What jobs are you doing whilst waiting for that first flying job?
Professional Student
Working as accountant/credit controller/admin dogsbody while I save to fly. Handy to have as a backup career as well.
Would probably get hit (hard) if I suggested "selling" to the Mrs
Would probably get hit (hard) if I suggested "selling" to the Mrs
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: northumbria (ideally)
Age: 45
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Hi guys,
I got my fATPL 08/2005.
Worked as a FI built up 1000hrs.
Just got a job, single pilot IFR in twins and maybe some co piloting in a king air.
Should be fun in winter !
Razzele
I got my fATPL 08/2005.
Worked as a FI built up 1000hrs.
Just got a job, single pilot IFR in twins and maybe some co piloting in a king air.
Should be fun in winter !
Razzele
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Age: 45
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Working as a dispatcher at LHR since late 2004. Not a good airport to culture any meaningful or useful contacts and the hours will turn you cold, but the pay is ok I suppose and the work is good fun.
Looking at POTENTIALLY going out to Africa to build hours on air safari, but wondering about maintaining income to cover loans. It all comes down to the dirty dollar (again).
Looking at POTENTIALLY going out to Africa to build hours on air safari, but wondering about maintaining income to cover loans. It all comes down to the dirty dollar (again).
Join Date: May 2006
Location: UK
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Started up a company which supports many of the major Airlines plus a few military customer, ie. RMAF RNZAF and RAFO, suppling A/C spares. Company is going from strength to strength. Have made many good contacts and will soon been looking for someone to run it whilst l go off and FLY.....
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
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Worked in a call centre for two years following qualifying as CPL/IR f/ATPL whilst playing semi-pro in a blues band.
Now about to move from part-time instructing at the weekend to full-time instructing and it feels like I've won the lottery!
My motto: never have high expectations and you won't ever be disappointed in aviation. That goes for life in general too.
VFE.
Now about to move from part-time instructing at the weekend to full-time instructing and it feels like I've won the lottery!
My motto: never have high expectations and you won't ever be disappointed in aviation. That goes for life in general too.
VFE.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Location: Location
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Got my fATPL issued on 08/2006.
Working for an agency driving cars on the docks. Some long hours for not great pay, but I can decide not to work in the week to go to different airports to speak to people.
Keep going seems to be the motto here!
Good luck all
Working for an agency driving cars on the docks. Some long hours for not great pay, but I can decide not to work in the week to go to different airports to speak to people.
Keep going seems to be the motto here!
Good luck all
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Essex, UK
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Im like 'Billy Wizz' from Essex Boys, as Im a Chauffeur for a company called Essex Limos..have a guess where they're based....
I actually really enjoy it especially Hen nights...Its not quite an Airbus but its full of PAX....
Its a bast**d to manoeuvre (left hand drive too) when reversing and whilst on little roads, my social life has vanished, the profits are miniscule, on your first 2-3 drives you have a experienced chauffeur supervising you, on your first solo mission your bricking it, no boozing prior to a drive (obviously), theres loads of waiting around, and if you prang the car your sacked...so quite good training for the Airlines I think...
In all honesty I can sit in the back and watch a DVD whilst waiting or read 'Ace to the technical pilot interview'...well if Im really bored...
Forgot to mention another thing in common with the airlines...most the PAX are pissed up as well....
I actually really enjoy it especially Hen nights...Its not quite an Airbus but its full of PAX....
Its a bast**d to manoeuvre (left hand drive too) when reversing and whilst on little roads, my social life has vanished, the profits are miniscule, on your first 2-3 drives you have a experienced chauffeur supervising you, on your first solo mission your bricking it, no boozing prior to a drive (obviously), theres loads of waiting around, and if you prang the car your sacked...so quite good training for the Airlines I think...
In all honesty I can sit in the back and watch a DVD whilst waiting or read 'Ace to the technical pilot interview'...well if Im really bored...
Forgot to mention another thing in common with the airlines...most the PAX are pissed up as well....
Last edited by Turkish777; 13th Sep 2006 at 08:02.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: United Kingdom
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Great topic! I have a nice interesting aviation job; slot coordination for most of the UK airports (did you guys know that an aircraft has a pushback slot and a ATC runway slot??! I didn't know that until i got this job!). Being in the UK, i'm disadvantaged by having a FAA CPL/IR (slightly lowers my chances than you guys of getting a job in EUR). I'm going to start the conversion process by doing the JAA ATPL's next year, so that'll keep me busy and maybe i'll find a N-reg job in the meantime!
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
There are worse jobs. Variety is the spice of life.
SR
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Birmingham
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age 21, just finished uni. Working in a factory £9ph so not bad. Saving up some money to go travelling first and to save towards studying at OAT in hopefully the not too distant future.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Manchester
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I probably couldn't be in a better position really although I wish I acted on it sooner. Currently at MYT in a ground position. Almost sold my house so I can concentrate on some serious flying. Still need to fininsh the PPL but we all have to start somewhere!!!
Slow Progress
Slow Progress
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
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Like many others, during my ATPL theories, I worked on check-in, then dispatch. After my CPL IR etc, I worked in handling agent operations, then operations for the executive air charter company I now fly for.
Working as a dispatcher is great for networking.
Working as a dispatcher is great for networking.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Gloucestershire
Age: 48
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Just finished CPL/IR, I have done the whole thing whilst keeping my current job within the Electricity Distribution Industry. Now the hard bit getting a Job as a pilot.
I have met a lot of great people through out my training (over 5 Years) and would do it all again even if I don’t ever get a job, Keep it all in prospective it will become a job like any other in time, an airline is the same as any other large company you will need to fit in regardless of your training history.
To any wanabe or student nearly every instructor I have met so far now fly’s for an airline, mostly modular guys with life experience that makes them interesting people to talk to. Don’t get down listening to any integrated / modular argument as there are pros to both, I know modular & integrated people working for BA Mainline. Question the interest of any company that recommends one route or the other.
Good luck to all searching for jobs and remember if you hold a license you already have a major achievement to be proud of
.
I have met a lot of great people through out my training (over 5 Years) and would do it all again even if I don’t ever get a job, Keep it all in prospective it will become a job like any other in time, an airline is the same as any other large company you will need to fit in regardless of your training history.
To any wanabe or student nearly every instructor I have met so far now fly’s for an airline, mostly modular guys with life experience that makes them interesting people to talk to. Don’t get down listening to any integrated / modular argument as there are pros to both, I know modular & integrated people working for BA Mainline. Question the interest of any company that recommends one route or the other.
Good luck to all searching for jobs and remember if you hold a license you already have a major achievement to be proud of
.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South Wales
Age: 42
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Not really waiting for my first job as I'm not qualified 'yet'
But I am a 24 year old Graphic/Web Designer & Programmer. It's my 1st job since coming out of uni and the money is ok for now.
I have no house or huge bills yet and think it'll be a great time to do my training ... But having a huge student debt over my head makes me think
... And with house prices rising would it be wiser investing into property as opposed to my pilot training?
My friends are saying stick to what I am doing senior people in my area of work earn £50/60k+ and get back to their families every night and can afford to spend their weekends flying for fun
Since coming on this forum I have been confused ad had some real eye openers, but for some reason I'd quite happily fly a plane for £15k per year
Andrew
But I am a 24 year old Graphic/Web Designer & Programmer. It's my 1st job since coming out of uni and the money is ok for now.
I have no house or huge bills yet and think it'll be a great time to do my training ... But having a huge student debt over my head makes me think
... And with house prices rising would it be wiser investing into property as opposed to my pilot training?My friends are saying stick to what I am doing senior people in my area of work earn £50/60k+ and get back to their families every night and can afford to spend their weekends flying for fun
Since coming on this forum I have been confused ad had some real eye openers, but for some reason I'd quite happily fly a plane for £15k per year
Andrew