a doctoral student.
That’s about 10 yeas of studying !