Computer Scientist, Wannabe Pilot

[emdiesse]

Hello.

My earliest memory is of some red arrows flying over, I was 3 at the time. During my younger years I always said I wanted to be a pilot. Then I lost sight this dream, however it has always been a re-occuring one (every so often I wish I was a pilot). I am currently a university student studying computer science. I am currently doing a year in industry at a software company. Today I was working at my placement and my re-occuring thought of being a pilot came back to me.

I can see myself enjoying a career as a pilot more than sitting behind a computer and I am wondering peoples opinions as to whether it is too late to persue. I am currently 20.

Is a degree in computer science not really the ideal, I am beginning to think of it more as a back up plan. If I don't find a job doing something I have wished to do from a young age then I would still be happy in the computer industry. Would I have been better off studying aviation from the start or is having an alternative degree a better idea as I understand the aviation industry is very tough to get into.

I'll mention now, I do not fancy joining the RAF.

I am unsure as to whether I really want to be a commercial pilot and for a few years I have been very interested in maybe a career as a helicopter pilot for the police, mountain rescue or something similar. I feel that a job like this may suit me more than commercial pilot however I don't want to close my options to soon.

opinion?

Thank you

[Nashers]

its not too late to start of your 20. infact its the best time to start as you have lived a bit in university and have a back up plan if it all goes down the drain a few years from now.

to be a police chopper pilot you will need a commercial pilots licence anyway and probably an IR i would think. i believe the the RAF deal with the rescue service but could be wrong.

to fly a chopper you will need a different licence to flying a jet aircraft across the world (hele or fixed wing) so you will need to do some reasurch into what each requires and think of what sort of flying you would like to do.

[TheBP]

You've ruled out the RAF, by that same note would you also rule out the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy? Far higher probability of working on helicopters. They do SAR from Culdrose and Prestwick I believe. Of course, there is that minor issue of potentially going to war and the fact you may get no choice over what you do.

I wish I had thought of flying a few years ago, now too old for the RAF due to the fact I chose work over education. Would have loved the chance to have flown those Tristars..

[emdiesse]

We i'm unsure what aircraft I want to fly really; I just want to be in the air. It's something that were not born to do and it's not something that is very readily available to you (to fly yourself).

I do not want to rule out commercial pilot, etc. However there is something about seeing the helicopters for rescue and search that seem quite cool. I can see myself up there seeking out people on mountain sides, from sea or tracking people on the ground.

The problem is, i want to do both, ha. Theres that part of me that has liked planes from a young age, and a part of my now that just sees how choppers are quite cool.

The thing that puts me off the RAF is the wage and getting shot at, with my degree (if and when i get it) I feel I am capable of more. I'm interested also as to the hours of a commercial pilot, as this seems the biggest factor for me. I love the idea of going places but I have heard that you are away quite a bit.

At the end of the day though, it's something I have always wanted to do and no matter what I training in, plane of helicopter, I would love it.

Thanks for the help, I thought having a degree in computer science would be a good safety plan and wouldn't hinder my chances as a pilot.

[OneIn60rule]

It's a first

Someone thinks 20 is too late to start.

You could start now and finish at 22.


For the chopper copper it's best to join the coppers and then get a heli licence. I believe they usually pick them this way as opposed to getting someone who has no idea about L.Enf.

1/60

[emdiesse]

Very True. I have thought of this method. Perhaps when I finish university I should look into this as one path option. Roughly how much am I looking at for training to become:

- a plane pilot
- a helicopter pilot

This is not something that will put me off. I am thinking of it so I can start to plan how I am going to go about saving up and training for this. Being a university student, i already have a debt. however hopefully I should pay this of fairly quick.

I am going to need to do alot of research into this i believe so I can find out my available routes, etc. Where are some good websites that can help me?

thank you

[edit]
Ok, it looks like cabair charges:
-Fixed wing: First Officer Direct Programme is £50,400 plus VAT (£59,220)
-The CPL (Helicopter) Integrated Course fee is £43,018.00 + VAT = £50,546.15 inc VAT

So would a maximum estimate of £75,000 seem adequate?

Currently on my placement year I am earning 18k (hoping to save 6k), hoping next year (last year of uni) to be able to save (3-4k). After uni hopefully I will have a nice starting salary (25k+ hopefully 30k) and to be able to step it up fairly fast and then try and save as much as I can.

With living cost etc it seems it will take me a fair few years, I don't know how I will manage. I'm going to have to live in a tent and become a hunter gatherer with a full time job if I want to pull this one off. How did everyone cope with the cost?

I understand sponsership is not as common now so am I completely alone or are there other ways?
[/edit]

[tupues]

The thing that puts me off the RAF is the wage and getting shot at, with my degree (if and when i get it) I feel I am capable of more.

Exactly. I mean why lower yourself to joining the RAF? Surely with your computer degree you should be aiming for at least Head NASA Astronaout or higher!

[4KBeta]

(25k+ hopefully 30k)

Unless you work in London I think your find thats very difficult to achieve. Obviously if you do live in London, then you have to pay for extra living expenses, or the commute if your outside.

What exactly are you trying to get into in Computing? I suggest you decide what you want to do and build a portfolio of sort or get some experience in that area. Eg, you want to be a Java Programmer, well then play around with Java more. E-Commerce? Get playing with MySQL, Networking - SQL Server etc, you get my idea

[emdiesse]

In computing, I am interesting in programming. Being already on 18k and having not left uni I feel that companies will want to be able to out do your previous salary. I believe 25k is a fair assumption. Our uni has provided this data for students completing a professional year:

"Max: £33,000, Average: £23,562, Min: £17,000"

Perhaps 20k might be a better assumption. I am aiming only to work out for myself a rough guide of how long it might take me to train without loans, etc.

I have a further question. Would training for a PPL now and then doing a CPL after university lower the cost at all? rather than training from scratch for a CPL after uni?

[AlphaMale]

I have a further question. Would training for a PPL now and then doing a CPL after university lower the cost at all? rather than training from scratch for a CPL after uni?

You must do your PPL prior to your CPL unless you're looking to enrol on an integrated course.

Being already on 18k and having not left uni I feel that companies will want to be able to out do your previous salary. I believe 25k is a fair assumption.

I don't think you'll find many companies offering you £25k pa based on a Bachelors degree and 12 months work experience with programming.

[emdiesse]

Ah shame, it'll take even longer to learn to fly then. I was being optimistic, perhaps too much so. I was looking at the integrated course. I think I should do PPL first then (early next year or this year) since it is a fraction of the price and by doing so I will learn more about if this is right for me. I have no doubt that it isn't.

Cheers

[AlphaMale]

I also did a BSc in IT and now work 9-5 in an office on a 'tidy' wage but nothing like my University told me I could *potentially* earn i.e. £35+ pa

I decided on modular as it limits the risk, if all fails I lose £40k and not £75k and when I did have most of my funds for training I ended up putting it down as a deposit on my apartment

My company pays for and pays me to complete certifications so my back up plan is getting stronger as my training funds fill up

A PPL will do no harm, and will give you a small advantage when starting the Integrated course, but I don't think they (CTC/OAA/FTE) will reduce the cost unfortunately.

[emdiesse]

Very interested in what you just said about the modular course. I read it as you completed a degree, similar to mine. You would like to become a commercial pilot instead of your office job. You are training on the modular course so if all fails you lose 40k not 75k. What is the modular course as this could be just what I have been looking for. I am looking not to lose a whole 75k too, I would also rather lose 40k as unfortunately my money tree I planted still hasn't grown.

I'm pleased to hear that I am not alone and there are others like me.

Good luck with it all.

[TheBP]

I'm actually similar to you guys, except didn't go to university. Have been doing development professionally since I was about 16. But got completely fed up with it, can't stand the thought of going back to it even as a back-up and no matter how much money is offered.

With regards to wages, yes it's tough. There are a lot of companies out there which will exploit people for as long as possible, vastly underpaying. But how good are you? For example, .NET development is pretty hot at the moment. If you've done some good development work over time and can prove it, why not look at contracting positions? If you're flexible with regards to re-locating then there is a lot of demand out there (currently).

Don't look only at large or integrated schools, and remember to look outside UK/Europe. Unfortunately all the taxes add up to make it ridiculously expensive for us Brits over here.

Unless I'm mistaken, I can't find any decent web site which allows you to search for flight schools and compare them all - maybe we should get together and create one!

Anyway, personally I've spent a while looking for schools in the US. My current thoughts are to go to a school which issues J1 visas, get all the FAA ratings and instruct until the visa is up. If I do it right, I should be able to get over 1,000 hours. If I have the spare time, will start ATPL GS distance-learning from the States. Come back to the UK, convert CPL/IR and then decide whether or not I want to instruct more or go commercial and do the MCC. Of course, these are all going to add to the expenses further - but am aiming at £40K-£45K total investment required for a lot more hours and a lot more fun than any integrated course.

This may not suit all people, but I'm really in no rush to fly commercially.

[TheBP]

emdiesse,

I meant to ask - have you been on a trial flight yet? Always a good idea and won't cost the earth, unless it gets you completely addicted to the idea of flying! Beware, this is what happened to me.

There's a lot of good information on PPRuNe, so look around. Other things you should consider are doing GAPAN's aptitude assessment and making sure you can get a Class 1 medical. But keep doing more research first as the two of those alone will set you back £500! But both very worthwhile investments.

[emdiesse]

Hey.

Yeah, I have. I went on one for my 18th birthday and I absolutely loved it (an idea of how much I loved it was when I open the wrapped up booking and cried with joy, it was the first time and probably the last time that will ever happened. It was before I had even sat in the plane!). It's only really since starting university and getting absorbed in studies for CS that made me lose sight of my pilot ambition. Now I am working on placement it came back to me.

I have looked at the prices for a CAA Class 1 Medical and I am lucky to find one in my home town. It is priced at £271. Is this the right medical exam?

Even if i never make the CPL I would still have wanted to do a PPL anyway as if I don't make a commercial pilot or helicopter pilot for police, coastguards or something I still hope to be able to fly. By the end of next week I hope to have a few ideas on my next steps, namely deciding what type of pilot job I would enjoy to most, I can see exciting bits in all of them, spoilt for choice at the moment.

[preduk]

Don't know what your home town is, but CAA Class 1 can only be done at CAA Gatwick and costs £300+

I myself am similar age as you in my 3rd year of study at University while doing the modular route.

I basically use my wages and student money for my PPL flight training and hope to start my hour building/ATPL theory once I graduate.

Having worked with the Police Heli Unit, most of them are all ex-Royal Navy or Army Air Corps pilots so I doubt you could join them straight after being qualified.

[AlphaMale]

Yehh looks like the 3 of us are in the same position and taking similar approaches.

I did Multimedia Tech and IT Studies and manage to find a job within 2 weeks of graduating (I'm still there now). Had a great time at Uni and it's made a good back up plan. I dabbled with everything from ASP.net & VB to Photoshop & 3D Studio Max and working in Video/sound studios all day.

I'm now branching out into Networking as I have many friends in that area who could potentially put my name on the top of the CV pile. BUT That isn't my goal it's just a back up plan.

My goal like BP is to go to the states in Oct '08 and get my FAA PPL (with EAA) and when I get back study for my ATPL GS via BGS for 12 months while still in full time employment, after gaining sufficient hours and passing all 14 exams I'll be looking to re-asses the aviation industry in March '09 and go back to the sates to gain all FAA rating and instruct out there before heading back here and doing the conversions and MCC.

... Or at least that is the plan.

I'm looking to complete the FAA's debt free and then taking out a loan for the conversions and MCC.

If I time it wrong and all hell breaks loose when I get back from the US then I'll simply join my friends in the networking industry and fly for fun while instructing at the weekends until a TP FO spot gets made available for a pilot with 1,500+ hrs

PM me if you have any questions.

[slackjack]

Just my 2 cents for you IT fellows...

Im 23 and work in IT - My title is Systems Engineer/Analyst but i basically do Networking and maintaining servers, router some support etc. I didn't go to Uni and instead started as an assistant when 18. Just started a new job on £35K with bonus etc. Based in Reigate so not even in London.
Was simply a case of, "oh thats a nice job advirtised with a tidy sum", 1st/2nd interview and the job was done.

Its well possible to be earning good wonga at a young age so long as you Market yourself well.

There are so many avenues in IT that you can sail down, however some earn more than others, and some have more poitions than others!

I'm living at home now and earning some good cash so hopefully save myself into the cockpit soon! As i really don't fnacy being stuck behind a screen doing 9-5 all my life!

Al the best

[Nashers]

well you may not be doing a 9-5 job in a jet but you will be sitting behind a screen for however long you up there! good thing though is when u do look up the view is great!