Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
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Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
I had noticed previously that a lot of people were wondering what was going to happen during the assessment process and so I thought that it would be a good idea to give a bit of a description of what happens over the two days and what the place is like.
The Oxford Aviation Training Assessment Process
I am from Chester le street (Durham) so it was a bit of a voyage down to oxford but this time on the train gave me time to prepare. If you are thinking about getting the train down then be prepared for a five hour journey, at a rough cost of £83 return booking late it is quite expensive compared to the cost of the car. However with the car you do have the problem of trying to find the place and you may not be familiar with the area so hopping in a taxi is quite nice (£20 inc tip from train station).
I arrived the night before the test process began so I wouldn’t be rushed in the morning, this gave me time to look around the halls and see what the atmosphere is like. I was in the older side which is cheaper, I had a look at the refurbished side and it wasn’t worth the extra money. There was a TV room vending machines, internet room, laundry room and a study room. The room was what you would expect and was fine for the two nights that I was staying; there was a single bed wardrobe and a sink. Showers and toilets are both communal and there was no rush for these facilities in the morning.
Day One of the assessment I woke up bright and early ready for the day a head hopped in the shower and stuck on my suit (you’re asked to wear something of this attire). I had purchased the option which included all of your meals but I didn’t find that food that nice and the portions were too small with what you got included. You get 4 items (1 slice of bacon, 1 slice of toast, 1 tomato, beans or any combination), lunch was also similar and evening tea being the same just with different selection of foods. You can however for lunch buy a sandwich meal (any sandwich you like and double the size of a Greggs) for about £2.50 which included a can of pop and a packet of crisps; you do however have to order this at breakfast so they can prepare it.
After breakfast we are told to go to reception and are then lead into a room where everyone else who is taking the application process is sent. I had met two guys the night before hand so it wasn’t total silence but it was a little more relaxing. We were then lead into the room where the seminar takes place (one with projector) and a lady called Emily introduced herself and explained what was going to happen over the next 2 days. We were slip into two groups with three of us in one and two in the other, I had the compass tests first which consist of hand eye co ordination tests
Test 1: using a joy stick, keep a lever within red square
Test 2: keep lever within red bar using rudder pedals
Test 3: Slalom keep blue triangle between red and green moving triangles
Test 4: Maths (Multi Choice)
Test 5: Physics (Multi Choice) you must get 10/15 or better to pass
Test 6: Memory remembering information from one area and sticking it in another
Test 7: Multi tasking cancelling a red light while changing data
Test 8: Compass using instruments locate which one related to aircraft (multi choice)
Test 9: Personality questionnaire (choice between strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree) not a deciding factor in allowing you on the course.
Note: These tests are in a random order except for 9.
After you have finished this you walk out (you are allowed to walk out in between for a break). This process takes around 2 and a half hours so by this time you’re hungry and want lunch. We all went as a group for lunch where we chatted and got to know each other better and talked about what we put for each question etc. You get an hour for lunch and then the two groups swap activities. The other activity is a simulator ride, which is so much fun (not in like a 737 just a smaller one). You are given a briefing before hand which lasts about 30 minutes where you asked a few simple questions which if you have done some flying you’ll find incredibly easy but if you haven’t then you’ll be able to get most of them. Your then given a time to go to the simulator and it lasts around 30 minutes. You do simple things like climb 1,000 ft descend, left turn to a heading. Then you may do a climbing turn to the right, during these processes the guy sitting next to you will set the power however you call for climbing, descending or straight and level. He will ask you questions about your family to make sure then in real life if a captain is asking you something your able to multi task, the questions will be like do you have any siblings, how old are they and what is your families age combined and so on.
That’s it you’re done for day 1, me and a few other guys got together and decided to go to a local pub for something to eat considering how bad the food was in the canteen, the local pubs are nice and friendly and offer the usual pub food. There wasn’t a great deal for us to do that night so we chatted to some students for a bit asking what life was like and then went to be around 10 as we were all quite tired (surprising how tiring the activities are)
Day Two, and earlier start we all arranged to go have breakfast together before we went to the assessment area. Day two consisted of team exercises and the individual interviews after lunch. The team exercises got us communicating as a group (going out for a pub lunched helped a lot with this as we were more comfortable with each other so I strongly recommend it. We were asked to read some text and prioritise items from a shipwreck (can’t give too much away) and then as a group order then. We then had to build an object using given materials to a specific height and be able to support a weight (cup of water
). However it wasn’t as straight forward as this as we had periods of silence and a limited time. Once this task had been completed we has a group discussion of recent events so reading up in the newspapers is going to give you a little advantage (my groups topics were speed cameras, cannabis and a third which I can’t remember but you get the idea). There is no correct way to be in these scenarios but don’t just sit there and listen and contribute, also don’t be someone your not. You hear all this said over and over again but it’s the best advice you can get. If you’re being somebody else in the interview then yourself in a cockpit you may be totally the wrong person. This part of the day was most enjoyable as we got to express ourselves in a group and wasn’t too taxing on the brain.
The second part of the day (after lunch) was the interviews, I had mine last so I had to wait till 15:20 but if you need to catch a train they understand and will allow you to go earlier. The interview consists of some personal question, what you understand by the course and your general knowledge of aviation industry (eg a recent accident, a good example now would be the 747 that had engine fire after take off). The interviewers make you feel relaxed, just be yourself and tell the truth.
After you have had you interview another person will come and see you (normally 30 minutes after) and explain how you did and then tell you if you got in or not. If you do get in your given a talk about when courses start and so on if not your told where you went wrong. I was the last to leave at around 6pm where I had to catch a train within 30 minutes but the lady on the desk was wonderful and she got me a taxi and helped me out so much (thank you and sorry I cant remember your name).
I unfortunately didn’t get in because I failed the physics by one mark (gutter) but I am going for a retest in a few days. Lastly I wish everybody good look, enjoy the day it’s an experience and if you don’t get in then don’t let it stop you chasing your dreams
If you have anymore questions, the please PM and ill be glad to answer any questions
The Dr (Chris)
The Oxford Aviation Training Assessment Process
I am from Chester le street (Durham) so it was a bit of a voyage down to oxford but this time on the train gave me time to prepare. If you are thinking about getting the train down then be prepared for a five hour journey, at a rough cost of £83 return booking late it is quite expensive compared to the cost of the car. However with the car you do have the problem of trying to find the place and you may not be familiar with the area so hopping in a taxi is quite nice (£20 inc tip from train station).
I arrived the night before the test process began so I wouldn’t be rushed in the morning, this gave me time to look around the halls and see what the atmosphere is like. I was in the older side which is cheaper, I had a look at the refurbished side and it wasn’t worth the extra money. There was a TV room vending machines, internet room, laundry room and a study room. The room was what you would expect and was fine for the two nights that I was staying; there was a single bed wardrobe and a sink. Showers and toilets are both communal and there was no rush for these facilities in the morning.
Day One of the assessment I woke up bright and early ready for the day a head hopped in the shower and stuck on my suit (you’re asked to wear something of this attire). I had purchased the option which included all of your meals but I didn’t find that food that nice and the portions were too small with what you got included. You get 4 items (1 slice of bacon, 1 slice of toast, 1 tomato, beans or any combination), lunch was also similar and evening tea being the same just with different selection of foods. You can however for lunch buy a sandwich meal (any sandwich you like and double the size of a Greggs) for about £2.50 which included a can of pop and a packet of crisps; you do however have to order this at breakfast so they can prepare it.
After breakfast we are told to go to reception and are then lead into a room where everyone else who is taking the application process is sent. I had met two guys the night before hand so it wasn’t total silence but it was a little more relaxing. We were then lead into the room where the seminar takes place (one with projector) and a lady called Emily introduced herself and explained what was going to happen over the next 2 days. We were slip into two groups with three of us in one and two in the other, I had the compass tests first which consist of hand eye co ordination tests
Test 1: using a joy stick, keep a lever within red square
Test 2: keep lever within red bar using rudder pedals
Test 3: Slalom keep blue triangle between red and green moving triangles
Test 4: Maths (Multi Choice)
Test 5: Physics (Multi Choice) you must get 10/15 or better to pass
Test 6: Memory remembering information from one area and sticking it in another
Test 7: Multi tasking cancelling a red light while changing data
Test 8: Compass using instruments locate which one related to aircraft (multi choice)
Test 9: Personality questionnaire (choice between strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree) not a deciding factor in allowing you on the course.
Note: These tests are in a random order except for 9.
After you have finished this you walk out (you are allowed to walk out in between for a break). This process takes around 2 and a half hours so by this time you’re hungry and want lunch. We all went as a group for lunch where we chatted and got to know each other better and talked about what we put for each question etc. You get an hour for lunch and then the two groups swap activities. The other activity is a simulator ride, which is so much fun (not in like a 737 just a smaller one). You are given a briefing before hand which lasts about 30 minutes where you asked a few simple questions which if you have done some flying you’ll find incredibly easy but if you haven’t then you’ll be able to get most of them. Your then given a time to go to the simulator and it lasts around 30 minutes. You do simple things like climb 1,000 ft descend, left turn to a heading. Then you may do a climbing turn to the right, during these processes the guy sitting next to you will set the power however you call for climbing, descending or straight and level. He will ask you questions about your family to make sure then in real life if a captain is asking you something your able to multi task, the questions will be like do you have any siblings, how old are they and what is your families age combined and so on.
That’s it you’re done for day 1, me and a few other guys got together and decided to go to a local pub for something to eat considering how bad the food was in the canteen, the local pubs are nice and friendly and offer the usual pub food. There wasn’t a great deal for us to do that night so we chatted to some students for a bit asking what life was like and then went to be around 10 as we were all quite tired (surprising how tiring the activities are)
Day Two, and earlier start we all arranged to go have breakfast together before we went to the assessment area. Day two consisted of team exercises and the individual interviews after lunch. The team exercises got us communicating as a group (going out for a pub lunched helped a lot with this as we were more comfortable with each other so I strongly recommend it. We were asked to read some text and prioritise items from a shipwreck (can’t give too much away) and then as a group order then. We then had to build an object using given materials to a specific height and be able to support a weight (cup of water
). However it wasn’t as straight forward as this as we had periods of silence and a limited time. Once this task had been completed we has a group discussion of recent events so reading up in the newspapers is going to give you a little advantage (my groups topics were speed cameras, cannabis and a third which I can’t remember but you get the idea). There is no correct way to be in these scenarios but don’t just sit there and listen and contribute, also don’t be someone your not. You hear all this said over and over again but it’s the best advice you can get. If you’re being somebody else in the interview then yourself in a cockpit you may be totally the wrong person. This part of the day was most enjoyable as we got to express ourselves in a group and wasn’t too taxing on the brain.The second part of the day (after lunch) was the interviews, I had mine last so I had to wait till 15:20 but if you need to catch a train they understand and will allow you to go earlier. The interview consists of some personal question, what you understand by the course and your general knowledge of aviation industry (eg a recent accident, a good example now would be the 747 that had engine fire after take off). The interviewers make you feel relaxed, just be yourself and tell the truth.
After you have had you interview another person will come and see you (normally 30 minutes after) and explain how you did and then tell you if you got in or not. If you do get in your given a talk about when courses start and so on if not your told where you went wrong. I was the last to leave at around 6pm where I had to catch a train within 30 minutes but the lady on the desk was wonderful and she got me a taxi and helped me out so much (thank you and sorry I cant remember your name).
I unfortunately didn’t get in because I failed the physics by one mark (gutter) but I am going for a retest in a few days. Lastly I wish everybody good look, enjoy the day it’s an experience and if you don’t get in then don’t let it stop you chasing your dreams
If you have anymore questions, the please PM and ill be glad to answer any questions
The Dr (Chris)
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
Sounds like a pretty thorough process, just wondering what the point of it is. I gather that you had to pay to do the two days. What is the reward if you "pass" the two days and get 'accepted' onto the course. Does it then give you the right to hand over a massive check for £85000 or does it mean that they won't train you at all if you fail the check! Just wondering what all of this achieves, I always thought that OAT was a training school and as such would train you if you had the money. Just a little weary of this sort of thing as when I instructed for another large FTO they also did these assessment days for £150 a pop which apparently would rate your ability to pass a course of training. I trained several students who had got less than favourable reports which really dented thier confidence for no reason. One student particulary springs to mind, he had the most natural appitude for flying of anyone I ever instructed even after the 'computer said nnooo'.
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
LOL
, yea thats right you do have to pay and i think iots around £175 for the two days (not including food or a room to saty in). The school used to accept anyone and take that £60k right off you but now they don't want people wasting their money (or so they say). The test really just measure your ability on coping with tasks in the actual work environment, i mean my self i took to flying like a duck to water but some people may find that they have no ability what so ever and rather then waste 60k and not passing then they only waste 175 and find out why.
If "computer says nnooo" then you told why and you can come again for retest in 3 - 12 months, just so you forget questions as i think they stay the same
. This happened to me but since i only just missed out on physics by one mark then they said come back in two months as everything else was very good. Failing doesn't mean you can't fly it just means you need to work on you hand eye co ordination and things
If however "computer says yes" (christmas special) then you can delay your entry upto a year and it gives you the right to choose a start date and then you can pay in monthly installments or in 3 lump sums.
I think it does rate your ability to pass the exams and the course in general but is also a requirement to be accepted into the school, hope this helps
The Dr (chris)
, yea thats right you do have to pay and i think iots around £175 for the two days (not including food or a room to saty in). The school used to accept anyone and take that £60k right off you but now they don't want people wasting their money (or so they say). The test really just measure your ability on coping with tasks in the actual work environment, i mean my self i took to flying like a duck to water but some people may find that they have no ability what so ever and rather then waste 60k and not passing then they only waste 175 and find out why.If "computer says nnooo" then you told why and you can come again for retest in 3 - 12 months, just so you forget questions as i think they stay the same
. This happened to me but since i only just missed out on physics by one mark then they said come back in two months as everything else was very good. Failing doesn't mean you can't fly it just means you need to work on you hand eye co ordination and thingsIf however "computer says yes" (christmas special) then you can delay your entry upto a year and it gives you the right to choose a start date and then you can pay in monthly installments or in 3 lump sums.
I think it does rate your ability to pass the exams and the course in general but is also a requirement to be accepted into the school, hope this helps
The Dr (chris)
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
cheers mate, well worth while doing something like that to allow you to make a well rounded decision. Good luck with all the future ambitions to fly, it is well worth the struggle initially.
Good Luck
Good Luck
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
Just to let everybody know they say the standardof maths and physics is gcse standard, while this is true for the maths i found some of the questions for the physics beyond gcse as i had not studied it
A general list they want you to know for physics is (information given to me by assesser)
Radiation (alpha, Beta, gamma)
Waves (all types)
Atoms (names of parts proton,neutron electron and their charge)
Force
Power
Temperature
Heat Transfer (Conduction, Convection, Radiation)
Hope this helps
A general list they want you to know for physics is (information given to me by assesser)
Radiation (alpha, Beta, gamma)
Waves (all types)
Atoms (names of parts proton,neutron electron and their charge)
Force
Power
Temperature
Heat Transfer (Conduction, Convection, Radiation)
Hope this helps
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
Atoms (names of parts proton,neutron electron and their charge)
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
well thats just the list the guy told me, are you suggesting the questions say the same (Cough cough) dam winter
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
Shame you did not apply two years ago, when they were trying to build up the APP intake. Having met some of the less gifted pilots coming out of the APP program (from that time), I reckon there were only two questions in the assessment day:
1) Are you legally blind?
2) Do you have 60k?
;-)
Thank you for the write up, very helpful for new guys. Good luck with your flying career!
P
1) Are you legally blind?
2) Do you have 60k?
;-)
Thank you for the write up, very helpful for new guys. Good luck with your flying career!
P
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
Just to note, it cost me £195 for the Skills Assessment at OAT, which I took middle of November 05. Descriptions above match my 2 days. I passed first time and starting AP258 27th Jan (Went for my Class 1 after SA, which cost me £337 but got a rebate of £44 after passing, perhaps because I already had a Class 2 i.e. reduced admin costs??)
I would say the Maths was higher tier GCSE and physics would be triple science GCSE, perhaps some not covered at double science GCSE (??) and hence a flick through an AS Physics book would not go a miss. Obviously time since you were last "in school", I would guess, would determine amount of revision required?
Good luck to everyone else taking SA,
Jonathan
(Went for my Class 1 after SA, which cost me £337 but got a rebate of £44 after passing, perhaps because I already had a Class 2 i.e. reduced admin costs??)I would say the Maths was higher tier GCSE and physics would be triple science GCSE, perhaps some not covered at double science GCSE (??) and hence a flick through an AS Physics book would not go a miss. Obviously time since you were last "in school", I would guess, would determine amount of revision required?
Good luck to everyone else taking SA,
Jonathan
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OAT APP Selection Preparation
Can anyone recommend any book i can buy to help with regards to preparing for the Psycho/Apt tests (must be psycho to be spending nearly £60,000!)
All help appreciated
All help appreciated
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Hiya link4,
I have been assessed by OAT and am starting in Feb.
The assessment is not all that difficult, it is just like any other assessment that you would go through for a job, but this one lasts for 2days. The psycho and apt tests are not that bad. By their nature you cant really "revise" for them but do brush up on your maths and physics. Just simple stuff like long division and multiplication. It really is GCSE stuff so if you have got a C or above, with a bit of brushing up, you should be fine.
Make friends with the people that you are on the course with too. We all went out for a meal in Oxford on the 1st night and that helped us all in the team building exercises the following day. And most of all, just relax during your interview.
Be ready for a bombardment of "you shouldnt go to OAT" on these pages too.
It is expensive, but if you have got the money and the love of flying then go for it!
Good luck!!
I have been assessed by OAT and am starting in Feb.
The assessment is not all that difficult, it is just like any other assessment that you would go through for a job, but this one lasts for 2days. The psycho and apt tests are not that bad. By their nature you cant really "revise" for them but do brush up on your maths and physics. Just simple stuff like long division and multiplication. It really is GCSE stuff so if you have got a C or above, with a bit of brushing up, you should be fine.
Make friends with the people that you are on the course with too. We all went out for a meal in Oxford on the 1st night and that helped us all in the team building exercises the following day. And most of all, just relax during your interview.
Be ready for a bombardment of "you shouldnt go to OAT" on these pages too.
It is expensive, but if you have got the money and the love of flying then go for it!
Good luck!!
Guest
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Re: OAT APP Selection Preparation
Hi there!
I've been through the OAT selection too and would agree with the afforementioned post! Most of all enjoy yourself! It is there to assess you but remember to have fun too, especially in the group discussions and exercises!
I'm also hoping to start in February, hopefully i'll see you the Stue!
Regards
James
I've been through the OAT selection too and would agree with the afforementioned post! Most of all enjoy yourself! It is there to assess you but remember to have fun too, especially in the group discussions and exercises!
I'm also hoping to start in February, hopefully i'll see you the Stue!
Regards
James
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
I'm glad they're giving people the opportunity to determine their aptitude for the course.
When I attended OATS (1998) me and my dad spoke with a silvery haired chap (Slippery Bob or Forked Tongued Bob or Economical With The Truth Bob, I forget now) who broke the bad news that I may have to put up with flying a turboprop of some type immediately after graduating - but don't worry, you will find yourself in the RHS of a jet a/c very soon after that. If successful at taking this grim disclosure (turbo-prop, how dare they!) without being reduced to a quivering wreck, the only further test was the ability to stump up £500 deposit (turbo-prop! How dare they...Barstewards!) as commitment to to starting the course.
That was the entry procedure and I felt sorry for the people who would burn though 10-15K only to find out they wouldn't make the grade.
I passed my course and thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oxford, although I have yet to secure my first flying job. Even if it means long re-positioning drives, flying bundles of newspapers or operating old equipment, I would love to fly a turbo-prop!!
When I attended OATS (1998) me and my dad spoke with a silvery haired chap (Slippery Bob or Forked Tongued Bob or Economical With The Truth Bob, I forget now) who broke the bad news that I may have to put up with flying a turboprop of some type immediately after graduating - but don't worry, you will find yourself in the RHS of a jet a/c very soon after that. If successful at taking this grim disclosure (turbo-prop, how dare they!) without being reduced to a quivering wreck, the only further test was the ability to stump up £500 deposit (turbo-prop! How dare they...Barstewards!) as commitment to to starting the course.
That was the entry procedure and I felt sorry for the people who would burn though 10-15K only to find out they wouldn't make the grade.
I passed my course and thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oxford, although I have yet to secure my first flying job. Even if it means long re-positioning drives, flying bundles of newspapers or operating old equipment, I would love to fly a turbo-prop!!
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Re: OAT APP Selection Preparation
Link4, just get a book on mental arithmetic. Practice maths in your head, mainly long multiplication and division. Also brush up on basic physics, thats all you can do. Just relax any be yourself. Don't try and give them what they wany as they will just see right thro you. Good luck!
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
I must admit you have to take your hat off to Oxford.
Actually it's a very old physiology trick which I had never heard of before until I worked at a University. The deal is if you really want people to choose your Establishment above all the rest you have to make them feel that you are more selective than the rest. So they feel that they have been chosen.
The Uni had the problem that they had a 100 person engineering course to fill. All the breeze block uni's had just got degree status and were advertising heavily, red brick and stone Uni's have a long standing agreement that advertising for students is a bit common and if the student is thick enough to be taken in by an advert on the telly they are probably quite suited for a breeze block uni.
Now there was over 1000 places for accredited engineering degrees going in Scotland but only about 800 potential students with the UCAS points and preference for engineering. Everyone else decided to drop there required points. This Uni decided to increase the points and also give interviews. They increased the points to near medic levels. Which most of the research slaves who had graduated from the course and continued wouldn't have been able to get on their former course.
The end result of academics spending weeks of getting moaned at by admin officer into doing the interviews was that the course was over subscribed. Started with an extra 10% which is a normal attrition in the first term as people get home sick or can't handle it. And another couple of Uni's engineering departments struggled to stay open for the next few years.
The course was exactly the same, and according to the academics the quality of the students didn't change either.
Most people in the department were very scathing about this plan until it proved to be exceptionally successful.
Its just another marketing ploy by OAT to make the potential customer choose their school over the others. It also has the advantage as well of generating some easy profit.
The purpose of this post isn't to say you shouldn't pay the money for the selection, do integrated or any other of those well worn debates on wannabees.
Its just meant to open your eyes to the ploy behind it. Its to try and make the limited market for intergrated students go to OAT instead of the other 2.
MJ
Actually it's a very old physiology trick which I had never heard of before until I worked at a University. The deal is if you really want people to choose your Establishment above all the rest you have to make them feel that you are more selective than the rest. So they feel that they have been chosen.
The Uni had the problem that they had a 100 person engineering course to fill. All the breeze block uni's had just got degree status and were advertising heavily, red brick and stone Uni's have a long standing agreement that advertising for students is a bit common and if the student is thick enough to be taken in by an advert on the telly they are probably quite suited for a breeze block uni.
Now there was over 1000 places for accredited engineering degrees going in Scotland but only about 800 potential students with the UCAS points and preference for engineering. Everyone else decided to drop there required points. This Uni decided to increase the points and also give interviews. They increased the points to near medic levels. Which most of the research slaves who had graduated from the course and continued wouldn't have been able to get on their former course.
The end result of academics spending weeks of getting moaned at by admin officer into doing the interviews was that the course was over subscribed. Started with an extra 10% which is a normal attrition in the first term as people get home sick or can't handle it. And another couple of Uni's engineering departments struggled to stay open for the next few years.
The course was exactly the same, and according to the academics the quality of the students didn't change either.
Most people in the department were very scathing about this plan until it proved to be exceptionally successful.
Its just another marketing ploy by OAT to make the potential customer choose their school over the others. It also has the advantage as well of generating some easy profit.
The purpose of this post isn't to say you shouldn't pay the money for the selection, do integrated or any other of those well worn debates on wannabees.
Its just meant to open your eyes to the ploy behind it. Its to try and make the limited market for intergrated students go to OAT instead of the other 2.
MJ
Last edited by mad_jock; 5th Jan 2006 at 15:12.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
I would hope that I'm the exeption in not having secured a flying job in 7.5 years!
I had to take a few months out of training (between s/e and multi phases) in order to help my parents, my father was terminally ill. Realising I had limited time in order to complete the course, I resumed training late '99 for 4 weeks, then had to go back home, then resumed again in june '01 (I had to as the 36 month rule meant I would have lost my ATPL ground school passes). At this stage my dad was very ill, but the one thing he wanted to see me acheive was a pass in the IR. I nailed the IR (after a partial pass
) and rushed back home. My dad died 20 days later.
Sent out loads of CV's then 9/11 happened!
I carried on sending out CV's for 18 months or so and couldn't even get a normal job! Debt was getting very serious, but I landed a non-flying job in London (280 miles away from home) I was all set to pack my bags and revalidate IR and get back in to the swing of things when my mothers condition deteriorated and she was in and out of hospital and I was unable to take the job. The iceing on the cake was the DWP stopping my jobseekers allowance as I had turned down a job. Flying was very much on the backburner at this stage!
I continued to look after my mum, got a far better paid job only 13 miles away and sorted out my finances. My mum died in April 2005.
It is only now, dear reader, that I feel in a state of mind and have sufficient financial resources and domestic stability to step back on the perpetual hampster wheel of keeping current, sending letters, researching, PFO letters back, and so on..... but I'm proberbly too old now! (late 30's)
I don't beleive in giving up, especially when so much went in to doing the course in the first place. I can't wait to fly again! I;m going all out to make it happen this year.
Good luck to anyone about to embark on their flying training/job hunting. I hope you have a rather smoother ride than I did at times.
I had to take a few months out of training (between s/e and multi phases) in order to help my parents, my father was terminally ill. Realising I had limited time in order to complete the course, I resumed training late '99 for 4 weeks, then had to go back home, then resumed again in june '01 (I had to as the 36 month rule meant I would have lost my ATPL ground school passes). At this stage my dad was very ill, but the one thing he wanted to see me acheive was a pass in the IR. I nailed the IR (after a partial pass
) and rushed back home. My dad died 20 days later.Sent out loads of CV's then 9/11 happened!
I carried on sending out CV's for 18 months or so and couldn't even get a normal job! Debt was getting very serious, but I landed a non-flying job in London (280 miles away from home) I was all set to pack my bags and revalidate IR and get back in to the swing of things when my mothers condition deteriorated and she was in and out of hospital and I was unable to take the job. The iceing on the cake was the DWP stopping my jobseekers allowance as I had turned down a job. Flying was very much on the backburner at this stage!
I continued to look after my mum, got a far better paid job only 13 miles away and sorted out my finances. My mum died in April 2005.
It is only now, dear reader, that I feel in a state of mind and have sufficient financial resources and domestic stability to step back on the perpetual hampster wheel of keeping current, sending letters, researching, PFO letters back, and so on..... but I'm proberbly too old now! (late 30's)
I don't beleive in giving up, especially when so much went in to doing the course in the first place. I can't wait to fly again! I;m going all out to make it happen this year.
Good luck to anyone about to embark on their flying training/job hunting. I hope you have a rather smoother ride than I did at times.
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Re: Oxford (OAT) assessment day - a review
F3 i'm really sorry about your parents.
I can't begin to understand what you've been through! I am so very impressed with your positive attitude and wish you the very best of luck and hope everything works out for you
Regards
James
I can't begin to understand what you've been through! I am so very impressed with your positive attitude and wish you the very best of luck and hope everything works out for you
Regards
James