Coronavirus employment low on its way?
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Coronavirus employment low on its way?
Hi all,
This is my first post here but I have been reading pprune for a while now.
I'm currently in the middle of my ATPLs and due to finish them in May and thereafter my CPL MEIR in October.
Definitely starting to get apprehensive about how the employment situation is developing. I am seeing airlines such as Flybe struggling and Lufthansa grounding aircraft because of the lack of recent bookings due to the Covid-19 scare. Brexit uncertainty isn't helping and no one knows when the 737 Max is returning to service!
I guess I am simply looking for opinions on the situation. Do you think it is a good idea to start my CPL MEIR this year (June)? Or finish off my ATPLs and leave the remainder of my training until the outlook has become less bleak? I am hesitant to delay my training as I am in a good situation financially and personally at the moment.
Thanks!
This is my first post here but I have been reading pprune for a while now.
I'm currently in the middle of my ATPLs and due to finish them in May and thereafter my CPL MEIR in October.
Definitely starting to get apprehensive about how the employment situation is developing. I am seeing airlines such as Flybe struggling and Lufthansa grounding aircraft because of the lack of recent bookings due to the Covid-19 scare. Brexit uncertainty isn't helping and no one knows when the 737 Max is returning to service!
I guess I am simply looking for opinions on the situation. Do you think it is a good idea to start my CPL MEIR this year (June)? Or finish off my ATPLs and leave the remainder of my training until the outlook has become less bleak? I am hesitant to delay my training as I am in a good situation financially and personally at the moment.
Thanks!
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No one has a crystal ball, but considering the sheer volume of unemployed pilots out there today due to TCX and now Flybe, with the risk of other airlines going bust, and almost no hiring at any airline, I cannot think of a worse time since 2008 to be completing my training. Delaying it as much as possible would be my plan, personally. Hopefully this will blow over by winter and hiring will pick up again then. Good luck.
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I'd agree with Chief Willy.
Covid-19. Monarch. T Cook. Flybe.
UK to leave EASA??? So what exams to take? Licences to apply for?
Logan taking only Flybe staff or ATR rated crew.
Covid-19. Monarch. T Cook. Flybe.
UK to leave EASA??? So what exams to take? Licences to apply for?
Logan taking only Flybe staff or ATR rated crew.
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I would hold off until the situation becomes clearer
In addition to the previous mentioned Thomas Cook and Flybe guys, there are a lot of very very experienced captains who have basically been fired from their Chinese jobs last month, who will be snapping up anything that's available at home
There is a very high chance that some very well established airlines in Hong Kong, who employ a load of western expats, will be making massive redundancies if this situation is ongoing in a few weeks' time. They'll all be coming home looking for jobs
There are several European airlines in very dodgy financial positions who won't survive for long without massive bailouts. The Italian government has just put Milan in full lockdown
There is a small but not zero chance that the big Gulf airlines will also make redundancies
Think like the airlines themselves ... in times like this, preservation of your cash is key. Don't take on unnecessary debt unless you're absolutely sure you will end up in a better position as a consequence.
In addition to the previous mentioned Thomas Cook and Flybe guys, there are a lot of very very experienced captains who have basically been fired from their Chinese jobs last month, who will be snapping up anything that's available at home
There is a very high chance that some very well established airlines in Hong Kong, who employ a load of western expats, will be making massive redundancies if this situation is ongoing in a few weeks' time. They'll all be coming home looking for jobs
There are several European airlines in very dodgy financial positions who won't survive for long without massive bailouts. The Italian government has just put Milan in full lockdown
There is a small but not zero chance that the big Gulf airlines will also make redundancies
Think like the airlines themselves ... in times like this, preservation of your cash is key. Don't take on unnecessary debt unless you're absolutely sure you will end up in a better position as a consequence.
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Hi jordon1703,
I think that's worth baring in mind is there is never a good time to start flight training, only a good time to finish it. Several analysts reckon the flying will be back to normal in a few months with the initial outbreak set to curb. How accurate they are, who knows?! But like many of the others say on this forum in many posts of late, if you're a Brit in flight training there has not been a situation as bleak as this in a long while. I was lucky, I landed a job during the initial slow down in recruitment back in 2018 but unlike several threats before it, Covid-19 is actually grounding and preventing airlines flying. As of today Italy is even locking down it's cities. If you're a modular trainee perhaps delay your CPL/ME/IR a while to save yourself unnecessary expense. I know it's painful to hear, but you'd want the best prospects out of the other end.
Take the lowest risk.
All the best,
I think that's worth baring in mind is there is never a good time to start flight training, only a good time to finish it. Several analysts reckon the flying will be back to normal in a few months with the initial outbreak set to curb. How accurate they are, who knows?! But like many of the others say on this forum in many posts of late, if you're a Brit in flight training there has not been a situation as bleak as this in a long while. I was lucky, I landed a job during the initial slow down in recruitment back in 2018 but unlike several threats before it, Covid-19 is actually grounding and preventing airlines flying. As of today Italy is even locking down it's cities. If you're a modular trainee perhaps delay your CPL/ME/IR a while to save yourself unnecessary expense. I know it's painful to hear, but you'd want the best prospects out of the other end.
Take the lowest risk.
All the best,
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Hi jordon1703,
I think that's worth baring in mind is there is never a good time to start flight training, only a good time to finish it. Several analysts reckon the flying will be back to normal in a few months with the initial outbreak set to curb. How accurate they are, who knows?! But like many of the others say on this forum in many posts of late, if you're a Brit in flight training there has not been a situation as bleak as this in a long while.
I was lucky, I landed a job during the initial slow down in recruitment back in 2018 but unlike several threats before it, Covid-19 is actually grounding and preventing airlines flying. As of today Italy is even locking down it's cities. If you're a modular trainee perhaps delay your CPL/ME/IR a while to save yourself unnecessary expense. I know it's painful to hear, but you'd want the best prospects out of the other end.
Take the lowest risk.
All the best,
I think that's worth baring in mind is there is never a good time to start flight training, only a good time to finish it. Several analysts reckon the flying will be back to normal in a few months with the initial outbreak set to curb. How accurate they are, who knows?! But like many of the others say on this forum in many posts of late, if you're a Brit in flight training there has not been a situation as bleak as this in a long while.
I was lucky, I landed a job during the initial slow down in recruitment back in 2018 but unlike several threats before it, Covid-19 is actually grounding and preventing airlines flying. As of today Italy is even locking down it's cities. If you're a modular trainee perhaps delay your CPL/ME/IR a while to save yourself unnecessary expense. I know it's painful to hear, but you'd want the best prospects out of the other end.
Take the lowest risk.
All the best,
I am aware of just how up in the air the whole situation is right now, or rather not.
I am a modular student but I wonder if there is any real point in delaying my training until a later date; after all, that would be wasted time where I could be potentially looking for a job. I may be missing something however, is there more to it than just keeping my ratings valid and current?
Thanks
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Whether to start now or later has always been a concern but to start now is asking for trouble. - loads from China laid off , flybe guys with no jobs plus many still hanging from tcx- Aer Lingus, BA and there’s all cutting back - no one is recruiting - loads of mpl guys from cityfler being delayed and off loaded from flybe ...... plus Brexit and it’s consequences mean EU is no option soon ....... it will take years to recover even if this clears to make up for the shortfalls currently being taken on. I would say hold off until clear
if anyone wants to do a type and wait is deluded
if anyone wants to do a type and wait is deluded
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As a wannabe of two recessions (2001/2002 and then 2008/2009), my advice would be to complete your training ASAP (I don't think you'll get much of a discount as fuel and instructor wages are not going to change). Avoid integrated, because the job connections won't be there for a while anyway. Save your cash and go Modular. The reason I say start and finish ASAP is because you need a clear year or two to go back to your previous jobs and earn some good money. Money that can then be used to ride the next wave of low-experienced pilot recruitment in early 2022 (if nothing else happens to the world!). You're definitely paying for a type rating and dare I say it, likely hours too. That's the reality you need to accept going forward.
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Money that can then be used to ride the next wave of low-experienced pilot recruitment in early 2022
Even as a captain in (supposedly) one of the most secure airlines in the UK, I think the chances are no better than 50/50 that I'll have a job in six months time. I'm preparing for life outside the industry because I can't see any prospect of things picking up for at least the next five years, probably longer. We could easily be looking at a decade or more of serious contraction in the industry. Mass redundancies, no hiring.
You'd have to be mad to contemplate training now.
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I would not blame too much the Coronavirus, how many airlines failed with Sars, how many with mad cows and so on.
Of course it has a negative impact on the flights, turism, etc, but now it seems too much.
For example, Flybe announced a big crysis when I was doing my training back in the 2018.
Of course it has a negative impact on the flights, turism, etc, but now it seems too much.
For example, Flybe announced a big crysis when I was doing my training back in the 2018.
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I would not blame too much the Coronavirus, how many airlines failed with Sars, how many with mad cows and so on.
Of course it has a negative impact on the flights, turism, etc, but now it seems too much.
For example, Flybe announced a big crysis when I was doing my training back in the 2018.
Of course it has a negative impact on the flights, turism, etc, but now it seems too much.
For example, Flybe announced a big crysis when I was doing my training back in the 2018.
ps: My replies are quite delayed as moderators are having to approve my comments.
Expecting any recruitment by 2022 seems incredibly optimistic to me.
Even as a captain in (supposedly) one of the most secure airlines in the UK, I think the chances are no better than 50/50 that I'll have a job in six months time. I'm preparing for life outside the industry because I can't see any prospect of things picking up for at least the next five years, probably longer. We could easily be looking at a decade or more of serious contraction in the industry. Mass redundancies, no hiring.
You'd have to be mad to contemplate training now.
Even as a captain in (supposedly) one of the most secure airlines in the UK, I think the chances are no better than 50/50 that I'll have a job in six months time. I'm preparing for life outside the industry because I can't see any prospect of things picking up for at least the next five years, probably longer. We could easily be looking at a decade or more of serious contraction in the industry. Mass redundancies, no hiring.
You'd have to be mad to contemplate training now.
Anyone about to embark in either intergrated or modular training right now with this level of uncertainty is a very foolish move.
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Don’t forget you have to get your flight training completed within 3 years of passing your first exam.
My advice if you’re thinking of delaying...
From the date you passed your first exam you have 18 months to finish all of them so study for your ATPL’s as normal and take them in May but leave the easiest left exam out.
Take that exam on the 16th month from passing your first (just in case you need to retake)
Then you’ve got the maximum time available to do the CPL/ME/IR if you need to delay
i did the exact same thing but for financial reasons.
if you’re thinking “I’ll just get it done” be very cautious because when you’re 2-3 IR Renewals in, it gets harder to get a job when you’re competing with people fresh out of training.
At the end of the day it’s a gamble whatever you choose but good luck !
My advice if you’re thinking of delaying...
From the date you passed your first exam you have 18 months to finish all of them so study for your ATPL’s as normal and take them in May but leave the easiest left exam out.
Take that exam on the 16th month from passing your first (just in case you need to retake)
Then you’ve got the maximum time available to do the CPL/ME/IR if you need to delay
i did the exact same thing but for financial reasons.
if you’re thinking “I’ll just get it done” be very cautious because when you’re 2-3 IR Renewals in, it gets harder to get a job when you’re competing with people fresh out of training.
At the end of the day it’s a gamble whatever you choose but good luck !
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A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
"Aww bless"
The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
" The Captain meets someone looking like a sack of spuds who doesn't want to be there, cannot download the flight paperwork and is more interested in finishing reading some social media garbage on the latest icock phone".
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
" You will spend the bulk of your day monitoring and mitigating the non performance of a pre Madonna with 2 to 3 years of inexperience who cannot accept advice and who sulks when not given the attention they think is their due. Their self esteem is damaged when no praise is forthcoming for just doing their job".
At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next.
"At the end of each sector rather than prepping for the next takeoff in 25 minutes our hero has his face buried in his icock phone whilst thumb typing drivel and sending trout lip selfies to Instagram highlighting his success in life".
Just holding up the mirror the 1917.
"Aww bless"
The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
" The Captain meets someone looking like a sack of spuds who doesn't want to be there, cannot download the flight paperwork and is more interested in finishing reading some social media garbage on the latest icock phone".
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
" You will spend the bulk of your day monitoring and mitigating the non performance of a pre Madonna with 2 to 3 years of inexperience who cannot accept advice and who sulks when not given the attention they think is their due. Their self esteem is damaged when no praise is forthcoming for just doing their job".
At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next.
"At the end of each sector rather than prepping for the next takeoff in 25 minutes our hero has his face buried in his icock phone whilst thumb typing drivel and sending trout lip selfies to Instagram highlighting his success in life".
Just holding up the mirror the 1917.
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Hi jordon1703
I actually think you’re in a very fortunate position. Your situation sounds similar to mine in 2017/18 but I was ‘unlucky’ enough to have completed my ATPL’s, MEIR, CPL, APS MCC, TR, line training and a summer on the line for TCX before it disappeared. The net result for me was a huge financial reduction to my personal balance sheet for very little enjoyment or satisfaction.
This may come across as overly negative but a realistic view is often lacking in flight training circles. Granted everybody is different but from my own experience I would say that you’re currently at the most enjoyable stage of the ‘career’. After this point the game becomes very expensive and comes with significant sacrifices for your time, money and sanity.
The job of a low hour FO may be great for some, but I speak from experience when I say it is close to being a nightmare for others - myself included. A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
Due to the logistics of the job it is very difficult to be nutritious so processed food is the norm. Check-in is done in the most sterile of environments at the crew room. The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
Quickly down to the stand, walking at least half a metre behind said captain, to then spend the next 12 hours locked in a wardrobe with the bloke who’s always right about everything 100% of the time, even when he’s wrong. More processed food, dehydration and boredom follow. The captain will fart at regular intervals as he’s the boss, but you dare not.
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
The views are sometimes nice (a positive) but the general pressure of the job balances these pleasureable nano-seconds. At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next. Unfortunately you’ve been called off standby to repeat today’s events tomorrow with your mate from today. Never mind a cold beer and a walk in the park will do the trick - but you need a clear head and early night so decide a microwave meal and bed would be wiser.
You will no doubt sense my cynicism at this stage! I’d like to say that a lot of this has been exaggerated to make the points, but no. The feeling during flight training was always ‘it will be OK when the next stage is done’. This doesn’t stop in the role, as every FO is ‘doing their time’ for command etc.
I would like to be fair in this assessment, as I do not love aviation like many do, nor was I blessed with particularly good hand flying skills or confidence in my own physical coordination in the cockpit. Another pilot will invariably see things through very different eyes.
Your current position of strength is a good thing imo. If the industry contracts I feel very sorry for many people, including low hour pilots who have grafted and sacrificed so much to be there. Whilst many more experienced pilots believe that low hour guys are incompetent imposters, I believe that you people often have the bottle and resilience to cope with a changing world of work. If you do nothing more than complete your ATPL’s you have been one of the lucky ones. A PPL, night rating and a long academic course are all great experiences and these will be diluted if you sink more time and money into ‘achieving’ the dream.
Maybe the market for new entrants will freeze for the short term, or for the long term, who knows. This would do you a massive favour.
I actually think you’re in a very fortunate position. Your situation sounds similar to mine in 2017/18 but I was ‘unlucky’ enough to have completed my ATPL’s, MEIR, CPL, APS MCC, TR, line training and a summer on the line for TCX before it disappeared. The net result for me was a huge financial reduction to my personal balance sheet for very little enjoyment or satisfaction.
This may come across as overly negative but a realistic view is often lacking in flight training circles. Granted everybody is different but from my own experience I would say that you’re currently at the most enjoyable stage of the ‘career’. After this point the game becomes very expensive and comes with significant sacrifices for your time, money and sanity.
The job of a low hour FO may be great for some, but I speak from experience when I say it is close to being a nightmare for others - myself included. A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
Due to the logistics of the job it is very difficult to be nutritious so processed food is the norm. Check-in is done in the most sterile of environments at the crew room. The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
Quickly down to the stand, walking at least half a metre behind said captain, to then spend the next 12 hours locked in a wardrobe with the bloke who’s always right about everything 100% of the time, even when he’s wrong. More processed food, dehydration and boredom follow. The captain will fart at regular intervals as he’s the boss, but you dare not.
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
The views are sometimes nice (a positive) but the general pressure of the job balances these pleasureable nano-seconds. At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next. Unfortunately you’ve been called off standby to repeat today’s events tomorrow with your mate from today. Never mind a cold beer and a walk in the park will do the trick - but you need a clear head and early night so decide a microwave meal and bed would be wiser.
You will no doubt sense my cynicism at this stage! I’d like to say that a lot of this has been exaggerated to make the points, but no. The feeling during flight training was always ‘it will be OK when the next stage is done’. This doesn’t stop in the role, as every FO is ‘doing their time’ for command etc.
I would like to be fair in this assessment, as I do not love aviation like many do, nor was I blessed with particularly good hand flying skills or confidence in my own physical coordination in the cockpit. Another pilot will invariably see things through very different eyes.
Your current position of strength is a good thing imo. If the industry contracts I feel very sorry for many people, including low hour pilots who have grafted and sacrificed so much to be there. Whilst many more experienced pilots believe that low hour guys are incompetent imposters, I believe that you people often have the bottle and resilience to cope with a changing world of work. If you do nothing more than complete your ATPL’s you have been one of the lucky ones. A PPL, night rating and a long academic course are all great experiences and these will be diluted if you sink more time and money into ‘achieving’ the dream.
Maybe the market for new entrants will freeze for the short term, or for the long term, who knows. This would do you a massive favour.
if you believe in the big man in the sky who has a place for good people and a bad place for bad people
without question
your in the right industry.
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A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
"Aww bless"
The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
" The Captain meets someone looking like a sack of spuds who doesn't want to be there, cannot download the flight paperwork and is more interested in finishing reading some social media garbage on the latest icock phone".
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
" You will spend the bulk of your day monitoring and mitigating the non performance of a pre Madonna with 2 to 3 years of inexperience who cannot accept advice and who sulks when not given the attention they think is their due. Their self esteem is damaged when no praise is forthcoming for just doing their job".
At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next.
"At the end of each sector rather than prepping for the next takeoff in 25 minutes our hero has his face buried in his icock phone whilst thumb typing drivel and sending trout lip selfies to Instagram highlighting his success in life".
Just holding up the mirror the 1917.
"Aww bless"
The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
" The Captain meets someone looking like a sack of spuds who doesn't want to be there, cannot download the flight paperwork and is more interested in finishing reading some social media garbage on the latest icock phone".
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
" You will spend the bulk of your day monitoring and mitigating the non performance of a pre Madonna with 2 to 3 years of inexperience who cannot accept advice and who sulks when not given the attention they think is their due. Their self esteem is damaged when no praise is forthcoming for just doing their job".
At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next.
"At the end of each sector rather than prepping for the next takeoff in 25 minutes our hero has his face buried in his icock phone whilst thumb typing drivel and sending trout lip selfies to Instagram highlighting his success in life".
Just holding up the mirror the 1917.
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Hi jordon1703
I actually think you’re in a very fortunate position. Your situation sounds similar to mine in 2017/18 but I was ‘unlucky’ enough to have completed my ATPL’s, MEIR, CPL, APS MCC, TR, line training and a summer on the line for TCX before it disappeared. The net result for me was a huge financial reduction to my personal balance sheet for very little enjoyment or satisfaction.
This may come across as overly negative but a realistic view is often lacking in flight training circles. Granted everybody is different but from my own experience I would say that you’re currently at the most enjoyable stage of the ‘career’. After this point the game becomes very expensive and comes with significant sacrifices for your time, money and sanity.
The job of a low hour FO may be great for some, but I speak from experience when I say it is close to being a nightmare for others - myself included. A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
Due to the logistics of the job it is very difficult to be nutritious so processed food is the norm. Check-in is done in the most sterile of environments at the crew room. The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
Quickly down to the stand, walking at least half a metre behind said captain, to then spend the next 12 hours locked in a wardrobe with the bloke who’s always right about everything 100% of the time, even when he’s wrong. More processed food, dehydration and boredom follow. The captain will fart at regular intervals as he’s the boss, but you dare not.
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
The views are sometimes nice (a positive) but the general pressure of the job balances these pleasureable nano-seconds. At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next. Unfortunately you’ve been called off standby to repeat today’s events tomorrow with your mate from today. Never mind a cold beer and a walk in the park will do the trick - but you need a clear head and early night so decide a microwave meal and bed would be wiser.
You will no doubt sense my cynicism at this stage! I’d like to say that a lot of this has been exaggerated to make the points, but no. The feeling during flight training was always ‘it will be OK when the next stage is done’. This doesn’t stop in the role, as every FO is ‘doing their time’ for command etc.
I would like to be fair in this assessment, as I do not love aviation like many do, nor was I blessed with particularly good hand flying skills or confidence in my own physical coordination in the cockpit. Another pilot will invariably see things through very different eyes.
Your current position of strength is a good thing imo. If the industry contracts I feel very sorry for many people, including low hour pilots who have grafted and sacrificed so much to be there. Whilst many more experienced pilots believe that low hour guys are incompetent imposters, I believe that you people often have the bottle and resilience to cope with a changing world of work. If you do nothing more than complete your ATPL’s you have been one of the lucky ones. A PPL, night rating and a long academic course are all great experiences and these will be diluted if you sink more time and money into ‘achieving’ the dream.
Maybe the market for new entrants will freeze for the short term, or for the long term, who knows. This would do you a massive favour.
I actually think you’re in a very fortunate position. Your situation sounds similar to mine in 2017/18 but I was ‘unlucky’ enough to have completed my ATPL’s, MEIR, CPL, APS MCC, TR, line training and a summer on the line for TCX before it disappeared. The net result for me was a huge financial reduction to my personal balance sheet for very little enjoyment or satisfaction.
This may come across as overly negative but a realistic view is often lacking in flight training circles. Granted everybody is different but from my own experience I would say that you’re currently at the most enjoyable stage of the ‘career’. After this point the game becomes very expensive and comes with significant sacrifices for your time, money and sanity.
The job of a low hour FO may be great for some, but I speak from experience when I say it is close to being a nightmare for others - myself included. A typical day in the office would start ridiculously early, after poor quality sleep, in a strange bed / hotel room which is paid from a low salary.
Due to the logistics of the job it is very difficult to be nutritious so processed food is the norm. Check-in is done in the most sterile of environments at the crew room. The captain arrives and spends the first 10 minutes using body language / verbals which create a clear hierarchy for further interaction that day (notable exceptions here, some people have excellent emotional intelligence).
Quickly down to the stand, walking at least half a metre behind said captain, to then spend the next 12 hours locked in a wardrobe with the bloke who’s always right about everything 100% of the time, even when he’s wrong. More processed food, dehydration and boredom follow. The captain will fart at regular intervals as he’s the boss, but you dare not.
You will spend the bulk of the day listening to war stories which typically involve superior crosswind landing skills, on his part, and you will learn the failings of all other FO’s at your base. As you approach ToD you try to brief the skipper who doesn’t really care what you say, as the descent, approach and landing will be done his way anyway. Unless you balls it up, at which point it is made clear that you did it your way.
The views are sometimes nice (a positive) but the general pressure of the job balances these pleasureable nano-seconds. At the end of the day you can turn your phone back on to find that your friends / family have been out for walks, to the pub and played cricket in the sun, as it’s Saturday. Thankfully your time with his highness has now finished so you download your roster to find out which exciting destination awaits you next. Unfortunately you’ve been called off standby to repeat today’s events tomorrow with your mate from today. Never mind a cold beer and a walk in the park will do the trick - but you need a clear head and early night so decide a microwave meal and bed would be wiser.
You will no doubt sense my cynicism at this stage! I’d like to say that a lot of this has been exaggerated to make the points, but no. The feeling during flight training was always ‘it will be OK when the next stage is done’. This doesn’t stop in the role, as every FO is ‘doing their time’ for command etc.
I would like to be fair in this assessment, as I do not love aviation like many do, nor was I blessed with particularly good hand flying skills or confidence in my own physical coordination in the cockpit. Another pilot will invariably see things through very different eyes.
Your current position of strength is a good thing imo. If the industry contracts I feel very sorry for many people, including low hour pilots who have grafted and sacrificed so much to be there. Whilst many more experienced pilots believe that low hour guys are incompetent imposters, I believe that you people often have the bottle and resilience to cope with a changing world of work. If you do nothing more than complete your ATPL’s you have been one of the lucky ones. A PPL, night rating and a long academic course are all great experiences and these will be diluted if you sink more time and money into ‘achieving’ the dream.
Maybe the market for new entrants will freeze for the short term, or for the long term, who knows. This would do you a massive favour.