The main problem as I see it is GLOSSY BROCHURES.
Selling pipe dreams to gullible teens and their parents.
The exact same problem exists in both The United States and Europe.
In America, they try to sell you on a four year university program.
They claim that 'The Majors' just love graduates for ______ University.
All your parents have to do is sign up for $180,000 in debt and your success is all but guaranteed.
In the United Kingdom I've seen the marketing from the Big 3.
All your parents have to do is sign up for 100,000 Pounds in debt and your success is all but guaranteed.
Yes, it does happen. People do some times get B737/A320 jobs straight out of school. And we are also interested in doing the same. But beware, this is not the best way of doing things.
Ports harbor talks about the dangers of glass cockpit and side stick controls as a primary trainers. All valid points. So why not take it a step further and learn true stick and rudder in a proverbial Aeronca Champ from a proverbial farmers field. What would be wrong with buying an aircraft and really learning how to fly it for about 500 hours.
How did I spend my day before flying lessons began after school. By cleaning spark plugs, gapping plugs to equal 19 thou gaps, and testing them so that they fire from all electrodes. Learning how to maintain an aircraft will give you a far better understanding of operating it.
TowerDog. I once couldn't get on a Eastern Metro Twin Otter from St Thomas to San Juan as they were all full. So I went over to the cargo side of the airport where I talked to Five Star DC-3 pilots who gave me and my girlfriend a lift to San Juan. At about 50 ft the co-pilot got out of his seat, and I flew it to San Juan and did the landing on runway 10. Wasn't by any chance you was it?
I firmly believe that ALL careers should start in The United States with a minimum of 200 flying hours.