Applying for CTC, OAA or FTE after sixth form?

[danbw9]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here and certainly not the last! I am starting to get active here and check in on these forums as an aspiring airline pilot.

I am currently 17 years of age, and have attended international schools my whole life, doing IGCSEs (equivalent to GCSEs I'm guessing) and currently in the last year of the IB Diploma programme with a predicted of 32 points. Financing the training will not be an issue.

I have longed ever since I was 4-5 years old to become an airline pilot and I am hoping to commence training right after IB, and I am hungry to do well in assessments to get into a good flight school.

However, I am beginning to doubt whether CTC or OAA as such would accept an 18 year old onto their programmes, so as to say I would be employed when I'm 20-21 years old? Even despite the minimum age to commence training is 18 years old, I see many testimonies of cadets being a lot older.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Cheers,

Daniel

[PURPLE PITOT]

It generally take people a few years to save up the money.

[danbw9]

I am so fortunate enough to have parents as expats living in Denmark and with the finances in place so that is not the issue.

Cheers,

Daniel

[PURPLE PITOT]

Do you have a class 1 medical? if not, don't pay anyone a single penny until you do.

Please tele your parents are not borrowing against property or pension, because that is a very stupid gamble.

[MattC123]

I'd highly recommend going to university. If I was in your position a few years ago where I didn't have to worry about finance I would have been tempted to go straight into training too - but my university experience has contributed massively to shaping me as a person. It has been invaluable. I've met a vast array of people from a huge variety of backgrounds, I've acquired knowledge and experience that provides topics to discuss at interview and I've had a great time.

I would highly recommend doing a course you enjoy before thinking about flight training!

Best of luck

[GOS]

There are many cadets who pass the CTC/OAA assessments coming straight from A Levels so yes it is possible to get in at 18.

[byrondaf]

I recently when through the CTC system at 26/27. Almost half the guys on my course were 19, so it seems to be more the norm. As long as you've got some life experiences to draw on for interview questions then I wouldn't worry about age.

In terms of getting an airline job, CTC seems to have a huge advantage albeit for a price. But that's another debate, I'm sure you can find plenty of people for and against by using the search function.

Good luck!