Whos currently doing a CPL/IR on here?

[flyboy1818]

With the current recession being in full swing, I'm interested to learn who is currently on a CPL/IR course on this forum. I see many people saying they will wait til next year or that they are getting the ground school out of the way, maybe building some hours and sitting tight for a while before starting the CPL/IR course. So people of PPrune, what are your plans? Have you delayed because of the recession?

[waterark]

I plan to do the PPL IR training in April. The exams should be completed by the beginning of that month. It is such a big commitment, in time and effort, that delaying it seems unthinkable, because any loss of momentum might lead to giving up.

PS
Would like to be doing CPL IR but the heart is not up to it. (2nd Class Medical)

[L'aviateur]

Hour Building & ATPL Distance Learning at the moment, but not rushing anything!

[Andy_R]

CPL last month, IR delayed.

[flyboy1818]

still full steam ahead for me, but I accept the reality that my first job will probably be instructing or flying in africa!

[Cirrus_Clouds]

Distance learning ATPL currently, just left a full time job to be able to concentrate on it.

Hour building gradually and the CPL/IR will be done as and when the economy improves.

Expect to have groundschool completed by end of 2009.

[ryancy]

Passed for the CPL in January and will convert my FAA IR/ME next month.
I was thinking of delaying the IR conversion initially,
but made a "GO" decision in the end.

[INNflight]

Finished both of it 2 weeks ago... well timed, right? :oh:

[flyboy1818]

more well timed than if you finished a year or six months ago!

[MerNion]

I am thinking of starting the whole CPL/IR/ME training (groundschool, hours etc) on November.. I think that things might be a little better than it is now.. For those who do the CPL/IR now, how are things? Do you see a bad aspect of things..? Have schools dropped any prices in order to attract students?

[TheBeak]

On what are you basing your thoughts that the situation is going to be better in 6 moths? Hot Air? What the FTOs are telling you? Do yourself a favour if you REALLY do want to be a pilot......get a PPL and continue working in something else. Do your ATPLs distance learning (I'd recommend Bristol GS) and save your money as best you can over the next 2 years - do not commit to anything anytime soon. Then enrol on one of the approved structured modular courses at somewhere like FTE or at least do your CPL/IR at the same place. OR wait a good 2 years and then do an integrated course. Take the first option if the desperation to fly is clouding your judgement and making you feel impulsive. Whatever you do, DO NOT enrol on a course now, you would have to be mad to. As WWW said in another thread the qualifications gained from training are very time specific, very costly to maintain and the skills will go very rusty without strict discipline and the money to service them in the meantime.

[MerNion]

Was this reply for me?
If yes, i do have a PPL and already fly some hours each month.. I didn't say i will start in 6 months for sure.. That's when i will be finishing my military service (1 year of military service here in Greece) and will be able to start it. I don't want to get off topic and "destroy" flyboy's thread, i wll just send you a pm with some questions.. Thanks

[TheBeak]

Yeah it was intended for you and anyone else who is considering training or has begun training in a modular way. I think it is pretty relevent to the thread but sure if you have some questions, fire away. It is my opinion for what it's worth, I don't have a crystal ball and I don't have an axe to grind. Anyone who tells you to go for it right now either works on the management side of an FTO, is on drugs, doesn't like you or should be sectioned.

[volunteerpilot]

i did IR but for my own use (business travel). Having seen how easily airlines get rid of pilots (that is if you ever get a job in first place), decided against pursuing career as an airline pilot.

An if you wonder why no one wants to do professional pilot training at the mo, have a look at images below.

Pictured: The graveyard where 'credit crunched' budget airlines send unwanted passenger jets | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083888/Pictured-The-graveyard-credit-crunched-budget-airlines-send-unwanted-passenger-jets.html)

Note the phrase at the beggining;
Like giant toys discarded by a careless child, this collection of abandoned aeroplanes is a stark reminder of the current parlous state of the air industry.

Many compare Sep 11 to this crisis but its not the same. Post Sept 11 was bad due to security and once you improve security measures, that restores customer confidence and the industry bounces back. Current crisis happened due to economic slowdown, green revolution, high fuel costs, low cost airlines undercutting bigger companies and using "pay to work" scheme(scam) to get cheap labour etc etc.

The question was: How many people do CPL/IR right now? I guess very few wise ones.:8

[TheBeak]

No very few wise people (i.e. no one in their right mind) would START a CPL/IR now or continue with one if they have not overly commited.

[Golf Sierra Sierra]

Answer - when it is the right time for you personally.

I am currently doing CPL/IR and I chose now for the simple reason that it was the right time for me in my life. For the past 20 years, the time has not been right for me due to family and financial commitments. It did not matter that there was a shortage of pilots in the last few years as I could not take time out to train for the qualifications. If I wait for the current downturn to run its course, then I might not be in a position to train later due to work commitments etc. So, what the industry does actually comes second in my opinion to what position you have in your personal life. Get the qualification, then it is a case of wait and see (if you can afford to do it that way of course).

This view is more relevant to the mature candidate with financial and family commitments rather than someone straight out of school etc.

Just my view - the hardest thing for me was finding the right time to actually do the training.

GSS

[RTN11]

CPL starts Monday. I'm looking to be a career instructor, not all that interested in the airlines right now with the current employment chances. That view might change in a couple of years.

[moona]

Was planning on CPL/IR but due to current situation now just going to do the CPL part time. If things pickup in the future will do the IR then, just hope its within the 36 month limit because I dont fancy doing those exams again.

[RTN11]

Right now, I'm focused on being a career instructor. I will do my IR in a year or so, and aim to teach CPL, ME and IR eventually.

Having said that, if in 5-10 years time the airline industry is once again looking for loads of pilots, and I have plenty of hours, I may well take a career change.

[OscarVictorKilo]

About halfway through IR training. ATPL next.

[Dane-Ger]

CPL and FI in a months time, IR, I'll wait a year or two with. Hopefully get some weekend work as an FI whilst still working as a teacher during the week.