Extremely important ,and seriuos issue here!
Hi fellow ppruners, I basically wish to word my feelings about the aviation industry today as we know it,it sucks!!. After spending a fortune on my training I feel absolutely digusted about the opportunties available, even though it stated throughout aviation related literature,that this decade is apparently the best possible time to be a Pilot. To a certain extent, yes it is (with the right contacts). I have applied to numerous Airlines around the world, and Europe, and been told that I lacked the experience required, but I constantly ask myself, how can one attain experience if you aren't given a chance to gain it, we all have to start somewhere, isn't that common sense. Even "Mr Fatcat" training Captain has been there, only then to knock our confidences back. I have a little under 400hrs, trained at one of the world's finest Aviation Institutions, have a 4 year degree,and alot of work experience, which without "blowing my horn", is more than the average "spotty faced kids" whose parents forked out a couple of pennies for them to do their training straight out of school, and then land a job. Not mentioning any names but I do know of one kid in particular whose Daddy happened to be a Chief Captain on one of the major UK Airlines,he wasn't the brightest, or quickest, but managed to land a job as an F/O on a 146 immediatedly after graduating. I applied to the same company, but was told to go away, build somemore time then call back in a year or two" this can't be an equal opportunites Company. I may sound very militant, but situations such as the one mentioned leave us no hope,yes I could have tried to build more hours by instructing or something, but I don't have a house to re-morgage, or a car to sell. This brings me to the conclusion that Aviation primarily in this country is a very conservative and selfish field to embark into, I only hope the budding Pilots of today investigate employment possibilities before embarking on a course of this nature. My last point concerns the lack of ethnic minorities in UK companies, I haven't seen that many in the majors, or Regional network. I ask this as I am black, and never in my life used the Racial card in any situation. I've always thought that if I didn't get something, perhaps I wasn't as good as I should have been. But with so many turn downs I am begining to feel that it could be, as I am well qualified, have a good personal, and educational back ground, and passed in the top percent of my class whilst in training. What do you think the reasons coulb be, I'd love to hear from everyone out there?