Career path dilemma

[BarryW]

Hi

I hope this is the correct spot to post this, but here goes.

I have recently graduated with a Bsc. Aeronautical Engineering Degree, and would like to end up as a test pilot.
At the present moment I have no flying time to my name.

I have the possibility of two engineering jobs:
#1 Aviation related (UAV's, missiles etc), avg pay
#2 Working in Dubai(non-aerospace, oil), higher pay(3yr contract)

Do I choose the higher paying, but non aerospace related job, and fast-track my CPL(1.5 years)- and then try and get into an aerospace company.

Or opt for the lower paying job and get my flying time at a slower pace
but remain within the aerospace industry.

I would just like some feedback from some of the professionals in this field.

Thanks,

Barry

[Shawn Coyle]

Barry:
An often asked question.
I'd suggest you look through the old files here for more of an answer than I'll give you.
The first of the major problems facing you are getting operational flying experience (either commercial or military) - without real world experience there is little value in flight test training.
The second major obstacle is getting the necessary training or on-the-job experience as a tester. Not many companies will take on someone who doesn't have experience or formal training as a test pilot. Few companies have good, scheduled training to take someone from no flight test experience to the state of being capable of doing the flight testing without supervision.
If you're still keen on it, I'd suggest the aerospace route - make it known that you want to do that, and then work on the flying side. The right company will make sure you get the training needed. But be prepared to take some time to learn the rather hard operational world of civil flying as well.

[Pilot DAR]

Barry,

Shawn has given you excellent advice. You will benefit the most from constant exposure to aviation, and the people you will meet along the way, who might take an interest, and help you along. To be valuable as a test pilot, you will have to have thousands of hours of flying on appropriate aircraft types, and test experience on top of that. It won't be easy, but hey, everyone starts somewhere!

In the non-aviation job, you risk missing getting to know people who you will need to have mentor you later.

Most of the test pilots I know did not start their career with the intention of being a test pilot. Instead, after amassing considerable experience, they were called to the task.

Best of luck,

Pilot DAR

[Nil Flaps]

Barry,

I have no experience working for the aerospace industry but I have lived and worked in Dubai and from that viewpoint, I'd tell you to follow Shawn and DAR's advice.

While the pay is fantastic in DXB, it affords you a lifestyle that can easily distract you - even if you are the most committed of people with set goals to achieve. I met countless folk who had planned to stay "just one or two years" and were still there 5, 10, 15 years later. By that time they were so used to the trappings of excess that they could not possibly afford in their professional positions elsewhere, they saw no reason to leave.

I too am a case in point. On arrival there to start my new job, I went out with some soon-to-be colleagues for a drink and they asked me how long they expected me to stay before moving on. I said a year, the smiles spread across their faces, but nothing more was said. Three years on, I finally got out of Dodge.

I couldn't fathom their reaction at the time but soon enough I knew what was what, and I was asking the same thing to newcomers, knowing that Dubai has an uncanny knack of changing your perspective. It's something you only understand after being there a while, and while many convince themselves it won't happen to them, far more often than not, it does.

Incidentally I knew a Scottish guy there who worked in the oil industry out on rigs and like every other blow-in, he planned a short stay to save money which would enable him to move on to pursue other ambitions. When I left DXB he'd been working with the same company for 8 years and by that time his original plans for the future were a distant memory.

He had a wonderful life, worked long hard hours but enjoyed big chunks of time off back on land, he was always out on the town, had a beautiful big villa, drove a flash car and went on amazing holidays all over the world but he got to used to all that and he just couldn't let it go. He used to tell me that while he enjoyed all he had, he wanted to get back to a normal existence (DXB can become artificial after a while) but couldn't leave all his luxuries he'd got so used to. I really felt sorry for him - he'd enjoyed the life for so long he'd wasted the time he needed to get to where he'd wanted to be. He was a really tormented soul.

Dubai is a rewarding experience, but a terrible trap. Stick to your other plan and you're much more likely to achieve your ambitions IMHO.

[BarryW]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I have an interview with a company in the aircraft structural engineering and certification department tomorrow.

I am also going to visit a flight testing base in the near future, so hopefully I can get to speak to some of the local test pilots.

Barry

[Genghis the Engineer]

Best of luck with the interview.

I agree with the chaps above - test flying isn't all that well paid anyway (although comfortable - usually!), nor are many other specialist aerospace jobs. We do them because of all of the other non-financial rewards, and if you start off chasing money, that's probably how you'll stay.

Stick within aerospace, try to get yourself close to ops / test flying and, of-course, start getting your flying hours up, either as a pilot or (if you are lucky enough to find one) in an FTE job.

G

[portsharbourflyer]

Sorry but I was in a similar situation after graduation; I am an aero grad with experience in industry, frozen ATPL/part time instructor, I was also very fortunate to be offered a job where I was in due course to fly as an FTO; however from the outset it was made very clear there was no way I would ever transition to the LHS. Infact the pay cut I took from contracting meant I would not have been able to afford to renew my ME/IR, so I quickly returned to contracting. My experience if of course limited to the UK(I see your location is South Africa), and I think in the US there are cases where civil FTOs have transitioned to test or production test flying for civil manufacturers. My experience is very few airlines with give you any credit for having worked in as an aero engineer and very few if any aviation companies seem to have a requirement for a dual qualified engineer / civil pilot. The only test flying pilots with a civil background seem to be involved with in the UK seems to be at the PFA level. Personally unless you join the military your chances of test flying are minimal. I respect the experience of the people above but if you want to fly; your best bet is to go for the money.


Nevertheless good luck with whatever you choose. The real problem highlighted is permanent staff salaries and graduate salaries for the aerospace sector are low compared to other sectors.