1st Cabin Crew, then ATPL - Can it work??

[Oli EZ]

Hi everyone,

I'm a recent uni graduate and i'm now looking for my first 'proper' job. I am a PPL(A) holder and have every intention, since I first put feet on the pedals of a RAF Bulldog, of gaining my ATPL in the not too distant future.

Being a £10k+ in debt to the student loan sharks is not a great starting point so i would like to work my way out of that situation before embarking on whichever route I take to fATPL. The way i want to go is the most Airline/Aviation Industry friendly way possible. People have suggested that Cabin Crew would be an excellent job to embark on as it would provide me with great industry contacts, not to mention a greatly bolstered knowledge of the industry into which I want to end up in.

Would this be a good idea? If anyone is in the know, your wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Oli

[A and C]

I can think of at least three people in the company that I work for that have got into the flight deck the way that you are thinking of........... go for it ! and good luck ! !

[beauport potato man]

i started off in this game straight from Uni also - with a normal amount of student debt.

I had the same ideas as you (but without the PPL) and went straight from uni to long haul cabin crew for BA on the B747 / B777 / B767.

After 3 1/2 years of talking to a great many people and saving as hard as i could i started my training from ppl to full commercial.
It was hard work (as i'm sure has been discussed many a time on here) and was made even worse by completing my course post 9/11, but i haven't regretted a thing.

Been flying for 3 years now, on a jet for the last two, and moving onto a big shiny airbus in the new year.

The debts are almost all gone, and i'm looking forward to a long and fun career.

It must seem like a financial mountain to climb at the moment - and lots and lots of hard work, but as (most.......) the pilots on here will testify - it's a great job with great people and a fantastic view.

I hope you succeed!

BPM

[Conc]

Several pilots working for the company I work for are ex cabin crew. Whatever you choose to do, Good luck!

[Dozza2k]

a friend of mine has also made the switch from the back to the front office. It sounds like it happens quite a bit.........

[Re-Heat]

If you can put yourself in a position whereby you can earn more than cabin crew with your degree, then go for that - though crew are close to aviation, the lower pay than graduate salaries could mean you are frustrated in your ambitions for longer.

Weigh up whether you really will get contacts in the industry in Cabin Crew, or whether you can gain more contacts in a graduate job that are of more use ultimately in your career.

If you have a 2:1 or better from Nottingham, join KPMG's accountancy practice and work in their aviation audit sector. You'll see more contact there than as crew.

[CaptHairDryer]

Can it work? Jeez I hope so. I am currently 1 year into pushing peanuts, which I joined to get some contacts whilst I get my wings aswell as the amazing $$$ and intro to the industry. Currently have PPL moving on to ATPL now, it is amazing the things I have learnt in 1 year from 'the guys up the front'. Every sector is a new lesson I suppose, and I know the contacts I have made in this job will hopefully one day pay off. I know the day I say "ok I have my CPL" I will have many tech crew saying "now call this guy. Or this guy is expecting your call". Oh not long to go now....
Good luck oli!

[Oli EZ]

Wow!

Thanks to everyone for all your great advice, feeling extremely positive about the move as a result. Just managed to get hold of a loosely connected friend of a friend of a friend who has been working for BA on the ground side of things (check-in and other customer relations) and she couldn’t stop singing their praises… very encouraging!

Thanks Reheat for your advice too, appreciate the other angle of attack put forward in your post, I got a 2:2 in Product Design with Sustainable futures, I know… could have done better! Realised by the last year that it definitely was not for me, although I do not regret doing the course at all as I learnt far more than just Product Design in my three years there.

Very jealous of your position Mr Potato, sounds like you’ve really landed on your feet, so to speak…very inspirational to hear how you made it, helps keep the fire burning. And CaptainHairDryer the same for you too, sounds like you are not too far off now and I’m glad to hear the positive character with which you write, yet again… you have helped me towards my decision! :D I hope that everything goes well for you all in the future!

If anyone still feels that they have something to add, please do... it will be greatly appreciated.

For instance, does anybody have recommendations towards any specific airlines??

Thanks again

Oli

[MrHorgy]

I hope this works, because that's what i'm planning on doing myself! Even if it doesn't, I think crew are quite well paid and I absolutely adore my job in the meantime, it's a good way to meet new people and see what the industry is like!

Horgy

[MonarchA330]

Hey,

I also did cabin crew before starting my training as a pilot. There is another guy on my course who did CC aswell.

Obviously, doing cabin crew won't make your flying skills any better, but what it will do is give you a fantastic insight into how the other half of the flight team works. Having done CC, I know appreciate how much work they actually have to do, how hard things are for them in an emergency aswell and down to little things such as when is not the best time to bug them for a cup of tea!

As already mentioned, it will also give you a great chance to make contacts within the industry.

I'd def recomend it!

M330

[geordiejet]

Hey,m im in much the same position, i Just left Uni, but I saved my loan, and spent that on my basic training this summer. Now im distance learning, and hoping to get a job as cabin crew, for which i soon have an interview for temporary cabin crew next season. Im hoping to get the exams of stage uone done, then study for stage two whilst working as an FA. But good luck mate :-)

[Piltdown Man]

There are plenty of people (I personally know of a dozen or so of former colleagues) who gone along this route. The very best pilots, amazingly, also were the the very best cabin crew! But whilst this does work as a route, remember that when you are Cabin Crew, you are employed as such. Put as much effort into doing that job as professionally as you can and you won't be disappointed with the end outcome.

[Oli EZ]

Thanks for the sound advice Pilotdown Man, I will of course put my full 100% into the job at hand when I’m (hopefully) working as CC, got to be the best you can be or else what’s the point?!

Geordiejet, how are you finding distance learning? (As I’m thinking about this option, should it prove to suit) And which carrier are you to be employed with? So far from implementing the pprune search facility I have deduced two Airlines that I would prefer to avoid if possible, but I would like to hear any Airline specific recommendations that anyone has.

Thanks for all the positive advice, comments and suggestions so far, they have been and continue to be invaluable. I reckon that being CC for a while (from everything said thus far) can only be a good thing towards making a better ‘well rounded’ pilot, though – yes I am pretty aware my flying skills won’t improve as a result! :D Maybe my sense of balance on the other hand....

Cheers for your time everyone!

Oli