Am I too young? And how young is too young?

[FCA767]

I don't think it is too young to start at 18. I mean my route to ppl was to study in my own time for about a year and then do a 3 week course in the usa. It can be difficult if you go over there without having read the books because there is no way I could have learnt the 5 books in 3 weeks

Try this

www.aviationcafe.net/ppldiary.net

[Mohit_C]

I'm joining flying school when I'll be 18+, around 18 and a half years old.

[bluepeely]

This thread makes a nice change from the "Am i too old thread" just read up there and think you'll realise that you cant really be too young . Wish i were in your shoes pal.
And b737-800 i really pity you mate being a FO on the 737 at 20yr old and finding it 'boring at times' Im crying tears of sorrow all over my wearthers originals and tartan blanket as i feel so old. Anyway Its late im off to bed

[GrahamK123]

Originally Posted by tom89

I hope to apply for a sponsorship in the Far East with the heavies .

Good luck with that...

[hollywood285]

Go for it!!!, But only after you have enjoyed your life abit more, take a year or so to do your PPL and ENJOY it, dont make it a mad rush, theres no need, the best part about flying was the training at all levels, I started my training back in 2003 and took just over a year to finish it, and since then have done the IMC and MEP courses, The MEP was the most challenging, i used to get out the Seneca 2 with sweat running down my back!!!

Also the PPL will tell you if you really want to be a pilot!!! who knows you may not like it, I love private flying, but dont think I would want to do it for a job, Its nice to do what you want to do and not be told by your boss were your going to fly! Besides my eyes are not good enough for the class 1 medical, so if I was you before you get your hopes up go for the medical.

[islandhopper]

Hi,
I started flying at 18 on turbo props(best flying ever)- and now I'm an A340 Captain at the age of 33- so I say NO 18 is not too young to start.
All the best and stick at it.
Regards

[dlav]

737-800 Boring? Ohh dear, just when you thought Air Law was bad!

Happy New Year to all us gonnabee's!

[Bartender]

Originally Posted by SamKitch

Hi
Thanks for your input everyone.
What worries me is only studying Physics and Maths at GCSE and still i only got a C
I have books that will help me but.....
Is the Physics and Maths really hard to get your head around when you only have a C grade.
Thanks

Hi SamKitch, I'm not sure of how much relevance this'll be but I'm a first year Avionic Systems student at a Bristol University (one of the courses with a damn high workload) and in all honesty, the pace and difficulty involved in the maths and physics of the course, I'm finding very difficult to get used to. That said, I am enjoying it. In comparison though, out of the 4 of us on this course this year, I'm the only one who has not done Further Maths or an equivalent at A-level, I do have an A in A-Level maths and a B in physics though. If you chose to go on and work on your GCSEs, whatever you do will inevetably be more difficult.
As for all those looking to go straight into piloting, I considered the same thing but thought I should get something to fall back on first. It's oftenly said that the learning gene is a finite one. Personally I chose to make the most of it while I still can, get my degree, grow up a bit, possibly a year out for travelling after, maybe work as an engineer until I get my chartership, then go fly. I can see what others have mentioned though with regards to getting into the industry young.
Huw

[AlphaMale]

Never too young

But there will be issues I'd imagine. I wanted to start my training at 18 but I couldn't fund the training myself as I didn't have £50k under my pillow from the tooth fairy

I knew the only way to fund my training was to get a full time job. But with only a handful of A levels and GCSE's to my name it was going to be a while and even then I'd be competing for a left hand seat against graduates who are slightly older and have plenty of life experience.

I decided to do a degree (BSc) in computers and I have now landed a job that pays well enough to get me on my training in 12/18 months and if all should fail in my pilot training I have a professional skill that I can go back to.

So if you have £50k / enough confidence to outsmart a graduate at the interview process / don’t mind taking a chance at one job with no back up ... I guess your not too young. Nothing stopping you from doing your PPL / Night / IMC / MEP (~£9k) while at Uni and then doing the top up (ATPL/CPL/IR/MCC) after graduating

[aircockroaches]

I guess airlines are looking for HOURS and not a degree. If you passed the ATPL exams, CPL, IR etc etc, then you've already proven something.

The earlier you start, the better - provided you are mature enough, have a good background of life experiences and motivation.

I got my PPL at 17, followed by my A-Levels, and am now 18, thinking of where to go to further my training. I can go to university if I want but I don't see it necessary. Everyone has his/her own reasons why.

[bg187]

Minimum age for airline job?

Does anybody know what the minimum age is to fly for an airline? i've heard that its only once you have 1500 hours and your 21 but surely if you can have all your licences before 21 you should be employable?

[tornado617]

Hello mate

It would be good if you could fly for an airline before the age of 21. Unfortunately the minimum age to hold a ATPL is 21.

Richard.

[anotherspaceman]

You most definately can fly for an airline before 21. The minimum age for a CPL (frozen ATPL) is 18 and there is no minimum hour legislation other than for the licence issue (around 160 hrs). You may not be an aircraft commander of an aircraft over 5700kgs without an ATPL (which requires you to be 21) but you can be an F/O. - go for it