Luke, if nothing else thank you for being the miserable barstand this time instead of me
I too have ex-students out there struggling to find work with massive debt and although they are all good blokes its very very hard for them. Truth is there are hundreds of excellent pilots out there with <1000hrs and a Frzn ATPL. Getting noticed and picked out amongst them is damn difficult. I certainly wouldn't like to try right now.
That said I see some rays of light.
Britannia are hiring as have MyTravel. BA will have to if they don't contract in the next year. BACE already have recruited a few in recent months. easyJet have 120 Airbus to crew with only 60 Boeing crew. People like Channel Express and Excel and Astraeus all appear to prosper and take on new people as does EAC (anyone fancy 747-200 as their first job!).
Some of the smaller operators such as Emerald are also quietly hiring people in recent weeks. I have even heard of someone being taken on as an instructor last week which is unusual for this time of year.
The UK economy seems to have dodged a recession (just) and when compared to our continental cousins is well placed to speed ahead in the next couple of years.
True a Sept11th 2 or major war in the Gulf will dampen down the embers of recovery very nicely. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen.
I find myself repeating my views of 12 months ago. It might be wiser to start slowly now on the modular route than to go rushing to join an integrated course. If you can stretch out the training over the next two and a half years whilst remaining in your current employment then that might be a very shrewd approach to becoming an airline pilot.
WWW