Worth Applying?
PPRuNe Handmaiden
does hundreds of hours on light aircraft really make you a great Jet pilot, if that is the ultimate goal?
I have just finished another line check and judging by what the Training captain wrote, I'd say yes, they do make you a great Jet pilot.
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Location: Europe
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Cormactrolan,
It might sound a little harsh on you - and I apologize about that - but I am kind of amused by so many people trying to get into this biz being totally clueless as to how to go about it. It's been suggested to hang around gliding sites, etc. Way to go! There's one, if not two, gliding sites in the vicinity of your residence if you head westerly. Join them. And put it on your CV that you are an active glider pilot! It shows you're passionate about flying, which I would like to see in an applicant, if I was a chief pilot. Besides gliding is great fun and teaches you some great skills.
As far as I'm concerned that said site operates a tug plane which I'm sure they have people already lining up for to fly. Also, to actually fly it, you'll need your silver gliding certificate and 100 hours PIC. But sometimes one needs to be patient and wait for the opportunity to arise. But it will come.
Moreover, there's a parachute dropping zone near you. As far as I'm concerned skydivers won't fall out of the sky just like that...
It is imperative - if you do not intend to pay your way in! - to get your face known and to come across as not only a decent pilot, but also, and probably even more importantly, as a decent guy. No one wants to spend time in the cockpit with an
. Most pilots love what they do and many do all sorts of flying, even in their spare time. And best way to meet pilots is at - surprise, surprise - airfields...
If you ask me, going to Africa would be a cool thing to do if you would like to see another country. But if you intend to fly in Europe, stay here and work yourself up. You won't be able to make contacts by living down there. There are opportunities around the UK, but you'll have to get your behind into gear and start looking veeery hard for them.
Best of luck!
It might sound a little harsh on you - and I apologize about that - but I am kind of amused by so many people trying to get into this biz being totally clueless as to how to go about it. It's been suggested to hang around gliding sites, etc. Way to go! There's one, if not two, gliding sites in the vicinity of your residence if you head westerly. Join them. And put it on your CV that you are an active glider pilot! It shows you're passionate about flying, which I would like to see in an applicant, if I was a chief pilot. Besides gliding is great fun and teaches you some great skills.
As far as I'm concerned that said site operates a tug plane which I'm sure they have people already lining up for to fly. Also, to actually fly it, you'll need your silver gliding certificate and 100 hours PIC. But sometimes one needs to be patient and wait for the opportunity to arise. But it will come.
Moreover, there's a parachute dropping zone near you. As far as I'm concerned skydivers won't fall out of the sky just like that...
It is imperative - if you do not intend to pay your way in! - to get your face known and to come across as not only a decent pilot, but also, and probably even more importantly, as a decent guy. No one wants to spend time in the cockpit with an
. Most pilots love what they do and many do all sorts of flying, even in their spare time. And best way to meet pilots is at - surprise, surprise - airfields...If you ask me, going to Africa would be a cool thing to do if you would like to see another country. But if you intend to fly in Europe, stay here and work yourself up. You won't be able to make contacts by living down there. There are opportunities around the UK, but you'll have to get your behind into gear and start looking veeery hard for them.
Best of luck!
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Join Date: Aug 2008
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Im not as clueless as you may think. I actually have a glider lesson booked for this weekend and I have already asked the club about glider towing. In the last two days I have put a spreadsheet together of all the small prop operators in Europe and further afield and as of last night I started contacting them. Its easy to say 'stay in Europe' and fly... believe me when I say I am trying. Saying that, I will go anywhere I can to get any type of flying work. Flying is expensive. Having just spent a small fortune on my training, like everyone else, I am in no position to be fussy about where I want to work. I just started this thread because I was curious about what other people were doing.......here is an interesting job...
Job Vacancy - Line Pilot - British Antarctic Survey
...here is an interesting job...Job Vacancy - Line Pilot - British Antarctic Survey
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Sorry, I really did not mean to offend you but it's a general impression I get when reading some newbie's posts. I might have been wrong in your case.
I think it's a good start to go for a gliding lesson but do not make it too obvious that your motivation to start gliding is to get your hands on that tug plane job. Your primary motivation is to get up in the air as often as possible as aviation is what you breath, what you need to be happy. The rest will come along.
I think it's a good start to go for a gliding lesson but do not make it too obvious that your motivation to start gliding is to get your hands on that tug plane job. Your primary motivation is to get up in the air as often as possible as aviation is what you breath, what you need to be happy. The rest will come along.
