Advice on City University Course
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Advice on City University Course
Hi everyone,
I'm new to PPRuNe, and would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me out with a question or two.
I am going to start my last year of A-Levels in September, which is also when I will be applying for universities.
I want to apply to (London) City University's Air Transport Operations with ATPL course (as my first option) and am wondering if I have what it takes, and also what I can do (in this summer before September) to improve my chances.
EDIT: My Current A-Levels are: Pure Maths, Mechanics Maths, English Lit. & Physics
My GCSEs are as follows:
Maths - A
Sciences (Bio/Phys/Chem) - A - A - A
English Lit. - A
English Lang. - A*
History - A*
French - A
IT - A
Music - A
I play piano, drums and guitar (Piano - currently doing Grade 8, & drums Grade 6).
I am taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
I volunteer at my local church on a weekly basis.
I have been in the Air Cadets since 2008, and in November I received and completed a gliding scholarship with them & have also flown a few hours in a Grob Tutor.
I also completed a Leadership Course with the Cadets in which I was by far the lowest ranked and least experienced, but came second in the course.
In July I'll be commencing work experience with BA Maintenance near Cardiff Airport for a week.
I'm afraid that this may not be enough, and that I perhaps don't have enough experience with the airline industry.
If anyone here could give me advice on anything that I can possibly do in the summer, and also what to focus on for my application (and interview, if I'm lucky enough to get one) I would be extremely grateful!
I'm new to PPRuNe, and would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me out with a question or two.
I am going to start my last year of A-Levels in September, which is also when I will be applying for universities.
I want to apply to (London) City University's Air Transport Operations with ATPL course (as my first option) and am wondering if I have what it takes, and also what I can do (in this summer before September) to improve my chances.
EDIT: My Current A-Levels are: Pure Maths, Mechanics Maths, English Lit. & Physics
My GCSEs are as follows:
Maths - A
Sciences (Bio/Phys/Chem) - A - A - A
English Lit. - A
English Lang. - A*
History - A*
French - A
IT - A
Music - A
I play piano, drums and guitar (Piano - currently doing Grade 8, & drums Grade 6).
I am taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
I volunteer at my local church on a weekly basis.
I have been in the Air Cadets since 2008, and in November I received and completed a gliding scholarship with them & have also flown a few hours in a Grob Tutor.
I also completed a Leadership Course with the Cadets in which I was by far the lowest ranked and least experienced, but came second in the course.
In July I'll be commencing work experience with BA Maintenance near Cardiff Airport for a week.
I'm afraid that this may not be enough, and that I perhaps don't have enough experience with the airline industry.
If anyone here could give me advice on anything that I can possibly do in the summer, and also what to focus on for my application (and interview, if I'm lucky enough to get one) I would be extremely grateful!
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Ben (I assume you are serious)
You do realise that people with 5 mediocre GCSEs, no A' Levels, no degree and zero ability to produce music also become pilots?
At age 18, modern society doesn't expect you to even be able to clean your own nose so why do you think you need to demonstrate any airline experience at this stage? You've got this totally wrong. Which airline application do you think you're going to have the opportunity to submit upon graduation?
If you've been reading the careers guide at school then I'm afraid you need to know that it's woefully out of date and will cause you to fail in your goals. What you need in this industry is a genuine passion followed by a good method of raising the cash to fund your professional flight training. You don't need to be an academic mastermind with Jet A1 smelling farts blowing out of your ass to make it into this industry. You need to be adaptable, able to raise the cash and someone who can network with others well.
Chill out.
You do realise that people with 5 mediocre GCSEs, no A' Levels, no degree and zero ability to produce music also become pilots?
At age 18, modern society doesn't expect you to even be able to clean your own nose so why do you think you need to demonstrate any airline experience at this stage? You've got this totally wrong. Which airline application do you think you're going to have the opportunity to submit upon graduation?
If you've been reading the careers guide at school then I'm afraid you need to know that it's woefully out of date and will cause you to fail in your goals. What you need in this industry is a genuine passion followed by a good method of raising the cash to fund your professional flight training. You don't need to be an academic mastermind with Jet A1 smelling farts blowing out of your ass to make it into this industry. You need to be adaptable, able to raise the cash and someone who can network with others well.
Chill out.
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Thanks for the reply Superpilot.
I know I may seem overly concerned with qualifications & experience, but this is in regards to my university application for the course.
I understand that becoming a professional pilot is based heavily on privilege (in regards to funding), and personality, and any further specific advice on that would also be appreciated... (especially in terms of funding flight school).
I know I may seem overly concerned with qualifications & experience, but this is in regards to my university application for the course.
I understand that becoming a professional pilot is based heavily on privilege (in regards to funding), and personality, and any further specific advice on that would also be appreciated... (especially in terms of funding flight school).
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Ben,
You don't have "any experience within the airline industry." Nor frankly would you be likely to at age 17, and of course it is not a pre-requisite for embarking on a university degree course.
However your GCSE results appear to be excellent. Your A level subjects are very good choices, and subject to good grades (which I don't doubt) would stand you in very good stead with whatever further education you decide to embark upon.
What you have written sounds like very good compostion ingredients for a CV at some point in the future. These achievements should also stand you in very good stead for whatever opportunities might arise where these qualities, achievements and educational certificates are the requirement.
Do not let anybody underrate or underestimate the achievements to date.
For a flying career, you are now looking forward to the relevant training syllabus, and it is here you will want to concentrate your research. Have you explored the options that may be open to you? Have you considered the costs? Is the city uni' course one that you feel would benefit you on a wider level?
You have done well by the sound of it, so enjoy the summer and good luck with your choices and applications. I doubt that there is much you can do over the next few months to improve upon your achievements to date.
You don't have "any experience within the airline industry." Nor frankly would you be likely to at age 17, and of course it is not a pre-requisite for embarking on a university degree course.
However your GCSE results appear to be excellent. Your A level subjects are very good choices, and subject to good grades (which I don't doubt) would stand you in very good stead with whatever further education you decide to embark upon.
What you have written sounds like very good compostion ingredients for a CV at some point in the future. These achievements should also stand you in very good stead for whatever opportunities might arise where these qualities, achievements and educational certificates are the requirement.
Do not let anybody underrate or underestimate the achievements to date.
For a flying career, you are now looking forward to the relevant training syllabus, and it is here you will want to concentrate your research. Have you explored the options that may be open to you? Have you considered the costs? Is the city uni' course one that you feel would benefit you on a wider level?
You have done well by the sound of it, so enjoy the summer and good luck with your choices and applications. I doubt that there is much you can do over the next few months to improve upon your achievements to date.
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Oh ok, that makes sense now! 
All the rest still applies though.
Funding flight school? Pick one of the following:
1.) Beg mum/dad to stump up £70k
2.) Find a job that pays well and do this for several years after Uni (this is unlikely to be an aviation job)
3.) Combination of 1 and 2.
However you will want to try CTC first.
All the rest still applies though.
Funding flight school? Pick one of the following:
1.) Beg mum/dad to stump up £70k
2.) Find a job that pays well and do this for several years after Uni (this is unlikely to be an aviation job)
3.) Combination of 1 and 2.
However you will want to try CTC first.
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Thanks for the reply, Bealzebub.
I've had my eye on this course for a few years (some may call me over-eager, but there we go), and from what I understand years 1 & 3 are done with the university, whilst year 2 is completed at a CAA recognised flight school.
For Years 1 & 3, the funding shouldn't be a problem for me, but the flight school obviously bears the heavy expenses.
I am not sure which school to pick as of yet, though Oxford Aviation looks quite impressive. My main issue is whether to pick the integrated or modular course (modular being cheaper).
Are there any significant disadvantages of choosing the modular (aside from the longer period of time spend completing it)?
I've had my eye on this course for a few years (some may call me over-eager, but there we go), and from what I understand years 1 & 3 are done with the university, whilst year 2 is completed at a CAA recognised flight school.
For Years 1 & 3, the funding shouldn't be a problem for me, but the flight school obviously bears the heavy expenses.
I am not sure which school to pick as of yet, though Oxford Aviation looks quite impressive. My main issue is whether to pick the integrated or modular course (modular being cheaper).
Are there any significant disadvantages of choosing the modular (aside from the longer period of time spend completing it)?
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Oh dear Ben, now you have opened Pandora's box!
Brace yourself for a simple question turning into a repetion of one of the most discussed subjects on these forums.
The answer is simple really. If your intention is to become a cadet airline pilot with around 200-250 hours, then the only realistic route is an integrated course through a programme in conjunction with a recognised training school. These are expensive, take around 18-24 months to complete, and don't come with guarantees. However they are normally run in conjunction with "partner airlines" who source their low hour cadet input from these schools.
Integrated training is also available through these and a wider choice of schools. This training takes a similar time period and is often an attractive source of low hour recruits for certain airlines who may not have formal cadet programmes.
Modular training, is a flexible and varied approach to licence aquisition. It is usually cheaper and a lot more flexible on the time taken to completion. It is usually less structured as to the number of providers or suppliers involved in the candidates progress. For somebody looking at becoming an airline pilot with only 250 hours, it is not the most likely route. On the other hand for somebody who is constrained by cost, it does provide an in-road to a gradual career progression, where airline qualification might take a significant number of years to achieve. In many respects it leads to an aerial work qualification, that in turn needs an individual to work their way through the system. It is without doubt the most common route taken, but it is a route that requires a lot of hard work, luck, determination and patience.
Run a search on this subject, and you will spend the whole Summer reading the many threads given over to it.
Brace yourself for a simple question turning into a repetion of one of the most discussed subjects on these forums.
The answer is simple really. If your intention is to become a cadet airline pilot with around 200-250 hours, then the only realistic route is an integrated course through a programme in conjunction with a recognised training school. These are expensive, take around 18-24 months to complete, and don't come with guarantees. However they are normally run in conjunction with "partner airlines" who source their low hour cadet input from these schools.
Integrated training is also available through these and a wider choice of schools. This training takes a similar time period and is often an attractive source of low hour recruits for certain airlines who may not have formal cadet programmes.
Modular training, is a flexible and varied approach to licence aquisition. It is usually cheaper and a lot more flexible on the time taken to completion. It is usually less structured as to the number of providers or suppliers involved in the candidates progress. For somebody looking at becoming an airline pilot with only 250 hours, it is not the most likely route. On the other hand for somebody who is constrained by cost, it does provide an in-road to a gradual career progression, where airline qualification might take a significant number of years to achieve. In many respects it leads to an aerial work qualification, that in turn needs an individual to work their way through the system. It is without doubt the most common route taken, but it is a route that requires a lot of hard work, luck, determination and patience.
Run a search on this subject, and you will spend the whole Summer reading the many threads given over to it.
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Bealzebub, if you don't mind answering yet another question:
Do you think it would be possible to be sponsored by an airline for flight school, but still also take the university course?
Do you think it would be possible to be sponsored by an airline for flight school, but still also take the university course?
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Hi Steve,
Yeah Pure & Mech. exist together as one A-level, I had just decided to specify them individually for some reason....
I did take Philosophy this year (which was my fourth), but am dropping it for next year.
Yeah Pure & Mech. exist together as one A-level, I had just decided to specify them individually for some reason....
I did take Philosophy this year (which was my fourth), but am dropping it for next year.
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No Ben,
There is far too much competition at the ab-initio level these days for airlines to consider sponsorship in this country. The closest things to "sponsorship" that ever arise, are the cadet programmes that various airlines offer from time to time. Sometimes a small portion of the training costs (usually post graduation simulator costs) are subsidized to whatever amount. However they will still require an outlay of anything from £70,000 to £90,000 just for the defined course. Again, there is no requirement to sponsor, simply because there is no shortage of applicants.
Where an integrated course is provided, it is full time and fairly intensive, so it is unlikely to provide spare time for additional degree level studies. I have seen courses advertised that incorporate an ATPL course with a "degree," however I have no real experience on the value or otherwise of these courses, so am unqualified to comment. Certainly the cadet schemes that I am familiar with, do not utilize this methodology in their training. You would need to research that subject further.
There is far too much competition at the ab-initio level these days for airlines to consider sponsorship in this country. The closest things to "sponsorship" that ever arise, are the cadet programmes that various airlines offer from time to time. Sometimes a small portion of the training costs (usually post graduation simulator costs) are subsidized to whatever amount. However they will still require an outlay of anything from £70,000 to £90,000 just for the defined course. Again, there is no requirement to sponsor, simply because there is no shortage of applicants.
Where an integrated course is provided, it is full time and fairly intensive, so it is unlikely to provide spare time for additional degree level studies. I have seen courses advertised that incorporate an ATPL course with a "degree," however I have no real experience on the value or otherwise of these courses, so am unqualified to comment. Certainly the cadet schemes that I am familiar with, do not utilize this methodology in their training. You would need to research that subject further.
