Steps of Becoming an Airline Pilot?
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Steps of Becoming an Airline Pilot?
Hi everyone I am new to this forum.
Well I have just turned 18
I have gotten my Class 1 medical, and passed all medical tests.
I am doing Year 12 and have chosen to study in an airline pilot course next year which will get me a ATPL and CPL.
I wanted to hear what your suggestion on becoming an airline pilot and what steps to take to reach my goal. How would I gain experience and flight hours?
Does having an University Degree of Aviation help later on when interviewing for jobs?
Any advice will be helpful
Well I have just turned 18
I have gotten my Class 1 medical, and passed all medical tests. I am doing Year 12 and have chosen to study in an airline pilot course next year which will get me a ATPL and CPL.
I wanted to hear what your suggestion on becoming an airline pilot and what steps to take to reach my goal. How would I gain experience and flight hours?
Does having an University Degree of Aviation help later on when interviewing for jobs?
Any advice will be helpful
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Step 1 : Re-think career options.
Step 2 : Repeat step one. If still intent on pursuing an aviation career, proceed to step 3.
Step 3 : If possibility of gaining a dual citizenship for somewhere the like of EU or USA, TAKE IT and train over yonder, and you will find things much easier come the job hunt.
Step 4 : If stuck being an Aussie (not such a bad thing!) Do course. Get some "real life" work experience while studying, you'll need it. Employers seem to like hospitiality industry and the such, as it shows you have worked with customers previously.
Step 5 : Once completed (say 200 odd hours) Pick some where and get out and see the chief pilots. Sitting at home writing letters and making phonecalls will get you NOWHERE. Beg, scrape, crawl, till they let you work in their office or hangar (probably for minimal if any wage) doing menial tasks.
Step 6: After showing outstanding enthusiasm and work ethic, get checked to line for charters when a spot comes up.
Step 7: Fly "scheissen housen" aircraft to sh*t house destinations for a year or two. After this you may be lucky enough to be offered some twin IFR work. Up until this point your IFR rating has been dormant.
Step 8: Apply to the Big Q. This can be done before the "twin flying" part of Step 7, as there basic requirement are only 500 hours command, with no requirement for any twin time (and I have known people to get in recently with only C210 experience)
Step 9: If you feel you are Sierra Hotel, Steps 3 through to 8 may be bypassed by way of the Qantas cadetship. Check out the details and the Qantas website under employment - pilot - cadet. The cadetship is open now, and if you haul ass you may get an application in before the closing date of 31 OCT.
With the current state of the industry if you can get into the cadetship, take it. THere will always be the knockers, saying you've taken the easy way out blah blah blah, but the way aviation is these days you need to look out for number one.
However should you choose your own training option, by the time you get CPL, with any luck the industry will be on the way back up again. Its a bit like a rollercoaster.
If you're not 100% committed to a career in aviation, do something else, cause aviation can break you heart. It can also put you on cloud 9!!
GOOD LUCK
Step 2 : Repeat step one. If still intent on pursuing an aviation career, proceed to step 3.
Step 3 : If possibility of gaining a dual citizenship for somewhere the like of EU or USA, TAKE IT and train over yonder, and you will find things much easier come the job hunt.
Step 4 : If stuck being an Aussie (not such a bad thing!) Do course. Get some "real life" work experience while studying, you'll need it. Employers seem to like hospitiality industry and the such, as it shows you have worked with customers previously.
Step 5 : Once completed (say 200 odd hours) Pick some where and get out and see the chief pilots. Sitting at home writing letters and making phonecalls will get you NOWHERE. Beg, scrape, crawl, till they let you work in their office or hangar (probably for minimal if any wage) doing menial tasks.
Step 6: After showing outstanding enthusiasm and work ethic, get checked to line for charters when a spot comes up.
Step 7: Fly "scheissen housen" aircraft to sh*t house destinations for a year or two. After this you may be lucky enough to be offered some twin IFR work. Up until this point your IFR rating has been dormant.
Step 8: Apply to the Big Q. This can be done before the "twin flying" part of Step 7, as there basic requirement are only 500 hours command, with no requirement for any twin time (and I have known people to get in recently with only C210 experience)
Step 9: If you feel you are Sierra Hotel, Steps 3 through to 8 may be bypassed by way of the Qantas cadetship. Check out the details and the Qantas website under employment - pilot - cadet. The cadetship is open now, and if you haul ass you may get an application in before the closing date of 31 OCT.
With the current state of the industry if you can get into the cadetship, take it. THere will always be the knockers, saying you've taken the easy way out blah blah blah, but the way aviation is these days you need to look out for number one.
However should you choose your own training option, by the time you get CPL, with any luck the industry will be on the way back up again. Its a bit like a rollercoaster.
If you're not 100% committed to a career in aviation, do something else, cause aviation can break you heart. It can also put you on cloud 9!!
GOOD LUCK
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Make shore u studie 'Fisics' cause it es a recquirment fur Q. Eventho the 3 times tabel is about the only intellectual knowlidge needid. NO FISICS...NO INTERVIEW (info not garanteed for more then 5 minits.)
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Sorry to sound doom and gloom, but at the moment I suggest putting your money in a managed fund for 10 years and rethink it then when you'll end up after that time with more money in one hand then than you would have in the other during that time in aviation. Good luck, but I hope your are from the school of hard knocks.... In hind sight I can't bear to recommend this industry unless you are mad.
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Another option may be flying choppers with the Army. You cand do the whole thing in 6 yrs for a Short Service Officer (SSO) with the first 18 months probation. Come out with 3000 hr turbine time- about 1000 night. Have been told that you can go onto Airline jobs after though I have never verified this.
Most of the aptitude testing across the 3 services for Pilots is the same. Ive heard Air Force Pilots snearing at Army Aviation. But when I had the chance to to go flying in a chopper, It made me wonder why I ever wanted to fly slab wing.
Most of the aptitude testing across the 3 services for Pilots is the same. Ive heard Air Force Pilots snearing at Army Aviation. But when I had the chance to to go flying in a chopper, It made me wonder why I ever wanted to fly slab wing.
Jimmy Pop...
What makes a citizenship available to you in EU say? If my Mother was British would that entitle me to that? I've tried the British immigration web-site but it's so hard to find relavant info there. can you give me any information or point me in the right direction?
Thanks
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: Wing Root ]
If possibility of gaining a dual citizenship for somewhere the like of EU or USA, TAKE IT and train over yonder, and you will find things much easier come the job hunt.
Thanks
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: Wing Root ]
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I am also looking into Qantas Cadets program, but I assume they must be lots of competition and less positions to offer to many people applying out there, and reading through the information presented @ their website really worries me whether to go and have a shot at it?
Anyway, what is the difference between Qantas Cadet Program and graduating from a TAFE course? Qantas doesn't guarantee a position after completing their course? I believe Qantas train their cadets via 3rd party flying school too, so the question is, any difference other than the name "Qantas Cadets"?
Have anyone been accepted into Qantas Cadets Program?
Anyway, what is the difference between Qantas Cadet Program and graduating from a TAFE course? Qantas doesn't guarantee a position after completing their course? I believe Qantas train their cadets via 3rd party flying school too, so the question is, any difference other than the name "Qantas Cadets"?
Have anyone been accepted into Qantas Cadets Program?
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Stick Pusher.
I feel very similarly. In fact, your reply could have easily been writen by myself. I have perspective students coming into the flying school where I work all the time. They ask the same question. ie. I want to be an airline pilot. How long will it take? Up till about six months ago, I gave them the whole shpeel about getting to commercial. As usual, everyone thinks that commercial means "airline pilot". So, under unoficial instructions from our MD, we just let them believe what they want. As long as we haven't given them false info. Nowdays.....well......I literally turn them away. I can't bring myself to tell them psuedo lies anymore. They stand there looking at me with all the enthusiasm. I just can't bare to do it to them anymore. I tell most of them to get a "real" job, and when they're actually earning "real" money, they can come back and get a PPL with a MECIR, and just enjoy the experience when they want, with no commercial pressures. Stevieboy, good luck, and may God truely watch over you.
[ 25 October 2001: Message edited by: Highbypass ]
I feel very similarly. In fact, your reply could have easily been writen by myself. I have perspective students coming into the flying school where I work all the time. They ask the same question. ie. I want to be an airline pilot. How long will it take? Up till about six months ago, I gave them the whole shpeel about getting to commercial. As usual, everyone thinks that commercial means "airline pilot". So, under unoficial instructions from our MD, we just let them believe what they want. As long as we haven't given them false info. Nowdays.....well......I literally turn them away. I can't bring myself to tell them psuedo lies anymore. They stand there looking at me with all the enthusiasm. I just can't bare to do it to them anymore. I tell most of them to get a "real" job, and when they're actually earning "real" money, they can come back and get a PPL with a MECIR, and just enjoy the experience when they want, with no commercial pressures. Stevieboy, good luck, and may God truely watch over you.
[ 25 October 2001: Message edited by: Highbypass ]
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If I was trained in Australia, can I ever fly for airlines outside of Australia
Eg. Air Newzealand or Cathay Pacific?
What is the deal with Aussies flying for other country? Can my PPL or CPL be coverted, so I can fly around the world?
Eg. Air Newzealand or Cathay Pacific?
What is the deal with Aussies flying for other country? Can my PPL or CPL be coverted, so I can fly around the world?
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Wingroot -
A british born parent will entitle you to a right to live and work in any of the EU countries, and give you a british passport. Not sure of who to speak to, probably the british consulate. I have mates who have done this. It may cost 3 times as much to train in europe, but once you get a JAR ATPL you will find job hunting much easier. Go and have a look on the Wannabees forum, all the poms getting into the RHS of 757s or similar wiht only 200-300 hrs. Compare that with 200-300 hrs here you will be struggling to get a job flying a ratty 210 in the middle of nowhere.
Stevieboy -
You will hear varoius different things about the cadetship. I think last year they took 27 cadets, and 21 went straight onto wide-body jets, the other 6 were told to go into the industry and get more experience before further consideration by Qantas. Have heard this wasn't due to flying ability, rather attitude and suitability. The year before 30 out of 31 went straight onto jets.
Its up to you whether you apply or not, butin the current situation it seems pretty good to me.
A british born parent will entitle you to a right to live and work in any of the EU countries, and give you a british passport. Not sure of who to speak to, probably the british consulate. I have mates who have done this. It may cost 3 times as much to train in europe, but once you get a JAR ATPL you will find job hunting much easier. Go and have a look on the Wannabees forum, all the poms getting into the RHS of 757s or similar wiht only 200-300 hrs. Compare that with 200-300 hrs here you will be struggling to get a job flying a ratty 210 in the middle of nowhere.
Stevieboy -
You will hear varoius different things about the cadetship. I think last year they took 27 cadets, and 21 went straight onto wide-body jets, the other 6 were told to go into the industry and get more experience before further consideration by Qantas. Have heard this wasn't due to flying ability, rather attitude and suitability. The year before 30 out of 31 went straight onto jets.
Its up to you whether you apply or not, butin the current situation it seems pretty good to me.
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Stevieboy -
If you've got a UK parent or grandparent then you should have the right to permanent UK residency.
If you come here with a low time Oz CPL/IR you will find it to be damn near worthless however, and you will have to go through a huge amount of crucifyingly expensive compulsory retraining to get the equivalent European licence. It will cost you more to convert the licence than it ever did to get it in the first place - trust me, I've done it.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee of a job here either, all those 200 hour wonders getting jet jobs in Britain that you see on the 'Wannabes' forum have mostly come from a few very select full time schools and paid upwards of £50,000 for their training.
There are plenty of 1,500 hour instructors hanging round in flying schools in Britain waiting for their first airline jobs, just like there are down under. GA here is almost non existent, which makes it even more difficult to get those hours you need unless you want to instruct.
In the current world economic climate I would be very cagey about committing any money to a flying career right now. Things are going to go very quiet with global airline recruiting for at least the next few months and depending on how things go with Afghanistan, possibly the next few years. When it does come right, there is going to be a long queue of people like myself who got qualified before the recession and have been hour building and waiting for their turn.
Sorry to be the bearer of negative opinions
If you've got a UK parent or grandparent then you should have the right to permanent UK residency.
If you come here with a low time Oz CPL/IR you will find it to be damn near worthless however, and you will have to go through a huge amount of crucifyingly expensive compulsory retraining to get the equivalent European licence. It will cost you more to convert the licence than it ever did to get it in the first place - trust me, I've done it.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee of a job here either, all those 200 hour wonders getting jet jobs in Britain that you see on the 'Wannabes' forum have mostly come from a few very select full time schools and paid upwards of £50,000 for their training.
There are plenty of 1,500 hour instructors hanging round in flying schools in Britain waiting for their first airline jobs, just like there are down under. GA here is almost non existent, which makes it even more difficult to get those hours you need unless you want to instruct.
In the current world economic climate I would be very cagey about committing any money to a flying career right now. Things are going to go very quiet with global airline recruiting for at least the next few months and depending on how things go with Afghanistan, possibly the next few years. When it does come right, there is going to be a long queue of people like myself who got qualified before the recession and have been hour building and waiting for their turn.
Sorry to be the bearer of negative opinions
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Thanks guys, you have inspired me
I believe aviation has been my ultimate dream and I will do whatever possible to archieve my long term goal.
I am all set to do this 12 months PPL, CPL & ATPL course in Melbourne commencing at 2002, if everything goes well at the interview, I should be able to pass hopefully
No matter how bad the aviation industry
is now, I believe in the long run it will get better, I guess time will take its toll.
I believe aviation has been my ultimate dream and I will do whatever possible to archieve my long term goal.
I am all set to do this 12 months PPL, CPL & ATPL course in Melbourne commencing at 2002, if everything goes well at the interview, I should be able to pass hopefully
No matter how bad the aviation industry
is now, I believe in the long run it will get better, I guess time will take its toll.
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The Military is a good place to go right now. Despite the propaganda ADF pilots have about the same amount of success as everyone else getting a jumper with the big Q. That said they do recieve great training and get to fly interesting types on interesting missions. Be warned though - if you don't get knuckle head you will more than likely struggle for hours and be posted to a ground job. This means you need a good career plan. Inter service rivalry is there. However since the introduction of tri-service basic flight training it has diminished. I trained army pilots on CT4 for years. Great Guys and Girls, Great times! The tri service work is also good fun with great people.Flight Screening was my last post and competition is high. If you get onto a FSP course, work like a demon. Its only a fortnight and it is a ONE shot opportunity.
Cheers Smithy
PS: Check your email
PS:
Cheers Smithy
PS: Check your email
PS:
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Well flying for the Military is never my thing, there is too much competition 
I might just do some more research in
The advantage of me now is that I have just turned 18, I guess age is quite important in flying too. I have a long way to go. I am aiming to get my PPL, CPL & ATPL by the end of 2002. Are there any age restriction on applying for a job at Qantas or other airlines?
I might just do some more research in
The advantage of me now is that I have just turned 18, I guess age is quite important in flying too. I have a long way to go. I am aiming to get my PPL, CPL & ATPL by the end of 2002. Are there any age restriction on applying for a job at Qantas or other airlines?
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stevieboy,
Fire off letters of interest to all the airlines concerned and they will tell you what their requirements are and also hold your letter on file for the future.
See you on board.
Fire off letters of interest to all the airlines concerned and they will tell you what their requirements are and also hold your letter on file for the future.
See you on board.