Current pilots and where they trained

[EGCC4284]

PPL at Welshpool in August 1999 (4 week intense course)
Finished all my training October 2005
PPL Welshpool
Hour building at Barton in a shared Cessna 150
ATPL correspondence course at Bristol Ground School
CPL JD Aviation at Manchester Airport
IR at Ravenair at Liverpool Airport
MCC at The Flight Centre Wolverhampton
Cost of training about £45,000
No A or O levels. Average CSE's
3 interview and sim assessments in 15 months
2 Jet job offers in the space of 4 weeks in January 2007
Now RHS 737 for a charter out of Manchester
39 years old and 440 hour when I started
Type rating done at CTC over 2 months
Just finished line training and just completed line check
Intend being here until I retire

Whilst modular training, I was an aircraft refueller at Manchester for 9 years.
This is were I got the idea to become a Commercial Pilot

Prior to that, I was a long distance lorry driver for 10 years. I drove for Eddie Stobarts for 3 years and still have the uniform. I also drove hazardous chemical waste tankers for 6 years, quiet a dangerous job carrying some real nasty gear all over the UK for treatment or disposal. Someone had to do it.

Peoples perception of Lorry Drivers and of Commercial Pilots are quite different. I am still the same person.

A bit of advice to all wannabe's

Don't look too far ahead in what training you have left to do.

This will make you disheartened. Concentrate on the particular bit of training you are currently doing. Take one step at a time.

There is always someone in their training wishing they were in your position.
i.e., when you have completed your PPL, there will be someone you know who has just started their PPL training wishing they were in your shoes.

When you have hour built, their is always someone wishing they had the hours you have

When you have passed your 14 ATPL exams, there is always someone started that correspondence course wishing they were in your shoes.

This is the same with regards all the training required to become a Commercial Pilot.

So when you feel a bit down about how long it takes, remember, there is always someone behind you wishing they were in your shoes.

Believe in yourself and try to be positive and network, network and network.

Make sure your CV is very well prepared and laid out professionally. There are a couple of people who use pprune who help with this service. They also do interview preparation courses. Pilot Pete (Peter Smith) and Penny Austin are 2 that spring to mind.

If you fail an interview or sim assessment, learn from it and take that to your next interview and assessment.

Good luck everyone.

Regards Rob