Career change – Becoming a commercial pilot
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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Career change – Becoming a commercial pilot
Hi Guys,
My name is Louis, I live in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. I’m new to this forum so I apologise in advance if I’ve posted this in the wrong section or if information on this topic is provided elsewhere.
I’m 21 yrs old and have been working within the construction industry since the age of 16. I left school with circa 13 GCSE’s (including maths, English literature/language and triple science) all C-A* grades. I was employed as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor by a major UK construction contractor after finishing. I was sponsored to attend college to complete a National Certification in Construction whereby I achieved a double distinction (equivalent to 2 A’s at A-level). I was then sponsored to enrol onto a 5 year part time BSc (Hons) degree in Quantity Surveying at NorthumbriaUniversity, currently going into my final year and I’m aiming to achieve a first classification degree.
So my question is basically as the title. As I’ve now perused a career in construction, will this hinder my chances in becoming a commercial Pilot and is it too late? I’ve complete about 6 flying lessons at my local flying school (not a lot I know!) and from a young age my heart has always been set on becoming a commercial pilot however cost has always been the major issue. I was planning on applying for scholarship at Oxford Academy or CTC? Would this be recommended?
My main concerns are that my secondary education is completely unrelated to aviation although I believe that the skill sets I’ve learnt along the way will be transferable such as communication and mathematical skills. Also I’m unsure on whether the qualifications I have will suffice when applying for scholarship? Plus will my lack of flying experience (6 lessons) plus my age (21) hamper my chances as I understand most people start my flying at a relatively young age?
I would be extremely grateful for any responses.
Thanks
My name is Louis, I live in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. I’m new to this forum so I apologise in advance if I’ve posted this in the wrong section or if information on this topic is provided elsewhere.
I’m 21 yrs old and have been working within the construction industry since the age of 16. I left school with circa 13 GCSE’s (including maths, English literature/language and triple science) all C-A* grades. I was employed as a Trainee Quantity Surveyor by a major UK construction contractor after finishing. I was sponsored to attend college to complete a National Certification in Construction whereby I achieved a double distinction (equivalent to 2 A’s at A-level). I was then sponsored to enrol onto a 5 year part time BSc (Hons) degree in Quantity Surveying at NorthumbriaUniversity, currently going into my final year and I’m aiming to achieve a first classification degree.
So my question is basically as the title. As I’ve now perused a career in construction, will this hinder my chances in becoming a commercial Pilot and is it too late? I’ve complete about 6 flying lessons at my local flying school (not a lot I know!) and from a young age my heart has always been set on becoming a commercial pilot however cost has always been the major issue. I was planning on applying for scholarship at Oxford Academy or CTC? Would this be recommended?
My main concerns are that my secondary education is completely unrelated to aviation although I believe that the skill sets I’ve learnt along the way will be transferable such as communication and mathematical skills. Also I’m unsure on whether the qualifications I have will suffice when applying for scholarship? Plus will my lack of flying experience (6 lessons) plus my age (21) hamper my chances as I understand most people start my flying at a relatively young age?
I would be extremely grateful for any responses.
Thanks
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Don't worry about it you are fine and have a job which means you can train and not have to take out loans to be able to afford it.
First get your backside down to Gatwick and get a class 1 medical then take it from there.
Be warned though any advice on here on the way to go is all abit suspect just now as nobody really knows whats going to happen in the next couple of years.
Your 21 so you could save all the money for a CTC course, you could get the PPL and plug away at the "tagged" schemes. Or you could save your cash and go modular.
Quite what the job prospects are going to in 18 months time knowbody knows apart from it will a choice of grim, pretty grim, utterly grim or not a chance in hell.
You really don't want to be paying off a loan for the next 10 years if you can help it.
First get your backside down to Gatwick and get a class 1 medical then take it from there.
Be warned though any advice on here on the way to go is all abit suspect just now as nobody really knows whats going to happen in the next couple of years.
Your 21 so you could save all the money for a CTC course, you could get the PPL and plug away at the "tagged" schemes. Or you could save your cash and go modular.
Quite what the job prospects are going to in 18 months time knowbody knows apart from it will a choice of grim, pretty grim, utterly grim or not a chance in hell.
You really don't want to be paying off a loan for the next 10 years if you can help it.
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Before I became A pilot, I worked for 8 years in the construction industry to fund my Flight training. Now I have a job flying the Bus.
In fact I don't see this as a hinder to becoming a commercial pilot, I would suggest you work hard, save enough money to fund your training and then go for it, Debt free.
Good Luck It's worth it
In fact I don't see this as a hinder to becoming a commercial pilot, I would suggest you work hard, save enough money to fund your training and then go for it, Debt free.
Good Luck It's worth it
Last edited by A320baby; 7th Apr 2013 at 11:59.
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Most people who go into aviation leave school with 5 A-C's including Maths/Science/English which is really the only requirement if any once you have the licences. Your qualifications would more than meet the required standard by just about any training school I would think.
The bad part is the 'scholarship's' which you speak of don't really exist, what do exist are tagged schemes run by the likes of easy via CTC which involve a lot of money been put up by the student (upwards of 100K - usually on parents houses) and then being put on a part time contract once you finish for a few years. The BA scheme involves similar costs but is very competitive due to what is on offer and the fact its BA, if you could find yourself on that you would count yourself very very lucky, for most people its not a serious option because its that hard to get on the scheme (read the thread).
Then there is the modular route which you can complete at your own pace and don't usually have to pay upfront, however as you are not connected as such to any airlines when you finish, that route usually involves buying a type rating of some sort either with Ryanair or with a type rating company (again no guarantees that route will get you a job) which pumps the cost up to where your getting close to 70/80K.
In short it depends how much money you are prepared to bank with no guarantees of a job once you finish training depending on which route you take, I would not part with savings in the present climate unless you were loaded or had something to put a loan on such as a house, it doesn't take long to find out that aviation is a money game, without it you don't get far these days.
The bad part is the 'scholarship's' which you speak of don't really exist, what do exist are tagged schemes run by the likes of easy via CTC which involve a lot of money been put up by the student (upwards of 100K - usually on parents houses) and then being put on a part time contract once you finish for a few years. The BA scheme involves similar costs but is very competitive due to what is on offer and the fact its BA, if you could find yourself on that you would count yourself very very lucky, for most people its not a serious option because its that hard to get on the scheme (read the thread).
Then there is the modular route which you can complete at your own pace and don't usually have to pay upfront, however as you are not connected as such to any airlines when you finish, that route usually involves buying a type rating of some sort either with Ryanair or with a type rating company (again no guarantees that route will get you a job) which pumps the cost up to where your getting close to 70/80K.
In short it depends how much money you are prepared to bank with no guarantees of a job once you finish training depending on which route you take, I would not part with savings in the present climate unless you were loaded or had something to put a loan on such as a house, it doesn't take long to find out that aviation is a money game, without it you don't get far these days.
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Hi Louis!
I am a Chartered Surveyor and a captain with a european airline.
You have done very well to be entering the final year of a 5 year construction related degree and still be only 21 years old (I was at least 5 years behind where you are now!), so all I can say is DO NOT QUIT UNIVERSITY NOW!!!!
Furthermore, once you have finished your degree DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB!!!! Continue and finish your Assessment of Professional Competence with the RICS to obtain your full professional qualifications. You MUST do this now while you are young and all the knowledge is still fresh in your head. If you do not complete it now I guarantee you never will.... I have seen exactly this happen to friends and colleagues who still regret it years later.
Your professional qualification as a Chartered Surveyor will last you a life-time (provided you pay your RICS subscriptions and don't get dis-barred!).
A commercial flying licence (which is in NO WAY equivalent to a degree or a professional business qualification and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) can disappear at the drop of a hat and be gone forever.
Although I have not practised as a Surveyor for a few years and my knowledge may be a bit rusty, I know that I can always dust it off and return to the profession if I should need to in the future. That is my Plan "B", and you MUST have one in this industry which truly is in a shocking state. I mean, if you thought the construction industry is full of crooks and incompetents.....
Personally, I worked hard in the Surveying business for 12 or 13 years such that, just shy of my 33rd birthday, I was able to announce to my Partners that I was retiring from our Partnership to pursue my long held ambition to be a......you know what. Thence I trained debt free by the modular route while supported by what I had saved over the years.
You are quite correct in believing that the skills you learn in the construction industry will stand you in very good stead. The ability to identify and solve problems, communicate, manage and have a joke with people from all backgrounds, numeracy and literacy, business and commercial acumen (e.g. budget and time management) are, among others, all skills I brought with me and use every day.
At 21 you have plenty of time on your side so use it to your advantage. Fly along side your work by all means to obtain a PPL, but don't rush down to Oxford and hand over the price of a house no questions asked.....and as mentioned above, before committing any future savings to a commercial flight qualification invest in a day at Gatwick to obtain a Class 1 Medical. It's not cheap but it's worth it.
By the way, everything written in capital letters is my own emphasis, and I REALLY MEAN IT!
Good luck to you.
I am a Chartered Surveyor and a captain with a european airline.
You have done very well to be entering the final year of a 5 year construction related degree and still be only 21 years old (I was at least 5 years behind where you are now!), so all I can say is DO NOT QUIT UNIVERSITY NOW!!!!
Furthermore, once you have finished your degree DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB!!!! Continue and finish your Assessment of Professional Competence with the RICS to obtain your full professional qualifications. You MUST do this now while you are young and all the knowledge is still fresh in your head. If you do not complete it now I guarantee you never will.... I have seen exactly this happen to friends and colleagues who still regret it years later.
Your professional qualification as a Chartered Surveyor will last you a life-time (provided you pay your RICS subscriptions and don't get dis-barred!).
A commercial flying licence (which is in NO WAY equivalent to a degree or a professional business qualification and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) can disappear at the drop of a hat and be gone forever.
Although I have not practised as a Surveyor for a few years and my knowledge may be a bit rusty, I know that I can always dust it off and return to the profession if I should need to in the future. That is my Plan "B", and you MUST have one in this industry which truly is in a shocking state. I mean, if you thought the construction industry is full of crooks and incompetents.....
Personally, I worked hard in the Surveying business for 12 or 13 years such that, just shy of my 33rd birthday, I was able to announce to my Partners that I was retiring from our Partnership to pursue my long held ambition to be a......you know what. Thence I trained debt free by the modular route while supported by what I had saved over the years.
You are quite correct in believing that the skills you learn in the construction industry will stand you in very good stead. The ability to identify and solve problems, communicate, manage and have a joke with people from all backgrounds, numeracy and literacy, business and commercial acumen (e.g. budget and time management) are, among others, all skills I brought with me and use every day.
At 21 you have plenty of time on your side so use it to your advantage. Fly along side your work by all means to obtain a PPL, but don't rush down to Oxford and hand over the price of a house no questions asked.....and as mentioned above, before committing any future savings to a commercial flight qualification invest in a day at Gatwick to obtain a Class 1 Medical. It's not cheap but it's worth it.
By the way, everything written in capital letters is my own emphasis, and I REALLY MEAN IT!
Good luck to you.
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Louis
I left school with no qualifacations.
I was a truck driver for 10 years and then an aircraft refueller for 9 years. Not been flying for the last 6 years.
Started flying lessons aged 33 and got my first flying job aged 39
Flown 737s for 3 years and now 3 years on the 320s.
You just need a bit of cash, a lot of luck and belief in yourself.
By the way, ignore half the crap on here.
All you have to do is make sure you can pass a Class 1 EASA medical at Gatwick before spending any money.
If you plan to do Modular, you must use Bristol Ground School for your 14 exams. They are the best in Distance Learning
I left school with no qualifacations.
I was a truck driver for 10 years and then an aircraft refueller for 9 years. Not been flying for the last 6 years.
Started flying lessons aged 33 and got my first flying job aged 39
Flown 737s for 3 years and now 3 years on the 320s.
You just need a bit of cash, a lot of luck and belief in yourself.
By the way, ignore half the crap on here.
All you have to do is make sure you can pass a Class 1 EASA medical at Gatwick before spending any money.
If you plan to do Modular, you must use Bristol Ground School for your 14 exams. They are the best in Distance Learning
Read, learn and inwardly digest Saucy Jack's advice - some of the clearest I've seen on this site. You have time on your side, so nail that Plan B, it may end up your Plan A!
Don't believe a lot of what's on here. Don't believe that because it's 'all you've ever wanted and it's your heart's desire' it will necessarily come true. Accept that getting a commercial licence will not guarantee a job. Accept that getting that licence will cost you a lot of money.
Good luck if you do go ahead - I think your academic background and skill set are better than fine. Like mad jock I have no idea where this industry is going and how training/recruiting will change over the next few years.
Don't believe a lot of what's on here. Don't believe that because it's 'all you've ever wanted and it's your heart's desire' it will necessarily come true. Accept that getting a commercial licence will not guarantee a job. Accept that getting that licence will cost you a lot of money.
Good luck if you do go ahead - I think your academic background and skill set are better than fine. Like mad jock I have no idea where this industry is going and how training/recruiting will change over the next few years.
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Thanks for all the great advise! I'll ensure I attain my professional qualification in surveying as a 'plan B' and continue flying whilst working. I'll get there one day! 
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Good advice from Saucy Jack, aviation is a fickle industry and given the state of the pilot employment market at the moment it is wise to approach professional aviation with caution. You don't have to worry about your age, I have flown with FOs twice your age who have moved into flying as a second or even third career. I would say that the FOs who I work with who have worked in some other line of business for a few years before coming to aviation generally have a more balanced and mature approach to the job, but there are exceptions to the rule both ways! Make the most of your professional qualification, if possible get experience working in and leading teams and wait for the right time to come before embarking on commercial training.
