Self sponsored Type Rating and job offers
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It's two years in a row that I have to pay to keep my licenses current (ME-IR) and medicals. Total cost is already around $4,000 not including travel expenses from UAE to Europe, car rental and all other related expenses. What do I get in return? Just the honor of keeping valid licenses which are below current minimum requirements. Am I also "ruining" the standards by doing so? How can I justify to my family that I'm throwing money out of the windows while a wiser investment could not only keep me current but also give me an added value in terms of employment?
Join Date: Jan 2002
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A lot of debate has been of the type "Why pay for a rating?"...Getting experience on TP would be more beneficial instead of going for a jet... etc.
I agree with these comments, however as a low hour pilot looking for my first commercial job, ANYTHING would do. By taking the stance of not paying for anything (which I have been so far)..then I wouldn't get very far. The following should summarise my situation along with countless others!
1) No Instructor rating..(dubious to get one now in current climate)
2) No turbo prop jobs available just yet (at least not until you have 500hrsTT)
3) Some jet jobs available but SSTR
4) Need to try and get back flying to keep skills up
5) Sometimes just countless hours of pleasure flying is not that suitable as airlines even with TP want Multi Crew/Multi Engine time or hours ot be gained in constructive environment,
6) Many operators also want 30hours+ to be gained in last 12 months. If fresh out of flight school, thats not a problem. However while working within the industry in a ground based job its not so easy.
What would those who are completely against SSTR (experienced folks) suggest to keep current?
thanks for any tips!
I agree with these comments, however as a low hour pilot looking for my first commercial job, ANYTHING would do. By taking the stance of not paying for anything (which I have been so far)..then I wouldn't get very far. The following should summarise my situation along with countless others!
1) No Instructor rating..(dubious to get one now in current climate)
2) No turbo prop jobs available just yet (at least not until you have 500hrsTT)
3) Some jet jobs available but SSTR
4) Need to try and get back flying to keep skills up
5) Sometimes just countless hours of pleasure flying is not that suitable as airlines even with TP want Multi Crew/Multi Engine time or hours ot be gained in constructive environment,
6) Many operators also want 30hours+ to be gained in last 12 months. If fresh out of flight school, thats not a problem. However while working within the industry in a ground based job its not so easy.
What would those who are completely against SSTR (experienced folks) suggest to keep current?
thanks for any tips!
Join Date: Mar 2001
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S.F.L.Y,
You have me convinced now. I think you should stop posting about the necessity to buy a rating, jut buy it and get on with business. In fact, dont stop there, buy 1000hrs linetraining and skip the boring useless step as F/O because honestly, who wants to fly as #2.
If your mind is already made up there is really no need to keep discussing. You are using the same arguments as on page 1, is it because you want to implement a new industry standard??
You have me convinced now. I think you should stop posting about the necessity to buy a rating, jut buy it and get on with business. In fact, dont stop there, buy 1000hrs linetraining and skip the boring useless step as F/O because honestly, who wants to fly as #2.
If your mind is already made up there is really no need to keep discussing. You are using the same arguments as on page 1, is it because you want to implement a new industry standard??
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Boeingbus2002 :
Difficult aint it ? First off, I'm not experienced, though I did get my type rating paid for me and I'm now struggling with becoming experienced !
I'm against SSTR (the fact its got its own abbreviation makes me go cold) because it feels like the Industry taking the mick out of its future pilots. You can have a serious amount of debt by the end of your fATPL without the added burden and stress of another £10-25k spent on a type rating.
My views are :
- get into the industry if you can. See if you can land an Ops job or something similar. If you do, make yourself useful and show that you're a worthwhile bod to have in the company. Smaller outfits are most likely to give you a break on the flying side.
- an FI rating was probably the best thing I did. It improved my flying no end and meant I could get paid (though not much) for keeping my hours ticking over. Again, it is a fair chunk of money. See what the likelihood is of a school taking you on as an instructor when you've completed the course. I'm not sure what the current prospects are but the Instructors forum on here should help.
- if you're going to fund your own Type Rating try very hard to find someone who will take you on with it before you start. Easier said than done I know. Its just that its a lot to add to your bank balance if you're not sure you're going to start paying it back pretty soon afterwards.
Good luck, whatever you decide !
Difficult aint it ? First off, I'm not experienced, though I did get my type rating paid for me and I'm now struggling with becoming experienced !
I'm against SSTR (the fact its got its own abbreviation makes me go cold) because it feels like the Industry taking the mick out of its future pilots. You can have a serious amount of debt by the end of your fATPL without the added burden and stress of another £10-25k spent on a type rating.
My views are :
- get into the industry if you can. See if you can land an Ops job or something similar. If you do, make yourself useful and show that you're a worthwhile bod to have in the company. Smaller outfits are most likely to give you a break on the flying side.
- an FI rating was probably the best thing I did. It improved my flying no end and meant I could get paid (though not much) for keeping my hours ticking over. Again, it is a fair chunk of money. See what the likelihood is of a school taking you on as an instructor when you've completed the course. I'm not sure what the current prospects are but the Instructors forum on here should help.
- if you're going to fund your own Type Rating try very hard to find someone who will take you on with it before you start. Easier said than done I know. Its just that its a lot to add to your bank balance if you're not sure you're going to start paying it back pretty soon afterwards.
Good luck, whatever you decide !
Join Date: May 2002
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We need to take this on board also. As it has been the biggest downturn in recent memory then that will turn into the biggest pilot shortage, possibly ever, in a few years.
Of the crews who have lost their jobs in the last year or so I would guess 20 to 30% will never return to flying. This estimate will increase at an alarming rate every year this state of affairs continues. Most prospective ab initio students will not be trained to take the place of retirees and the the above losses, in this present climate.
Biggest bust, now wait for the biggest boom?
If so, you may find a lot of employers having to bankroll cadet-ships, let alone TR's.
Of the crews who have lost their jobs in the last year or so I would guess 20 to 30% will never return to flying. This estimate will increase at an alarming rate every year this state of affairs continues. Most prospective ab initio students will not be trained to take the place of retirees and the the above losses, in this present climate.
Biggest bust, now wait for the biggest boom?
If so, you may find a lot of employers having to bankroll cadet-ships, let alone TR's.
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S.F.L.Y,
You have me convinced now. I think you should stop posting about the necessity to buy a rating, jut buy it and get on with business. In fact, dont stop there, buy 1000hrs linetraining and skip the boring useless step as F/O because honestly, who wants to fly as #2.
If your mind is already made up there is really no need to keep discussing. You are using the same arguments as on page 1, is it because you want to implement a new industry standard??
You have me convinced now. I think you should stop posting about the necessity to buy a rating, jut buy it and get on with business. In fact, dont stop there, buy 1000hrs linetraining and skip the boring useless step as F/O because honestly, who wants to fly as #2.
If your mind is already made up there is really no need to keep discussing. You are using the same arguments as on page 1, is it because you want to implement a new industry standard??
I don't want to implement new industry standards and should you feel that much concerned about it I would recommend you to get into action and try to create a local union or pilot association in order to fight for your convictions. Somehow I guess you're like most of us and will not go further than posting few comments on a forum.
The reason why I started this topic is not to discuss about my personal decision but to react against some insulting comments I've read about SSTR. So far we had a very polite and positive debate and I would appreciate if you could keep it like that.
The fact that airlines are only looking for rated pilots is not new and has nothing to do with me. I would be lowering the standards by accepting lower T&Cs which is not what I'm doing. I'm simply willing to put myself in a position to apply. Also keep in mind that I'm not using daddy's money and that I've been earning it for that particular purpose. It's my choice to work on getting back on tracks.
Everybody knows that connections is one of the most important thing to get a job in this industry. Asking some friends to help putting your CV on top of the list isn't much morale and a SSTR isn't gonna help against a well introduced candidate.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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You are absolutely correct, I will do nothing more than post a few comments here.
Here is the next comment:
I dont see the need to establish a union or anything to that effect, I do however recommend the use of sound judgement and common sense.
Here is the next comment:
I dont see the need to establish a union or anything to that effect, I do however recommend the use of sound judgement and common sense.
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doubleu-anker's comments are very valid. We're in (another) low of the cycle and so prospects are much worse than at any time over the last five years. Those who don't drop out will be well placed for the upturn.
Call me an optimist but I reckon we're already seeing the merest tip of those green shoots everyone so desperately awaits.
Call me an optimist but I reckon we're already seeing the merest tip of those green shoots everyone so desperately awaits.
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Call me an optimist but I reckon we're already seeing the merest tip of those green shoots everyone so desperately awaits.
