Follow My Dream.. Or Not?
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Lagentium,
Why stop? There are many Commercial pilots who did not start until well past your age, look at AndyR - see him more on the Flyer forum than here, over thirty IIRC when he got his licence but now flying commercially on light twins and thoroughly enjoying it! Many of the pilots I fly with on the Airbus did not get going until then either.
Why stop? There are many Commercial pilots who did not start until well past your age, look at AndyR - see him more on the Flyer forum than here, over thirty IIRC when he got his licence but now flying commercially on light twins and thoroughly enjoying it! Many of the pilots I fly with on the Airbus did not get going until then either.
Join Date: Jan 1999
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Thirty years ago maybe
Job security and pay are not what they were thirty years ago, I have lost four jobs over the years as airlines went bust owing me thousands of pounds.
The T&C are being squeezed with more work expected from you and less in the way of remuneration and this when you are now expected to pay for all your training.
The bottom line is that in terms of money invested vs return airline flying is no longer a risk I would put my family through, I have enjoyed the job over the years but would not do the same if I was starting now.
My advice would be to train for a profession that is in demand to get the money to fly for fun, if more young people did this perhaps in another ten years the bean counters would find that due to them making considerable Proffit from over selling the front right hand seat they have no pilots to fly the aircraft.
In short flying is no longer worth the time and risk.
The T&C are being squeezed with more work expected from you and less in the way of remuneration and this when you are now expected to pay for all your training.
The bottom line is that in terms of money invested vs return airline flying is no longer a risk I would put my family through, I have enjoyed the job over the years but would not do the same if I was starting now.
My advice would be to train for a profession that is in demand to get the money to fly for fun, if more young people did this perhaps in another ten years the bean counters would find that due to them making considerable Proffit from over selling the front right hand seat they have no pilots to fly the aircraft.
In short flying is no longer worth the time and risk.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: orlando, Fla. USA SFB
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In regards to your impediment. Unless you require speech therapy for everyday life, i.e. severe, you will have no troubles. I say this in agreement with previous posts of the well circumscribed comm that is expected and happens in aviation at all levels. From personal experience I can tell you that the worst speech impediment is light years more understandable and appreciated than the horrible english evident at various flight schools with ltd english speaking skills from students and others from non english speaking environments. Pursue your passion. As others have said, either work extremely hard and make large sacrifices for a professional career in aviation, or alternatively make enough money at a job that allows you to pursue the aviation passion at some level. All the best
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Sounds like confirmation bias to me.
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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Well as much as I would love to be an airline pilot I doubt I'll get there. I will definitely get saving up though and aim towards my PPL if I enjoy the trial flight. Maybe it'll happen in the end but we'll see.
It would be just as amazing to rent a plane maybe each weekend and just fly around haha
Always dreamt of being a pilot. If that doesn't happen then maybe I could go second best and see if I can grab a job at an airport?
It would be just as amazing to rent a plane maybe each weekend and just fly around haha
Always dreamt of being a pilot. If that doesn't happen then maybe I could go second best and see if I can grab a job at an airport?
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It would be just as amazing to rent a plane maybe each weekend and just fly around haha
If you want to do it badly enough you will find/earn the money. You don't have to be wealthy to fly on a PPL, I'm certainly not.
Join Date: Jan 2012
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My buddy in Florida has just got his first airline job at 50 yrs.old, flying regional jets around the US, currently right seat as first officer while he builds hours to eventually move across to the Captains seat.
He only began flying 8yrs ago, first he got his PPL, then went on to gain other tickets including his CFI ticket spent the last 6yrs teaching students to fly but always wanted to fly commercial stuff, kepy firing off applications until he got accepted by Delta to go into their training programme. 12 weeks of intensive training in the classroom and in the Sim. and he has his wings. Okay he could probably earn more money doing something else but he's not bothered, he gets by and is living the dream...
So never say never
PS. I got my FAA PPL at 63yrs. young !
He only began flying 8yrs ago, first he got his PPL, then went on to gain other tickets including his CFI ticket spent the last 6yrs teaching students to fly but always wanted to fly commercial stuff, kepy firing off applications until he got accepted by Delta to go into their training programme. 12 weeks of intensive training in the classroom and in the Sim. and he has his wings. Okay he could probably earn more money doing something else but he's not bothered, he gets by and is living the dream...
So never say never
PS. I got my FAA PPL at 63yrs. young !
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Andy, do you have a 3rd level degree? Its not too late to start college/uni, get some decent education in engineering or something that you're interested in besides flying. You're right, you don't want to be working in supermarket forever and decent education/career (and thus income) can seriously make your life much easier (in terms of earning your wings). Learn languages! Knowledge is something that feeds and protects you
in regards to original question - medical requirement JAR-FCL 3.350 (6) says that to be admitted unfit, one has to have Significant disorder of speech or voice. Stuttering is considered to be a significant disorder in aviation, but do you really have it? Do you think your problems get worse when you're tired, anxious or angry?
in regards to original question - medical requirement JAR-FCL 3.350 (6) says that to be admitted unfit, one has to have Significant disorder of speech or voice. Stuttering is considered to be a significant disorder in aviation, but do you really have it? Do you think your problems get worse when you're tired, anxious or angry?
Last edited by Martin_123; 3rd Mar 2015 at 16:02.
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Andy.....Like some other posters, I let life and family sidetrack me.
I am NOT a pilot . The cost of getting there is considerable.....while i dither, I also look at the options......in your case......
Don't bother about the speech....when you get to your trial flight, you'll note the intercom will chop the first little bit anyway, (voice-switched)...so, an "erm" or "uh" opens the microphone and the whole sentence is then heard....I found it irritating when the pilot was pointing out stuff...."Ver there....ts barton bridge......Olton on your right......."
or..."Rm Over there....rm..That's barton bridge....rm Bolton on your right...."
Trust me, the odd stutter or brain-fart is a minor detail.
As cash is an issue, first-off, get a proper log-book or even an ordinary note-book will suffice....have a trawl through the various forums and you'll see it's simple to record in columns , the required info.
A trial LESSON counts towards your time, IF YOU LOG IT AND GET IT SIGNED BY THE INSTRUCTOR (saves £100, have a beer!)
Consider going for Microlight....a 3-axis "proper " aeroplane can fall into this category...BUT It will not give you a PPL on a commercial career -path..... so, blow a couple of hundred going for a Class 1 aero-medical. If you pass, start your PPL....if you fail....start your PPL, but , consider the short, quicker, cheaper, non-commercial Microlight -route (I suppose you could always progress to being a Microlight instructor! )
You need a LOT of money to become an Airline pilot and it is NOT like bimbling around in a light aircraft.
If you enjoy your trial lesson....or even a few lessons, get your class 1 out of the way, BEFORE you make any decision about type of licence and type of training. depending on that, you'll know wether to pursue an Aviation career or an expensive hobby.
Flying....cheapest, probably paragliding...then parascending? (same thing but a motor and fan on your back)....then gliding /hang-gliding.
you then move up to the Flexwing microlight 3-axis microlight, Single engine Piston( IIRC, a "simple" fixed-gear, fixed-pitch prop, is Group"A" ) which would be a PPL in all probability (there are so many licence variations and the situation is fluid at the moment! )
Now, let's assume you have a Class 1 medical, a couple of lessons and definitely want to become a commercial pilot.
Another money saver..... not without it's difficulties, but...
Older, "Orphan" aircraft which have no manufacturer to support them, or HOMEBUILT aircraft are on a Permit to Fly....you cannot rent them or hire them out, BUT you can buy one, get an instructor to teach you on your own aircraft and get your PPL.... there are hoops to jump through, the hardest probably being to find a registered training organisation that is willing to "supervise" this route.
"Flyer Forum" and the Light Aircraft Association are good starting points.
do it!...fancy car, wife, kids, mortgage can all come later.
I am NOT a pilot . The cost of getting there is considerable.....while i dither, I also look at the options......in your case......
Don't bother about the speech....when you get to your trial flight, you'll note the intercom will chop the first little bit anyway, (voice-switched)...so, an "erm" or "uh" opens the microphone and the whole sentence is then heard....I found it irritating when the pilot was pointing out stuff...."Ver there....ts barton bridge......Olton on your right......."
or..."Rm Over there....rm..That's barton bridge....rm Bolton on your right...."
Trust me, the odd stutter or brain-fart is a minor detail.
As cash is an issue, first-off, get a proper log-book or even an ordinary note-book will suffice....have a trawl through the various forums and you'll see it's simple to record in columns , the required info.
A trial LESSON counts towards your time, IF YOU LOG IT AND GET IT SIGNED BY THE INSTRUCTOR (saves £100, have a beer!)
Consider going for Microlight....a 3-axis "proper " aeroplane can fall into this category...BUT It will not give you a PPL on a commercial career -path..... so, blow a couple of hundred going for a Class 1 aero-medical. If you pass, start your PPL....if you fail....start your PPL, but , consider the short, quicker, cheaper, non-commercial Microlight -route (I suppose you could always progress to being a Microlight instructor! )
You need a LOT of money to become an Airline pilot and it is NOT like bimbling around in a light aircraft.
If you enjoy your trial lesson....or even a few lessons, get your class 1 out of the way, BEFORE you make any decision about type of licence and type of training. depending on that, you'll know wether to pursue an Aviation career or an expensive hobby.
Flying....cheapest, probably paragliding...then parascending? (same thing but a motor and fan on your back)....then gliding /hang-gliding.
you then move up to the Flexwing microlight 3-axis microlight, Single engine Piston( IIRC, a "simple" fixed-gear, fixed-pitch prop, is Group"A" ) which would be a PPL in all probability (there are so many licence variations and the situation is fluid at the moment! )
Now, let's assume you have a Class 1 medical, a couple of lessons and definitely want to become a commercial pilot.
Another money saver..... not without it's difficulties, but...
Older, "Orphan" aircraft which have no manufacturer to support them, or HOMEBUILT aircraft are on a Permit to Fly....you cannot rent them or hire them out, BUT you can buy one, get an instructor to teach you on your own aircraft and get your PPL.... there are hoops to jump through, the hardest probably being to find a registered training organisation that is willing to "supervise" this route.
"Flyer Forum" and the Light Aircraft Association are good starting points.
do it!...fancy car, wife, kids, mortgage can all come later.
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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It needs £84,000 security deposit. No chance I can get that 
Ah well I'll still aim at my PPL, need to get the trial flight done first but I think I'll wait for the summer
Ah well I'll still aim at my PPL, need to get the trial flight done first but I think I'll wait for the summer
