Parents and gaining an fATPL

[pilottom]

Hi all,

I am in a bit of a sticky situation! I am in my first year of university and not enjoying it at all and want to do my training to obtain my fATPL. However, I have spoken to my parents and they aren't particularly happy for me to leave uni and do my pilots licence. I am able to fund the training myself, so its not like I will need their backing financially, though I would much prefer them to be behind me and be happy with me doing my training. :hmm:

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could do, to either persuade my parents that it is the right thing to do, or what I should do with respect to uni/pilot training? :confused:

Your help is much appreciated,

pilottom.

[bfato]

Do they still have University Air Squadrons these days?

[pilottom]

they apparently do, however I haven't had much success in finding one a my uni. (i'm at Edinburgh if anyone can help.)

[A320rider]

all I can say, it is good to have a second qualification as a back up.
many pilots do not find a job, or have lost their job for medical reason.
so you should really stick on your studies, and wait for your aviation training.
you can still fly and log some hours during the week end.
you parents are right all the way!!!!

[FOPaul]

Hello there ask the RAF careers office about UAS. You can be affiliated elsewhere to another uni, not the one you are at. Have you tried GAPAN, the Air League for scholarships? Uni is a good idea if you do the right degree. Being a Physics grad myself, i have sent emails to alot of airlines and nearly everyone returned my email, saying they will keep my CV on file for a while, until I get fully qualified. There is a debate on the forums about whether a degree is a good thing....Well I heard a few airlines like candidates with degrees..If you want to start now and you have the funds go for it..remember at the end of it there is 15K to pay off for your loan! Hope this helps....

[JustAnotherVictim]

they apparently do, however I haven't had much success in finding one a my uni. (i'm at Edinburgh if anyone can help.)

10 seconds of Googling provided this

http://www.swirling.co.uk/esuas/

Good luck:ok:

[mad_jock]

Go with your parents suggestion.

Your young plenty of time left.

Unless you really have a burning urge to join the forces stay clear of the Air Squadron.

You will proberly find that the EDI has a gliding club. Go see what thats like. The hand feet stuff in gliding will help with powered flight and its good fun and cheap.

And if say in your 3rd year you still want to be a pilot think about doing a PPL that summer. And get a class 1 medical now just to make sure you can actually work as a commercial pilot. It seems daft setting your life up to be a pilot then find out that you can't.

You have to start planning now how to be different from everyone else when it comes round to writing your first CV for your first job. And I don't mean president of the Union. This goes for all jobs not just being a pilot.

Things like.

TA officer.
Special Constable.
First responce medic for the ambulance service etc.
Team sports
Become an instructor in a practical hobby eg Scuba diving.

It all gives you life experence to pull on later when it comes to writing CV's and filling out application forms.

You don't want to have to write for:

"tell us about a confrontation situation and how you dealt with it"

well there was this big lesbian in chambers street union and she took exception to some engineers talking about flange design. Luckly I was able to blindside her and belt her round the head with a fire extingisher before to much damage occured. I learned alot about customer relations while working as a bouncer at the student union.

MJ

A320 how come you manage to come out with utter pish on some threads and yet on others your advice is actually quite sound.

[Blinkz]

I went to edinburgh university and I can highly recommend joining the Edinburgh university gliding club. I was a member for 5 years and did lots of flying. Its a great start to learning to fly and nice a cheap!!

[Flightlevel001]

Hi mate,

Your nearest Air Squadron I believe is ESUAS (East Scotland). They do their flying up at RAF Leuchars with the Grob Tutors in the circuit with Tornado F3s. Interesting... :uhoh:

[47Club]

pilottom

As others have already commented having a degree is useful as a basis for a plan B career should there be one of those cyclical downturns in the pilot market. At the moment the market is predicted to go up and up which gives you the 4 years it will take to complete your degree followed by your fatpl.

At the end of this time investing in your career you will be of an optimal age to approach employers with impressive qualifications and get off to a great start.

The biggest challenge most face is money which is not an issue for you so take it all in your stride would be my advice.

Good luck whatever you decide to do!

47club

[On speed on profile]

pilottom,

Mate, Ive been in exactly your position. 1 1/2 years into a degree, I started hating it and my old man said "finish your degree and I will help you get your license!".

I did just that. Started my PPL and hour building straight away and then my CPL/ATPL exams after that. Once I left uni, I was fully prepped and prepared to do a solid 6 months flying and training and I got my CPL/IR soon after finishing my degree.

Its amazing what a motivator to finish your degree hating the thing is so you spend as little time there as possible!

Your obviously in a very envious position (being able to finance a license without debt as well as go to uni) so dont throw that away! Keep going with your degree, try UAS (if only to get some free flying) and enjoy it! Do your PPL on the side!! And then get stuck in once you finish. It will all be over before you know it! You wont regret staying at uni.

Trust me!!

Cheers

OSOP

[sstaurus]

Hey

Just like most people here have said, I would finish up with University. I'm pretty much in your same position, but I am in 3rd year. I am going to get my PPL this summer, then finish 4th, and see where my finances are to continue with CPL and on after that. However, I only have scraped together enough for my PPL now, it's going to be tricky after that.

But you definitely want the degree now, no matter how much you (and I) don't like it. Otherwise you're setting yourself up to be living with your parents when you can't get a job flying. :eek:

[Ropey Pilot]

I think you have your answer!

Even without the qualification as a fallback option - just search on these threads and you will see a lot of people with 250hrs and a shiny fATPL and no job - you will simply join the queue.

The fact you are able to fund yourself at this early stage suggests that you have options available to make yourself more 'interesting' to employers - everyone has at least 250 hours and a fATPL since it is a requirement to apply for the job; what have you currently got on your CV that sets you apart? (some interesting suggestions already given above since you probably wont to have to work every evening and holiday waiting tables/keeping bar just to pay your bank manager)

And if your CV is already looking a bit thin then also think think about how an employer will view you when you explain what you have done since leaving school (started uni - couldn't hack it and quit/ didn't like it so gave up; now can I work for you please:= )

And finally - while flying a jet for a living is great; it does become 'just a job' no matter how exciting it seems now (although still better than many others I could mention:) Why not do lots of interesting stuff while you can - travel round Africa - volunteer in the jungles in central America with VSO etc etc. You won't get holidays of that length again till you retire!

[Tonic Please]

Ropey Pilot,

I found alot of inspiration in your thread.

Thank you.

[pilgrim flyer]

Pilottom

As both a university lecturer and a flying instructor, I might take issue with your parents advice. In my 'day' job as a lecturer I deal with many people who are studying the wrong subject at the wrong point in their lves for the wrong reasons.

It rather depends on what you are studying as to whether you will have a plan B by carrying on your studies. Most degrees prepare you to learn to be marketable, rather giving you directly marketable skills. Likewise, an integrated CPL/IR does not turn you into a sought after employee over night.

One option would be to finish your 1st year, speak to your tutor about putting your degree on hold and then go for the ATPL. On completion, were you to find your flying career taking a little while to get going, then you could resume your studies. Or you could resume them part time. The advantage of doing this is that you would be set up with a prospective career and also you would have a wider perspective on life, a great asset in an undergraduate.

Beware of the motivations of others in giving you advice (including myself!)- did your parents go to university/ do they see it in terms of 'status'? - for example.

Some years ago a friend of mine asked the same advice on being offered a cadetship in year 2 at university. He jacked it in, is now a senior 1st officer with BA and has no regrets.

Ultimately though, as in all things in life, you need to be true to yourself and follow your passion!

Good luck.

PF

[A320rider]

A320 how come you manage to come out with utter pish on some threads and yet on others your advice is actually quite sound.
If I start the topic, I love to fire it!!!!;)(ego problem to fix)

[pilottom]

Thanks for all your advice everyone! :ok:

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do, though you've given me some interesting ideas, so I I'll have to think them through and speak to my parents again over my Easter break.

Many thanks again for your help and good luck to everyone with their chosen career.

pilottom