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-   -   Coronavirus employment low on its way? (https://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/630240-coronavirus-employment-low-its-way.html)

jordon1703 4th Mar 2020 14:44

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!

Chief Willy 5th Mar 2020 05:19

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.

covec 7th Mar 2020 23:16

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.

Luke SkyToddler 8th Mar 2020 11:15

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.

gbotley 8th Mar 2020 15:18

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,

jordon1703 8th Mar 2020 18:08


Originally Posted by gbotley (Post 10706827)
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,

Hi gbotley,

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

nightfright 8th Mar 2020 21:19

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

atakacs 8th Mar 2020 21:24

I'd say that for all the reasons mentioned earlier you might find excellent value in the training market 6-12 months from now...

Superpilot 9th Mar 2020 03:51

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.

flocci_non_faccio 9th Mar 2020 09:35


Money that can then be used to ride the next wave of low-experienced pilot recruitment in early 2022
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.

Hogos 9th Mar 2020 15:45

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.

jordon1703 9th Mar 2020 17:08


Originally Posted by Hogos (Post 10707870)
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.

So you think that this is something that is potentially going to pass us by?

ps: My replies are quite delayed as moderators are having to approve my comments.

giggitygiggity 10th Mar 2020 01:19


Originally Posted by flocci_non_faccio (Post 10707580)
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.

Whilst I think 50/50 is slightly pessimistic, as another captain with a good TR in what I imagine is the same secure airline as yourself, I really do share your concern. If anyone in my company thinks their job isecurity is under no doubt at the moment then they are quite frankly wrong. If you asked me whether Italy would be under quarantine so soon a month ago, i would have said it's very unlikely but I wouldn't have bet it wasn't going to happen, now, hwo knows?!I've never seen anything as economically destabilising as this in my life. Recessions happen (like 2008 or 2001), but this really has the potential to just stop the world from turning for a long period of time. Most airlines have been rapidly expanding in the last few years which has left many, if not all in a very precarious position. My airline keeps telling me that they are able to retract and delay aircraft deliveries, or get rid of current ones, although does that mean hand back to the lessor or sell? We own a large portition of our older ones - what will their value be?!

Anyone about to embark in either intergrated or modular training right now with this level of uncertainty is a very foolish move.

richardthethird 10th Mar 2020 17:16

Delay, delay, delay... Money in the bank and all that... If you're having to ask the question, you already know the answer - no matter how difficult that may be to accept.

TRENT210 14th Mar 2020 17:58

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 !

Douglas Bahada 16th Mar 2020 04:20

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.


Mrpeewee 16th Mar 2020 18:52


Originally Posted by the1917 (Post 10714569)
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.

The best personality for a pilot

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.

Bloated Stomach 16th Mar 2020 21:43


Originally Posted by Douglas Bahada (Post 10715538)
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.


Having been in the Airline industry for almost 4 years (Just been made redundant as the big regional airline failed) and 10 years in another industry, I can tell you there are good and bad in both seats.

Banana Joe 16th Mar 2020 22:32


Originally Posted by the1917 (Post 10714569)
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.

You've come across some bad captains...

ford cortina 17th Mar 2020 04:46

Seems like a bad FO to me.

P40Warhawk 17th Mar 2020 17:32


Originally Posted by the1917 (Post 10714569)
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.

You are so unfortunate. You chose the wrong job and you seem to really hate it but you have already spend tons of money in it. I feel really sorry for you. Also with the Captains. Wonder which airline you fly for, or it can be really like all cpts there a holes or that you are just not nice person to be with in the cockpit which as a result makes life in that small area not so pretty. For myself, I have been flying with not always the nicest captains, but always managed to have a decent cockpit environment.

My tip for you, start looking for a different career as you stated that you not have a big passion for aviation in the first place. To survive aviation lifestyle, you really need the passion for it and not hate it.

I work in aviation since 2014, and yes not everything is great, but I do not hate it.

SeventhHeaven 17th Mar 2020 20:11

I think the1917 actually makes some good points, and we shouldn't bash him for expressing them. It's a nice change from the standard 'i'm 30 years old, I don't care about the recession, I don't care about never finding a job, I have a degree, I can afford to pay off my training loan for 20 years with nothing to show for it, I just don't want to regret it'

It's very hard to truly appreciate what this industry is about until you're fully committed and waist deep. This forum could use some honest introspection into the profession as well, to balance all the praise and glory posts. Yes, airline IFR flying can be boring on long sectors, waking up at 4am in the winter absolutely sucks, living abroad and commuting is a total pain and waste of time. The more honest we are with ourselves the better prepared the next generation of pilots will be.

Personally, 75% of captains and FO I know all say they love this job, they enjoy the salary and potential time off, but they would never ever do it again, and don't want their kids to get into it. And that's ok.

covec 17th Mar 2020 22:19

We’re just about to get a Captain from a well known Scandinavian airline join us as an FI flying spam cans.

I’ll be helping check him out. As a fellow FI I’m sure that his Ex11 & PFLs are up to standard....🙃😉

He’s needed though. We lost a lot to the airlines.

What goes around....but all the best, folks.


Superpilot 21st Mar 2020 06:45

I have previously stated it might be a good idea to continue or even start your training to be ready in a couple of years but now (in true no sh*t Sherlock style ) I'd like to say that is of course no longer a good idea. You're looking at a minimum of 5 years right now for low experience pilot jobs to re-emerge across the entire world, possibly longer.

I've been preaching for years that a back up career in aviation is important but equally important is to practice that skill during your flying years by taking up part time opportunities and networking with those in that field. NB: It's easier than you think. For me it was luck that I fell into mine before I ever flew a jet. Later on, various redundancies and gaps in contract aviation employment enabled me to flip flop between the two roles. Turns out this awful luck was a blessing in disguise.

Right now, I am a very fortunate person to even have a flying job (no pay cut expected) but that could change very quickly. I'm ready to go back to my previous career in case.

Going forward no college or uni graduate should even consider this most fragile of careers without having a solid grounding in another field. Basically, you're asking for it if the only thing you've done prior to flying is to flip a burger or stack a shelf. A job should be something you enjoy doing but as the modern climate will testify it's also about food on the table. Sadly, the best job in the world doesn't come with much of a safety net. The vast majority of pilots I know right now cannot sustain the lifestyles they built up and a captain I know is starting work with Asda next week. Sure every industry is feeling the pinch but aviation will always suffer the biggest and deepest pain for any given disaster.

Globalisation is the reason behind aviation's success. It creates jobs, more opportunity. But it also makes the world more susceptible to danger, especially as the population grows with more and more bad variables coming into play. Sustained long term growth is therefore unlikely from here on. The bubble will always burst before it gets bigger than what it was at the beginning of the year.

One of my boys wants to fly when he grows older. And so I will try my absolute best to make sure he practices what I'm preaching.

All the best

Chief Willy 21st Mar 2020 07:43

Very wise words Superpilot. I have seen too many young lives ruined by going “all-in” on flying as a career with absolutely no back-up skill set for when the chips are down.

Delta Airlines are now saying the industry that emerges from this crisis will be smaller than the one that entered it. Put simply there will be fewer pilot jobs than the peak we have just had. The shortage (if there ever was one) is over for now. There may be no jobs at entry level for many years.

If you haven’t invested too much money into flight training, walk away now. Skill up in something else non-aviation related and have a look back here in a couple of years.

ced0802 21st Mar 2020 08:50

I had to make a decision 4 months ago between a big reputed with nice marketing school OR going modular (less fancy, no uniform)...very glad I made the right choice. Going at my own pace, and will adjust according to when Market will show healthier signs (which hopefully before 4/5 years as mentioned above)

Hogos 21st Mar 2020 09:33

I would like to share here the post I wrote in another thread:
This is my very personal opinion: despite this very difficult period, which will surely weaken many companies (as aviation is a very fragile toy), even though some other airlines might go to administration, with loads of pilots on the ground, there will always be for sure the need to fly.
Other companies may expand, or maybe others more will born, the sky won't be empty when this disaster will end.
Considering that is not easy to contain a virus when already spreaded all over the world, the real antidote which will take away the fear of being infected, and so others fears such as to travel, from people mind will be to find a vaccine.
Only then the world will go back to the normal.

wigbam 21st Mar 2020 19:00


Originally Posted by Hogos (Post 10722673)
Other companies may expand, or maybe others more will born, the sky won't be empty when this disaster will end.

So you expect things to magically reset when this virus panic is over? Even if we are done with the virus by the end of 2020, the ramification would manifest for many many years. Defeating the virus is just the first basic hurdle, you have at least the following factors to take into account after that:
  1. People would have lost jobs, security and money and will hardly have extra cash to splash on flying
  2. Perceived threat and danger associated with traveling would remain, people will be thinking twice before going somewhere (especially long haul)
  3. Huge market over-saturation with unemployed qualified and current pilots due to multiple airlines going bust - many will be desperate and happy to "fly for food"
Pilot jobs prospects in a situation like that? Extremely bleak. Low hour pilot job prospects - I'd say around the same as hitting the jackpot in a lottery. I would give it 4-5 years before the situation more or less stabilises again.

Banana Joe 21st Mar 2020 19:55

I tend to be optimistic and to always encourage people to get into training, especially modular training, but what we're experiencing now is unprecedented. This week I've flown into two major EU airports and we were the only one in the air, only a few traffic in the air but that was it. Air France is parking their whole fleet and the two southerly runways at CDG have been closed to use them for storage. The same in CPH.

I agree with wigbam, this will take a few years to recover and it is probable that aviation won't ever be the same. Unfortunately, some pilots may not fly again.

Hogos 21st Mar 2020 21:20

People will need to travel not only for "vacations", but for works, for coming back home to their families.
40 years ago, only business man travelled around the world, now youngsters are going to the other side of the world just for delivering capuccinos.
It will take time, for sure, even the production of a vaccine.
But from that day people won't be scared anymore by knowing to be immune to the virus.

Of course it's an optimistic scenario, nobody knows what is gong to happen next.
We can only hope for the best.

Mrpeewee 30th Mar 2020 19:00

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4e2d0b6db.jpeg
Summary?

covec 30th Mar 2020 19:22

Looks like me after a heavy night...wtf happened last night? And where am I?

Douglas Bahada 30th Mar 2020 20:37

M"guidance for the OP has been reinforced by your reply, thank you. I imagine that you are much less of a legend in your daily life than you are with your 4 gold bars."

You don't get it do you. I am but a cog in the machine helping it go around. No less no more. All l expect is lack of ego, application of effort and professionalism or something approximating that. I really don't need to spoon feed people and mollycoddle baby pilots.

Anyway it seems a moot point now as there is a large risk of our newer brethren being made redundant.

Douglas Bahada 31st Mar 2020 12:36

Aww shucks.

Meester proach 1st Apr 2020 20:44

1917s bitterness is all down to the fact that he clearly didn’t research the job well enough to imagine what it was really like ....has nothing to do with covid or prospects.

As a captain once told me “ not all the xxxxs are in the left hand seat ...”

wise words indeed

Banana Joe 3rd Apr 2020 18:48


Originally Posted by the1917 (Post 10736456)
That is true meester proach, I didn’t appreciate what it was really like before joining the industry

And now here you are, filling our bandwidth with posts full of negativity because you failed to do your homework:E

Nineshsimbers 3rd Apr 2020 22:18

You lot are a bunch of dimwits! Seriously send a realistic perspective on this and not a load of crap - too much negativity..Yes we are all f”cked but it will recover within 4 years for sure. Don’t go scaring people anyway.

If I give full opinion I no doubt will be slaughtered anyway.

No go out The house and do your exercise as BoJo told you all. Don’t be keyboard warriors

Banana Joe 4th Apr 2020 08:21

No, I did not choose the wrong career and I am in a seniority list. Speak for yourself.

I saw your posting history and to make it worse you are quite young and deluded. It appears to me you burnt yourself with a pricey tagged scheme with a famous British operator that has gone bust before the pandemic. I know it is not nice to say it, but I hope you will never step in a flight deck ever again. For your own sake, and more importantly for the bloke that has to sit next to you for a working day.

truckflyer 12th Apr 2020 02:22

You sound like a real nightmare to fly with, what a poor attitude. I guess with that attitude you found yourself another career path.

truckflyer 12th Apr 2020 02:34


Originally Posted by the1917 (Post 10738836)
You have the right to veto.

The aim of my posts is to be neither positive nor negative - just realistic. It is only realism that the prospective trainee needs before parting with hard-earned family money.

I believe that one line, tells me everything about you. Poor little millennial, who spent his mummies and daddies money to become a pilot, some of us worked 15 hour shifts to save enough money to take a flying lesson, and did not have Mums and Dads bank to sponsor us.

You seem like a real over-privileged knob, no wonder nobody liked you in the flight deck.

I mean that you are dumb enough to even write that, just shows how that you are out of touch with reality. I guess you worked hard for that that hard earned family money, did you?
Grow up and grow a pair, and stop being such a snowflake. I had my first flying lesson when I was 17, I completed my training and got my first airline job at the age of 42, in between that I had a great life doing loads of other stuff that I loved.

But I worked hard for my dream, and sure every day is not perfect, sure there are ups and downs, however most of what you are writing is pure nonsense and fabrication, just because you want somebody to fell sorry for you, well here is some advice, get over it!
I guess your inheritance have been reduced now, as you squandered it on flight training boo hoo.


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