advice for a real wannabe
Join Date: Dec 1997
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There is a world of difference between the various ways of earning a living in aviation. To make a sensible decision about which route to take, you need to learn as much as you can about the jobs that may be available to you. Always remember that it is not about the aeroplane you fly, it's about the job satisfaction you get from flying it.
If you wish to consider the military - a very attractive option - you need to understand that a fundamental tenet of the job is that you may get shot at and killed in the process of completing your task. You must also understand that, for the period of your service, you must subjugate your personal point of view to the needs of the government of the day.
With commercial aviation, remember that there are many more ways of earning a living than by flying an airliner. Far too many wannabes these days are blinkered in their pursuit of the right-hand seat in a 737 and forget that there is a great deal more fun and satisfaction to be had flying (for example) air taxis, freight or in corporate aviation. Don't be in a rush to get to 747s and longhaul flying - unless you are a passionate fan of Sudoku, crosswords and jetlag. There is plenty of time for that...
If you decide that civilian aviation is for you, you must decide not only what your target jobs may be, but how you intend to get there. There are few sponsorships left these days, though the CTC and similar schemes allow you to defer the costs of training until you are employed - assuming you are indeed employed at the end of your training. Should you not be, you may find yourself liable for a very large debt indeed yet with no obvious way of paying it.
Training via the modular route may have less obvious connections with the airlines, but there is no shortage of ex-modular students gaining employment. The debt incurred going this route will be considerably lower than via the integrated route, but on the other hand you will have to find the cash before you take each module.
There is a lot to think about before engaging on the route to professional aviation. This is not Fame Academy; there are no routes which do not require a great deal of hard work and application.
Oh, and ignore The African Dude. You will not require A-level maths for any of these routes to aviation. Your B at GCSE is quite adequate.
Scroggs
If you wish to consider the military - a very attractive option - you need to understand that a fundamental tenet of the job is that you may get shot at and killed in the process of completing your task. You must also understand that, for the period of your service, you must subjugate your personal point of view to the needs of the government of the day.
With commercial aviation, remember that there are many more ways of earning a living than by flying an airliner. Far too many wannabes these days are blinkered in their pursuit of the right-hand seat in a 737 and forget that there is a great deal more fun and satisfaction to be had flying (for example) air taxis, freight or in corporate aviation. Don't be in a rush to get to 747s and longhaul flying - unless you are a passionate fan of Sudoku, crosswords and jetlag. There is plenty of time for that...
If you decide that civilian aviation is for you, you must decide not only what your target jobs may be, but how you intend to get there. There are few sponsorships left these days, though the CTC and similar schemes allow you to defer the costs of training until you are employed - assuming you are indeed employed at the end of your training. Should you not be, you may find yourself liable for a very large debt indeed yet with no obvious way of paying it.
Training via the modular route may have less obvious connections with the airlines, but there is no shortage of ex-modular students gaining employment. The debt incurred going this route will be considerably lower than via the integrated route, but on the other hand you will have to find the cash before you take each module.
There is a lot to think about before engaging on the route to professional aviation. This is not Fame Academy; there are no routes which do not require a great deal of hard work and application.
Oh, and ignore The African Dude. You will not require A-level maths for any of these routes to aviation. Your B at GCSE is quite adequate.
Scroggs
Considerably Bemused Wannabe
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Thanks for that reply Scroggs. Although I have decided on Civilian flying and going down the modular route whilst doing my PhD, I have not said its airline flying or nothing! To be honest, I'd fly anything, anywhere at anytime!
Anyway, cheers again.
Steve.
Anyway, cheers again.
Steve.
Join Date: Aug 2005
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How would a Geoscience degree sit with sponsors? It encompasses a mixture of all sorts, Physics, Chemistry, Geography etc and you have to learn to use surveying equipment etc?
I have recently passed my PPL and have got through to the UAS at my Uni, but how would this degree be looked upon, as it is not pure maths/physics or engineering?
I have recently passed my PPL and have got through to the UAS at my Uni, but how would this degree be looked upon, as it is not pure maths/physics or engineering?
Join Date: Jan 2003
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shoot me if wrong but its my understanding about these sponsorships/airline jobs want you to have at least the basic academic qualifications, roughly 2 A levels? then its up to YOU. ie....confidence, teamwork, prioritising, maturity etc etc etc
I got an airline job with only A levels. (oh, and a B at intermediate GCSE maths !!!!!)
I got an airline job with only A levels. (oh, and a B at intermediate GCSE maths !!!!!)
Join Date: Dec 1997
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Ridgerunner if you have knowledge of any sponsorships, then you presumably have access to the requirements of the potential sponsors? If you do, you will presumably have read these requirements and thus will know whether or not your degree is acceptable to them. Oh - please share details of these sponsorships with the rest of us!
On the other hand, if you are asking (as I suspect) in the hope that there may be some sponsors out there somewhere, I'm afraid you're likely to be disappointed. All the major training schemes out there are paid for by the student. The funding may be arranged by the FTO, but it's you who signs on the dotted line, and it's you that owes the money even if a job isn't forthcoming.
As for qualifications, a brief search of this website and those of the training schemes I refer to will demonstrate that a degree is not required of any student of any of these courses, so your question is superfluous.
Scroggs
On the other hand, if you are asking (as I suspect) in the hope that there may be some sponsors out there somewhere, I'm afraid you're likely to be disappointed. All the major training schemes out there are paid for by the student. The funding may be arranged by the FTO, but it's you who signs on the dotted line, and it's you that owes the money even if a job isn't forthcoming.
As for qualifications, a brief search of this website and those of the training schemes I refer to will demonstrate that a degree is not required of any student of any of these courses, so your question is superfluous.
Scroggs
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Sorry - only meant 'aspects' would be of use - such as resolving vectors and the like. Never said that it was a requirement and a quick scout of these boards would show it's not. You can pick which opinions you want to accept and Scroggs, maybe he should indeed ignore me, but my opinion was offered in good faith 
