Thinking about letting our son do the PPL?

[william1872]

As far as I'm aware it doesn't.

Regards

William

[airborne_artist]

Liam had an astma attack when he was 5 and that rules him out of the services for flying completely

Not for certain. The Royal Navy won't take people for aircrew who have a history of asthma in the past five years, but one attack aged five probably won't be a show stopper. Don't assume that he's barred by that one episode.

[william1872]

Thanks for that airborne_artist, I'll let my son know that

[Whirlybird]

While it seems to be generally accepted in certain circles that it's good and virtuous and wonderful to starve in a garret and sweep floors with your teeth in order to pay for your own flying, and evil, bad and nasty if your loving parents pay for it, this is not set in stone, or believed by everyone. We're not talking about candidacy for sainthood here, but qualifications for becoming a commercial pilot. And if I was a recruiter, I'd admire the chap who'd scrimped and saved, but pick the one with the best qualifications from the best school. It's called being practical. Besides, no-one automatically becomes any less of a person because their parents help them out. Some are even grateful for it. And if they're not, does that make them any worse as a pilot?

[CraigR1989]

Thought I'd chip something in....

I applied for the RAF last year, getting to OASC before being declared P/U due to Tolipes as a baby, however there was a guy there who was in the same place as your son appears to be, having an astma attack when he was younger. The guy was declared fit as it was a one off and hadnt occurred within the last 5 years.... Maybe a trip to a local AFCO if its service flying he is looking at!

Also, I noticed a post about getting him to sit the 7 PPL exams before he starts flying. Although the PPL exams can be quite taxing (getting to grips with the whizz-wheel and such like) can take time, but the PPL training has to be completed within 18 months from the first exam, otherwise he would need to resit the exams out of that period again.

Just another thing to take into account

[HR200]

Hi, I have my PPL with a goal to being an airline (or at least cargo initially).

However, I have read your opening thread and you NEED the PPL before anyone can become an airline pilot.

Even if it ends up being a hobby, what a hobby it is!!