Wannabe a pilot! (And I'm too damn lazy to do a search)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DUBLIN
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Hi ya,
I'm also from Ireland. From a young age I always wanted to fly, when I was around your age I decided "thats it, i want to fly". Just like you I suppose.
I started flying in Weston with NFC, personally I didn't like there attitude to new people. My personal feeling is that NFC is too big a club and has forgotten about how to be personal. Anyway I continued to fly there for a while, until I got sick of there whole; "we cant fit you in for a flight for another 4weeks or so".
So, I left it for a few months, until I moved to a new job in the Midlands and found a small airfield in Longford called Abbeyshrule, (EIAB). I did around 26 hours down there and really enjoyed it. Everyone was very friendly and personable and I'm still friends with them to this day.
26 hours or so, was all I needed to realise that flying was for me. Aged 23 now, I really did need to get my finger out, plus I was really growing tired of my chosen current career.
After a long look at the pro's and con's of certain colleges, I came to my own opinion that FTE (www.flighttrainingeurope.com) and the integrated route was the best option for me.
So to make sure I wasn't waisting my time I decided to get my Class 1 medical. Its done in the Matter private in Dublin. I passed that.
Next step was to go for selection in Jerez with FTE. I didn't do too well so I was told to come back a few months later after studying my weak points... Maths!
I did and now I start next month at Jerez, after passing the second batch of selections. I'm not a pilot yet, but what I can say is that there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get where you want to be. I wont even touch on the finance and the rigmarole I had to do to get the cash sorted. I even remember AIB (allied irish bank) laughing at me when I asked to borrow the best part of €100,000.
Me personally, will keep jumping through those hoops until Im in a cockpit flying passengers! And I think thats what it takes. What im saying is if you really want to do it you'll start researching, like you are now, so thats the first hoop! (one of many) Well done!
As I said I start in Jerez next month, so Im not a pilot yet, BUT if you want any advice or help just PM or Email me!
Take care and breast of luck with it!
G.
I'm also from Ireland. From a young age I always wanted to fly, when I was around your age I decided "thats it, i want to fly". Just like you I suppose.
I started flying in Weston with NFC, personally I didn't like there attitude to new people. My personal feeling is that NFC is too big a club and has forgotten about how to be personal. Anyway I continued to fly there for a while, until I got sick of there whole; "we cant fit you in for a flight for another 4weeks or so".
So, I left it for a few months, until I moved to a new job in the Midlands and found a small airfield in Longford called Abbeyshrule, (EIAB). I did around 26 hours down there and really enjoyed it. Everyone was very friendly and personable and I'm still friends with them to this day.
26 hours or so, was all I needed to realise that flying was for me. Aged 23 now, I really did need to get my finger out, plus I was really growing tired of my chosen current career.
After a long look at the pro's and con's of certain colleges, I came to my own opinion that FTE (www.flighttrainingeurope.com) and the integrated route was the best option for me.
So to make sure I wasn't waisting my time I decided to get my Class 1 medical. Its done in the Matter private in Dublin. I passed that.
Next step was to go for selection in Jerez with FTE. I didn't do too well so I was told to come back a few months later after studying my weak points... Maths!
I did and now I start next month at Jerez, after passing the second batch of selections. I'm not a pilot yet, but what I can say is that there are a lot of hoops to jump through to get where you want to be. I wont even touch on the finance and the rigmarole I had to do to get the cash sorted. I even remember AIB (allied irish bank) laughing at me when I asked to borrow the best part of €100,000.
Me personally, will keep jumping through those hoops until Im in a cockpit flying passengers! And I think thats what it takes. What im saying is if you really want to do it you'll start researching, like you are now, so thats the first hoop! (one of many)
Well done!As I said I start in Jerez next month, so Im not a pilot yet, BUT if you want any advice or help just PM or Email me!
Take care and breast of luck with it!
G.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Dublin,Ireland
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You can start to do your ppl but you will eventually have to get your medical. I started my ppl and then I got my medical because I wanted to be sure flying was for me before I spent more money than was needed. I only have a class 2 medical because I can't train full time until I leave school.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
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What is it all about?
I've been searching and reading loads and loads of threads and reply's on this Forum and i'm in pretty much the same position as quite alot of you.
I'm in the stage of trying to find a good FTO where I can undergo JAA ATPL. Looking through the internet, calling schools and now searching through the forums to find the best place at a rate I can actually afford.
What is it all about? Does it matter what school you go to? If you sit the groundschool else where from your flight training? If you have a type rating when you complete the ATPL? etc etc.. I know it's been mentioned many times before but there is not a dead cert answer.
Before i set off on my voyage to gaining the ATPL i need to be 100% certain that I can get something out of this when i'm not goin to spend all I can get from the bank of £35K. I know alot of people on here have taken risks and I know that's what you need to do to get where you want to be but is it worth the risk? I can only imagine!!
The main thing that is bothering me the most is the fact of which school to go to and if airlines want you to go there. I'm looking into OBA at the moment. What you think/know?
I feel i'm goin round in circles here
deciding which school to go with.
Was anyone a bit doubtful about doin there ATPL before they started in terms of the cost and job prospects straight after completiton.
If anyone can offer any help on there experiences that would be great.
Thanks....
I'm in the stage of trying to find a good FTO where I can undergo JAA ATPL. Looking through the internet, calling schools and now searching through the forums to find the best place at a rate I can actually afford.
What is it all about? Does it matter what school you go to? If you sit the groundschool else where from your flight training? If you have a type rating when you complete the ATPL? etc etc.. I know it's been mentioned many times before but there is not a dead cert answer.
Before i set off on my voyage to gaining the ATPL i need to be 100% certain that I can get something out of this when i'm not goin to spend all I can get from the bank of £35K. I know alot of people on here have taken risks and I know that's what you need to do to get where you want to be but is it worth the risk? I can only imagine!!
The main thing that is bothering me the most is the fact of which school to go to and if airlines want you to go there. I'm looking into OBA at the moment. What you think/know?
I feel i'm goin round in circles here
deciding which school to go with.Was anyone a bit doubtful about doin there ATPL before they started in terms of the cost and job prospects straight after completiton.
If anyone can offer any help on there experiences that would be great.
Thanks....
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ireland
Age: 43
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Hi there,
I'm from Blanch but live in the UK now. I went for a few flights at Weston early on but the weather got in the way most of the time.
Since moving to the UK I decided to 'go for it' and do some serious flying. Prices out of this world. Bit of research later I went to Florida to check out a few schools. I walked into one and there was this bloke sitting there in a Dublin Gaa top. Six months later I was doing my PPL there and I couldn't believe the amount of Irish there. Quite a few of them had some flying hours but it was very punctuated. Flying only every few weeks. Doing a PPL in 3 weeks is the easiest and the hardest way to get a PPL, but it's got to be better than only flying one hour a month at best!
Some time later and I'm hour building in the same place. Again, quite a few Irish with the same story as before.
Have some fun, don't get into too much debt (even if you work for the thieves) and work very hard.
Caithfidh me eitilt, or something like that!!!
I'm from Blanch but live in the UK now. I went for a few flights at Weston early on but the weather got in the way most of the time.
Since moving to the UK I decided to 'go for it' and do some serious flying. Prices out of this world. Bit of research later I went to Florida to check out a few schools. I walked into one and there was this bloke sitting there in a Dublin Gaa top. Six months later I was doing my PPL there and I couldn't believe the amount of Irish there. Quite a few of them had some flying hours but it was very punctuated. Flying only every few weeks. Doing a PPL in 3 weeks is the easiest and the hardest way to get a PPL, but it's got to be better than only flying one hour a month at best!
Some time later and I'm hour building in the same place. Again, quite a few Irish with the same story as before.
Have some fun, don't get into too much debt (even if you work for the thieves) and work very hard.
Caithfidh me eitilt, or something like that!!!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Africa
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I'm surprised that the Pilot Training College down in Waterford has not been mentioned yet. They offer an integrated training course and are the only FTO in Europe that I know of that actually include a trial flight as part of the assessment. The flight is brilliant fun and is very useful for those that have not experienced flying in a small plane before to get a feel for what it is like.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Boston
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Hey Pigdog what flight school in FL do you refer to?
I hail from carlow and fly for a fractional over here in Boston and am often in FL ...
maybe I ll check out whose around for a beer!
I hail from carlow and fly for a fractional over here in Boston and am often in FL ...
maybe I ll check out whose around for a beer!
Roughly 50% of self-funded 'frozenATPL' holders are unnacceptable to the airlines.
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm .
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm .
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: 3rd rock from the sun
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Welcome to pprune.
I strongly advise you to read the following sticky thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=131649
£35K is not enough if you wish to complete your training in the UK. Maybe in the USA. I am about to start @ stapleford in the summer and i am budgeting £45K.
Interesting statistic & good advise 
. My big bro 3 years ago failed all the apptitude tests from OAT, CTC, FTE & cabair. GAPAN told him 'sorry son'. Finished his modular training 1 year ago. Now flying for TFLY.
Good luck...
+rock on
+phs
I strongly advise you to read the following sticky thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=131649
Before i set off on my voyage to gaining the ATPL i need to be 100% certain that I can get something out of this when i'm not goin to spend all I can get from the bank of £35K
Roughly 50% of self-funded 'frozenATPL' holders are unnacceptable to the airlines.
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm .
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm .
. My big bro 3 years ago failed all the apptitude tests from OAT, CTC, FTE & cabair. GAPAN told him 'sorry son'. Finished his modular training 1 year ago. Now flying for TFLY.Good luck...
+rock on
+phs
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Dublin,Ireland
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Hi
I agree that PTC in Waterford prices are steep I was talking to them at the Opportunities 2007 Show in Croke Park they didnt seem very convincing about there courses. When I asked them if the had some information I could take home they told me they had nothing because they were trying to be enviormentally freindly.
About 2 weeks later I was taking to them again at the flyer show and then they told me the same story and they told me the were trying to be enviormentally freindly. But as I was walking away they came after me with a booklet that they got from somewhere with all the info on there courses.
To me they just don't seem like a good organisation but don't let me put you off. Take a trip to Waterford to tour there facilitys.
I also done some hour building in Cape Cod which is an hour south of Boston its absolute brilliant so you could look at the if your intrested in Boston www.aircapecod.com .
I agree that PTC in Waterford prices are steep I was talking to them at the Opportunities 2007 Show in Croke Park they didnt seem very convincing about there courses. When I asked them if the had some information I could take home they told me they had nothing because they were trying to be enviormentally freindly.
About 2 weeks later I was taking to them again at the flyer show and then they told me the same story and they told me the were trying to be enviormentally freindly. But as I was walking away they came after me with a booklet that they got from somewhere with all the info on there courses.
To me they just don't seem like a good organisation but don't let me put you off. Take a trip to Waterford to tour there facilitys.
I also done some hour building in Cape Cod which is an hour south of Boston its absolute brilliant so you could look at the if your intrested in Boston www.aircapecod.com .
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South Wales
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Roughly 50% of self-funded 'frozenATPL' holders are unnacceptable to the airlines.
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm
Before you consider a career in the airlines, you would be well advised to take some aptitude tests such as http://www.gapan.org/careers/aptitude.htm
. My big bro 3 years ago failed all the apptitude tests from OAT, CTC, FTE & cabair. GAPAN told him 'sorry son'. Finished his modular training 1 year ago. Now flying for TFLY.Good luck...
You only get one shot at life and I am not going to stay an office monkey for the next 40 years of my life!!! I am trying to look at the training as a 'hobby' albeit an expensive one at that. People spend thousands of pounds per year playing golf ... I'll do it flying. And if I can land a flying job at the end of it then that's all the better. At the end of the day I still have a professional job to fall back on.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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hi everybody i didnt know which topic do i have to write this but i just start to write here.i am from turkey and i stay in germany.i got my ppl licence from turkey.
i wanna ask that how can i get atpl licence and do i have a chance to join atpl course in bristol gs or ground school?
i wanna ask that how can i get atpl licence and do i have a chance to join atpl course in bristol gs or ground school?
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ballymacnigdonglemor
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Im currently a broke student in Ireland
I got my JAA PPL in Florida last year for pennys compared to what I would have spent if I had done it at home
Im doing my JAA ATPL theroy via distance learning costing me €2,800 plus the exam fees on top of that!!!
Im going to go back to florida once ive my ATPL theroy done to get my FAA IR(€6,000)hour building(€8,000)JAA MEP(€2,100) and plan to do my 15 hr JAA CPL and JAA MEIR 15 hr course here at a School in Ireland for another €19,000 and my MCC for another €5,000, Plus to be on the safe side ive added €14,000 for the extra's that pop up along the line .
Thats the way im going........
Any questions, just ask!
Best of luck to all,
Sean.
I got my JAA PPL in Florida last year for pennys compared to what I would have spent if I had done it at home
Im doing my JAA ATPL theroy via distance learning costing me €2,800 plus the exam fees on top of that!!!
Im going to go back to florida once ive my ATPL theroy done to get my FAA IR(€6,000)hour building(€8,000)JAA MEP(€2,100) and plan to do my 15 hr JAA CPL and JAA MEIR 15 hr course here at a School in Ireland for another €19,000 and my MCC for another €5,000, Plus to be on the safe side ive added €14,000 for the extra's that pop up along the line
.Thats the way im going........
Any questions, just ask!
Best of luck to all,
Sean.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ballymacnigdonglemor
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PPL cost me €5,300.
Intergrated courses cost at least €70,000 where ever you go! Schools that offer the Intergrated are FTE(Jerez)OAT(Oxford)Cabair and Aeromadrid to name but a few.
Im doing my Licences the Modular way, which can work out alot cheaper for most people who go down that rote....
Everyones finance is differant, as for me, im working, save a couple of grand and im lucky that Im getting my parents to take out a €48,000 loan, but the couple grand ive saved will cover the repayments while im training and once im employed as a pilot I will pay the rest of the sum of the loan off!!
Its not Difficult,But its not easy either
.If you have the interest you will get there...
I would advise you take a visit to these sites and have a good read.
www.ptc.ie
www.military.ie
Sean
Intergrated courses cost at least €70,000 where ever you go! Schools that offer the Intergrated are FTE(Jerez)OAT(Oxford)Cabair and Aeromadrid to name but a few.
Im doing my Licences the Modular way, which can work out alot cheaper for most people who go down that rote....
Everyones finance is differant, as for me, im working, save a couple of grand and im lucky that Im getting my parents to take out a €48,000 loan, but the couple grand ive saved will cover the repayments while im training and once im employed as a pilot I will pay the rest of the sum of the loan off!!
Its not Difficult,But its not easy either
.If you have the interest you will get there...I would advise you take a visit to these sites and have a good read.
www.ptc.ie
www.military.ie
Sean
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
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Quick Question.
I'm seriously considering training to be a pilot but am presented with one problem that comes to mind. I would appreciate some clarification on the matter.
The problem is, I don't have any GCSE or A-Levels, I have however been a Police Constable for five years and have gained an NVQ Level-2 in Policing (which I'm told equates to two A-Levels)
I work full time shift work at the moment in the force so would be extremely difficult to complete the regular five GCSE and two A-Levels that is usually required for schemes such as CTC etc.
And my question being,
Would any airline consider hiring someone like myself with none of the academic qualifications?
Considering I do have the NVQ L2, five years in the force, and the all important "life experience"
Many Thanks
I'm seriously considering training to be a pilot but am presented with one problem that comes to mind. I would appreciate some clarification on the matter.
The problem is, I don't have any GCSE or A-Levels, I have however been a Police Constable for five years and have gained an NVQ Level-2 in Policing (which I'm told equates to two A-Levels)
I work full time shift work at the moment in the force so would be extremely difficult to complete the regular five GCSE and two A-Levels that is usually required for schemes such as CTC etc.
And my question being,
Would any airline consider hiring someone like myself with none of the academic qualifications?
Considering I do have the NVQ L2, five years in the force, and the all important "life experience"
Many Thanks
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: wisconsin, usa
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The dream is still alive and kicking
I'm in my late 30's and flying has always been sort of calling for me. But somehow I was never able to get the money together to actually do it. I just returned home last fall from an over seas deployment with the military and it seems that there are benefits coming my way and I have the opportunity to give it a go. But now I have another problem, family. The wife is concerned that as a pilot, I would be gone all the time. Is that true? What is it like for a family guy to become a pilot? She's behind me 100%, but does she have a point? Flying has always been sort of a natural thing to me. I've studied it from every angle since I was a kid and I sure would like to finally get into the real thing. I flown (ridden) in small planes hi-school and even choppers in the service and I love it. I've always felt that I have a talent for flying but is it conducive to a family life?
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Qualifications
Howdie Trooper,
I know of several gents, flying commercially, to whom A levels are an alien concept, but I'm not aware of any without GCSE's/O-levels. Have you atempted either of the above before?
Kind Regards
Rossco
I know of several gents, flying commercially, to whom A levels are an alien concept, but I'm not aware of any without GCSE's/O-levels. Have you atempted either of the above before?
Kind Regards
Rossco