When to complete training?

[Okavango]

Just finished my ATPL's (after dragging them out as long as possible having passed all but the Comms papers some time ago). There seems to be some green shoots of employment showing though nothing to really get excited about so carrying on with the day job at present and will see how the economy goes through this winter. Was thinking of completing MEIR next summer to be ready for main autumn recruitment. Barring a war/Sept 11th type event do people think the situation will be reasonable by then?

[Okavango]

Any takers?

[Mickey Kaye]

Difficult to tell but sounds sensible plan to me

[Jabiman]

Regardless of slight changes in the employment situation, there remain hundreds of applicants for every position, what sort of job are you looking for?
Do you know anyone in the industry?
Do you have money to pay for a TR and Line Rating?
Are you looking locally or overseas?

[Okavango]

Yes I have friends who are in airline pilot employment. I do have money to pay for a TR though wouldn't do that without first knowing there was commitment to a job (ie similar to old Jet2 scheme). Happy to work anywhere though would prefer locally.

[Bealzebub]

Well it might?

If you have 2500 hours experience and around 500 to 1000 hours on the type an airline is recruiting for, there may well be some opportunities with various airlines.

If you are graduating from a cadet scheme affiliated to one of the integrated training providers in conjunction with their corporate airline customers, there will probably be some steady movement.

If you are prepared to finance your own training and type related costs and assume a significant quantity of risk, there may be opportunities with a few companies who specialise in that form of "opportunity."

Beyond that, it is difficult to see what you are alluding to?

Outside of these schemes if you think airlines are going to be looking to recruit low houred, self sponsored, first officers into their normal career structures, then no, it isn't likely to happen. The days of providing some sort of "commitment" to a pilot with aspirations of qualification are a thing of the past, even in the historically rare cases where they might have occurred.

If you want to become a player in the game, then you need to bite the bullet. It is an expensive game for most people and one that is fraught with significant financial risk. Opportunities are scarce. Rewards are poor. Attrition is sizeable and significant.

There is no shortage of low houred pilots. There never has been. Those airlines that have placed warm bodies into the right seat with minimum qualification, because their preferred option of no right seat at all is not available to them, have a vast source of funded and willing applicants.

So I suppose it all depends on what you mean by "reasonable?"

[Okavango]

Difficult to see what I'm alluding to.......hmmmmmmmmmmm

To make it easier, lets consider the worst recruitment situation as 0 and the most favourable (which was 2006?) as a 10. On that scale where do people think we'll be this time next year? Say 3-4?

It will always be difficult even in good times, though in my view the best strategy is to try and complete when things are improving. I'm simply trying to get a feel for what's going on out there. Hope this makes sense.

[Jabiman]

I would say complete as finances allow so that you can start applying for positions.
Then start saving up for TR and that will open up more opportunities.
Then start saving up for Line Training...by that time you will have thrown enough money at it to give yourself the best possible chance of a job regardless of the economic situation.
Either you are determined to go all the way or you may as well not bother at all.

[captainsuperstorm]

hi, if you want a job, make your own company.
we are so much in debt that I don't see anything good for the next 10 years.
many many many unemployed pilots staying at home, with no fall back, all these pilots getting money from their government.
USA is in debt of over 13 trillions $, 20t $ in 2015.
there is no way to go back, unemployment will continue to raise, airlines will be bust one after one, it' s just a question of time. nobody makes money with aviation.
we live in a society where you need money to make money. Now we have debts, and debts generate more debts.
if i could go back 10 years ago, I would have stay with my PPL and enjoy life with plenty of $ in another field.Even if I land a job tomorrow, I know it s going to be for a short time, until a P2F pilot take my job.
it's finish, it 's too late...keep your money for good sake, and do something else. You have been warned my friend! you will finish unemployed! even if you pay to fly, no one is going to pay, why should they pay you?
you have friends who are paid to fly, yes, maybe today, what about tomorrow.what if they loose their job, will they find something soon? I doubt.
Me too, I know pilots who got jobs, I wish them good luck, I know in this profession, jobs are not forever.
stay 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, then out, and unemployed for 2 years!!!
happened to me, and tired of it.
get a life,do something else, make babies, get a wife, get a 9-18 h job, and make BBQ in your backyard with your friend, and forget all this BS of aviation. Don't look the planes flying over your head, pilot s are not happy chaps, they are all bitter, it s all me me me me attitude with momy money.
They are never happy, they are ready to sell there grandmother to fly biger planes via P2F programs,...and when they grew up, if they grew up,... they discover they are wasted their life....anyway, screw your life, I don't care....

[rmcb]

The horror! The horror...

[Okavango]

Thought I'd bump this as it must be relevant.......Any new advice out there?