Have you done any flying at all yet?

Most 26 year olds with 50k would go and buy a WRX so at least it seems they you have your head on straight.

Tend to agree with WR XXX on this one, my only suggestion is to look at doing an apprenticeship as an AME while you are chasing the 737 seat .... That way you will at least have a trade to fall back on, I wish I had done just that 30 odd years ago .... Have fun :ok:
Cheers
A172

Thanks for the advice everyone (the good and the unhelpful too) - could i narrow my question down a bit more, putting all other factors aside (my interest, experience etc), what are the odds of an average person making it all the way from PPL right up to the major airlines?

Is the job market (RIGHT NOW) overflowing with unemployed junior pilots or does a new pilot have a fairly decent chance of getting into the airlines? Thx!:ok:

Which advice was unhelpful? :confused:

It all seemed very balanced to me!

Probably the truth that he didn't want to hear...

The truth is it's a great job.

But probably half the guys that set out with stars in their eyes make it to a regional. Half that again make it to a major.

If everyone made it, there'd be no one left down the ladder after all.

mmmmmm, dum-de-dum, what would I do if I had 50 gorillas & I was 26 years old. Get the f@ck out of this hole bro, get your licence in the States, fly a couple of seasons at Ice Pilots. On your way home do your float plane endo in Vancouver. By the time you get back here your uncle will be knocking on your door :ok:

Rookie it's not the job market RIGHT NOW that counts.

Start training today and it will probably be 18 months before you are qualified for your first job. Please be aware that you aren't ready for the cockpit of an airliner just yet.

Assuming you have been lucky, you might have your first job ($25-30k as a casual) as a very junior pilot or a junior instructor within 6 months of graduation.

You should expect 5-7 years clawing your way up the ladder, only leaving each job as a better job is offered (and occasionally getting retrenched) before you could reasonably expect to be in a small airliner.

Although you might technically meet an airline's minimum experience requirements within a couple of years, the plum jobs will often go to the candidate with far more than the minimums - like any career, to the best candidate available.

You might do it in less - and then again you might never make it at all.

Your intelligence, your people skills, your integrity and your determination will have a major influence on your quest to become an airline pilot. If you don't fit the defined mold you won't get into that airline - but that doesn't mean you can't have a fulfilling career as a pilot in one of many other streams.

Like many others I set off down this road with Qantas as the only possible objective. I was in an interview/Sim-ride assessment group in May 2008 with 4 others, all of whom were jet pilots for other airlines. I was scrubbed but the other 4 made it, only to be scrubbed when the GFC hit in October/November of that year.

To the best of my knowledge Qantas has not hired a single new pilot "Off the street" since.

I will echo the words of The Green Goblin - if you don't have the fire burning inside you, then you will end up either a) very lucky and in an airline or b) bitter and twisted and $80k poorer.

My advice is better :ok: you blokes are far too negative :ugh:

That's gold, Ranga!:D

Rookie, if you wanna do itand you can, just do it.

You put my post in the shade though, nothing for me??

I thought flight training is alot more accessible with FEE-HELP now...most schools who have it have seen huge jumps in their MECIR and IRC course numbers. I Wish it was around when I did my training, it would have saved alot of time and heartache but I guess its also partly responsible for a recent newbie flood I've been seeing as well as some people entering the industry with less "drive" than previously seen...

Just had one comment that seemed a bit out of place and offering no value...

Thanks for the rest of the advice everyone, time to book that first introductory flight and see how i go...

If I were 26, I'll do it in a heartbeat. I'm more than 40 and just started the journey myself.

37 and in Broome looking for work. Age doesn't seem to matter much from what I can see

Got my first job at 36, haven't looked back since! :ok:

Where To Now !!
 

Can anybody give me information about a good flight school that also might be able to offer employment as a flight instructor after any training.

Try Air gold coast at Coolangatta,

Pretty much all the guys I see go through the instructor rating at Moorabbin Flying Services seem to end up working for them.