What can I do now?

[grussell]

I'm just sorting some things out before I can do my GFT for my PPL. I'm also in second year studying aeronautical engineering. My goal is to fly and get paid for it (what a life, eh?). Because of recent events leading to the reduction of flying scholarships available i.e. sweet FA, I'm just curious if anyone out there has any useful suggestions as to what I can do in the meantime, while I will be continuing logging up the hours. Apart from pestering the various airlines out there, is there any other direction I could look to in order to make obtaining that ATPL that bit easier? Any help is very much appreciated.

[Autofly]

RMBF,

I'm in a similar situation other than I think your probably slightly younger than me which means you have time on your side.

Once you've done your GFT it is very easy to slip into bad habits when taking your friends and family flying (i.e. track crawling etc.etc.) Make sure that in every entry into your logbook post PPL GFT you do something useful like go to an airfield you've never been to before, do a night rating, do some steep turns and stalls, have a crack at some flapless approaches, go to Netherthorpe where the runway is dam short!!!! You get the idea. What i'm trying to put across is it can be very easy to get out of practice let alone increase your experience.

Basically my advice is to keep doing what your doing and ride out the storm that the industry has thrown at us all. You've got time on your side for sure so there's no real rush. Danny and co didn't start their commercail stuff till late on and i reckon they've done pretty well for themselves. See how the situation pans out. You may find in a year or two its all rosey again and you'll do a CAP 509 or a modular. Until then just enjoy what your doing.

Good luck

Autofly

[ssnelson]

RMBF

I am in the a similar situation.

I am 23 years old, HNC computing and 5 years industrial experience and after 11/09 I have become a little stuck with what to do next. I am just holding on know while the idustry gets it act together before trying for the next step.

I passed my GFT just before christmas (Hence BabyPilot) so I have some hour building I can get on with for know.

Good Luck for the GFT

[ssnelson]

RMBF

I am in the a similar situation.

I am 23 years old, HNC computing and 5 years industrial experience and after 11/09 I have become a little stuck with what to do next. I am just holding on know while the idustry gets it act together before trying for the next step.

I passed my GFT just before christmas (Hence BabyPilot) so I have some hour building I can get on with for know.

Good Luck for the GFT

[grussell]

Like you have rightly pointed out autofly, I don't intend on letting my standard of flying drop. I strive to do the best I can at whatever I do (plus by keeping standards up I should get my other ratings in minimum hours, in theory). Bad habits start early. Like you said, vary each flight. I hope to start training for my IMC come summer; a bit early to start that after the PPL (hopefully, if all goes to plan)? Perhaps, but I think it should be a good way to improve the accuracy of your flying. Besides, if our weather got any worse an IMC would be standard as part of your PPL training! By the way, congrats on your PPL Babypilot.

[DB6]

While it won't help directly with an airline application, if you're hours building I would recommend getting some aerobatics in. There is nothing better you can do in an aeroplane :) .

[grussell]

Well, there might be one thing, but I think it would be safer to have an autopilot system for that. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">