Military Pilot to Civilian Flying?
It is a generalization, but I can see what he is getting at. Some single seat pilots are a CRM nightmare. And also there are some ex-military pilots who are too goal orientated. They seem to forget that safety is the number one priority in airline flying, getting passengers to their chosen destination is secondary to that.
On the flip side there are some excellent single seat ex-military pilots in the airline I work for, they have made the transition well.
On the flip side there are some excellent single seat ex-military pilots in the airline I work for, they have made the transition well.
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Have you tried Monarch in the UK, Sisio? Also FlyBe. Both were looking for crew last time I heard, both used to like pilots out of the UK military. Unfortunately I don't think that light charter pays enough to get you to the UK, or I'd ask for your CV!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Sisio,
Have you applied to Netjets Europe? They take ex Mil pilots and do count helo time as well.
Have you applied to Netjets Europe? They take ex Mil pilots and do count helo time as well.
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Chap I am serving Royal Navy. Trust me - most airlines LOVE ex military types. There is a reasonable assumption that you know what hard work is, how to present yourself, what being punctual means (5 minutes before required!!) and you will normally be rather adept at serious multi-tasking and "fire-fighting". Of course the majority of civvy types who are training to be pilots have these abilities too but for you it is probably second nature.
Sounds like you would do very well to contact NetJets Europe. Keep an eye out for the banners.
Good Luck.
Sounds like you would do very well to contact NetJets Europe. Keep an eye out for the banners.
Good Luck.
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Most Airlines like ex-mil.....
Not always. I know Fighter pliots who haven't a clue about CRM to the point of being dangerous.
There was one guy sent home from PARC (MCC) who was told that they couldn't do anything for him due to his stinking attitude problem.
Try BA too....ex-mils welcome there.
Not always. I know Fighter pliots who haven't a clue about CRM to the point of being dangerous.
There was one guy sent home from PARC (MCC) who was told that they couldn't do anything for him due to his stinking attitude problem.
Try BA too....ex-mils welcome there.
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thanks c130, but can't find the right email address of monarch. I sent them an email but I receive an autoresponse with a reference number of my enquiry that's it.don't know what to do with that ref number...
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training required for ex-military helicopter pilot
I am currently serving as a helicopter pilot in the British Military. I will be leaving in the next 15 months with only 750 hours total of which 200 are as an aircraft commander. After leaving i intend to move into fixed wing flying and hopefully get a job with a UK based airline. I have a couple of questions which hopefully someone will be able to answer.
1. What licenses and ratings, other than my ATPL, will i need to get to be in with a chance of an airline job.
2. Will any of my military flying count towards my licenses, P1 and commander time, twin engine time etc?
3. As a 31 year old ex-military helicopter pilot am i going to be in with a shot of a fixed wing job?
4. How much fixed wing time will i need to gain in order to be competitive and will any of my military fixed wing time count towards the total?
Any help would be much appreciated.
1. What licenses and ratings, other than my ATPL, will i need to get to be in with a chance of an airline job.
2. Will any of my military flying count towards my licenses, P1 and commander time, twin engine time etc?
3. As a 31 year old ex-military helicopter pilot am i going to be in with a shot of a fixed wing job?
4. How much fixed wing time will i need to gain in order to be competitive and will any of my military fixed wing time count towards the total?
Any help would be much appreciated.
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Talk the RAF Benson flying club as they have a number of guys who are doing the same thing and they are up to date on all the regulations.
The club can also offer you cheap fixed wing time if you need it.
Best call them after xmas when the prime mover returns from the "sandpit".
Or PM me with some contact details and I will try to point you in the right direction.
The club can also offer you cheap fixed wing time if you need it.
Best call them after xmas when the prime mover returns from the "sandpit".
Or PM me with some contact details and I will try to point you in the right direction.
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Morning folks,
Blackbear, as A and C says join the RAF BENSON club! It is cheap flying and you will find like minded people. I too am serving military (RN) and an ex-wobbly wing driver (although I haven't bagged half as many as hours as you). The transition to becoming a civillian is bound to be quite rocky but as for translating your military soft skills into an airline - no problem.
The only downside is the potential crumbling of the world economy over the next two years. I have made my choice and am sticking with it but I must admit to becoming rather worried over the last few days and have had a few sleepless nights wondering If I am doing the right thing.
Just a thought-would you not be better sticking to rotary and working in SAR, Police, Air Ambulance et al? I also think a killing could be made during the 2012 Olympics if you are a rotary pilot. It was easy for me as I have more fixed hours then I do rotary. If it were the other way round I would have stayed rotary.
For more information try the CAA website and search for LASORS 2007. It contains all the information about requirements and what you can claim from being a QSP (Qualified Service Pilot).
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
MFWF
Blackbear, as A and C says join the RAF BENSON club! It is cheap flying and you will find like minded people. I too am serving military (RN) and an ex-wobbly wing driver (although I haven't bagged half as many as hours as you). The transition to becoming a civillian is bound to be quite rocky but as for translating your military soft skills into an airline - no problem.
The only downside is the potential crumbling of the world economy over the next two years. I have made my choice and am sticking with it but I must admit to becoming rather worried over the last few days and have had a few sleepless nights wondering If I am doing the right thing.
Just a thought-would you not be better sticking to rotary and working in SAR, Police, Air Ambulance et al? I also think a killing could be made during the 2012 Olympics if you are a rotary pilot. It was easy for me as I have more fixed hours then I do rotary. If it were the other way round I would have stayed rotary.
For more information try the CAA website and search for LASORS 2007. It contains all the information about requirements and what you can claim from being a QSP (Qualified Service Pilot).
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
MFWF
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Blackbear1,
The document you need to look at is called LASORS. I have seen it online before in PDF format, but it is also available as a book. If you find it online, search it for QSP (qualified service pilot) and you'll find the relevant bits.
You should be very competitive at 31 in any case, but with the military flying background and command hours, even more so.
You will need to get a PPL(A) first if you don't have one, then complete ATPL ground school. Next obtain a CPL(A) and a Multi-engine piston class rating. For the CPL(A), it will be training as needed to pass the skills test. You can probably save some quid by doing a combination MECR and CPL course and combining the check rides into one. Next complete an IR. If you have a military IR, you should check LASORS to see if you can do the 15 hour conversion course instead of the 55 hour ab-initio IR course. Finally, you need to do an MCC course to get an MCC certificate.
The document you need to look at is called LASORS. I have seen it online before in PDF format, but it is also available as a book. If you find it online, search it for QSP (qualified service pilot) and you'll find the relevant bits.
You should be very competitive at 31 in any case, but with the military flying background and command hours, even more so.
You will need to get a PPL(A) first if you don't have one, then complete ATPL ground school. Next obtain a CPL(A) and a Multi-engine piston class rating. For the CPL(A), it will be training as needed to pass the skills test. You can probably save some quid by doing a combination MECR and CPL course and combining the check rides into one. Next complete an IR. If you have a military IR, you should check LASORS to see if you can do the 15 hour conversion course instead of the 55 hour ab-initio IR course. Finally, you need to do an MCC course to get an MCC certificate.
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If you have 500 hours as P1 or P2 on multi-pilot aeroplanes (not counting dual flying) then you will be exempt the MCC.
LASORS will tell you which types qualify as multi-pilot (for example, I think the Puma does but not the Gazelle).
My brother left the AAC with the same sort of number of hours of yourself and is now an FO at a UK based carrier after going through the scheme at CTC.
LASORS will tell you which types qualify as multi-pilot (for example, I think the Puma does but not the Gazelle).
My brother left the AAC with the same sort of number of hours of yourself and is now an FO at a UK based carrier after going through the scheme at CTC.
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Blackbear
looking at the first step - PPL - I can confirm from my own experience only 6 months ago, ALL of your military single piston engine fixed wing will be creditied towards the hours requirement for the PPL. You will then need to undertake a defined "re-famil" training course at an FTO and you will probably find also (like me) that you have a shortfall in the required solo nav hours from your military fixed wing training. I effectively did most of the PPL "nav" syllabus to re-familiarise and to include the required 150nm solo tri-angle.
My military fixed wing was Chipmunk & Bulldog....at Hamble, Plymouth & Leeming....that shows my age!
Lasors has the detail.
Good luck.
looking at the first step - PPL - I can confirm from my own experience only 6 months ago, ALL of your military single piston engine fixed wing will be creditied towards the hours requirement for the PPL. You will then need to undertake a defined "re-famil" training course at an FTO and you will probably find also (like me) that you have a shortfall in the required solo nav hours from your military fixed wing training. I effectively did most of the PPL "nav" syllabus to re-familiarise and to include the required 150nm solo tri-angle.
My military fixed wing was Chipmunk & Bulldog....at Hamble, Plymouth & Leeming....that shows my age!
Lasors has the detail.
Good luck.
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More help needed for rotary military pilot
Thanks for the help. I've check LASORS, which has to be one of the most confusing documents i've read in a while, but it still leaves a number of questions. There doesn't seem to be any section in LASORS (unless i've missed it) that deals with rotary pilots wanting to go fixed wing? is there anybody out there who has changed over who can shed some light on how they did it and what qualifications they needed to get before they got a job and how difficult did they find it to get a job? RAF Waddington also has a flying club and is a little closer to my current posting. I've spoken to them and they seem quite wilco. Thanks for the help. Any advice or guidance would be most helpful.
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Blackbear
I know of a fair number of RN Sea King pilots who left the Service to fly for BA, but I think most of them did so however via a spell flying the Jetstreams at Culdrose. Although one at least did go straight from rotary to an airline job. I'll try to get the story of how he did that and what credits he received from CAA FCL.
I recall that at the time, BA regarded their multi-crew Sea King experience as highly desirable, maybe to the chagrin of some fast-jet pilots going for the same job!! However, this was perhaps a "phase" and the emphasis on employability may have now have change in nature.
The only further advice is to email CAA FCL and explain EXACTLY what flying experience you have and asking them to define EXACTLY what fixed wing hours you require. No matter which Flight Training Organisation you approach they will all say - "show me what you have in writing from CAA FCL" so you might as well clarify it with them NOW.
You are right, LASORS is open to a degree of interpretation when trying to delve into Military credits. No point trying to second guess and (perhaps) raising your hopes - ASK the CAA and obtain your own personalised "ruling".
Good luck
I recall that at the time, BA regarded their multi-crew Sea King experience as highly desirable, maybe to the chagrin of some fast-jet pilots going for the same job!! However, this was perhaps a "phase" and the emphasis on employability may have now have change in nature.
The only further advice is to email CAA FCL and explain EXACTLY what flying experience you have and asking them to define EXACTLY what fixed wing hours you require. No matter which Flight Training Organisation you approach they will all say - "show me what you have in writing from CAA FCL" so you might as well clarify it with them NOW.
You are right, LASORS is open to a degree of interpretation when trying to delve into Military credits. No point trying to second guess and (perhaps) raising your hopes - ASK the CAA and obtain your own personalised "ruling".
Good luck