quick question on being a pilot

[telboy.com]

Hello telboy here, age:19 UK. .Just a quick question or two if you can spare the time. I am just finishing A levels in maths, further maths and physics and have a few hours worth of trial lessons behind me. What I want to know is:

1. What are my chances of being sponsored at present with good grades in the above qualifications. Would it help my chances of being sponsored if I was to invest in a PPL before applying?

2. How much maths and physics is involved in the job. Do you get to work out torque, density, vectors ect [I hope so :) ] or do computers take away that pleasure?

Thanks for your time.

[Bloody long way down]

Telboy,

At present there is only one sponsorship scheme running (Malgus, this one you have to pay for the priviledge of the selection tests.) Unfortunatly right now there is a huge surplus of pilots, and therefore the airlines have no ambition to allocate expences to these schemes. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

You will use your maths and physics knowledge a huge amount while training, the closest you will get to a computer for the time being will be a piece of plastic (yes the good old CRP)

Apologies if this sounds blunt but that is how the situation is at the moment.

There are various threads running at the moment check out Those with fATPL

Good luck

[Captain Chaos 747]

If I was you I would get the ppl airlines at the moment are not sponsoring and may not for a few years yet.

As for maths and physics you will use both in groundschool mainly maths with a bit of simple physics as for on the job some simple maths and I have never used any physics at all, once you get up to speed doing the job it's like any other job it gets easier, and it's well worth it so much fun.

[Megaton]

Maths content of ATPL is negligible (small amount of trig and that's really it). Some physics definitely helps. I've just spent the morning studying gyros and having a background in physics is an advantage. I don't think there's much maths or physics involved on a day to day basis. If you want to be physicist join BNFL. :)

[greengage22]

No-one is going to sponsor you at the present time, apart from the odd one-off, done largely out of charity, such as astraeus.

But wait a year or so and we'll be back to a pre-Sep 11 situation, with airlines falling over themselves to get the best cadets.

You probably can't afford to loaf around for a year or so waiting for it to get better.

Why don't you go to uni and read maths, physics, or computer science (or anything else that you enjoy and would be good at)?

It'll keep you out of mischief for 3 years and when you graduate, the airlines will be gagging for you.

It is true that you don't need maths or physics much above GCSE to have the background to do the JAA exams.

But if you're better educationally qualified, you'll stand a better chance of picking up sponsorship later.

You don't have to join the rat race now. If it were full of opportunities, I'd say, "Yeah, get in now. Starting 3 years earlier would be more career-advancing than going to uni."

But, thanks to bin Laden, these are not normal times. I'd wait a bit.

[ 14 February 2002: Message edited by: greengage22 ]</p>

[JT8]

Do your PPL, go to uni and study something you will enjoy whilst getting drunk most nights and the rest... Damn I miss my uni <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

A degree and a PPL will without doubt put you in a better position with sponsorships when they start up (maybe in 2-3 years time <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> )

Good luck!. .JT8

[GSPIN]

Quick answer on being a pilot.

. .follow your dreams...

. .Preferably get someone else to pay for them.

[lezl]

telboy,. .I would consider going to Uni. You will get a better job with better pay and with better hours.

If you want to take up flying, find out all the pro's and con's first. I didn't and now I'm pouring my money into what seems to be a bottom less pit.

Be Careful.

[Pandora]

Telboy,

without a doubt go to uni. Have the best of both worlds - indulge in partying and studying whatever subject takes your fancy. Any will do - I know archaeologists, nurses and lawyers who became pilots after uni.

Remember after the Gulf War it took BA several years to start recruiting CEPs again, but don't worry. You have years before you hit the max age for most sponsorship schemes.

Uni will allow you to develope answers to the most difficult questions any airline will ask you. It will give you examples to put into the 'describe a time when you fulfilled a leadership role/showed dedication/solved a difficult problem/etc'. Join a UAS. Get a PPL. Make sure you leave uni with a sports team blue and/or were a team captain or president/secretary/treasurer of a society.

With your a-levels and a few hours flying at the moment you are much of a muchness with the 20000 other people who want the sponsorships. Even in a good year, only 300-400 or so will succeed. By all means apply to any deals you can find, but use the opportunity of a lull in the recruitment market to have fun and hone your skills to perfection.

[Autofly]

Deviant ....... good answer!!!!!! Couldn't say better myself.

Auto

[259dww]

It's a very good idea to go and get a degree. With the subjects you are studying you would be much better off going to university and then applying once the situation with the airlines improves. I am midway through the integrated ATPL course at Oxford and am very very frightened at the prospect of looking for a job.

Good luck.

[boeingbus2002]

Have a back up plan if possible. Going to Uni to get another qualification in case the flying doesnt work out is important. While u are there you will be able to go for UAS (if you have any interest in RAF) and be able to "develop" yourself more by joining clubs etc. which look good to prospective employers.. .I believe it isnt necessary "what" degree you have but who you applied yourself. Obviously if you do a course you enjoy you will be more successful at it.

Working towards yr PPL is also a good start, but dont try to rush this!. .Best of Luck :)

[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: boeingbus2002 ]</p>