Changing careers

[Shake]

SMM:

Just in case you are serious:

Get as much info as you can from either the GCAA or perhaps the Dubai Flying Club to see where you stand before you part with any money. The first thing I would recommend is a medical to ensure that you can hold a Class 1 which you will need to be a pilot.

Depending on the outcome of this and the advice from the GCAA/flying school I should imagine that you would have several options:

As a UAE national you could apply for a cadetship with Emirates. This would be difficult to obtain but definately worth a try. Other airlines offer limited sponsorships but these are rare and often the first victims of the accountants.

The other option is the expensive one of 'the self improver route'. You could train in the UAE or go abroad to the UK, US or Austrailia. Visas have become more difficult to obtain post 911 but are still issued. The US with the sliding dollar offers the best value and now offer approved JAR training in conjunction with UK schools like Cabair. A JAR licence would be recognised by the UAE and avoid more traning costs (check with GCAA). An approved JAR course would take under 2 years and probably 250 hours flying, including multi-engine for the instrument rating, but please check these requirements as they change.

Staying in the UAE, I would recommend the Fujairah Flying Club and worth a visit. They have a good set up with relatively new and well equipped aircraft (including aircon which is vital). The airport itself is not as busy as Dubai so you would spend more time in the air than on the ground. The only downside is the weather which is standard UAE milk for long periods during the year, for that the US and in particular Florida stands out (nb: hurricanes Sep/Oct/Nov, don't camp out in a trailer park)

Whatever you do do not part with any money upfront to any school whatever they say. Once you pay you are open to abuse and may find that other students get your instructor for the day leaving you hanging around longer than you had planned or budgeted for.

It is a long, expensive, but generally rewarding process and will need your total dedication with no guarentee of employment at the end of it...but if you want it enough you will succeed. Do it for the love of it and not the money, those days have passed.