Raf Aircrew - Civvy Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hampshire
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I am on my last few days of line training with a regional carrier, about 5 years after starting down the road of RAF Flt Eng - Civvy Pilot. In my experience the FE bit on your CV means Sweet FA to the people reading the CV's because they haven't got a clue what an FE is!!!
Most of the peolpe reading the CV's are admin wallas with no clue what an FE is. At best I have found it an interesting talking point and no more! Zero to nil chance of sponsorship at your age and I would suggest you start saving those rates for a very long slog and lots of expense! Sorry to sound negative but the reality is the FE experience counts for very little and at your age you need to crack on, because on the modular route you are looking at 2 years time before being qualified.....Feel free to PM me for further info.....all the best 
Most of the peolpe reading the CV's are admin wallas with no clue what an FE is. At best I have found it an interesting talking point and no more! Zero to nil chance of sponsorship at your age and I would suggest you start saving those rates for a very long slog and lots of expense! Sorry to sound negative but the reality is the FE experience counts for very little and at your age you need to crack on, because on the modular route you are looking at 2 years time before being qualified.....Feel free to PM me for further info.....all the best
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Hampshire/Surrey
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Had an RAF FE on my ground school course and subeaquently joined the same regional as me on TP's. The FE experience is valuale in terms of technical knowledge, the proven ability to understand the technical requirements of a type-rating course and the discipline and leadership skills gained in the mil.
However - and heres the kick in the nads - you have virtually no chance of sponsorhip to do the licences for two reasons:
1) There are very, VERY few sponsorship schemes about these days and they are are way over-subscribed. Further many are no more than a glorified loan they re-coup by paying you less until training costs are paid for anyway. Not wishing to start a debate on the merits of UK sponsorship schemes, so that is my opinion only.
2) They tend to look for people under 30. I don't know i that is legal any more given the age discrimination legislation, but it certainy was the way a few years ago.
My advice is to use as much as possible of your free time and money to enbark on the PPL. Then if you are due money when you leave the RAF invest it in the remaninder of your trianing. There are lots of ex-FE's who've done this, so why not ask them how they did it on the Mil forum which I am sure many still still read.
Bottom line is you will need to pay for the training yourself unless you are EXTREMELY lucky. But it is not anything like impossible, just requires prior preparation and planning to prevent piss poor performance.
Sphinx
However - and heres the kick in the nads - you have virtually no chance of sponsorhip to do the licences for two reasons:
1) There are very, VERY few sponsorship schemes about these days and they are are way over-subscribed. Further many are no more than a glorified loan they re-coup by paying you less until training costs are paid for anyway. Not wishing to start a debate on the merits of UK sponsorship schemes, so that is my opinion only.
2) They tend to look for people under 30. I don't know i that is legal any more given the age discrimination legislation, but it certainy was the way a few years ago.
My advice is to use as much as possible of your free time and money to enbark on the PPL. Then if you are due money when you leave the RAF invest it in the remaninder of your trianing. There are lots of ex-FE's who've done this, so why not ask them how they did it on the Mil forum which I am sure many still still read.
Bottom line is you will need to pay for the training yourself unless you are EXTREMELY lucky. But it is not anything like impossible, just requires prior preparation and planning to prevent piss poor performance.
Sphinx
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Down a Tin mine......
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Hey RCOV 2 ENG - anything is possible, I work for a large regional airline and our Fleet manager for the turboprop fleet is an ex FE. So don't give up.
Dont expect to get any form of sponsorship - airlines are only interested in giving sposorship to people in there early 20's to about 28 at max - all though you may be lucky - but before you apply for a sponsorship they would expect you to have at least a PPL with about 100-150 hours and maybe a IMC or night rating as well.
hope this help's if you want any more onfo then let me know.
brgds
W.G
Dont expect to get any form of sponsorship - airlines are only interested in giving sposorship to people in there early 20's to about 28 at max - all though you may be lucky - but before you apply for a sponsorship they would expect you to have at least a PPL with about 100-150 hours and maybe a IMC or night rating as well.
hope this help's if you want any more onfo then let me know.
brgds
W.G
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: In a place where I dont have to fly for food.
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: In a place where I dont have to fly for food.
Posts: 259
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: N.Yorks
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Same boat.
Hi Joe I'm in almost the same situation.
I'm an AEOp and currently fighting towards my CPL. First thing first, I completed my PPL quite cheaply at Kinloss about 3 years ago using an ELC. There not actually the cheapest, and I've found Waddington to be a whole lot cheaper (about £65 and Hour with instruction).
Next stage will be to get the ground studies out of the way. I decided to Distance Learn with Bristol GS in two parts. On the whole I've been impressed with their course structure and relatively cheap cost. Be prepared to hand over a fair wad of dosh to the CAA for the exams though!
I' doing my CPL, IR ME with Air Atlantic at Coventry but I've also heard Airways Flt Trg at Exeter are also good.
Hope this can be of help
Regards
H E
I'm an AEOp and currently fighting towards my CPL. First thing first, I completed my PPL quite cheaply at Kinloss about 3 years ago using an ELC. There not actually the cheapest, and I've found Waddington to be a whole lot cheaper (about £65 and Hour with instruction).
Next stage will be to get the ground studies out of the way. I decided to Distance Learn with Bristol GS in two parts. On the whole I've been impressed with their course structure and relatively cheap cost. Be prepared to hand over a fair wad of dosh to the CAA for the exams though!
I' doing my CPL, IR ME with Air Atlantic at Coventry but I've also heard Airways Flt Trg at Exeter are also good.
Hope this can be of help
Regards
H E
