Urgent Help Needed - A 35-year old planning a Career Change
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: London
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Hello Again
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Thanks to everyone for the feedback, and if there is any more, keep it coming !!!
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The decision making regarding full-time/part-time is becoming quite stressful - I don't know if I'm coming or going !!
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Mentally, I am ready to leave work and go full-time on ATPL, but there is a little voice inside me saying 'Slow Down' (as 'Straightand level80kt' states....).
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So, ths is where I stand....
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Firstly, I had my first lesson the other day, and it was great - I loved it!!.
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Secondly, I wear contact lenses, so have just confirmed my prescription with the CAA (OK, thank God !!) and will now book my Class 1 for as soon as poss...
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...AND, finally, I will probably look at doing my PPL part-time and then it is likely that I will follow Dan98 on a Distance learning at Bristol GS. After that, I will regroup before I make a move to the next stage (Sounds like Ham Phisted's idea, but hopefuly without point 10!)
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If work becomes too much at any time (currently work as Business Analyst = MS 'Excel' 8 hours a day), I can leave and then blast whatever study is outstanding in a shorter time....
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So, that's the plan (...at the moment !!!). Have ordered the famous book, and am ready to call Denham to book another few lessons...
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Thanks again to all...
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Gary
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PS I bl**dy tough making the decision alone, no mind qualifying!
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-
-
Thanks to everyone for the feedback, and if there is any more, keep it coming !!!
-
The decision making regarding full-time/part-time is becoming quite stressful - I don't know if I'm coming or going !!
-
Mentally, I am ready to leave work and go full-time on ATPL, but there is a little voice inside me saying 'Slow Down' (as 'Straightand level80kt' states....).
-
So, ths is where I stand....
-
Firstly, I had my first lesson the other day, and it was great - I loved it!!.
-
Secondly, I wear contact lenses, so have just confirmed my prescription with the CAA (OK, thank God !!) and will now book my Class 1 for as soon as poss...
-
...AND, finally, I will probably look at doing my PPL part-time and then it is likely that I will follow Dan98 on a Distance learning at Bristol GS. After that, I will regroup before I make a move to the next stage (Sounds like Ham Phisted's idea, but hopefuly without point 10!)
-
If work becomes too much at any time (currently work as Business Analyst = MS 'Excel' 8 hours a day), I can leave and then blast whatever study is outstanding in a shorter time....
-
So, that's the plan (...at the moment !!!). Have ordered the famous book, and am ready to call Denham to book another few lessons...
-
Thanks again to all...
-
Gary
-
PS I bl**dy tough making the decision alone, no mind qualifying!
-
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Join Date: Mar 2004
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Oh, i'm also a West Londoner analyst (8 hrs a day excel) and I got my PPL at Denham a few months ago and am now half way through module one with Bristol. Isn't that funny? I think you've you've chosen a very good route 
Join Date: Aug 2004
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after putting off for many years, i have finally taken my pension, and begun my flying career. i too are 36, and acknowledge the issues surrounding older pilots, however in my PPL training i have learnt the following (i have 45 hours so far - started in april 2004)
don't rush. there is danger of information overload, from your studies, and your flying, and you need to find a happy medium.
get your class 1 medical - no point spending the $ if you can't get one of those
sometimes, just go and do circuits cause it's a nice day - forget about the big picture and your 10 year goals, and just take in the moment - the sun setting, the wind dropping, the temperature dropping, the smooth landings, the perfect circuits
put some $ away for that twin time that you'll need, and pay for your single out of your weekly wage. i fly about 3 hours a week, and don't touch my savings - i'll leave those for my aerobatic rating, or the twin time
find a job in the industry - packing cargo, fuelling, even cleaning aeroplanes. work shift work. fly on your mid week days off. i was able to fall back on my aircraft engineering trade (i had left that do do something else for 14 years), and the networks are great - cherokee 140's for NZ$90/hour WET, C172's for NZ$120. awesome for building time.
hang around the aero club. put your hand up for any flying - all up weight checks when others are doing a rating, delivery flights, maintennance deliveries, banner tows - it is amazing how much you pick up when you're a passenger, consolidating your learning by watching someone else, running over check lists in your mind and having your (limited i know) knowledge reinforced by someone else.
of course i have a 10 year plan. i am bouyed by the intake of pilots to the regionals at the moment - 2 guys i know over 40yrs have just been accepted as FO's at eagle - they didn't even have their ATPL's!
my biggest advice to you is take your time, and if you can afford to pay your own way, do it in stages, plan your next 50 hours carefully. once you get into the 'scene' you will discover that there are many opportunities out there, if you are able to take them as they arise. if you rush through head down bum up, you may miss those moments, and end up costing you time/cash/experiences
don't rush. there is danger of information overload, from your studies, and your flying, and you need to find a happy medium.
get your class 1 medical - no point spending the $ if you can't get one of those
sometimes, just go and do circuits cause it's a nice day - forget about the big picture and your 10 year goals, and just take in the moment - the sun setting, the wind dropping, the temperature dropping, the smooth landings, the perfect circuits
put some $ away for that twin time that you'll need, and pay for your single out of your weekly wage. i fly about 3 hours a week, and don't touch my savings - i'll leave those for my aerobatic rating, or the twin time
find a job in the industry - packing cargo, fuelling, even cleaning aeroplanes. work shift work. fly on your mid week days off. i was able to fall back on my aircraft engineering trade (i had left that do do something else for 14 years), and the networks are great - cherokee 140's for NZ$90/hour WET, C172's for NZ$120. awesome for building time.
hang around the aero club. put your hand up for any flying - all up weight checks when others are doing a rating, delivery flights, maintennance deliveries, banner tows - it is amazing how much you pick up when you're a passenger, consolidating your learning by watching someone else, running over check lists in your mind and having your (limited i know) knowledge reinforced by someone else.
of course i have a 10 year plan. i am bouyed by the intake of pilots to the regionals at the moment - 2 guys i know over 40yrs have just been accepted as FO's at eagle - they didn't even have their ATPL's!
my biggest advice to you is take your time, and if you can afford to pay your own way, do it in stages, plan your next 50 hours carefully. once you get into the 'scene' you will discover that there are many opportunities out there, if you are able to take them as they arise. if you rush through head down bum up, you may miss those moments, and end up costing you time/cash/experiences
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Sorry if this sound discouraging but being realistic if you start your training now even if you passed all atpl and flight tests first time your going to be at least two to three years training . Im not exactly sure what the total is at the moment but they reckon there is about 8000 type rated pilots out of a job at the moment , these are guys with a lot of experience and most possibly younger than 35 . personally if I was in your position I would think long and hard about spending £60 k when there is a huge possibility that at the end of the day you you might have no more privileges than a ppl pilot that spent £5 k .. jobs are far and few between .. topgun
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Topgun 4122T,
I take it someone told you this in a pub one evening?
Why? If the modules are done back to back it will only take 12/18 months.
They reckon there is about 8000 type rated pilots out of a job at the moment
Even if you passed all atpl and flight tests first time your going to be at least two to three years training
Join Date: Apr 2001
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GO FOR IT GARY!!!
Dont let the age thing get to you, I got my first Flying job when I was 40, 3 years later I was in the left seat of a 146 and have progressed on to bigger things.
The important thing is to network to get in to an Airline not winging on prune, I wish you well just jump over the hurdles and if you fall pick yourself up and keep motivated!!!!
Good Luck
Dont let the age thing get to you, I got my first Flying job when I was 40, 3 years later I was in the left seat of a 146 and have progressed on to bigger things.
The important thing is to network to get in to an Airline not winging on prune, I wish you well just jump over the hurdles and if you fall pick yourself up and keep motivated!!!!
Good Luck
Join Date: May 2001
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This is what I would do......
Get class 1 medical
Get the PPL while still working, go to the USA and do an intensive course. 4 weeks should cover it. (if you don't have one already)
Get the JAA ground exams, while still working.
Once you have those (or during), quit your job, go to the USA and do and intensive FAA IR / CPL course. Forget JAA in the US courses.......10 weeks should do it
Come back and convert CPL and IR to JAA.
You'll save in the order of £20,000 if you do it right, you can have your JAA fATPL by this time next year, you will hold FAA CPL/IR (ME) in addition.
300 hrs + 50 ME time cost me around $30,000. Add in the JAA exams and conversion, say £10, 000, the whole shebang could be done for ~£30,000....
Good luck
Get class 1 medical
Get the PPL while still working, go to the USA and do an intensive course. 4 weeks should cover it. (if you don't have one already)
Get the JAA ground exams, while still working.
Once you have those (or during), quit your job, go to the USA and do and intensive FAA IR / CPL course. Forget JAA in the US courses.......10 weeks should do it
Come back and convert CPL and IR to JAA.
You'll save in the order of £20,000 if you do it right, you can have your JAA fATPL by this time next year, you will hold FAA CPL/IR (ME) in addition.
300 hrs + 50 ME time cost me around $30,000. Add in the JAA exams and conversion, say £10, 000, the whole shebang could be done for ~£30,000....
Good luck
