UK jobs market and where and how to find that first job?
Educated Hillbilly
Pilotho,
Sponsorships are now pretty much non-existent in the UK.
There is the CTC Wings scheme which is very close to a sponsorship, (the loan is in your name I believe) there is the JN Somers GAPAN award (only one award a year).
Sponsorships are now pretty much non-existent in the UK.
There is the CTC Wings scheme which is very close to a sponsorship, (the loan is in your name I believe) there is the JN Somers GAPAN award (only one award a year).
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Job with 200 hours and a 'frozen' ATPL?
I am about to start my professional pilot training modularly, and I'm wondering whether to do go for instucting afterwards, or if it is viable to get an airline/commercial job after gaining 200-250 hours and a 'frozen' ATPL.
According to numerous flight schools I've spoken to, they say "go straight for a job!"
It makes a huge difference financially as if I am aiming for a job, I'll do my IR instead of my instructor license and do the ATPL while I am building hours. If I go for instructor. I'll wait with the IR and do the ATPL while instucting.
What do you reckon'?
Can one get a job on 200 hours and a frozen ATPL???
Thanks,
Stanzie
According to numerous flight schools I've spoken to, they say "go straight for a job!"
It makes a huge difference financially as if I am aiming for a job, I'll do my IR instead of my instructor license and do the ATPL while I am building hours. If I go for instructor. I'll wait with the IR and do the ATPL while instucting.
What do you reckon'?
Can one get a job on 200 hours and a frozen ATPL???
Thanks,
Stanzie
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You can try reading some posts
here:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=149212
or here:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=149213
until someone replies with a relevant answer!
Regards & good luck.
here:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=149212
or here:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=149213
until someone replies with a relevant answer!
Regards & good luck.
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Hi stan... My personal view is that before you embark on any advanced training your best off to complete the ATPL's. You will need to have them or CPL exams passed eventually if you wish to make a career of it so sooner the better I would say.
Also, when I did my ATPL's a couple of years ago there were several students who didnt make the grade and had to drop out and forget an aviation career. It would be a shame if you invested all that cash and then couldnt get the relevant academic results required.
Personally I did, class 1 medi.. PPL.. ATPL theory... hours building.. CPL/ME.. IR.
Its worked out nicely, although you could do the IR before the CPL which brings the cost of CPL down a little.
Hope that helps.
DPT
Also, when I did my ATPL's a couple of years ago there were several students who didnt make the grade and had to drop out and forget an aviation career. It would be a shame if you invested all that cash and then couldnt get the relevant academic results required.
Personally I did, class 1 medi.. PPL.. ATPL theory... hours building.. CPL/ME.. IR.
Its worked out nicely, although you could do the IR before the CPL which brings the cost of CPL down a little.
Hope that helps.
DPT
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Firstly welcome to the world of aviation.
This is a question that everyone wants to know the answer to, and it is quite difficult to answer. You must research, which I am sure you have, what options are open to you when you have finished.
It is not unheard of to step straight into an airline job after finishing your training. However, on saying that, these people who do this tend to be a minority, simply because of how competitive this industry is. With the airline I work for, they are taking people straight out flight school, and poping them in the right hand seat of an Airbus, so it can be done, and has been for many years.
Its a good idea to have a plan B and maybe even C up your sleeve for when you have finished, and build this into you financial planning.
From a personal point of view, I think it is very important to stay current. Now, whether that is instructing, banner towing, being a tug pilot, doing aerial photography, it all helps and it keeps you in the loop. I was an instructor, and still am, and thought it was a great way to keep current. It is one of the best jobs I have ever had, and it certainly helped to keep me fresh and in the loop. On saying that though, its not everyones cup of tea, but I certainly enjoy it.
All the best with it, and most of all enjoy it, its a lot of fun.
This is a question that everyone wants to know the answer to, and it is quite difficult to answer. You must research, which I am sure you have, what options are open to you when you have finished.
It is not unheard of to step straight into an airline job after finishing your training. However, on saying that, these people who do this tend to be a minority, simply because of how competitive this industry is. With the airline I work for, they are taking people straight out flight school, and poping them in the right hand seat of an Airbus, so it can be done, and has been for many years.
Its a good idea to have a plan B and maybe even C up your sleeve for when you have finished, and build this into you financial planning.
From a personal point of view, I think it is very important to stay current. Now, whether that is instructing, banner towing, being a tug pilot, doing aerial photography, it all helps and it keeps you in the loop. I was an instructor, and still am, and thought it was a great way to keep current. It is one of the best jobs I have ever had, and it certainly helped to keep me fresh and in the loop. On saying that though, its not everyones cup of tea, but I certainly enjoy it.
All the best with it, and most of all enjoy it, its a lot of fun.
Do bear in mind that every year hundreds of Wannbes like you embark on this road and never ever become professionally employed pilots.
More people train than there are jobs for. You may be one of them.
You need to do a good deal of research before you embark on the investment of serious money. This is a good place to start. From your post on this thread I believe that you have not yet done enough research. Talking to a few companies that sell flight training IS NOT research.
Be very careful.
WWW
More people train than there are jobs for. You may be one of them.
You need to do a good deal of research before you embark on the investment of serious money. This is a good place to start. From your post on this thread I believe that you have not yet done enough research. Talking to a few companies that sell flight training IS NOT research.
Be very careful.
WWW
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You need to do a good deal of research before you embark on the investment of serious money....From your post on this thread I believe that you have not yet done enough research.
Wee Weasley Welshman, thanks for your warning, but I want to assure you that there are few people with 10 hours who know as much about the aviation industry as me: Both of my parets and my brother are pilots. My mother was a flight instructor, and my dad as been an f-5 pilot, a Boeing 737-200 pilot for 30 years, a captain, and a Chief Flight Instructor at one of the most respectable pilot schools in the world; he has around 20,000 hours logged.
In addition to that, I have surfed the web, emailed, telephoned, and spoken to so many people, schools, and regulations so I know a good deal about the aviation industy (I believe I have been in contact with ; but I am sure that if I explained this at every pprune forum I post in, no-body would bother reading it.
Still, even though I have done a lot of research, you can't get ahold of all the information that I want.
Somebody's else opinion, research, or experience can be a lot more usefull than several hours at the computer.
Also, dontpressthatbutton, I have no problem gettin high mark academically, and the order in which you did it:
class 1 medi.. PPL.. ATPL theory... hours building.. CPL/ME.. IR.
is the way I intend to do it if I don't go for instructing. Thank you for the advice.
Wee Weasley Welshman, thanks for your warning, but I want to assure you that there are few people with 10 hours who know as much about the aviation industry as me: Both of my parets and my brother are pilots. My mother was a flight instructor, and my dad as been an f-5 pilot, a Boeing 737-200 pilot for 30 years, a captain, and a Chief Flight Instructor at one of the most respectable pilot schools in the world; he has around 20,000 hours logged.
In addition to that, I have surfed the web, emailed, telephoned, and spoken to so many people, schools, and regulations so I know a good deal about the aviation industy (I believe I have been in contact with ; but I am sure that if I explained this at every pprune forum I post in, no-body would bother reading it.
Still, even though I have done a lot of research, you can't get ahold of all the information that I want.
Somebody's else opinion, research, or experience can be a lot more usefull than several hours at the computer.
Also, dontpressthatbutton, I have no problem gettin high mark academically, and the order in which you did it:
class 1 medi.. PPL.. ATPL theory... hours building.. CPL/ME.. IR.
is the way I intend to do it if I don't go for instructing. Thank you for the advice.
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not just a wannabe
You need to do a good deal of research before you embark on the investment of serious money....From your post on this thread I believe that you have not yet done enough research.
WWW, thanks for your warning, but I can assure you that I have done years of research. I probably know a lot more than the majority with 10 hours of flying do; but if I was going to try to explain this at every post, no-body would care to read it.
In addition to all the research I have done, then both of my parents + my brother are pilot. My mother was a flight instructor and is currently trying to get an airline job. My father was an f-5 pilot, has been an airline pilot for over 30 years, has been a CAA examiner, and the Chief Flight Instructor on one of the most respectable pilots schools in the world (he has around 20,000 hours logged).
So through all of my research (I have emailed, phoned, spoken to, and researched hundreds of schools and other sources all over the world) and through all of what my parents have told me, I don't think I am in need of any more research.
Still, the more good advice I can get, the better. I think there are a lot of good information to be picked up at PPRuNe, and I agree that speaking to a few schools is not enough. Therefore I am consulting the people who are actually in the process of getting a job or know about it.
Oh, dontpressthat, thanks for warning me about the ATPL, but I don't have any problems getting high marks academically. I like the order in which you did your training, I intend on doing the same.
Stanzie
WWW, thanks for your warning, but I can assure you that I have done years of research. I probably know a lot more than the majority with 10 hours of flying do; but if I was going to try to explain this at every post, no-body would care to read it.
In addition to all the research I have done, then both of my parents + my brother are pilot. My mother was a flight instructor and is currently trying to get an airline job. My father was an f-5 pilot, has been an airline pilot for over 30 years, has been a CAA examiner, and the Chief Flight Instructor on one of the most respectable pilots schools in the world (he has around 20,000 hours logged).
So through all of my research (I have emailed, phoned, spoken to, and researched hundreds of schools and other sources all over the world) and through all of what my parents have told me, I don't think I am in need of any more research.
Still, the more good advice I can get, the better. I think there are a lot of good information to be picked up at PPRuNe, and I agree that speaking to a few schools is not enough. Therefore I am consulting the people who are actually in the process of getting a job or know about it.
Oh, dontpressthat, thanks for warning me about the ATPL, but I don't have any problems getting high marks academically. I like the order in which you did your training, I intend on doing the same.
Stanzie
OK. I did not suspect that you had family members in the industry and were therefore reliably informed about it.
Your initial post of:
I am about to start my professional pilot training modularly, and I'm wondering whether to do go for instucting afterwards, or if it is viable to get an airline/commercial job after gaining 200-250 hours and a 'frozen' ATPL.
According to numerous flight schools I've spoken to, they say "go straight for a job!"
Suggested that you are a newbie with no clue about training or airline recruitment.
Your Mum and Dad should be able, as commercial pilots, to advise you in detail about training value and recruitment.
I find your post therefore curious.
You are asking very very general questions when your parents are commercial pilots amongst other family member who are also commercial pilots. I would expect you to ask quite specific questions.
As in, should I go to school A or B. Rather than should I go Integrated or Instructing.
But carry on.
This forum is yours to use. The more advice the better. But your Dad seems a hell of a good source of advice to me.
Best of luck,
WWW
Your initial post of:
I am about to start my professional pilot training modularly, and I'm wondering whether to do go for instucting afterwards, or if it is viable to get an airline/commercial job after gaining 200-250 hours and a 'frozen' ATPL.
According to numerous flight schools I've spoken to, they say "go straight for a job!"
Suggested that you are a newbie with no clue about training or airline recruitment.
Your Mum and Dad should be able, as commercial pilots, to advise you in detail about training value and recruitment.
I find your post therefore curious.
You are asking very very general questions when your parents are commercial pilots amongst other family member who are also commercial pilots. I would expect you to ask quite specific questions.
As in, should I go to school A or B. Rather than should I go Integrated or Instructing.
But carry on.
This forum is yours to use. The more advice the better. But your Dad seems a hell of a good source of advice to me.
Best of luck,
WWW
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Ask your father/mother for the phone number of a relatively recently hired F/O in their company. They should have a good idea of what life is like at the pointy end of recruitment. From my own experience I would say that if you go to a good flight school and do well, you stand a good chance of obtaining employment for an airline within a year of finishing. This obviously depends on recruitment remaining as hot as it is at the moment. I emphasize "chance" because there is always an element of "right place, right time". You can study until the small hours of the morning and you can push yourself to really excel on every training flight but at the end of the day, nobody owes you a job. You'll still have to go out there and manage to sell yourself.
sr
sr
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WWW, the thing with having two parents in the industry and still not being able to know whether I can get a job afterwards is simple:
1: They never applied for a job when having less than 1000 hours (one was a flight instuctor first, the other was a fighter pilot)
2: Their "low-hour era" was a different era from mine. The aviation industry changes from year to year.
3. None of them are in an airline at the moment. They are both trying to get jobs (which can be rather hrd when you're 63, as my dad is).
4. Imagine how different impression my father gets when he applies for a job, 63 years old, 20,000 hours, and has been flying for 49 years; compared to me who would be 19 years old, 200 hours, and flying for 1-2 years!!!!!
I don't stand a chance, it seems!
1: They never applied for a job when having less than 1000 hours (one was a flight instuctor first, the other was a fighter pilot)
2: Their "low-hour era" was a different era from mine. The aviation industry changes from year to year.
3. None of them are in an airline at the moment. They are both trying to get jobs (which can be rather hrd when you're 63, as my dad is).
4. Imagine how different impression my father gets when he applies for a job, 63 years old, 20,000 hours, and has been flying for 49 years; compared to me who would be 19 years old, 200 hours, and flying for 1-2 years!!!!!
I don't stand a chance, it seems!
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Rubbish mate, you do stand every chance!!
270 hours TT + simulator time all part-time modular
I start at large LHR airline on the A320 in a few weeks. I do not pay for the TR either, and I was sitting very frustrated 3 months ago with no lead except a SSTR, which I canned at the 11th hour.
270 hours TT + simulator time all part-time modular
I start at large LHR airline on the A320 in a few weeks. I do not pay for the TR either, and I was sitting very frustrated 3 months ago with no lead except a SSTR, which I canned at the 11th hour.
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Well Done, SinBin! 
Congratulations.
Did you apply for a lot companies?
Do you know anybody else who did it with (no offense) such few hours and no TR?
Again, well done!
Stanzie
Congratulations. Did you apply for a lot companies?
Do you know anybody else who did it with (no offense) such few hours and no TR?
Again, well done!
Stanzie
Whats your financial situation? It makes a big difference.
WWW
WWW
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Gotta agree with WWW.
I don't think the matter is helped when there are articles in prominent magazines, such as Pilot I noticed recently, promoting the fact that the 'frozen' ATPL with 250hrs is really all you need to walk into a job these days.
Yep, it happens - but from what I've read, you have to be very lucky and very organised in how you approach and court airlines. Basing such a massive expenditure on the sole expectation of getting a job in this way is risky business.
That said, I have done a similar thing in terms of my plans - however, the crucial factor in my approach is that I already have a safe, solid and reasonably paid job. In the event that it doesn't come off without further training/expense/time (which is very likely), I'm not going to bankrupt myself in the process and I can afford to take the risk, so to speak.
Look at all the angles, speak to as many different people as you can and consider the implications in the cold light of day. For reference, this forum/website has probably been the single biggest source of information I've had, and it has proved invaluable in getting me to this point. Hopefully one day, I'll be able to put back into this what I've taken out - and when that day comes, I'll be a very happy bunny indeed!
I don't think the matter is helped when there are articles in prominent magazines, such as Pilot I noticed recently, promoting the fact that the 'frozen' ATPL with 250hrs is really all you need to walk into a job these days.
Yep, it happens - but from what I've read, you have to be very lucky and very organised in how you approach and court airlines. Basing such a massive expenditure on the sole expectation of getting a job in this way is risky business.
That said, I have done a similar thing in terms of my plans - however, the crucial factor in my approach is that I already have a safe, solid and reasonably paid job. In the event that it doesn't come off without further training/expense/time (which is very likely), I'm not going to bankrupt myself in the process and I can afford to take the risk, so to speak.
Look at all the angles, speak to as many different people as you can and consider the implications in the cold light of day. For reference, this forum/website has probably been the single biggest source of information I've had, and it has proved invaluable in getting me to this point. Hopefully one day, I'll be able to put back into this what I've taken out - and when that day comes, I'll be a very happy bunny indeed!
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My financial structure isn't a lot. I know you are thinking that I have two pilot parents, but one of them was very poor financially
!
Put it like this, I can most likely afford to do PPL, hour building, ATPL theor, CPL, MCC, ME and either IR or the instructor course, but I would probably really struggle to pay for both
. Which is why I want to plan ahead!
In my situation, it is probably best to aim for instructing for at least half a year as, at least, I'll have an income and gain hours (its just that I absolutely stink at teaching); and then I don't risk standing there with an IR and no job (whether airline or instructing). It just seems so perfect to jump straight into an airline job, but you just can't risk it always.
Anyway, I have almost a year to make up my mind and gain opinions before I decide on IR or instructing.
If anybody else have anymore opinions, I welcome the open heartedly
Thanks guys,
Stanzie
!Put it like this, I can most likely afford to do PPL, hour building, ATPL theor, CPL, MCC, ME and either IR or the instructor course, but I would probably really struggle to pay for both
. Which is why I want to plan ahead!In my situation, it is probably best to aim for instructing for at least half a year as, at least, I'll have an income and gain hours (its just that I absolutely stink at teaching); and then I don't risk standing there with an IR and no job
(whether airline or instructing). It just seems so perfect to jump straight into an airline job, but you just can't risk it always.Anyway, I have almost a year to make up my mind and gain opinions before I decide on IR or instructing.
If anybody else have anymore opinions, I welcome the open heartedly
Thanks guys,
Stanzie
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Put it like this, I can most likely afford to do PPL, hour building, ATPL theor, CPL, MCC, ME and either IR or the instructor course, but I would probably really struggle to pay for both.
... Wish I had £25k/£30k burning a hole in my pocket like you have. 
Good luck mate, I'd suggest doing the FI rating to keep yourself flying should you not get the call from a carrier. I'd hate to pass my IR with not a penny to my name and then struggle to keep current. As said above keep flying and current and enjoy it - not flying for 12 months after passing your IR and then getting a sim ride with easyjet would be a disaster I'd imagine.
Keep us up to date and listen to your parents as they seem like a wealth of information if you ask me.
I'm not at all sure how attractive an employee you will be as an 18yr old who is crap at teaching and has 250hrs TT in his logbook.
Don't go making the mistake that doing the FI course will guarantee you a job as an instructor - it may well not. It may at best get you some ad hoc work in the summer months at a school far from home. It takes quite a long time therefore to recoup the £5k+ that you spend on the FI course.
There is an economic slowdown happening in the UK. One of the very first and very easiest savings people can make is to forget about that PPL course for another year or let the PPL and club membership fees lapse this year..
On a more general note I think you are too young.
Unless you get picked up for a sponsorship or get onto a CTC style scheme at that age it is very hard to pass an airline intereview. Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult situation/told someone some bad news/diffused a confrontational situation... Tell us you best and worst days of your life/How would you handle a sobbing cabin crew downroute who has just been dumped by text message and wants to get off?/A member of your crew has reported smelling of alchol - what would you do and how would you do it?/ Blah Blah Blah
At 18 there are only so many examples you can give and only so much credibility you can project.
You'd have to be incredibly mature and good at interviews to outshine the other candidates who have a few more years, University and other careers under their belt.
Just a thought.
WWW
Don't go making the mistake that doing the FI course will guarantee you a job as an instructor - it may well not. It may at best get you some ad hoc work in the summer months at a school far from home. It takes quite a long time therefore to recoup the £5k+ that you spend on the FI course.
There is an economic slowdown happening in the UK. One of the very first and very easiest savings people can make is to forget about that PPL course for another year or let the PPL and club membership fees lapse this year..
On a more general note I think you are too young.
Unless you get picked up for a sponsorship or get onto a CTC style scheme at that age it is very hard to pass an airline intereview. Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult situation/told someone some bad news/diffused a confrontational situation... Tell us you best and worst days of your life/How would you handle a sobbing cabin crew downroute who has just been dumped by text message and wants to get off?/A member of your crew has reported smelling of alchol - what would you do and how would you do it?/ Blah Blah Blah
At 18 there are only so many examples you can give and only so much credibility you can project.
You'd have to be incredibly mature and good at interviews to outshine the other candidates who have a few more years, University and other careers under their belt.
Just a thought.
WWW
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You should listen carefully to what WWW has to say.
I managed to get an airline job with 270TT but I was VERY LUCKY and managed to get in at just the right time - it wouldn't have been possible 6 months before or after I joined.
If you go to one of the big schools and shell out all that money for an integrated course plus rating then you might be OK (provided you do well, keep friends with them and have the personal qualities too). With modular training you might need to look at an FI rating too. I went modular and never instructed, but people I know who did really enjoyed it and felt that it really improved their flying. At 18 you shouldn't really feel under any pressure to do it all really quickly!
Good luck. As others have said though, your family connections could be a winner for you - for advice but also for good people to call for a job when you've finished your training....
I managed to get an airline job with 270TT but I was VERY LUCKY and managed to get in at just the right time - it wouldn't have been possible 6 months before or after I joined.
If you go to one of the big schools and shell out all that money for an integrated course plus rating then you might be OK (provided you do well, keep friends with them and have the personal qualities too). With modular training you might need to look at an FI rating too. I went modular and never instructed, but people I know who did really enjoyed it and felt that it really improved their flying. At 18 you shouldn't really feel under any pressure to do it all really quickly!
Good luck. As others have said though, your family connections could be a winner for you - for advice but also for good people to call for a job when you've finished your training....
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Hi,
I fully echo Keith's comments. I'm not sure what your state of mind is. Maybe you're thinking as you have pilot blood running through you, it only makes sense to start pilot training at age 18 and not even think about another career. This may have been the case for your parents and possibly even your brother but it is a totally different game from what it was even 5 years ago. I’ve witnessed the whole wannabe scene for the past 7-8 years. I know about every sponsorship that ever took place and every minor and major event in professional ‘wannabeism’. I know that there will always be opportunities. I have (I hope) realistic expectations of this career (starting it; earning a living waiting for it; pros/cons of various situations to be in).
Being young (and not too young), eager, committed and hard working is only half of it. The other half is about being financially secure (before, during and after training). Might sound a bit basic, but money is the most divisive factor in becoming an airline pilot now regardless of how good a pilot you are. It's not just about the cash to pay for a (God-forsaken) Self Sponsored Type Rating but the ability to be able to take a financial 'hit' as you try to maintain your license, pay the rent, feed yourself/your dependants and generally do all those things humans do.
A bit like Keith, I came out of fulltime education at 18, and thought I was ready and happy to take on everything the aviation world had to throw at me in order to become an Airline Pilot. PPL in the bag, I remained unemployed for 9 months thinking that I’d find the cash somehow or get lucky. Started a job I really didn’t want to be in. I applied for sponsorships for the first couple of years as I saved cash. Funny to look at now - all those forecasts of saving £30-35k between ages 18-21! When I turned 22, it dawned on me how ridiculous it was to think I'd be flying at such a young age. It does happen though, but only for those with rich daddies or those insane enough to take out £60k loans putting their parent’s property on the line.
For the past 6-7 years, I have been working in another trade (which I had no interest in, in the beginning). I go on about my current financial situation a lot on here, but the truth is without the trade I’m in now, I would NOT HAVE A CHANCE with my current outgoings which include a mortgage. I’m still yet to turn 26 and am on a respectable salary far above any FO working for the airlines. Granted, my current earnings won’t last forever as demand for my skills drops but it has been enough to do almost everything a 25 year old could want from life at this stage, including enough spare cash to start fulltime professional training. My approach has been different to those who have struggled to become airline pilots. I have struggled to become semi-wealthy, which will now enable me to become an airline pilot, a little bit comfortably I might add. I’m due to start now in September after my final ATPL exams.
Delayed by 7 years, but what have I lost? The truth is I’ve gained far more than I’ve lost. I’ve lost 7 years of flying a jet and that’s about it. I have gained a fallback career, hundreds of contacts who would be happy to give me a job, no debt at all and most importantly knowledge about something other than flying because realistically speaking there is lots more to life than flying.
There is nothing outrageous about starting at age 18, but I urge you to look past your love for aviation for a minute (and maybe even your roots) and try to establish yourself as a well rounded individual totally aware of what the world has to offer you. You never know what you might gain. Good luck to you.
I fully echo Keith's comments. I'm not sure what your state of mind is. Maybe you're thinking as you have pilot blood running through you, it only makes sense to start pilot training at age 18 and not even think about another career. This may have been the case for your parents and possibly even your brother but it is a totally different game from what it was even 5 years ago. I’ve witnessed the whole wannabe scene for the past 7-8 years. I know about every sponsorship that ever took place and every minor and major event in professional ‘wannabeism’. I know that there will always be opportunities. I have (I hope) realistic expectations of this career (starting it; earning a living waiting for it; pros/cons of various situations to be in).
Being young (and not too young), eager, committed and hard working is only half of it. The other half is about being financially secure (before, during and after training). Might sound a bit basic, but money is the most divisive factor in becoming an airline pilot now regardless of how good a pilot you are. It's not just about the cash to pay for a (God-forsaken) Self Sponsored Type Rating but the ability to be able to take a financial 'hit' as you try to maintain your license, pay the rent, feed yourself/your dependants and generally do all those things humans do.
A bit like Keith, I came out of fulltime education at 18, and thought I was ready and happy to take on everything the aviation world had to throw at me in order to become an Airline Pilot. PPL in the bag, I remained unemployed for 9 months thinking that I’d find the cash somehow or get lucky. Started a job I really didn’t want to be in. I applied for sponsorships for the first couple of years as I saved cash. Funny to look at now - all those forecasts of saving £30-35k between ages 18-21! When I turned 22, it dawned on me how ridiculous it was to think I'd be flying at such a young age. It does happen though, but only for those with rich daddies or those insane enough to take out £60k loans putting their parent’s property on the line.
For the past 6-7 years, I have been working in another trade (which I had no interest in, in the beginning). I go on about my current financial situation a lot on here, but the truth is without the trade I’m in now, I would NOT HAVE A CHANCE with my current outgoings which include a mortgage. I’m still yet to turn 26 and am on a respectable salary far above any FO working for the airlines. Granted, my current earnings won’t last forever as demand for my skills drops but it has been enough to do almost everything a 25 year old could want from life at this stage, including enough spare cash to start fulltime professional training. My approach has been different to those who have struggled to become airline pilots. I have struggled to become semi-wealthy, which will now enable me to become an airline pilot, a little bit comfortably I might add. I’m due to start now in September after my final ATPL exams.
Delayed by 7 years, but what have I lost? The truth is I’ve gained far more than I’ve lost. I’ve lost 7 years of flying a jet and that’s about it. I have gained a fallback career, hundreds of contacts who would be happy to give me a job, no debt at all and most importantly knowledge about something other than flying because realistically speaking there is lots more to life than flying.
There is nothing outrageous about starting at age 18, but I urge you to look past your love for aviation for a minute (and maybe even your roots) and try to establish yourself as a well rounded individual totally aware of what the world has to offer you. You never know what you might gain. Good luck to you.