What age did you get your first flying job at?
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK
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Thats amazing dan! They do start you young in france. I hadn't even heard of the french space race but I am sure you will be heading it by your 15th birthday.
As for me,
ATPL at 23
FO by the time I get to 35 by the look of things
As for me,
ATPL at 23
FO by the time I get to 35 by the look of things
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
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Lots of financy type jobs and a degree in biz/marketing, then -
25 ppl
27 full time commercial training
29 finished said training, 5 months later FO Avro RJ85
modular route/over 16 never seemed a disadvantage to me during job applications
25 ppl
27 full time commercial training
29 finished said training, 5 months later FO Avro RJ85
modular route/over 16 never seemed a disadvantage to me during job applications
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sandpit
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Hmmm in the year I spent at UCL before transferring my credit out to the OU so I could start earning money I didn't really learn any life skills but I did learn where the yellow card bars are. I have learnt most of my life skills since really.
Anyway Uni or not is really a decision to be made by you and nobody else - I certainly don't think it did me any harm but I still have several years before I get that Hons Degree from the OU! Meanwhile I had my first Solo today on the C172 whilst on a Cadet scheme somewhere in the ME - age 24 - love my life - generally all down to a LOT of luck though, with a nice job waiting for me if I work hard enough.
Right I should really be celebrating......
Anyway Uni or not is really a decision to be made by you and nobody else - I certainly don't think it did me any harm but I still have several years before I get that Hons Degree from the OU! Meanwhile I had my first Solo today on the C172 whilst on a Cadet scheme somewhere in the ME - age 24 - love my life - generally all down to a LOT of luck though, with a nice job waiting for me if I work hard enough.
Right I should really be celebrating......
Join Date: Oct 2000
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PPL at 18
Degree in Aero Eng at 21
MSc in Air Transport Management at 22
1st job at company making airplane engines at 23
2nd job at overseas company making airplane avionics bits at 24
Spot of bad health at 25-26
Now coming up to 27, still in desk job and itching to get in a plane.
What the hell am I now waiting for??!!!!!
You guys who are already "there" have no idea how envious I am... must join you soon
Degree in Aero Eng at 21
MSc in Air Transport Management at 22
1st job at company making airplane engines at 23
2nd job at overseas company making airplane avionics bits at 24
Spot of bad health at 25-26
Now coming up to 27, still in desk job and itching to get in a plane.
What the hell am I now waiting for??!!!!!
You guys who are already "there" have no idea how envious I am... must join you soon
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Between 2 melons
Age: 44
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My personal opinion having read some of the replies here is that I think there should be a minimum age before you can be an airline pilot. Circa 24.
I look back and think to myself that it would have been good to have a degree, enjoy life a little bit more - the whole life experience thing is extremely important.
I see pilots in their early twenties at functions for example, out and about etc and the majority have the personality of an aubergine. And it scares me to think that I may have been perceived like that.
Its a difficult one but to all those late twenty/early thirty year-olds seeing these replies with Captains at 25/26 - don't feel too disheartened. You haven't missed any boat.
I look back and think to myself that it would have been good to have a degree, enjoy life a little bit more - the whole life experience thing is extremely important.
I see pilots in their early twenties at functions for example, out and about etc and the majority have the personality of an aubergine. And it scares me to think that I may have been perceived like that.
Its a difficult one but to all those late twenty/early thirty year-olds seeing these replies with Captains at 25/26 - don't feel too disheartened. You haven't missed any boat.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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BetpumpS
just had a look at your profile mate and it says your flying 744- not bad for a 29 year old- would you mind sharing your story from after A-levels how you made it so far so quick. Many congrats' by the way pal
!
Regards.
!Regards.
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Started glider flying at 14, however waited until 20 before i got my PPL (glider flying only) simply because i never really needed it. Startet my ATPL course at 26 and got my ATPL at 28, my first job as FO on a 737 half a year later (and no, didn't pay for the TR of course).
Still payed as an FO but don't have to fly for the last half year, however that can change again although i do enjoy having 22 days off per month (2 hours standby on two days per week, activation time 24 hours).
Still payed as an FO but don't have to fly for the last half year, however that can change again although i do enjoy having 22 days off per month (2 hours standby on two days per week, activation time 24 hours).
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20+ yrs corporate background (banking/HR), started PPL in late 2005, (f)ATPL completed July last year, just as things started to go tits-up. Now full-time salaried FI(A), and loving every chuffing minute of it (yes really, all 46 yrs of me).......
HW
HW
Join Date: Apr 2009
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captdivz,
thanks for your interest. Althought the story is far from interesting and certainly not written in a way that would compete with G-SXTY. I have copied and pasted it from a previous post on a thread called "low hour pilots".
feel free to pm me. but you wont here from me until at least tuesday. might check my mails at the hotel though.
p.s forgot to mention that at 21 I got the best job I ever had - 742F position then at 25 I left the best job I ever had and moved to the 744. Followed the yankee dollar to the airlines rather than following my heart.
thanks for your interest. Althought the story is far from interesting and certainly not written in a way that would compete with G-SXTY. I have copied and pasted it from a previous post on a thread called "low hour pilots".
As for how I got there, it is irrelevant because frankly the industry is nothing like it was when I got my first job. If I came out of training now, I'd be Type rated on a Mcdonalds Chip Vat. Also my financial circumstances (or should I say my Dad's) were probably a little more healthy than most wanabees today. However since you asked:
My dad (airline pilot retd) remarried a filipina woman and moved out to Manila during my early teens gaining dual citizenship at the time along with me. During my school holiday between 1st year A-Levels and 2nd year, I started my PPL in the Philippines going solo a day after my 17th birthday. Completed a conversion back in England and flew weekends during my last year of A levels building up hours. By the time I finished my A levels, I had a PPL and 106 hours incld night rating. Did ATPLs full time then Completed CPL and ME/IR
I was over 18 and a half by then. TR were relatively cheaper back then so went on the 734 TR. One day after I finished the TR, got a phonecall from dad in Manila that there were positions available in the Philippines on a 737-200. Was on the next flight out and had an interview that week.
A few months after my 19th birthday, I flew my first flight out of MNL RWY24 to Mactan.
I dont really know if anyone can relate to this as the industry is pretty poor. Apart from financial assistance, I was lucky to have dual citizenship as well for a country where aviatiion was booming at the time - PAL pilots seeking better pay, pilots from Cebu pacific and other airlines moving onto PAL and thus creating a momentary demand for FOs.
Right now, I don't think any country has a great demand for pilots - esp 250hr cadets.
Wher am I now? At 25, I got a job on a 744. I wont bore you with my ramblings. Just go through my past posts and you'll read how I'm not really enjoying it much.
My dad (airline pilot retd) remarried a filipina woman and moved out to Manila during my early teens gaining dual citizenship at the time along with me. During my school holiday between 1st year A-Levels and 2nd year, I started my PPL in the Philippines going solo a day after my 17th birthday. Completed a conversion back in England and flew weekends during my last year of A levels building up hours. By the time I finished my A levels, I had a PPL and 106 hours incld night rating. Did ATPLs full time then Completed CPL and ME/IR
I was over 18 and a half by then. TR were relatively cheaper back then so went on the 734 TR. One day after I finished the TR, got a phonecall from dad in Manila that there were positions available in the Philippines on a 737-200. Was on the next flight out and had an interview that week.
A few months after my 19th birthday, I flew my first flight out of MNL RWY24 to Mactan.
I dont really know if anyone can relate to this as the industry is pretty poor. Apart from financial assistance, I was lucky to have dual citizenship as well for a country where aviatiion was booming at the time - PAL pilots seeking better pay, pilots from Cebu pacific and other airlines moving onto PAL and thus creating a momentary demand for FOs.
Right now, I don't think any country has a great demand for pilots - esp 250hr cadets.
Wher am I now? At 25, I got a job on a 744. I wont bore you with my ramblings. Just go through my past posts and you'll read how I'm not really enjoying it much.
p.s forgot to mention that at 21 I got the best job I ever had - 742F position then at 25 I left the best job I ever had and moved to the 744. Followed the yankee dollar to the airlines rather than following my heart.