Training Success Poll

[wannabe2pilot]

Hi all,
it's been a while since i looked a pprune with any frequency, about two years infact. back then i was in the position that the majority of the readers of these forums seem to be in - i.e. looking into commercial pilot training and not knowing which of the many routes to follow. I was in the position of knowing very few pilots, and the few i did have contact with had trained many years before, so their advice on current self-sponsored training schemes was limited. After trawling around the internet (and clicking on a link on 'airliners.net' as it happened) i ended up on pprune.
It is amazing how similar the theads are today to those of 2-3 years ago. All the same debates rage; integrated vs modular, fte vs ctc vs oat, dergee or not, how old is too old etc.
As helpful as everyone's responces to these threads were/are, the result to any particular question posed was a long list of conflicting opinions. Some of these opinions were quite measured, some more extreme, some from veterans of the airline industry, some from people who'd never sat at the controls of an aircraft.
With such a variety of views of a given subject, i was invariably more confused after reading a thread than before. The conclusion i came to was that the only opinion that really counted was the one of the person interviewing for your first job. Unfortunately, in my experience, this group of people (airline interviewers/recruiters) are very guarded when it comes to divulging their personal opinion and are usually very vague when commenting on their airlines official policy on age, int v mod etc.

Getting to the point (finally), what i suggest is a factual poll of people who have completed training and have either landed a job flying aircraft or are in the process of looking. I believe that if enough people complete the poll honestly the results could be an invaluable source of information to those considering embarking on a career in aviation.
I appreciate that people may wish to maintain a degree of anonimity (myself included) so answers may be a little vague, dates and figures approximate etc.
As a final note to the many people who may take an occasional look at pprune but do not actually post (like myself), please take 10 mins of your time, set up a yahoo mail account, register with pprune and fill out the following questionaire. Also, please ask your pilot friends to do the same.

People can copy/paste this blank questionaire when replying:


Training route (integrated/modular):
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored:
Training School(s):
Date you commenced training:
Approx Age when you commenced training:
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) :
Approx cost of accomodation:
Did you have a job during training:
Have you obtained a flying job?:
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing):
Date of first successful interview:
Date of joining payroll:
Date of first line flight:
Aircraft Type:
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no):
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:
What was the cost of the type rating?:


That is about all I can think of in terms of usefull questions/information. I appreciate that people may not be able to remember the answers to some questions or may not wish to answer some questions. If this is the case please still complete the rest of the questionaire as the info will still be useful.

Hopefully if enough people reply we will see whether trends exist or not in whether certain criteria really effect your chances in the job market. Also, if we could keep the info as factual as possible and keep personal opinion and comments out until we get a decent number of replies that would be nice.

I appreciate that the people who take the time to fill this out will not be the people who benefit from it, but i think (if enough people answer, and answer honestly) it could be of much use to any current/future wannabes.

Many Thanks
:)

[wannabe2pilot]

Training route (integrated/modular): INTEGRATED
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: SELF SPONSORED
Training School(s): OAT
Date you commenced training: SEP 04
Approx Age when you commenced training: 24
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): YES (TECHNICAL)
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): JAN 06
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: £60000
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) : NO
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : NO
Approx cost of accomodation: £5000
Did you have a job during training: NO
Have you obtained a flying job?: YES
Airline/Comany/Training School (if instructing): LARGE UK AIRLINE
Date of first successful interview: NOV 05
Date of joining payroll: MAY 06
Date of first line flight: JULY 06
Aircraft Type: 737
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): NO
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?: N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?: N/A

[potkettleblack]

There was a thread a few months ago from memory where someone had put together a pretty comprehensive list of all the costs associated with going down the modular route. As you would expect the usual pprune rants started up and the poor chap was accused of over estimating (he had the bleedin receipts to prove most of his costs yet this wasn't enough for some people) and they could do it at half the price! At the end of the day people just want to see what they want to see.

I also seem to remember someone was going to knock up a spreadsheet to help "cost out" the various schools and work out the best bang for your buck. Didn't see anything more on this though.

If you do a search and can find it this might go someway to helping answer some of your thoughts/questions.

[Dan 98]

Training route (integrated/modular): Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored:Self Sponsored
Training School(s):Bristol Flying Centre
Date you commenced training:Aug 2004 PPL / Jan 2005 - Jan 2006 ATPL exams / Mar 2006 - June 2006 IR/CPL/MCC
Approx Age when you commenced training:29
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):No
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):June 2006
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:£50k
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :No
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : No
Approx cost of accomodation:£2,000
Did you have a job during training:Yes upto IR/CPL
Have you obtained a flying job?:Yes
Airline/Comany/Training School (if instructing):Airline
Date of first successful interview:Sept 29th. Job I accepted Nov 12th.
Date of joining payroll:Feb 2007 Wish it was sooner!!
Date of first line flight:N/A
Aircraft Type:737
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no):£3k then a bond
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:No
What was the cost of the type rating?:£15k. £3k payed by me up front, £12k by company taken back from me over 3yrs.

[Cloud 99]

Training route (integrated/modular): Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored:Self Sponsored
Training School(s):Bristol Flying Centre
Date you commenced training:nov 2001 PPL / Sep 2004 - Dec 2005 ATPL exams / Apr 2006 - June 2006 IR/CPL /MCC-Jan 07
Approx Age when you commenced training: (ATPL gs) 18
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):No
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):Jan 07
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:£45 (incu Accomm)
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :No
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : No
Approx cost of accomodation:£2,000
Did you have a job during training:Yes upto IR/CPL
Have you obtained a flying job?:Not yet

[ivehad2many]

Training route (integrated/modular): MODULAR
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: SELF SPONSORED
Training School(s): BCFT (http://www.bcft.org.uk)
Date you commenced training: NOV 04
Approx Age when you commenced training: 22
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): NOPE
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): APRIL 06
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: APROX £45,000
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) : ATPL MET (£55)
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : NO
Approx cost of accomodation: N/A
Did you have a job during training: NO
Have you obtained a flying job?: YES
Airline/Comany/Training School (if instructing): 1ST JOB TRAINING SCHOOL, AS OF JAN 07 COMPANY
Date of first successful interview: DEC 06
Date of joining payroll: JAN 07
Date of first line flight: TBC
Aircraft Type: DASSAULT FALCON 20
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): NOPE
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?: N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?: N/A

I also obtained my FIC straight after my MCC so have been flying most days from April 06 to the 1st interview i got this month. KEEP CURRENT

[low n' slow]

Training route (integrated/modular): CPL+VFR Integrated, "The rest" Modular.
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: Government sponsored
Training School(s): BFSAA
Date you commenced training: August 2000
Approx Age when you commenced training: 17
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): No
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): August 2005
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: Government Sponsored (40000 SEK)
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :Yes (2500 SEK)
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : No
Approx cost of accomodation: 3000 SEK/Month
Did you have a job during training: Partime job during the ATP theory.
Have you obtained a flying job?: Yes
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing): Finnish regional airline
Date of first successful interview: 06/04/2006
Date of joining payroll: 06/06/2006
Date of first line flight: 06/06/2006
Aircraft Type: S340
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): Yes
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?: No
What was the cost of the type rating?: 140 000 SEK

[jkl]

Training route (integrated/modular): Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: Self Sponsored
Training School(s): Bristol Flying Centre
Date you commenced training:Jan 05 D/L ATPL, Sept 05 CPL/IR
Approx Age when you commenced training:26
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):Yes (Science Based)
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):Dec 2005
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:£40K
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :No
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : No
Approx cost of accomodation:£1400
Did you have a job during training:During DL ATPL, Not CPL/IR
Have you obtained a flying job?:Yes
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing):UK Airline
Date of first successful interview:Jan 2006
Date of joining payroll:Sept 2006
Date of first line flight:June 2006
Aircraft Type:737NG
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no):No
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?:N/A

[geraldn]

Training route (integrated/modular):Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored:Self sponsored
Training School(s):Oxford Aviation
Date you commenced training:November 2004
Approx Age when you commenced training:24
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):No
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):August 2006
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:STG 40000
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :Yes STG 55
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) :No
Approx cost of accomodation:STG 5000
Did you have a job during training:No
Have you obtained a flying job?:No
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing):N/A
Date of first successful interview:N/A
Date of joining payroll:N/A
Date of first line flight:N/A
Aircraft Type:N/A
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no):N/A
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?:N/A

[cyan]

Training route (integrated/modular) MODULAR
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: SELF SPONSORED
Training School(s): OAT
Date you commenced training: NOV 2000
Approx Age when you commenced training: 40 :ouch:
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): YES SCIENCE
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): JAN 2003
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: £40k :{
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) : NIL
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) YES £ 1000
Approx cost of accomodation:
Did you have a job during training: NO
Have you obtained a flying job?: YES :ok:
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing): AIRLINE
Date of first successful interview: APRIL 2004
Date of joining payroll: AUG 2004
Date of first line flight: NOV 2004
Aircraft Type: 737 :) NOW A320 :) :)
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): YES
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:
What was the cost of the type rating?: 3k THEN 12K FROM SALARY OVER 5 YRS

[tomcs]

Training route (integrated/modular): Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored:Self Sponsored
Training School(s):OSFC & Airways Flight Training
Date you commenced training:Jan 2003
Approx Age when you commenced training:19
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type):Partial
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed):August 2004
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only:£30000
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) :No
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) :No
Approx cost of accomodation:£900
Did you have a job during training:yes
Have you obtained a flying job?:yes
Airline/Company/Training School (if instructing):airline
Date of first successful interview:December 2004
Date of joining payroll:Jan 2005
Date of first line flight:Mar 2005
Aircraft Type:80 Seater Turboprop
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no):Bonded
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?:No
What was the cost of the type rating?:N/A

[LeFreak]

Training route (integrated/modular): INTEGRATED
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: SELF SPONSORED
Training School(s): Ostend Air College, Belgium
Date you commenced training: SEP 2004
Approx Age when you commenced training: 27
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): YES (GRAPHIC ARTS)
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): AUG 06
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: 75000€
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) : NO
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : NO
Approx cost of accomodation: N/A
Did you have a job during training: NO
Have you obtained a flying job?: YES
Airline/Comany/Training School (if instructing): AIRLINE
Date of first successful interview: NOV 06
Date of joining payroll: FEB 07
Date of first line flight: FEB 07
Aircraft Type: Avro RJ 85/100
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): NO
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?: N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?: N/A

[David_Lid Air]

Training route (integrated/modular): Modular
Were you self sponsored/preselected by airline & self sponsored/fully airline sponsored: SELF SPONSORED
Training School(s): Lid Air
Date you commenced training: FEB 2004
Approx Age when you commenced training: 21
Did you have a degree when you commenced training? (type): NO
Date you fininshed training (MCC completed): OKT 06
Approx cost of training (to MCC) only: 600 000 SEK
Did you have any exam resits (if yes please include costs) : NO
Did you resit the IRT(if yes please include costs) : NO
Approx cost of accomodation: N/A
Did you have a job during training: NO
Have you obtained a flying job?: NO
Airline/Comany/Training School (if instructing): N/A
Date of first successful interview: N/A
Date of joining payroll: N/A
Date of first line flight: N/A
Aircraft Type: Saab 340 (Ongoing)
Did you pay for the type rating (yes/bonded/no): YES
If bonded, did you have to take a loan from your bank?: N/A
What was the cost of the type rating?: 136 000 SEK