Education: What A Levels and Degree (if any)?!(Apr '09)
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I took Maths and Physics A'level and 2 A'levels in IT.
Something had to give due to so much coursework with IT and I dropped out of Physics, you might find some schools (like my school) won't allow you to take Physics A'level without it being accompanied by an A'level in Maths.
My plan was always to work in IT to fund my flight training, and should I fail to make it as a pilot then it's a pretty good back up. I went to University and studied IT also.
It seems the ATPL exams require a good understanding of maths and physics so an A'level in these subjects would prove useful.
If you have to pick 3 A'levels then I'd pick a subject your good at and that could pay for your flight training, Art / Drama / PE / Media Studies isn't going to pay the bills
.... Business Studies or IT should.
Good luck
Something had to give due to so much coursework with IT and I dropped out of Physics, you might find some schools (like my school) won't allow you to take Physics A'level without it being accompanied by an A'level in Maths.
My plan was always to work in IT to fund my flight training, and should I fail to make it as a pilot then it's a pretty good back up. I went to University and studied IT also.
It seems the ATPL exams require a good understanding of maths and physics so an A'level in these subjects would prove useful.
If you have to pick 3 A'levels then I'd pick a subject your good at and that could pay for your flight training, Art / Drama / PE / Media Studies isn't going to pay the bills
.... Business Studies or IT should.Good luck
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Advice: You don't need A levels to get a PPL, CPL/IR, ATPL, you don't even need GCSE's. It's not a pre-requesit.
The truth is, it will probably help a great deal though, especially for the Mathematics and Science theory. As for getting a job, well maybe extra things on your CV will be noticed, otherwise that's down to how adaptive you are in the interview. If your not good at talking, maybe extra qualifications will help.
The truth is, it will probably help a great deal though, especially for the Mathematics and Science theory. As for getting a job, well maybe extra things on your CV will be noticed, otherwise that's down to how adaptive you are in the interview. If your not good at talking, maybe extra qualifications will help.
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It's not a pre-requesit.
Cheers
Whirls
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If I had your CV in front of me, I would like to see English Language and either Computing or Geography (in that order).
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
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Thanks Whirlygig, may I ask from what point of view would you be looking for those qualifications?
I think it's pretty much decided on Geography as the third, I feel doing English would kill me and I don't want to be stuck in front of a computer any more than I already am!
Thanks
I think it's pretty much decided on Geography as the third, I feel doing English would kill me and I don't want to be stuck in front of a computer any more than I already am!
Thanks
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I wouldn't take too much notice of post #4, you don't need it on paper to show your good at maths and physics but a qualification in the subject will do you no harm.
He is right saying that GCSE's and A-levels wont count for much after you gain a self sponsored 0-fATPL or an Ab-Inito.
But keep your options open for sponshorships like this:
http://www.cabair.com/sponsorship/index.htm
Have an absolute minimum of two A levels, to include Mathematics and Physics (or science based subjects).
I think the choices you've put up are good, Maths & Physics will make your ATPL's easier to digest and possibly get you on a sponshorship. The other 2 A-levels will aid your chances on getting to the flight deck as well as support a backup career.
He is right saying that GCSE's and A-levels wont count for much after you gain a self sponsored 0-fATPL or an Ab-Inito.
But keep your options open for sponshorships like this:
http://www.cabair.com/sponsorship/index.htm
Have an absolute minimum of two A levels, to include Mathematics and Physics (or science based subjects).
I think the choices you've put up are good, Maths & Physics will make your ATPL's easier to digest and possibly get you on a sponshorship. The other 2 A-levels will aid your chances on getting to the flight deck as well as support a backup career.
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Hmmmmm this 4th AS level is annoying me!
I would just take 3 and have some more time to spend on the others, but I expect that it's better to have a 4th regardless of what it is!
I would just take 3 and have some more time to spend on the others, but I expect that it's better to have a 4th regardless of what it is!
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I recruit finance and administrative roles. If you wanted or needed another job outside flying, then my advice would stand for many positions.
If you don't have English Language AS Level, then your CV and covering letter would have to be perfect in order to convince me that your use of English was up to scratch!
Cheers
Whirls
If you don't have English Language AS Level, then your CV and covering letter would have to be perfect in order to convince me that your use of English was up to scratch!
Cheers
Whirls
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Degree and/or pilot training
Hey all this is my first post here and i have got a question that hopefully all you pilots ou there will be able to help me with.
Firstly a little background. I am 18 and currently about to start my 3rd and final year of an apprenticeship and want two things to happen as soon as i can escape the company i work for. I would love to go off to uni and i would love to start my pilot training. Is it worth waiting until the degree is over to start the training or would it be benificial to do one of the BA/BSc degres run by Cabair at various uni's? My parents said they may be able to stump up the cash for the Degree+uni route but not one after the other as my dad is due to retire. Although i would feel guilty about taking such a large amount of cash off of the 'old man'.
I have only ever wanted to be a pilot and i know that that is where i will be happiest earning my bread but i'm currently finishing off an engineering apprenticeship
and dont know which route to take. Is the degree worth it or should i go straight for the training?
Bum
Firstly a little background. I am 18 and currently about to start my 3rd and final year of an apprenticeship and want two things to happen as soon as i can escape the company i work for. I would love to go off to uni and i would love to start my pilot training. Is it worth waiting until the degree is over to start the training or would it be benificial to do one of the BA/BSc degres run by Cabair at various uni's? My parents said they may be able to stump up the cash for the Degree+uni route but not one after the other as my dad is due to retire. Although i would feel guilty about taking such a large amount of cash off of the 'old man'.
I have only ever wanted to be a pilot and i know that that is where i will be happiest earning my bread but i'm currently finishing off an engineering apprenticeship
and dont know which route to take. Is the degree worth it or should i go straight for the training?Bum
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This has been discussed many times on here, so it may be worth having a search for similar threads and giving them a read.
It's always difficult to judge whether a degree is going to be worth it or not, and the arguments for integrated training versus modular training always appear here. If you are applying for a sponsored training position such as that offered by CTC, Cabair/Flybe etc, it is arguable that a degree would be beneficial in that it would make you more attractive than someone with similar background but without a degree, especially if said degree is related to aviation.
However, if you go the modular route and work a job alongside your training as you pay-as-you-fly, as it were, then, in my opinion, your flying experience/currency/ratings will probably count for more than a degree when applying for a first job. On the other hand, if you end up in the pool of unemployed commercial pilots chasing jobs then you'll need something to give you the edge, and a degree might be that thing... so you see it's swings and roundabouts.
Financially, as you have been working for 3 years you would be classed as an independent student and therefore you qualify for financial assistance not offered to those coming straight from school, such as a £1000 grant each year of your degree, which, by definition, you don't have to pay back. You can also get grants by way of the hardship fund, so if you're skint and can prove it, you get more financial help. You'll still be in a lot of debt in terms of student loan, but it's the cheapest loan you'll ever get and you don't start paying it back until your salary reaches a certain threshold. If you earn that salary as a commercial pilot, for an airline say, it will be a small fraction of your monthly pay that you'll never see.
One plus point is your age, you're still young, and if you're quick you MAY get a uni place this year so you'll be about 21 when you're done.
Otherwise, work your socks off and perhaps take out a career development loan to help fund training, get several hundred hours with a CPL/IR and AN INSTRUCTOR RATING as the best way to stay current and employable as a pilot, and fire off CVs left, right and centre to land that first job, if the airlines is where you want to go.
It may be worth noting that several sources indicate that the rate of expansion and pilot employment/training has never been so high and is set to remain high, or increase, in the years ahead. So, consider that when you decide what you want to do. As for actually predicting what the industry will do in 3 years time, it's hardly an exact science. I was in your position some years ago now but the decision was largely made for me thanks to Sept 11th. The chances of sponsorship, or even a commercial job of any kind, looked immediately bleak, so I went to uni to wait until it picked up.
Remember also that it's not all about the job: uni will be a great experience, you'll meet new people and you'll have a fantastic time.
It's always difficult to judge whether a degree is going to be worth it or not, and the arguments for integrated training versus modular training always appear here. If you are applying for a sponsored training position such as that offered by CTC, Cabair/Flybe etc, it is arguable that a degree would be beneficial in that it would make you more attractive than someone with similar background but without a degree, especially if said degree is related to aviation.
However, if you go the modular route and work a job alongside your training as you pay-as-you-fly, as it were, then, in my opinion, your flying experience/currency/ratings will probably count for more than a degree when applying for a first job. On the other hand, if you end up in the pool of unemployed commercial pilots chasing jobs then you'll need something to give you the edge, and a degree might be that thing... so you see it's swings and roundabouts.
Financially, as you have been working for 3 years you would be classed as an independent student and therefore you qualify for financial assistance not offered to those coming straight from school, such as a £1000 grant each year of your degree, which, by definition, you don't have to pay back. You can also get grants by way of the hardship fund, so if you're skint and can prove it, you get more financial help. You'll still be in a lot of debt in terms of student loan, but it's the cheapest loan you'll ever get and you don't start paying it back until your salary reaches a certain threshold. If you earn that salary as a commercial pilot, for an airline say, it will be a small fraction of your monthly pay that you'll never see.
One plus point is your age, you're still young, and if you're quick you MAY get a uni place this year so you'll be about 21 when you're done.
Otherwise, work your socks off and perhaps take out a career development loan to help fund training, get several hundred hours with a CPL/IR and AN INSTRUCTOR RATING as the best way to stay current and employable as a pilot, and fire off CVs left, right and centre to land that first job, if the airlines is where you want to go.
It may be worth noting that several sources indicate that the rate of expansion and pilot employment/training has never been so high and is set to remain high, or increase, in the years ahead. So, consider that when you decide what you want to do. As for actually predicting what the industry will do in 3 years time, it's hardly an exact science. I was in your position some years ago now but the decision was largely made for me thanks to Sept 11th. The chances of sponsorship, or even a commercial job of any kind, looked immediately bleak, so I went to uni to wait until it picked up.
Remember also that it's not all about the job: uni will be a great experience, you'll meet new people and you'll have a fantastic time.
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I think R44flyer has pretty much hit the nail on the head with his/her post. You dont need a degree to become a pilot, but as has been mentioned it is another string to your bow.
I went down the Uni road, however, not really through choice, as I was trying to get sponsorship, which I was not successful with. As R44 said, going to Uni and maybe even working for a while is great life experience.
The company I presently work for have been taking alot of new pilots, and some are very young, I cannot imagine what it must be like at the age of 20 to be an airline pilot!
Good luck with what you decide to do, and enjoy it.
I went down the Uni road, however, not really through choice, as I was trying to get sponsorship, which I was not successful with. As R44 said, going to Uni and maybe even working for a while is great life experience.
The company I presently work for have been taking alot of new pilots, and some are very young, I cannot imagine what it must be like at the age of 20 to be an airline pilot!
Good luck with what you decide to do, and enjoy it
.
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I spent 6 years at uni, 2 years HND aerospace, 2 years aircraft maintenance (EASA B1-theory) and 2 years top up to an aircraft engineering degree.
Just started the PPL (self-funded) and am finding that my previous theoretical knowledge gained from uni has helped me with ppl exams and given me the ability to interpret technical information with ease.
At the age of 24 im not sure whether I should apply for sponsorship, ill see how I feel post PPL.
To prospective pilots my advise would be do the A-levels (maths, phys etc), then do a foundation degree in an aircraft maintenance. This will really help you understand the aicraft and its systems. Then do the PPL and if you really like it apply for sponsorship, failing that look at alternative ways of funding the ATPL-there are so many.
If it all goes wrong then you can fall back into aircraft maintenance and keep flying as a hobby, whatever happens remain positive.
Good luck folks.......
Just started the PPL (self-funded) and am finding that my previous theoretical knowledge gained from uni has helped me with ppl exams and given me the ability to interpret technical information with ease.
At the age of 24 im not sure whether I should apply for sponsorship, ill see how I feel post PPL.
To prospective pilots my advise would be do the A-levels (maths, phys etc), then do a foundation degree in an aircraft maintenance. This will really help you understand the aicraft and its systems. Then do the PPL and if you really like it apply for sponsorship, failing that look at alternative ways of funding the ATPL-there are so many.
If it all goes wrong then you can fall back into aircraft maintenance and keep flying as a hobby, whatever happens remain positive.
Good luck folks.......
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Which A-levels to take
hello,
received my GCSE results last week, did well enough to get into any A-level course so that's all good.
i want to become a commercial airline pilot and have had this desire for a long time now. some of you may remember my post on this forum a while back.
anyway i know maths and physics A-levels are a requirement to become a pilot. i am also quite sure i want to take further maths and economics alongside, as i enjoy the subjects. however, i have been recommended by my college to take 5 AS levels (1 extra). they have suggested electronics.
was just wondering if there was any other A-level out there which would be of any more benefit to me in pursuing the airline pilot career, that perhaps i should choose as my fifth?
bear in mind that i dont know whether i'll be able to cope with an extra A-level so i may drop it within a month, depending on the situation. also, i understand that the choice is all mine, so no one's comments will become my decision.
i would just like some help from those who have the experience/knowledge, since not many do around here. thankyou very much.
received my GCSE results last week, did well enough to get into any A-level course so that's all good.
i want to become a commercial airline pilot and have had this desire for a long time now. some of you may remember my post on this forum a while back.
anyway i know maths and physics A-levels are a requirement to become a pilot. i am also quite sure i want to take further maths and economics alongside, as i enjoy the subjects. however, i have been recommended by my college to take 5 AS levels (1 extra). they have suggested electronics.
was just wondering if there was any other A-level out there which would be of any more benefit to me in pursuing the airline pilot career, that perhaps i should choose as my fifth?
bear in mind that i dont know whether i'll be able to cope with an extra A-level so i may drop it within a month, depending on the situation. also, i understand that the choice is all mine, so no one's comments will become my decision.
i would just like some help from those who have the experience/knowledge, since not many do around here. thankyou very much.
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"anyway i know maths and physics A-levels are a requirement to become a pilot."
Not really, maybe for some "schemes" but talking generally that's not true.
Take subjects YOU will enjoy and not your college/sixth form. My advise would be don't take 5 "killer" alevel subjects go for the maths and physics if you like them, but take another to
Good luck!
Not really, maybe for some "schemes" but talking generally that's not true.
Take subjects YOU will enjoy and not your college/sixth form. My advise would be don't take 5 "killer" alevel subjects go for the maths and physics if you like them, but take another to
Good luck!
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Hey Rick,
If you are applying for sponsorship then more than likely 'yes' it will make a difference.
Yet if you are going down the self-funded route-then I think they will be more interested in how many flying hours you have and where you trained.
If you goto UNI then they will be more interested in what degree you have.
Don't worry if you get bad results as you are still very young and there are so many routes you can take.
Just out of interested, what a-levels do you have?
If you are applying for sponsorship then more than likely 'yes' it will make a difference.
Yet if you are going down the self-funded route-then I think they will be more interested in how many flying hours you have and where you trained.
If you goto UNI then they will be more interested in what degree you have.
Don't worry if you get bad results as you are still very young and there are so many routes you can take.
Just out of interested, what a-levels do you have?