Total noob wants advice before spending £££
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Total noob wants advice before spending £££
I always wanted to be a pilot. I have pushed at the RAF door for a long time but their selection process is flawed as both times I have made it to OASC I have narrowly missed out aptitude wise.
So I am now considering commercial flying. I have already read some horror stories on these forums so I am very wary - however, the overiding message seems to be if you don't care what you fly or where you fly, there are jobs to be had. I think that's me.
First I would like a general clue-up if anyone would be kind enough to oblige. I have no idea when it comes to the myriad of ratings/qualifications that are out there beyond NPPL, PPL, CPL and ATPL I am lost. Presumeably there is a heirachy, with type-specific training and night training/instrument training required at each stage? What would be the ideal career structure to aim for?
Secondly, how much can I expect to earn at each stage? What is a typical salary for a tug pilot/instructor/1st officer/captain? I gather BA pay substantially more than the likes of easyjet but only take the more experienced pilots? Is it better to fly for a freight airline, passenger airline or executive transport? Also, how long does it take (typically) to progress up the ranks? Is it generally a loooong time before one can afford to pay off training debts (+university debts!) or is it bearable?
I have already applied for a couple of scholorship programmes - CTC Wings and FTE. CTC already wrote back inviting me to attend aptitude testing/interview, but want me to pay £184 for the pleasure! Is this typical? Are there any better scholorship programmes I should be applying to instead? Is there anything else you think I should know?
If anyone can answer these questions then I am eternally grateful.
So I am now considering commercial flying. I have already read some horror stories on these forums so I am very wary - however, the overiding message seems to be if you don't care what you fly or where you fly, there are jobs to be had. I think that's me.
First I would like a general clue-up if anyone would be kind enough to oblige. I have no idea when it comes to the myriad of ratings/qualifications that are out there beyond NPPL, PPL, CPL and ATPL I am lost. Presumeably there is a heirachy, with type-specific training and night training/instrument training required at each stage? What would be the ideal career structure to aim for?
Secondly, how much can I expect to earn at each stage? What is a typical salary for a tug pilot/instructor/1st officer/captain? I gather BA pay substantially more than the likes of easyjet but only take the more experienced pilots? Is it better to fly for a freight airline, passenger airline or executive transport? Also, how long does it take (typically) to progress up the ranks? Is it generally a loooong time before one can afford to pay off training debts (+university debts!) or is it bearable?
I have already applied for a couple of scholorship programmes - CTC Wings and FTE. CTC already wrote back inviting me to attend aptitude testing/interview, but want me to pay £184 for the pleasure! Is this typical? Are there any better scholorship programmes I should be applying to instead? Is there anything else you think I should know?
If anyone can answer these questions then I am eternally grateful.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Andy,
Everything you need to answer your questions are on here pal. Just have a good look round on a rainy day.
Jobs are hard to come by right now. Any flying job that is. Things will change but not right away.
With regards to money you'll soon find people want money left right and center in this industry......
Good luck in your quest
Everything you need to answer your questions are on here pal. Just have a good look round on a rainy day.
Jobs are hard to come by right now. Any flying job that is. Things will change but not right away.
With regards to money you'll soon find people want money left right and center in this industry......
Good luck in your quest
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So because you failed for the RAF the selection process is flawed?
Depending if you choose the integrated or modular route then yes there are several licences and ratings you need. Typically PPL, Multi Engine Instrument Rating, CPL, ATPL exams, MCC, and specific type rating either when you get a job or when you realise that the only way you'll get a job is to spend a further 30K on a 737 type rating. The answer to your next few questions could be the subject of a book, but as an instructor/tug pilot/general skivvy/ you will get paid very very little, nowhere near enough to pay back you 50-80k of debt.(plus uni). When you do get a job your looking at 8+ years to pay off debts and thats at maybe a grand a month. BA have taken people fresh from Oxford and CTC, easyjet are only taking people from CTC at the moment but that is a different story...and irrelevant really as nobody is recruiting at the moment, however who to aspire to work for is depending on the life style you want, easyjet/ryanair, short sectors, home at night, decent pay etc or long haul.
Of course CTC want money from you, every company you will come into contact with who has anything to do with aviation training will try to extort money from you. Get used to it now. Good luck.
Depending if you choose the integrated or modular route then yes there are several licences and ratings you need. Typically PPL, Multi Engine Instrument Rating, CPL, ATPL exams, MCC, and specific type rating either when you get a job or when you realise that the only way you'll get a job is to spend a further 30K on a 737 type rating. The answer to your next few questions could be the subject of a book, but as an instructor/tug pilot/general skivvy/ you will get paid very very little, nowhere near enough to pay back you 50-80k of debt.(plus uni). When you do get a job your looking at 8+ years to pay off debts and thats at maybe a grand a month. BA have taken people fresh from Oxford and CTC, easyjet are only taking people from CTC at the moment but that is a different story...and irrelevant really as nobody is recruiting at the moment, however who to aspire to work for is depending on the life style you want, easyjet/ryanair, short sectors, home at night, decent pay etc or long haul.
Of course CTC want money from you, every company you will come into contact with who has anything to do with aviation training will try to extort money from you. Get used to it now. Good luck.
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If you are planning on taking a loan for flight training, I would forget it for now! The situation now is that it's almost impossible to get a job for a newcomer without contacts or paying yourself into the cockpit (self sponsored T/R and linetraining, and even after that when u have spent arround 100k it's still unsure if you will keep the job!). Keep in mind that for every job opening there will be about 500 applicants and many of them will have more experience than you....
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There are 3 sticky threads at the top which have in capital letters something along the lines of READ BEFORE POSTING. Numerous people have given a lot of their time to compile links to threads that answer yours and just about every wannabes questions regarding flying training and getting a job. Make a cup of tea and sit back and digest it all, then come back with any more detailed queries.
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Andy don't expect much help off this lot just expect alot of the "oh so it's flawed can't you use the search etc"
Your in a very similar to position to what I was several years ago. I now fly in the RHS.
If you want more info feel free to PM and avoid alot of the spelling nazi's, judges, keyboard warriors etc
Your in a very similar to position to what I was several years ago. I now fly in the RHS.
If you want more info feel free to PM and avoid alot of the spelling nazi's, judges, keyboard warriors etc
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Andy
Welcome to Pprune! I hope you find the forum informative and useful as you pursue your dream to become a pilot.
Unfortunately - or fortunately - (depending on your point of view!) the questions that you ask have been asked almost daily and certainly weekly by people such as yourself. That is why we have the 'stickies' above to answer the myriad of questions without the need to start a new thread. Could I respectfully ask you to read those threads, use the search function and do some research?
In the meantime, to save a plethora of similar replies I am closing the thread. PM me if you need further explanation.
HWB
Welcome to Pprune! I hope you find the forum informative and useful as you pursue your dream to become a pilot.
Unfortunately - or fortunately - (depending on your point of view!) the questions that you ask have been asked almost daily and certainly weekly by people such as yourself. That is why we have the 'stickies' above to answer the myriad of questions without the need to start a new thread. Could I respectfully ask you to read those threads, use the search function and do some research?
In the meantime, to save a plethora of similar replies I am closing the thread. PM me if you need further explanation.
HWB
