Wannabe a pilot! (And I'm too damn lazy to do a search)
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Scandiland
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi!
A sponsorship is ofcourse the best way to go as it saves your wallet for later expenses. However, I guess finding a sponsorship programme is as hard as finding a job later on...
My advice is to seek up and get information on the various available schools and then choose the one with best combination of quality and price.
BFSAA I feel has provided me with a good foundation to base the rest of my career on, however they are not the cheapest option for anyone except for the ones accepted into the Swedish government sponsorscheme.
Dont wait for a sponsorship! Possibly start out with a PPL and start building time by towing gliders or such. Just to get yourself going. Whilst doing this, try to figure out where to go next in regards to ME+IR and the ATP theory. You also need to upgrade your PPL to a CPL to get a job and this requires additional training as I guess you've understood.
Just dont wait for something to turn up at your doorstep, you need to be actively searching all the time. Time waiting is time that you should have spent making your self attractive for the employers.
And just to clarify: A job with Emirates or BA is from starting point far far away. If you get a job, its more likely to be with a less glamourous airline such as Ryan or similar. These are the positions that open up first to low houred applicants and although you might be flying jets, there is allways a better contract to have for which you have to work some time to get.
Its a fairly long way. My time from starting point to first employment was roughly 6 years. Many have probably made it in a shorter timespan, but there are certainly some guys out there with a longer timespan from start to employment...
Best of luck and just remeber to be actively looking.
/ LnS
A sponsorship is ofcourse the best way to go as it saves your wallet for later expenses. However, I guess finding a sponsorship programme is as hard as finding a job later on...
My advice is to seek up and get information on the various available schools and then choose the one with best combination of quality and price.
BFSAA I feel has provided me with a good foundation to base the rest of my career on, however they are not the cheapest option for anyone except for the ones accepted into the Swedish government sponsorscheme.
Dont wait for a sponsorship! Possibly start out with a PPL and start building time by towing gliders or such. Just to get yourself going. Whilst doing this, try to figure out where to go next in regards to ME+IR and the ATP theory. You also need to upgrade your PPL to a CPL to get a job and this requires additional training as I guess you've understood.
Just dont wait for something to turn up at your doorstep, you need to be actively searching all the time. Time waiting is time that you should have spent making your self attractive for the employers.
And just to clarify: A job with Emirates or BA is from starting point far far away. If you get a job, its more likely to be with a less glamourous airline such as Ryan or similar. These are the positions that open up first to low houred applicants and although you might be flying jets, there is allways a better contract to have for which you have to work some time to get.
Its a fairly long way. My time from starting point to first employment was roughly 6 years. Many have probably made it in a shorter timespan, but there are certainly some guys out there with a longer timespan from start to employment...
Best of luck and just remeber to be actively looking.
/ LnS
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As Mike says, reading the Archive Reference Threads - READ BEFORE YOU POST A QUESTION would be a damn good start. Don't you think? 
Scroggs
Scroggs
If you are doing a masters in Aerospace Engineering I'm sure you can do an awful lot better than joining the airline treadmill and still have plenty of dosh available for some fun flying !
Seriously though - talk to some people who actually do the job - at least that way you you can find the pro's (several) and the con's (many) associated with this trade.
Seriously though - talk to some people who actually do the job - at least that way you you can find the pro's (several) and the con's (many) associated with this trade.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London Heathrow
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice on becoming a pilot (merged)
Hey
i want to become a pilot but i have no GCSE's
but in september im going to college to do my GCSE's
and i wanted to know how many GCSE's i needed and A-Levels
and what will be the best subjects to take
im 19yrs of age and do you think it would be to late to take them now?
Thanks Dan Bates
i want to become a pilot but i have no GCSE's
but in september im going to college to do my GCSE's
and i wanted to know how many GCSE's i needed and A-Levels
and what will be the best subjects to take
im 19yrs of age and do you think it would be to late to take them now?
Thanks Dan Bates
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LGW
Age: 51
Posts: 539
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's never too late to take your GCSE's or A Levels. Even if you don't make it to your goal of becoming a pilot, you will stand a far better chance of getting a decent job with your exam qualifications than without 
And I know of pilot's who have started flying relatively late in their lives (in their 30's) so you have plenty of years ahead of you yet!
And I know of pilot's who have started flying relatively late in their lives (in their 30's) so you have plenty of years ahead of you yet!
PPRuNe Co-Pilot
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: The Sky
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dan,
Check BALPA's website i believe they have a guide to becoming a pilot might be worth reading.
Regarding GCSE's and A-levels i do not believe there is a set minimum unless you go for a sponsorship.
Check BALPA's website i believe they have a guide to becoming a pilot might be worth reading.
Regarding GCSE's and A-levels i do not believe there is a set minimum unless you go for a sponsorship.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: england
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice on becoming a pilot (merged)
Hi all, just some advice needed. I really want to become a pilot, but not sure the best way to go about it. Id love to do an integrated at oxford but cannot afford it. Im looking at doing my ppl at bournemouth and then doing the waypoint course at oxford. Im worried my ppl might take up to a year and then hour building the same..Im 23 but want to get cracking asap. What do people suggest about money. Id need to get £30000 for oxford, but would need to get an unsecured loan. Have many done this?? Help much appreciated
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Eire/HK
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Newbie,
With that GBP 30 K you could go to a school in Florida on a 2 year visa, do your FAA PPL,Comm,Multi IR, CFIMEII. Work as an instructor for the remainder of your 2 years, complete all your permissable JAR stuff at the SAME school while doing instruction and come home with 1600+ multi hours.
There is NO school in the UK that will offer you the same.
Any more than 4 months is to long for a PPL if you are going all the way to ATPL on a loan. The US is not as cr@p as you might think, Thousands of foreign pilots graduate from their schools every year and go on to have successful aviation careers, I know cause I am one of them.
Good Luck
With that GBP 30 K you could go to a school in Florida on a 2 year visa, do your FAA PPL,Comm,Multi IR, CFIMEII. Work as an instructor for the remainder of your 2 years, complete all your permissable JAR stuff at the SAME school while doing instruction and come home with 1600+ multi hours.
There is NO school in the UK that will offer you the same.
Any more than 4 months is to long for a PPL if you are going all the way to ATPL on a loan. The US is not as cr@p as you might think, Thousands of foreign pilots graduate from their schools every year and go on to have successful aviation careers, I know cause I am one of them.
Good Luck
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: england
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the advice, why do you say anymore than 4 months is too long for a ppl? I wouldnt be using a loan for this, I would be working and doing my ppl as i go. I would then use the loan to fund oxford for my atpls cpl etc..
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: UK
Age: 39
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have to agree with most of B200Drvr. Personally think best for you to get the Bristol notes, get good grades on the ground school then go out to the US get ppl, then get some good time on the twin then come back home and do your twin CPL and IR ASAP.
You dont have to go to the US and do the above, look around at other places in the world like S africa(think even N greece). If you do do your twin in the UK make sure the provider you use can guarantee you X amount of flights a week. Most important make sure they have no hint of a "iffy" reputation and have a decent address book of contacts for when you get out. Do the above and you could finish within a year, though not sure of any involved costs to quote at you- soz.
TOP TIP-- NEVER trust the marketing, look and ask for the facts only, if they don't give you those worry.
Either way wish you the best of luck.
You dont have to go to the US and do the above, look around at other places in the world like S africa(think even N greece). If you do do your twin in the UK make sure the provider you use can guarantee you X amount of flights a week. Most important make sure they have no hint of a "iffy" reputation and have a decent address book of contacts for when you get out. Do the above and you could finish within a year, though not sure of any involved costs to quote at you- soz.
TOP TIP-- NEVER trust the marketing, look and ask for the facts only, if they don't give you those worry.
Either way wish you the best of luck.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Eire/HK
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Newbie,
If you take along time to get your PPL you spend more, if you do an immersion course it is usually a fixed cost, it is simply a case of 2 steps forward 1 step back. If you fly 3 hours on weekends it will take you more than 60 hours, if you fly everyday for a month, 45 hours is a reality. Can you absorb all that info in a month? how dedicated are u?
Look at SA, the flying is good, but I recommend the US as that is what I have done, plus you will end up with a FAA Comm or ATP as an addition.
If you take along time to get your PPL you spend more, if you do an immersion course it is usually a fixed cost, it is simply a case of 2 steps forward 1 step back. If you fly 3 hours on weekends it will take you more than 60 hours, if you fly everyday for a month, 45 hours is a reality. Can you absorb all that info in a month? how dedicated are u?
Look at SA, the flying is good, but I recommend the US as that is what I have done, plus you will end up with a FAA Comm or ATP as an addition.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A £30k loan would seem a little on the low side these days and even if you did manage to cover all of the flying training with that then there wouldn't be any left for living costs. Most of the flying schools like BCFT, PAT, Airways etc have lists on the web of the costs involved in doing the various licences and ratings. Add onto this the cost of the 14 ATPL's plus exam fees and the cost of the PPL in the UK at say £5-6k plus all of the stuff you will need to fill into your flight bag and the £30k seems light.
Having said that £30k is light, then the next issue is how you would get an unsecured loan of any significance in anycase. As I understand it HSBC who used to specifically provide loans to budding aviators have now ceased doing this. Other financial institutions might be willing to finance you however they are likely to want security on either your home or in the absence of that your parents. All in all its getting a lot harder to get finance these days.
You mentioned in your post that you were looking at your PPL taking a year. There are many ways to skin a cat and get into aviation. You could for instance do a PPL in the US over 3-4 weeks, then come back get some work, hour build in your spare time (buy a PFA category aircraft or get into a low cost group to keep the costs down - search in private flying for loads of information on this). At the same time study towards the ATPL exams via distance learning. Hopefully from the work you will save enough over the 12-18 months or so that it takes to get the PPL and ATPL's out of the way and then you can quit the job or take a sabbatical and go fulltime at the ME/CPL/IR.
Having said that £30k is light, then the next issue is how you would get an unsecured loan of any significance in anycase. As I understand it HSBC who used to specifically provide loans to budding aviators have now ceased doing this. Other financial institutions might be willing to finance you however they are likely to want security on either your home or in the absence of that your parents. All in all its getting a lot harder to get finance these days.
You mentioned in your post that you were looking at your PPL taking a year. There are many ways to skin a cat and get into aviation. You could for instance do a PPL in the US over 3-4 weeks, then come back get some work, hour build in your spare time (buy a PFA category aircraft or get into a low cost group to keep the costs down - search in private flying for loads of information on this). At the same time study towards the ATPL exams via distance learning. Hopefully from the work you will save enough over the 12-18 months or so that it takes to get the PPL and ATPL's out of the way and then you can quit the job or take a sabbatical and go fulltime at the ME/CPL/IR.
Last edited by potkettleblack; 25th Apr 2006 at 19:51.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: valleystream
Age: 39
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice on becoming a pilot (merged)
I am new to this field and looking for a proper direction. I've been looking through the the forum and see that there are many tests to take. Do I need to take all the tests? or ones specific to what type of pilot I want to be? What are the basic tests, certificates, and licenses do I need to become a Jumbo Jet Commercial Pilot? This is my first long term goal. How is the job market for this? What other types of pilots are there and respectively what are the avg salaries? I live in New York, what are good aviation schools? Are aviation schools expensive? What are the requirements to get into these schools? Does the schooling prepare for the pilot exams? How is the job market for pilots? I want to know how I will be most prepared in a career as a commerical pilot?
All answers and suggestions will be appreciated. thank you
All answers and suggestions will be appreciated. thank you
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ormond Beach
Age: 49
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi and Welcome! Nice to see another American on this site. Since you're in Long Island, I have two schools to recommend to you. One is AirEast at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, the other is Panorama Flight Service in White Plains. The former is, of course, a lot closer. My second suggestion to you is to join the AOPA. They have TONS of resources for new pilots. Start here:
http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/startfly/
PM me with any questions.
http://www.aopa.org/learntofly/startfly/
PM me with any questions.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ormond Beach
Age: 49
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by andrewyun
once i get my license, how do I build my flight hours? do i need to rent out my own plane everytime I want to hourbuild?
Here's an example:
http://www.controller.com/listings/f...0549DFAFF332BA
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: England
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In order to become a pilot you need to gain a CPL (commercial pilots license) with IR (intrument rating). This can take as little as 14 months (or maybe less depending on weather) to achieve if you decide to go down the full time study route (AKA integrated course). The CPL/IR course contains ground school and flying training. Once you have your CPL/IR you need to get a job and gain 1500 hours of flying before you can get your ATPL (Air Transport Pilot License), which will be achieved as you fly with a commercial/cargo airline.
As with any job there are peaks and troughs, and aviation seems to change quicker than most. At the end of the day you just have to give it your best shot and rely on a bit of luck to land that first job. The type of person you are will affect how employable you are, along with the grades you can achieve while completing the course.
I am about to begin an Integrated course here in the UK (begins in May, CABAIR), so I am really looking forward to the challenges that are coming my way. Just to give you an idea of work involved, the course involves 800 hours in the classroom and 200 hours flying. There are alot of rules in aviation!
In terms of starting salary you will have to start at the bottom. A job in a cargo airline (turbo prop) can be around £25-30,000, moving onto jets 30-40,000. Once you become a Captain then you will start seeing much higher salaries, but don't be fooled you will have to work for it! I know that salaries over £100,000 are not unsual for pilots.
p.s. The above is correct for the UK, and I assume it is similar for the US.
As with any job there are peaks and troughs, and aviation seems to change quicker than most. At the end of the day you just have to give it your best shot and rely on a bit of luck to land that first job. The type of person you are will affect how employable you are, along with the grades you can achieve while completing the course.
I am about to begin an Integrated course here in the UK (begins in May, CABAIR), so I am really looking forward to the challenges that are coming my way. Just to give you an idea of work involved, the course involves 800 hours in the classroom and 200 hours flying. There are alot of rules in aviation!
In terms of starting salary you will have to start at the bottom. A job in a cargo airline (turbo prop) can be around £25-30,000, moving onto jets 30-40,000. Once you become a Captain then you will start seeing much higher salaries, but don't be fooled you will have to work for it! I know that salaries over £100,000 are not unsual for pilots.
p.s. The above is correct for the UK, and I assume it is similar for the US.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Suffolk UK
Posts: 4,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please do not give 'advice' when you do not know of what you speak. FAA requirements for their ATPL are quite different from those that apply within the UK/JAA legislative area. There is little point in giving prices for aircraft hire in UK to a wannbe who lives in the USA, where prices for aircraft hire are a great deal cheaper. There is no conceivable reason why a US cirtizen would wish to conduct any part of their training in UK, or anywhere else outside the USA.
WBryce if you advertise your website again, you will lose your posting privileges here.
Andrewyun As you have by now gathered, I'm sure, this forum is primarily for students of the JAA licencing system, i.e. Europe. The FAA (US) system is different and advice is best sought elsewhere. A start could be the North America forum here on Pprune, but I recommend you have a look for US-based forums. However, you might want to keep an eye on this thread, which also involves a US wannabe.
Scroggs
WBryce if you advertise your website again, you will lose your posting privileges here.
Andrewyun As you have by now gathered, I'm sure, this forum is primarily for students of the JAA licencing system, i.e. Europe. The FAA (US) system is different and advice is best sought elsewhere. A start could be the North America forum here on Pprune, but I recommend you have a look for US-based forums. However, you might want to keep an eye on this thread, which also involves a US wannabe.
Scroggs
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: UK
Age: 35
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice on becoming a pilot (merged)
I want to be an airline pilot and next year after i finish my a levels i am thinking of either going to OAT or CTC Aviation group on the CTC wings course, depending which has better finance plans available and how i find the places when i go to visit them.
Now thinking really far ahead (i like to have a plan in mind lol) what are the chances of finding a job after just completing a full intensive flight course that takes you from the basics to advanced levels? Just so you can answer the question at hand, ill tell you a bit about myself as no doubt it will also depend on who i am as to what jobs are offered to me.
When i set my mind to something i put a huge amount of effort into it, i stick at it until i have completed it. i always work hard at the things i do (whats the point in wasting the time that is give) got good GCSE results, currently my A level course (worth 3 A levels) is going very well, upto now i have had distinction (A) in all of my course work (about 11 pieces at this moment in time). Personallity wise im easy going, friendly, enjoy a lot of humour, have a lot of respect for people.
I will no doubt be in so much debt that i will need to get a job quite soon, even though no matter what i am taking the risk of being in debt to fulfill my pilot dreams.
Anyway would like to know so that im prepared for the future, thanks for any information you can give to me.
Aaron
Now thinking really far ahead (i like to have a plan in mind lol) what are the chances of finding a job after just completing a full intensive flight course that takes you from the basics to advanced levels? Just so you can answer the question at hand, ill tell you a bit about myself as no doubt it will also depend on who i am as to what jobs are offered to me.
When i set my mind to something i put a huge amount of effort into it, i stick at it until i have completed it. i always work hard at the things i do (whats the point in wasting the time that is give) got good GCSE results, currently my A level course (worth 3 A levels) is going very well, upto now i have had distinction (A) in all of my course work (about 11 pieces at this moment in time). Personallity wise im easy going, friendly, enjoy a lot of humour, have a lot of respect for people.
I will no doubt be in so much debt that i will need to get a job quite soon, even though no matter what i am taking the risk of being in debt to fulfill my pilot dreams.
Anyway would like to know so that im prepared for the future, thanks for any information you can give to me.
Aaron
Last edited by poss; 30th Apr 2006 at 21:32.