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Old 17th Jan 2022, 08:48
  #17 (permalink)  
Uplinker
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,486
Received 95 Likes on 56 Posts
I would say to the OP to have a long careful think about this. Do you want any flying or airline flying, and will you need an ATPL?

I you have a family, be aware that even if you get through the ATPL, then all the on-line pre-testing, the time limited classroom tests, the interviews, the SIM tests, the type rating, the line training, the final line check; that as a brand new pilot with no experience, you might be sent to the worst/ most distant base and you won't have the seniority to go part-time or choose your base, so your family will suffer. Not much point going down this road if you spend your life in a single room and only see your children for 1.5 days every fortnight. Then there is the cost of training, self positioning and digs to factor in.

That's OK when you are 25 with no family, but difficult in later life, and marriages can suffer.

Also; flying used to be fun, but nowadays there are stringent security checks, hi-viz police, Covid procedures, fatigue, very short turn-arounds, relentless schedules, positioning by road and air. It can be very hard work - before you even start the actual flying part ! (and even then you have locked cockpit doors, and maybe auto-pilot mandated operations and probably low pay). You will also fly at weekends and at Christmas and will not be able to see your mates down the pub on a regular basis, if at all.
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