what after ATPL..??

[speedbird787]

dear friends and aviators,

i am an indian CPL holder with MULTI/IR endrosement..though i have only 230 hours i have managed to pass all the indian DGCA's ATPL papers including the oral part. and now there is nothing which could keep me busy except a job (which i don't see coming my way any time soon)...........if somebody could suggest me what to do next???????

well what i can do is only wait till i get a job......but i am looking at alternatives ;)

cheers and happy landings

[bombayhues]

Speedbird ... first of all congratulations on clearing the ATPL papers ... I would love to tell you what to do next ... unfortunately I myself dont have that kind of experience ... so instead of answering your query ... I have a few queries of my own ...
1) I was under the impression that you needed 500 hours to give the DGCA ATPL written exam? Has that rule changed or was I under the wrong impression?
2) How much more intensive (or difficult) are the exams compared to the CPL papers?
3) What does the oral exam comprise of?

I will really appreciate it if you could answer these queries for me

(PS: Some questions may seem stupid to some of the very learned folks around this forum. If that is the case please keep in mind that I am newbie who does not have too many alternate sources for the required information :))

[silent_scream]

@speedbird787,

What to do is a very subjective item. My suggestion would be to diversify.
If you do not have a degree then get admitted in the coming academic year, if you have a degree, then get yourself a masters. If you have both, then you'd probably be able to find a job to fill the time void.

If all of the above does not interest you, learn a new skill or hobby.
But as far as aviation goes, apart from keeping current, there isn't a whole lot to do now.

@bombayhues,

1. 500 hours on Single engine or a Multi Engine aircraft rating.
2 & 3, am sure speedbird will answer them for you.

And some one wise once said, "There is nothing like a stupid question. But they sure are the easiest to answer."

All the best to both.

[Pushpak]

speedbird787

Congratulations, well done. You could get instructors rating and start working in any of the flying clubs and get some hours in the log book, which was the norm in the good old days.

[bombayhues]

@silent scream
I said that after noticing the kind of answers some people have been giving in some of the other threads :)

[vserian]

Congratulation
find a job and make yourself busy as well as earning some cash
and keep trying for the pilot job!

thats all i can say!

[speedbird787]

well bombayhues..... 1. u were under the wrong impression that only guys with 500 hrs can write the atpl exam ...........the basic requirement according to CAR is a valid CPL endrosed with multi engine rating ...thats all u need ..............but unfortunately dgca now requires ground trainnig cetificate for the atpl ground course .which can only be provided by the airline .or the company u may be employed with..and they are rejecting guys who r not from the airline ....i was lucky enough to get through when all this was not there....

2. the papers are almost the same level that of cpl.............but just a bit extra is need to go to the details of things... its not that too dificult to pass the written.... ya but as for the oral part...........one needs nerves of steel.............man its mind boggling...........its more difficult that the indian RTR(A).. oral stuff.....they ask u anything under the sun.........beware.and just be cool .....joke around in a professional manner .ans all the questions coolly ...and voila

3.. oral exam comprises of any thing under the sun..........$%#%@%#$^$%&*^*!!!!!!!!!!
and ya none of the questions were stupid.........

[thornycactus]

You could get instructors rating and start working in any of the flying clubs and get some hours in the log book, which was the norm in the good old days.
This is a stupid suggestion [click (http://www.pprune.org/5669164-post2.html)] for speedbird787.

It tells me you know nothing about GA industry in India currently. :ugh:

[Pushpak]

thornycactus

Thank you for being so kind. I have been away from general aviation for a long time, but I do keep in touch with my fellow pilots who work in GA. The situation is no different from what it was in the late 70’s and 80’s, unemployment was very high then.
AI did not bother with the fresh CPL holders and IA recruited with a gap of 10yrs in between recruitments. Coast guard only recruited civil pilots in the mid eighties and the Agriculture aviation department was phased out during the late 80’s.
All I am trying to suggest is that one has to keep trying to keep current and at the same time build up some experience. There are various flying clubs in India, some are operational and some not, state governments and some private operators. My intention is just to encourage Speedbird to remain motivated and not give up as a lot of us have been through a similar situation in the past.
Over and out.

[liabith]

wat questions they asked for navigation oral?:D