ollieh_

Hello everyone! I've never visited these forums before so i'm unaware whether i'm posting into the right area, so please feel free to tell me to delete this if necessary.

I'm a year 11 student finally having to think about what i'm wanting to do after school, and have been very tempted by the idea of becoming a commercial airline pilot. Although i had some questions concerning the routes i may need to take in order to become a pilot.

1. As i live in Tasmania, we have a fantastic flight school (Par Avion) that essentially operates off of its own airstrip with extremely non-cluttered airspace and flexibility of student accomodation. This option has sounded enticing to myself, although my question would be whether its a better idea to attain a commercial pilots license through cadet coures offered by airlines as there may be a greater potential for a job straight out of completing training, or whether it does not make a difference to job possibilities either way if i was to train at a private school.

2. Is it worth it!!!! I've really been wanting to hear some extra (Non-Biased) opinions about whether its realistic to expect a job paying upwards of $50,000 within 5-7 years. My intent isn't to become a pilot for financial reasons although i would like to be able to support myself before the age of 25.

3. When attaining a commercial pilots license, what are some prerequisites that may be compulsory. (PPL, Instrument Ratings etc.)

4. As most Airlines require pilots to have > 1000 hours of flying experience, what other jobs are desirable by airlines before operating large commerical Jets. How hard is it to find these Jobs and what are the chances that i'll need to move interstate?

5. How hard is it to find jobs, and what are the chances of failure? I've always been really worried about the possibility of spending over $100,000 in education just to find that i need to pursue another career because i simply cannot find jobs, or i just find that i'm not cut out to be a pilot.

These were the questions that have been playing on my mind for a couple months now! They may be quite stupid although i really don't know where to find more information other than that of what everyone basically says. If you know of anything else i should know i would really love to hear! Thank you for taking the time to read and reply!

dr dre

Cadetship. By definition, you're almost guaranteed a job with an airline after training (provided you complete the training to a high standard and the business hasn't undergone a downturn in the meantime). Private schools can help with getting a job in a GA company they have links with or as an instructor at that school if you then complete an Instructor's rating but this is not as assured as a cadetship with an airline.

Yes. If you stick with it, apply yourself in the highest standards in your training and your personal conduct so you maintain a good reputation, network, are flexible and prepared to move in your initial career I'd say it's very unlikely you wouldn't be earning $50'000 by your mid twenties. Gain entry into a cadetship and it's likely you'd be making six figures.

You don't have to have a PPL prior to gaining a CPL. Some integrated CPL course may dispense with this. An instrument rating is not necessary for a CPL, although your career won't be going far beyond day VFR charter pilot or instructor without one so you'll need an IR soon after your gain your CPL.

Actually most airlines in Australia don't require 1000hrs flying experience before recruitment. In some there are direct entry entrance paths that only require 250 total hours before being eligible for recruitment, and if you complete a cadetship you'l be eligible for entry after you've completed the CPL/IR on the course. It's likely you'll have to move interstate at some point in your career, but it's a big and flexible world out there these days, you will probably get to live back in Tasmania again if that's what you desire, either based there or commuting from there.

It's hard to get into a cadet program, they only take a top percentage of applicants. Those programs conduct a lot of screening to ensure their selected candidates have both the technical aptitude and correct personality for the job. In a way it is a gamble, spending a lot of money on something that isn't a guaranteed, but that's life in all honestly. I've never known many pilots who, after having gained a CPL, who didn't get a career in the industry as long as they applied themselves, chased opportunities and maintained high standards.

Lapon

If you are interested in a flying career I would at least look into ATC if I had my time again.
Sure, your not strictly flying but your in the industry, well looked after (in this pilots opinion) and you can fly privately in your spare spare time.

The part of my career I enjoyed the most was the GA/learning to fly stage.
Airline flying is not a bad job, but other than sitting in a plane there is very little 'flying' involved. As one training captain appropriately said to me once 'airline flying is supposed to be boring, not fun'.

There are of course non airline flying jobs you could pursue but as life progresses you realise you need to make a living and have some work-life balance and outside the airlines those opportunities can be rare.

If you really want the airline life then as mentioned already try and pursue a cadetship. They can be controversial with various pros/cons but you at least have a good shot at a job waiting for you at the end of it - although as I said, you will miss out on what was one of the most enjoyable chapters of (at least for me) a career - GA.