Professional Pilot Training (includes ground studies)A forum for those on the steep path to that coveted professional licence. Whether studying for the written exams, training for the flight tests or building experience here's where you can hang out.
I taught a Doctor once to fly, he then went from being a Doctor to a fund manager in the City. Why because his Dad forced him to be a Doctor and he never wanted to be.
For what its worth my Kids are following non aviation careers having seen all the heartache this industry causes, but both have expressed an interest in learning to fly and gaining a PPL. So who knows, but I personally being an instructor examiner now wouldnt recommend spending much money on this industry at present, do it on the side down the modular route by all means, still dodgy though with so few getting jobs at the moment.
Have two plans one of then can be aviation but have another one as a backup, the Dr thing would be a good back up, many of my clients are surgeons and they earn twice or three times what an airline captain earns.
Hi FDP, glad you appreciate the workings of my warped mind. If your bro wants to fly helicopters for the Royal Machines he will have to join as a commissioned officer, the bootnecks used to allow non commissioned to fly but not any more. After officer basic training he would then have to serve a period as a junior troop commander with at least one operational tour under his belt before he could apply for flying training. After that he would have to pass medical and flying aptitude tests before starting flying training. He could not join RM straight away as a pilot in the way that he could join RAF or RN as a pilot.
AIMINGHIGH123, that's all fine and sounds ideal. But lets be honest, BerksFlyer and john_smith are probably right. You need heaps of luck and you have to be very smart. If I had the grades I probably would go and do law or medicine. This may sound cheesy but that's why aviation is perfect for me. You don't need excellent grades and it goes hand in hand with what I'm passionate about. It's still hard work (and you still have to be intelligent!), of course, and the pay may not be as great as in medicine or law, but, to me, it's the best job ever. Sitting in an office all day pushing paper, or doing endoscopies... no thanks! magicmick, sounds pretty tough. I shall suggest it to him nonetheless... Aware, taking it slow, doing the modular. That's my plan
Not enough people studying it plus the majority of Engineer Job Vacancies available at the minute are looking Electrical and Software Engineers. A friend of mine got his Full Degree Course and Two Year Masters in Electrical Engineering paid for through a Scholarship. Thats how short it is.
Do you like flying or do you just like the idea of being a pilot (Ray-Bans, uniforms, flight attendants, traveling, fancy hotels...)? I'm not trying to be mean, just you remind me of me when I was 17. And 18. And 19... Up until a while ago...
If you're really passionate about aviation, there are way better payed jobs out there. Think about Licensed Aircraft Maintenence Engineer or ATC. And if you really are passionate about flying those jobs would provide plenty of fun hours in the air. And even fill a few holes in poor ol dad's budget after he coughs up all the money for heli training.
I'll leave you with a thought of an airline pilot whom I have met on my medical: Being an airline pilot is like eating your favorite cake. If you eat it every day, eventually you'll get sick of it.
If your brother wants to fly rotary from zero, he could seriously do a lot worse than the military. He obviously won't have to pay a penny and the flying is about as varied as it gets - I'd try and push him that way if I were you - maybe you can then try to get funds from your dad!
aviofreek, how would you get to spend fun hours in the air as an ATC? And no, I don't really care about the pay. The things you mention, (Ray-Bans, etc) are a nice touch, but it's like you say - the novelty will wear off... Besides, I don't even like shades!! haha. And you can't be telling me that ATC and engineering are half as fulfilling as flying What happened ''up until a while ago''???
And you can't be telling me that ATC and engineering are half as fulfilling as flying
I can't speak for ATC, but my career in engineering has been every bit as fulfilling as my career in flying and I would hate to give it up any more than I would my flying.
Delivering a really well flown flight, or teaching somebody to fly a new aeroplane, is fantastic.
Solving the problem of why something failed on an aeroplane, certifying a new piece of kit, or seeing something that you designed built and flying, is every bit as satisfying as a good flight.
I'm not a maintenance engineer (well I am, but not to the standards of many of the people you'll find on PPRuNe), but I certainly know maintainers who get a similar level of satisfaction from delivering a serviceable aeroplane on time against a lot of adversity, or finding ways to incorporate a difficult modification.
G
(Chartered Engineer with PhD, Commercial Pilot with instructor and test pilot qualifications)
Hovermonkey, my plans exactly And G, sounds like you enjoy what you do a lot! Nice. And wiggy I think our friend Genghis wouldn't have had much spare time with that kind of CV...
I was in a very similar situation to you 5/6 years ago (as many others have been). Bit the bullet and did uni and wrote off the flying route.
Got my degree, now have a job in the aviation industry (best alternative) and am living life with freedom. 22 years old, living away from home, own place, own car, own money, no credit card, no debt. Booking holidays, trips etc...
I find the whole "becoming a pilot" route is all about how much you are willing to sacrifice. You say you may not go to uni. I definitely suggest you go for a job in the aviation industry at least as a stop gap to partly funding the flying.
imo starting ATPL trianing straight out of school is like running before you can walk. When do you get to a position where you are able to support yourself?
**I struggled to write that without sounding patronising. But it wasn't meant to be
DelayReducer, that's not patronising - it's good advice. I don't think I would start training right away. I will certainly look for some kind of work, though, to take the edge off my training costs. Doing it piece by piece should help too And, I would love a job in the aviation industry but what's open to me if I don't go to uni?
