Should i Chase my dream and carry on my training

[CPL]

most people are telling me its pointless but seems as tho, I've got my ppl, class 1, atpl training on going at BGS, 40hours p1.. i may aswell get my frozen atpl

or is it not worth it as we are in a recession and there won't be any jobs at the end of it all... HELPPP :ugh:

[AlexanderH]

Sure as long as you can afford it. Bear in mind you may well need to pay for your TR and line training program after your CPL.

[TheSkyIsTheLimit]

I'd say go for it! It costs a lot of money, but as long as you can afford it, why not? You'll find a job eventually, but it won't be easy these days (for what I've read anyway). Good luck!

[RTN11]

i may aswell get my frozen atpl

How can you be so casual about it? This is the biggest decision you will ever make.

So far you have your PPL, built 30 hours post PPL, and have paid £200 for a class one. All in all, that's no more than £10k.

You're now thinking about spending a further £50k or so on the "frozen ATPL" when very few people are hiring low hours people right now. You've got to be pretty sure it's what you want to do. I took the decision, but not lightly, and never once thought "I may aswell".

Once you start training, and it's clear there will be no job, it's very easy to then throw good money after bad to chase the dream, I have seen a lot of people lose out this way.

If it's your only passion, and you are absolutely sure, then go for it. But don't just think "I may aswell!"

Remeber you only have 3 years from the end of the groundschool to complete the CPL and IR or the exams will expire, at current prices (which are only every going up) that's at least £40k

[pudoc]

You only have one life. If it's a dream and something you genuinely want to do then you'd be a fool not to.

[Ollie23]

You'll find a job eventually

This is a very common misconception. Many fATPls never find a paid flying job, eventually they run out of either money or patience and cut their losses.

If you can afford to write the money off and you have a solid back up plan then by all means you "may aswell' have a spin.

[330airbus]

Only do it if it really is your dream.
There were guys in my flight school that were 35-39.
Friend of mine has a friend that quit his job that paid him 160K a year and is 42 to start training.
Was it foolish? Probably.
But he really wanted to TRY and fulfill what he's dreamt of, and I don't think that's stupid

The job status for newbies is extremely tough.
You need a lot of luck, and / or connection.
It takes patience, and unless you really want to become a Pilot, don't bother with it.

Good Luck whatever you decide.

[Dan the weegie]

Too many people not enough jobs.

You will need more than an FATPL to get a job, you'll need quite a lot of money and the ability to get out there and actually seek out the jobs. you can sit at home and apply online all you like but it will get you nowhere.

I'm working and I love it but it's been a seriously hard slog and it's not like my job is 100% secure.

Sure it's a dream but there are other great careers out there you can get into that cost you a lot less than the 80k you haven't spent yet (TR included) you've spent at the moment 7k at the most plus flying hours.

Why not get your exams and wait a year before doing your CPL and see if you really still want to do it??

[pudoc]

G-RICH,

You're completely and 100% right.

But when it comes to living my life facts and figures mean nothing. I don't care if it takes me 10 years to get a job, I have a good back up which will allow me to not only keep current but fly regularly for leisure if things don't work out.

When I'm 80 years old I'll always regret not going through with the career I decided when I was little. And I suggest this guy doesn't give up on his dream either. Just make sure it is a real dream you have, and not something you want to because you saw a plane out the window one morning.

Live life by the heart.

[BigNumber]

Actually the market is already starting to improve. Jobs are coming through now and at pace.

Indeed, most acknowledge that in the medium term there will in fact be a pilot shortage.. that's a fact.

Training WILL lead to employment.

[KAG]

Should i Chase my dream and carry on my training
most people are telling me its pointless but seems as tho, I've got my ppl, class 1, atpl training on going at BGS, 40hours p1.. i may aswell get my frozen atpl

or is it not worth it as we are in a recession and there won't be any jobs at the end of it all... HELPPP





The American Petroleum Institute estimated in 1999 the world's oil supply would be depleted between 2062 and 2094, assuming total world oil reserves at between 1.4 and 2 trillion barrels (220 and 320 km3) and consumption at 80 million barrels per day (13,000,000 m3/d). In 2004, total world reserves were estimated to be 1.25 trillion barrels (199 km3) and daily consumption was about 85 million barrels (13,500,000 m3), shifting the estimated oil depletion year to 2057. A study published in the journal Energy Policy by researchers from Oxford University, however, predicted demand would surpass supply by 2015 (unless constrained by strong recession pressures caused by reduced supply or government intervention).

[AndoniP]

pudoc, 330airbus,

i'm in the same boat - i'm 38 and have the opportunity to start my CPL etc now that I have my PPL and some hours.

being stuck in an office all day gives you a lot of time to reflect on what you really want from life and whether you fully understand what you're getting into. you wouldn't give it a quick thought.

work hard to get your qualification, work hard to get yourself a job afterwards, work hard in your new job, when you retire you'll be satisfied with your professional career.

[KAG]

being stuck in an office all day

Your office is surely bigger than my cockpit.

Bush pilot in Indonesia or Africa would maybe imply some outdoor activities, but the airline pilot is stuck in a very small place for hours, if you don't like to be stucked you'll miss your office pretty soon.

[AndoniP]

KAG
it's just as much who i work with and the industry i'm in. it's god awful.
much better to be sat in the cockpit flying an aircraft that flying a desk being shouted at.

[KAG]

I understand.

[pudoc]

Oil is a problem, but there will be a solution so I wouldn't worry too much.

[Torque Tonight]

You'll find a job eventually

Not necessarily. Many never do and they don't get a refund either. When you make a decision consider facts, not wishful thinking.

[Shane C]

CPL - I am only 25 years old and you'd be thinking what do I know? Well, I've had a few jobs and tried different career's but like most of us on here, we realised that we wanted to become pilot's. In my view, there is no better job out there for me. Sure, every job has it's downsides and I'm sure aviation is no exception. For example; trying to break in to it and getting your first job is a major downside considering hundereds of thousands spent and no guarnatee of a job.

My advice to you is to seriously go away and have a think is this really want to do with your life?? If that answer is no, well you have saved money overall. If the answer is yes, then for goodness sake, go for it and do your absoulute hardest to get an airline job or at least a flying job. From my experience and pilot's I have talked to, being on an integrated course at an FTO is your best option. Just continue with it and pass your flight test's etc, get your MCC and JOC and apply, apply, apply!!

Torque Tonight - This is what worries me the most. But you must not give up. Unfortunately, luck does seem to play a rather big part in getting an airline job as well as 'who you know.'

For example, a mate of mine just landed a job at A.W.E and he got in not because of his qualifications, but because of who he knew.

[sevenstrokeroll]

in 1982 I was offered a job at apple computer. today, I'm a 737 pilot for a major airline...and everyday I wish I had taken the job at apple computer.

I would have had more money...alot more money...a whole helluva lot more money, I mean even the custodians became millionaires.

I've seen the pilot profession go to hell. pay cuts of some fifty percent, loss of pensions...compromises everywhere.

IF I had taken the job at apple computer, would I be sick now wishing I had been an airline pilot?

And when I had this decision to make I had more hours than you, an ATPMELCFIIMEI and less money than you.

good luck and if you need more help making a decision...you probably shouldn't be a pilot.

[M-ONGO]

AlexanderH
*
Sure as long as you can afford it. Bear in mind you may well need to pay for your TR and line training program after your CPL.


This makes my blood boil. When will you people realise pay to play is not the way forward? If you have to pay for it, stick to being a weekend warrior. You people have made our industry what it is - dire. To the original poster, use the money elsewhere. Fly for fun and enjoy it.

[AndoniP]

like it or loathe it m-ongo, it's the way it is now. for people who have the money and time is not on their side then thats the quickest way to getting a job. you can argue this all you like, but it beats spraying your CV around and waiting for years. the sad fact is that airlines don't have to and prefer not to wear that cost any more as there are enough people paying their own way these days.

[CPL]

Thanks for all the replays people, currently I'm self employed buying and selling cars, I'm not the kind of person who's bothered about how much money they spend when training to fly because i love it, its something many other people will not experience, i know that the industry at the moment isn't in its best of ways but surely soon all these captions will be turning grey and retiring therefore they will start having pilot shortages, some of us have to fill that gap :confused:

what I'm doing at the moment on a good week i could earn £1500 and a bad week nothing so money is and isn't an issue, just want a bit of advice off them pilots out there now living the dream in a cockpit.. what path should i take

[Memphis_bell]

I make decisions using a basic moto:

If in doubt, there is no doubt.

I am in no doubt that I am a career pilot. Think about that............

[AndoniP]

CPL

If you really want to do it then do it, it's nearly impossible to predict when the situation will change so don't think like that. It's whether you think you can forge a career for yourself amongst all the other qualified pilots out there. There are jobs... you've just got to go far to make it work.

[SFI145]

I went solo in 1965 and had a long career in airlines and VIP flying. In the 70s and 80s it was great but I would not honestly advise anyone to be a professional civil pilot these days.

If you love flying - get a job that can fund your flying and join a group. The novelty of being an 'airline pilot' wears off very quickly when you are subjected to extreme fatigue, continual security checks and missing your child's birthday party.