ATPL Training
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ATPL Training
Hi,
Can anyone who knows a bit about training for an Air Transport Pilots License please suggest the best method to get there?
I am 17 years old and currently awaiting AS-Levels results. I have always had a deep passion for aviation and I am determined to reach my ultimate goal of an ATPL. I already have some aeronautical background having been a member of the ATC for three years, a member of the BMFA for the past four years and I have had a few lessons in both powered aircraft and gliders.
Its now coming up to decision time about university and I am totally confused about what to do. I am doing AS-levels in chemistry, biology, maths & geography and will probbaly keep all four onto a-level. The main problem is should I go through university and get a degree and then go into pilot training or go straight to pilot training at the younger age which is probably preferable to the airlines.
What are the main entry routes? I know I would probably not be able to self-fund the £60k training costs - is airline sponsorship the only other method?
I have emailed as many UK airlines as I know and the majority no longer do scholarship schemes after September 11th. Does anyone know of any which still do?
Does anyone know what academic qualifications they normally request for these schemes? I currently have 11 GCSEs at A/A*
I do really want to be an airline pilot and I am determined to get there but it just seems like the imossible at the moment.
Any advice is very much appreciated.
Can anyone who knows a bit about training for an Air Transport Pilots License please suggest the best method to get there?
I am 17 years old and currently awaiting AS-Levels results. I have always had a deep passion for aviation and I am determined to reach my ultimate goal of an ATPL. I already have some aeronautical background having been a member of the ATC for three years, a member of the BMFA for the past four years and I have had a few lessons in both powered aircraft and gliders.
Its now coming up to decision time about university and I am totally confused about what to do. I am doing AS-levels in chemistry, biology, maths & geography and will probbaly keep all four onto a-level. The main problem is should I go through university and get a degree and then go into pilot training or go straight to pilot training at the younger age which is probably preferable to the airlines.
What are the main entry routes? I know I would probably not be able to self-fund the £60k training costs - is airline sponsorship the only other method?
I have emailed as many UK airlines as I know and the majority no longer do scholarship schemes after September 11th. Does anyone know of any which still do?
Does anyone know what academic qualifications they normally request for these schemes? I currently have 11 GCSEs at A/A*
I do really want to be an airline pilot and I am determined to get there but it just seems like the imossible at the moment.
Any advice is very much appreciated.
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Dear Colin
No need to rush as age is definitely on your side. If anything I would say you are maybe a little too young to worry about ATPL at the moment.
You obviously have an aptitude for learning, and even if you did a degree over 3 years lets say, you would still only be 20 and you would have a little more experience under your belt.
I am not saying you're not mature enough to start airline training now, it's just that you may find the airlines would shy away from someone so young, I may be wrong being an old git of course.
You're right about the airlines not sponsoring so much these days, since 911 it's been used as an excuse for lots of things and rightly or wrongly sponsorship was cut to save money, just my opinion.
Have a good search through the forum for training both integrated and modular and make your own mind up about the best route for you. Whatever you do, don't rush.
Believe it or not there are people as old as 35 or 40 still getting training and jobs
obviously you don't want to wait that long, but you get my point.
I am a ground instructor at a Flight Training Organisation and I'm about to move on to another one, so if you've any questions feel free to PM or email me, but please don't just take my word for anything as there are a lot of bull
s out there and I of course could be one of them, so ask the questions, do the research and then make your decision.
One thing, you will need a class 1 medical, if you fail that then everything else is by the by, so it's worth getting that done first, also the GAPAN (do a search in this forum) aptitude tests are good value I'm told. Again it's more expense but better to find out before you spend a shed full of dosh whether you are able to be an airline pilot or not.
Good luck in whatever you do.
No need to rush as age is definitely on your side. If anything I would say you are maybe a little too young to worry about ATPL at the moment.
You obviously have an aptitude for learning, and even if you did a degree over 3 years lets say, you would still only be 20 and you would have a little more experience under your belt.
I am not saying you're not mature enough to start airline training now, it's just that you may find the airlines would shy away from someone so young, I may be wrong being an old git of course.
You're right about the airlines not sponsoring so much these days, since 911 it's been used as an excuse for lots of things and rightly or wrongly sponsorship was cut to save money, just my opinion.
Have a good search through the forum for training both integrated and modular and make your own mind up about the best route for you. Whatever you do, don't rush.
Believe it or not there are people as old as 35 or 40 still getting training and jobs
obviously you don't want to wait that long, but you get my point.I am a ground instructor at a Flight Training Organisation and I'm about to move on to another one, so if you've any questions feel free to PM or email me, but please don't just take my word for anything as there are a lot of bull
s out there and I of course could be one of them, so ask the questions, do the research and then make your decision.One thing, you will need a class 1 medical, if you fail that then everything else is by the by, so it's worth getting that done first, also the GAPAN (do a search in this forum) aptitude tests are good value I'm told. Again it's more expense but better to find out before you spend a shed full of dosh whether you are able to be an airline pilot or not.
Good luck in whatever you do.
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Hi Colin2fly,
Firstly like you have stated airline sponsorship is few and far between.Most of the current one's still require you to take out a bond or partly pay for your training which may amount to £30,000 of your own cash.As far as I know Brittania run a psonsorship aswell as FlyBe.FlyBE run theirs through Cabair.You may also try CTC McAlpine as they train pilots for Thomas Cook and Easyjet.
My education consisted of 8 GCSE's and 2 A-levels.Which for me meets the requirements for the training providers I have narrowed my choice down too.Last year I went off to the States got my PPL and certainly know now that commercial aviation is the path I wish to follow.In 12 weeks I'm off once again to hour build in preparation for my commercial fATPL training next year if all goes to plan medical wise.The degree I PERSONALLY wouldnt say is essential.As a matter of fact I was speaking to an A319 pilot who only had 5 GCSE's and passed in 2000 from Jerez.
With regards to university I chose not to go myself.After completing my A-levels I went onto work at Tescos(YAY
) then moved on after a year to work where I am at the moment.Belfast City Airport as a ramp rat loading/unloading planes and carrying out pushbacks.I wanted to get a foot into the aviation industry gain little tit bits of info from pilots and managers.I've met many pilots even made friends with a few of them!! All offering advice and opinions on modular/integrated and training providers.
Certainly finances are the big problem to me too,so sponsorship is preferred but with the numbers applying it is like winning the lottery.You can either get a "Career development Loan" from the government up to £8000 to help your studies.Otherwise the best place is the HSBC with their "Professional Studies Loans" Be under no illusions though you will have large amount of debt.For my circumstances I'm going modular,just too much risk involved with my parents home.!!
Another point to say is your 17,you still have plenty of time to think things thru,save up some cash etc.I'm 22 and will be starting training next year,many students average age is 25-30 i believe so again no hurry.But I do know what it is like.
Anything else you want to ask PM me and I'll get back to you.
Regards Gavin
P.S. Good Luck in your future!!
Firstly like you have stated airline sponsorship is few and far between.Most of the current one's still require you to take out a bond or partly pay for your training which may amount to £30,000 of your own cash.As far as I know Brittania run a psonsorship aswell as FlyBe.FlyBE run theirs through Cabair.You may also try CTC McAlpine as they train pilots for Thomas Cook and Easyjet.
My education consisted of 8 GCSE's and 2 A-levels.Which for me meets the requirements for the training providers I have narrowed my choice down too.Last year I went off to the States got my PPL and certainly know now that commercial aviation is the path I wish to follow.In 12 weeks I'm off once again to hour build in preparation for my commercial fATPL training next year if all goes to plan medical wise.The degree I PERSONALLY wouldnt say is essential.As a matter of fact I was speaking to an A319 pilot who only had 5 GCSE's and passed in 2000 from Jerez.
With regards to university I chose not to go myself.After completing my A-levels I went onto work at Tescos(YAY
) then moved on after a year to work where I am at the moment.Belfast City Airport as a ramp rat loading/unloading planes and carrying out pushbacks.I wanted to get a foot into the aviation industry gain little tit bits of info from pilots and managers.I've met many pilots even made friends with a few of them!! All offering advice and opinions on modular/integrated and training providers.Certainly finances are the big problem to me too,so sponsorship is preferred but with the numbers applying it is like winning the lottery.You can either get a "Career development Loan" from the government up to £8000 to help your studies.Otherwise the best place is the HSBC with their "Professional Studies Loans" Be under no illusions though you will have large amount of debt.For my circumstances I'm going modular,just too much risk involved with my parents home.!!
Another point to say is your 17,you still have plenty of time to think things thru,save up some cash etc.I'm 22 and will be starting training next year,many students average age is 25-30 i believe so again no hurry.But I do know what it is like.
Anything else you want to ask PM me and I'll get back to you.
Regards Gavin
P.S. Good Luck in your future!!
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thanks for the advice.
I always thought the younger you start the better opportunites there would be, especially in aviation.
I was looking at an Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies course at Liverpool University - it looks very good does anyone know much about these?
My only problem is that regretably I didn't do Physics at AS-Level and that is part of their requirement, but hopefully I can convince them I am still capable as I did a bit of engineering for my Gold CREST award and got an A* at GCSE in physics.
I am also maybe going to start my PPL at my local airfield - Newtownards EGAD. Would this be beneficial, or should I wait and go straight through a whole programme of training up to ATPL?
Thanks
Colin
I always thought the younger you start the better opportunites there would be, especially in aviation.
I was looking at an Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies course at Liverpool University - it looks very good does anyone know much about these?
My only problem is that regretably I didn't do Physics at AS-Level and that is part of their requirement, but hopefully I can convince them I am still capable as I did a bit of engineering for my Gold CREST award and got an A* at GCSE in physics.
I am also maybe going to start my PPL at my local airfield - Newtownards EGAD. Would this be beneficial, or should I wait and go straight through a whole programme of training up to ATPL?
Thanks
Colin
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Flip me lol,I'm only just realising you mention Newtownards.I started there myself lol but elected to go off to America to do my PPL. Small world.Depends really if you want to go integrated or modular route with regards to the training.Though a few hours flying experience won't hurt and you can see if you really enjoy it and wish to continue in the direction.
Regards
Small world.Depends really if you want to go integrated or modular route with regards to the training.Though a few hours flying experience won't hurt and you can see if you really enjoy it and wish to continue in the direction.Regards
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Yeh lol, I practically live on the airfield - only a few hundread metres from my house.
Got word back from Liverpool and they said they will accept me without Physics a-level
Are there any other similar courses to the Liverpool one and are they recomended? It is still gonna cost alot to get the full ATPL - their estmated costs are;
£5500 to go to PPL,
or £35000 to go to ATPL.
Ontop of university fees.
Would it be cheaper to find a flight school and train there rather than go through university?
Any comments are welcomed.
Got word back from Liverpool and they said they will accept me without Physics a-level
Are there any other similar courses to the Liverpool one and are they recomended? It is still gonna cost alot to get the full ATPL - their estmated costs are;
£5500 to go to PPL,
or £35000 to go to ATPL.
Ontop of university fees.
Would it be cheaper to find a flight school and train there rather than go through university?
Any comments are welcomed.
