What are my chance
 

G'day Guys

Nice forum and I enjoying lots of people trying to inform me and make me more aware of what I just about to do this year

I live in Australia im 34 now... got Degree in Computer science and math ... thinking of going to Oxford Air Training school...
This is the course http://www.oxfordaviation.net/air_appfo.htm

I need advice from pilots as to

1- What are my chances of getting a job after this course in the middle east.... If so, what types of job would I be able to get after such course.. (please specify as in will I be able to fly 737-400 or I have to have some experience flying smaller planes before that)


2- Is it worth contacting LCC in the region and try to secure a job before I start the course...

3- Will the B.Sc in computer Science will ever help say when I start applying for bigger airlines..



Thanks in advance and appreciate any constructive answer

Sam
West Australia

SamAustralia,

If you are going to spend the 70k pounds on the APP course, you might aswell try and find work in Europe, things are pretty good job wise for them right now.BA comes here to get there cadets occasionally. If you are going to spend the money on a JAA licence I'm guessing you have EU citizenship ? otherwise its pointless spending the cash on a JAA licence, especially the APP.

There are alot more oppurtinities in europe than Australia.

If you want to work in the ME, its possible if you know the right people as a low hour expat, otherwise you will need some experience.

PM me if you want more details, was in a similar position not so long ago....

Those programs that train you from scratch up to type rating and hours on type actually work. Then, you ethics will start playing when you start questioning wether all that money was worth it or not. There are various programs like that now a days. They are the "proper version" of what some years ago would be a simple conversation with a potential employer who would say: "Get a type rating and call me". Sometimes they hired you as they said... and sometimes they didn't even remember you.

To attempt to give you some direct answers-

1- Not great. Most ME carriers only employ experienced pilots (EK, 4000hrs + jet time as an example). You might check out the likes of Jazerah or Air Arabia, but my feeling is you'll need some time elsewhere first. I assume you are of an Arab nationality? That won't hurt.

2- No. They employ Pilots, not Wannabe pilots. Achieve their minimum requirements before applying.

3- As an indicator of your education and ability to study,yes. But as an actual qualification, no.


Out of interest, why have you chosen a UK based school? Training is much cheaper in Australia, and the GA work scene there is pretty good.

Why the hell are you thinking of joining these suffering community?
Listen to me stay away from aviation ..it's not worth it anymore...and it will get worst and worst..
Find a normal job...have a normal and happy life... and if you really like flying do it as a hobby , join an aeroclub, do some aerobatics..what ever but don't do the error of following your passion and try get into this job.
Do you really think that waking up when normal people goes to sleep, spending up to 17 hours closed in 2 cubic meters of pressurized tube avoiding weather with that feeling hidden deep inside you that anytime something can get screwed and may be you are in the middle of nowhere. is so much fun...?
No it is not... and you will not be paid enough for that.

I agree with furbpilot, and also you are in Australia why the hell not learn and get a job there you are crazy to leave it.

He's from Perth, so must be a pom...

Don't listen to these grumps mate.Follow your dreams and aim for the sky.Been in the game for over a decade and haven't regreted it for a minute.There isn't a single proffession I can think of that makes more cash then a legacy/major airline Pilot.Cousin is a Dr. and makes half my wage at 2 yrs younger(although in about 5 years he'll be on about the equal salary as I which then will increase up to about 400k for him with time..long time, mind you he'll be an old fart by that time and I won't be too far behind anyway).I've been to and seen places and things that my friends and family can only dream of and I still have a good 2 decades in me, so it ain't over yet.:ok:
A view of blood/guts/nurses surely can't be better then clouds/buttons/FA's(with an acception to QF)

"with an acception to QF F/As" Haha :D One of the few things you said that made sense! Love it

Nope I hold an Australian passport with no UK background the reason for the UK based course because is Oxford air training school .....


because the course that they do have at Oxford is completed course and take you all the way to airline or Airline ready let me say with their 40hrs B737 simulator included at the end of the course.. Other Australia based courses get you to CPL &IR only..Thats why .. if you can advice me of a different path please do ...


QFcaptain, thanks mate, check your inbox.

Wizofoz thanks a lot mate

Bankstown
 

Bankstown in Sydney has many flying schools from 0 to ATPL...They charge lesser than Oxford and are of an equal standard...

Try there...

Cheers!

QFcaptain..get real..my plumber makes three times the money that I make...he buys an apartment a year.. There is plenty of job out there that may be don't have the "sex appeal" of flying but that pays much better...and like you to spend wiyh your family every weekend.. You don't know probably because you were to busy flying and looking in the mirror thinking .." ooohhh I'm so cool in this uniform..." all this years , thinking you are the king of the skyes...and it is cause of people like you that we get screwed so easily....
And by the way...to be attracted by that "sex appeal" you either have to be a maniac (...and how many I met..) or blind...
Flying was a good job when it was not massified and you really needed guts and a lot more knowledge and culture ( are you able to use a sextant..).
You got loads of money and could retire quite soon...before your health started to deteriorate..
I see people here getting old at the speed of light... think Einstein was wrong!

QFcaptain, are you Sponge Bob's brother?

furb,

So...you hate everything about what you do for a living, yet continue to do it, apparently to the detriment of your family?

Furb,
First of all I never said that we get payed enough mate.It could be better but I do stand by my comment about the salary being better then most other jobs.From the people I know, I don't know any other proffessional that makes more than I do so I don't know where you work and how much you make but I did say legacy/major airlines.I'm refering to age vs salary so lets say when a kid starts training to be a pilot at 21 and gets their first airline gig at 26.
Who makes more then 100k at 26years old?please tell me.Captain by 35 approx so that puts them on 150k+ or at QF(this may take longer) well over 200k and upwards.Although Oz does have some of the lowest Pilot salaries appart from QF being half decent but still 250k+ isn't so bad compared to to a lawyer or a dr and let's not forget a potential 200k+ a VB in the long term.So anyway the point is get outa here asap!
As for plumbers/brickies etc., Australia is the ONLY country on the planet where a tradey makes more then a f****ing doctor!
"equality" ey! more like discouraging education:ugh:.

Airline Pilots in 90% of the world are considered the higher earning proffessionals especially in Asia and EU and the respect comes with that.

It's a high earning proffession, that's fact.
It could be much better in regards to T&C, that's fact.

cheers
qfskip :cool:

Fully agree mate.. Australia is the only place on earth where a plumber gets more than pilots or police officers or even prime minister

Its disgusting and its the result of bad immigration policy and unions !!

In Japan pilots and lawyers have a high ranking in the society .. here we have plumbers and tilers

What is wrong with plumbers or immigrants ? Aren't you willing to migrate ?

If you have to work everyday, then you are in wrong profession!

Flying is all about passion and I dont give a damn how small the space is or what time I wake up. I dont care how much money I make or what respect I earn!

As long as I am flying, I will never have to work a single day of my life. I will enjoy my life!

Therefore, if you feel you are not "normal" in the society or cant give time to your family on the weekends, you are in the wrong profession.

Regards





Edit:

Generalising Indians like that only speak volumes about your cheap and disgusting mentality! You need to grow up.

Very well said Aatif. I couldn't agree more with you.