Some words of advice (hopefully) to wannabes at all levels...
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I got the call from the company I wanted to work for. I got the job. They even paid for my type rating.
PPRuNe Co-Pilot
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G'day Reddo,
And that's the way it should be
Luckly there is still some sane companies around but im afraid it's not many, but "hope" is always the last thing to fade 
just have to keep battling on.
Regards,
Airway
And that's the way it should be
Luckly there is still some sane companies around but im afraid it's not many, but "hope" is always the last thing to fade just have to keep battling on.Regards,
Airway
Join Date: May 2005
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Fantastic account Puritan.
I think I already knew it deap down but to read that, brought it home nicely. I've already left a career in IT behind to pursue this seemingly hopeless goal. No turning back for me though, so it’s either a job or that 6ft length of rope somebody mentioned a few posts back.
Time is ticking on for me now. My whole working life has been geared around earning enough money to eventually fund myself through the ATPL. Its good that I have a skill to fall back on, but it’s a skill that I didn’t enjoy and never really wanted. It’s taken me 9 years to get this far and I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my life if I turned back without trying.
Either way I shall continue on with the same attitude with which I approach the incredibly frustrating sport of golf… “**** or bust”
EDIT: just read that back to myself and it sounds a little like I'm having a pop. I'm not, just posting that cheered me up slightly
I think I already knew it deap down but to read that, brought it home nicely. I've already left a career in IT behind to pursue this seemingly hopeless goal. No turning back for me though, so it’s either a job or that 6ft length of rope somebody mentioned a few posts back.
Time is ticking on for me now. My whole working life has been geared around earning enough money to eventually fund myself through the ATPL. Its good that I have a skill to fall back on, but it’s a skill that I didn’t enjoy and never really wanted. It’s taken me 9 years to get this far and I’d be kicking myself for the rest of my life if I turned back without trying.
Either way I shall continue on with the same attitude with which I approach the incredibly frustrating sport of golf… “**** or bust”
EDIT: just read that back to myself and it sounds a little like I'm having a pop. I'm not, just posting that cheered me up slightly
When I started my training in the late 1980s there were jobs for everyone with airlines contacting flying schools for details of anyone coming up to 700 hours. However, things did not last and by the time I managed to get my BCPL issued, the jobs had gone and I couldn't even get an instructor position in order to build my hours up.
However, eventually I managed to get my foot through the door at a local school and slowly added to my experience until I had the magical 700 hours for the issue of a CPL and I went on to complete my IR. I was now in the position of being employable, but with no relevant experience and in a market where there were many people with more experience chasing up the few openings that became available. I applied to everyone both at home and overseas, but despite to numerous letters that I had "putting me on file", for those that could be bothered to reply, I never gave up.
Eventually, I got my first proper job in 1997, three years after gaining my CPL I/R (frozen ATPL) on a corporate turboprop in the RHS. For various reasons I hated the job (believe me, CRM is really really important and when someone insults and swears at you at every given opportunity, your life is hell). However, I stuck at it, watched my hours build up and 5 months later I got a position with a regional airline.
The point I am trying to put across is that you should never give up. I have seen lots of people enter into training, but not complete their ambition. I remember having a BCPL course booked to start on the Monday morning and on the preceding Thursday my bank turned me down for a £3,000 loan. But I found the money on the Friday. There is always a way. Never give up, and write to everyone. When you have little experience, unless you know someone in a position to help you, it comes down to luck. One day your cv will land on someone's desk and you will strike lucky. Phone everyone, and if one day the person says that the company does not accept phone calls about recruiting pilots, call the next and perhaps you will get someone else answering the phone who put you through. Write again to the airlines who you wrote to last month. Your enthusiasm will eventually make its mark. The job will not find you, but you will find the job.
However, eventually I managed to get my foot through the door at a local school and slowly added to my experience until I had the magical 700 hours for the issue of a CPL and I went on to complete my IR. I was now in the position of being employable, but with no relevant experience and in a market where there were many people with more experience chasing up the few openings that became available. I applied to everyone both at home and overseas, but despite to numerous letters that I had "putting me on file", for those that could be bothered to reply, I never gave up.
Eventually, I got my first proper job in 1997, three years after gaining my CPL I/R (frozen ATPL) on a corporate turboprop in the RHS. For various reasons I hated the job (believe me, CRM is really really important and when someone insults and swears at you at every given opportunity, your life is hell). However, I stuck at it, watched my hours build up and 5 months later I got a position with a regional airline.
The point I am trying to put across is that you should never give up. I have seen lots of people enter into training, but not complete their ambition. I remember having a BCPL course booked to start on the Monday morning and on the preceding Thursday my bank turned me down for a £3,000 loan. But I found the money on the Friday. There is always a way. Never give up, and write to everyone. When you have little experience, unless you know someone in a position to help you, it comes down to luck. One day your cv will land on someone's desk and you will strike lucky. Phone everyone, and if one day the person says that the company does not accept phone calls about recruiting pilots, call the next and perhaps you will get someone else answering the phone who put you through. Write again to the airlines who you wrote to last month. Your enthusiasm will eventually make its mark. The job will not find you, but you will find the job.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I have read through this thread and it says it all. I have finalized my flighttraining 3.5 years ago now and my 1000hrs (800hrs ME MP) have as yet not brought me far. I fully recognize the frustration of 200hrs ab initio pilots being hired ahead of me, just because they attended the "right" flightschool....
Also I was 25 was I finished training and realized that my CV didn't look like much if I was going to sit an wait for that airline job. Right now, I worked my way up to a ground ops instructor job with a 747 freighter company. It does two things for me. It makes me financially independend from that pilot job and it gave me loads of experience and a very short time. CRM is not only valid in the cockpit...... I can tell that the way you have to communicate during instruction poses quite a few challenges.
Anyway, I am still working on the cockpit job. I guess we are like pitbulls, once we sink out teeth in it, we don't let go....
Good luck to all of you!
Also I was 25 was I finished training and realized that my CV didn't look like much if I was going to sit an wait for that airline job. Right now, I worked my way up to a ground ops instructor job with a 747 freighter company. It does two things for me. It makes me financially independend from that pilot job and it gave me loads of experience and a very short time. CRM is not only valid in the cockpit...... I can tell that the way you have to communicate during instruction poses quite a few challenges.
Anyway, I am still working on the cockpit job. I guess we are like pitbulls, once we sink out teeth in it, we don't let go....
Good luck to all of you!
Join Date: Sep 2000
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To all of you wannabees, I wish you the best of luck. I am the victim of the mandatory 60 age limit retirement here in the US. I must say that my last 18 years of commercial airline flying has been the most enjoyable years of my life. It took me many years, a lot of hard work and personal sacrafice to get that job. Would I do it again, you bet. Keep dogging those airlines with your applications, sooner or later someone will listen to you. God Bless and take care.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Re: Some words of advice (hopefully) to wannabes at all levels...
Many moons ago I ,at great expense and hardship, I managed to get a Canadian ATR and with 120 hrs on DC3s up in the Artic,contacted British Airways(then known as BEA and BOAC) as I had heard they were hiring. No we don't hire from abroad I was told, -so with just enough dosh in the kitty for 1 one way ticket for my new wife and a return for me I set off. On arrival I contacted both airlines again by phone ,only to be told that all interview slots were already full etc. and there was no chance. The next day on returning from a successful interview to fly Aztec air taxis for 30 p a year (well it was ajob!) I was greeted by one telegram(remember them!) and a phone message inviting me to interviews on the same day at LHR, one AM, t'other PM. Both companies offered me jobs and I was able to negotiate the base and type I wanted and the rest is history. Yes, the 19 years to command was a bad joke but we did have Chernobyl and the Gulf war,BUT on the up side we were never laid off or had our pay reduced and the company was a good employer. There is ALWAYS a way if you are determined enough, prepared to go anywhere to get a job and stick at it once you've got it.Plus ca change as the French say, the survivors out amongst you will always make it but the world is full of nay sayers and hopeless optimists. I wish all of you who read this good luck and don't ever give up. And if any of you are interested in joining me as a flying partner in my banner towing business in Surrey get in touch!
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Jar
getting a JAR fATPL is the worst mistake i have ever done, i graduated a few months before 9/11.
I know many many people who have thrown the gauntlet after obtaining a JAR fATPL. I dont see those guys stories here.
the only positive aspect is that it made me a better pilot but IT REALLY WAS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE or the fuss (especially the JAR ATPL theory).
It is also expensive to stay current once you graduated, especially the ME/IR part.
if i had to do it again i would have kept a PPL/IR and not gone any further.
I am not ready to pay a further 10K-15K for a type rating which leads nowhere most of the time.
The airline slots are really far and between, even for experienced pilots. low-timers dont get any chance in the current conditions.
I know many many people who have thrown the gauntlet after obtaining a JAR fATPL. I dont see those guys stories here.
the only positive aspect is that it made me a better pilot but IT REALLY WAS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE or the fuss (especially the JAR ATPL theory).
It is also expensive to stay current once you graduated, especially the ME/IR part.
if i had to do it again i would have kept a PPL/IR and not gone any further.
I am not ready to pay a further 10K-15K for a type rating which leads nowhere most of the time.
The airline slots are really far and between, even for experienced pilots. low-timers dont get any chance in the current conditions.
