Hello from a (hopefully) Smart Ten Year Old
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Co. Durham
Age: 26
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello from a (hopefully) Smart Ten Year Old
Hello
My name is Josh and I am 10 years old. This is my first post. I would like to try and get some knowledge to build up on and get a head start to become a pilot
.
As I have a great interest in aeroplanes I collect small models of all airlines and also have books that give me information about aircraft and accidents. My mums cousin is one of the head engineers at Easyjet so in the Summer he gave me a (behind the scenes) tour of Luton Aiport. I got to go up in the control tower and learnt a lot. After that I went into the EasyJet hq and was amazed of all the technology and how they showed where all the planes were. Lately I've flown with EasyJet and I've landed at Bristol and got to go in the cockpit of a Boeing 737. I was amazed at the screens and all the buttons. I think if I went to a Pilot School, in the years that I would spend there that it would be hard to get to learn so many detailed prints of each aircraft, so I would like to try and start learning about the buttons now. I watch all the aeroplane shows on TV such as Aircraft Investigation and Seconds from Disaster, I hope none of you have been on it and have made a mistake
(I'm sure you havent 
).
Please could I have some advice.
Thankyou
Josh
My name is Josh and I am 10 years old. This is my first post. I would like to try and get some knowledge to build up on and get a head start to become a pilot
. As I have a great interest in aeroplanes I collect small models of all airlines and also have books that give me information about aircraft and accidents. My mums cousin is one of the head engineers at Easyjet so in the Summer he gave me a (behind the scenes) tour of Luton Aiport. I got to go up in the control tower and learnt a lot. After that I went into the EasyJet hq and was amazed of all the technology and how they showed where all the planes were. Lately I've flown with EasyJet and I've landed at Bristol and got to go in the cockpit of a Boeing 737. I was amazed at the screens and all the buttons. I think if I went to a Pilot School, in the years that I would spend there that it would be hard to get to learn so many detailed prints of each aircraft, so I would like to try and start learning about the buttons now. I watch all the aeroplane shows on TV such as Aircraft Investigation and Seconds from Disaster, I hope none of you have been on it and have made a mistake
(I'm sure you havent ).Please could I have some advice.
Thankyou
Josh
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Hi Josh,
Welcome to our world.
Take some time out and read through the "stickies" at the top of the page to help educate yourself about the many different ways you get learn to fly.
Since you're quite young, there's no harm in starting to build towards your goal. It's very important to have a good education but it's also important to have fun too. Get involved with sports and other activities. Being glued to a computer screen isn't the best way to learn about life.
Running around a soccer field etc will also be good for your health.
Being a pilot isn't just about flying the aeroplane, it's being able to work as a team to get the job done.
Now, you may not like this but always wear your helmet when on your bike or skateboard. I know one young fella who fell off his bike when he was 11 years old. Damaged his hearing and that's flying out of his future.
So for the time being, be good at school, play sports and if you can, get a paper round or something. No one knows what the market will be like in 8 or so years so it's best to have some money saved up.
Good luck
(Captain flying a Business jet all over Europe and beyond
)
Welcome to our world.
Take some time out and read through the "stickies" at the top of the page to help educate yourself about the many different ways you get learn to fly.
Since you're quite young, there's no harm in starting to build towards your goal. It's very important to have a good education but it's also important to have fun too. Get involved with sports and other activities. Being glued to a computer screen isn't the best way to learn about life.
Running around a soccer field etc will also be good for your health.
Being a pilot isn't just about flying the aeroplane, it's being able to work as a team to get the job done.
Now, you may not like this but always wear your helmet when on your bike or skateboard. I know one young fella who fell off his bike when he was 11 years old. Damaged his hearing and that's flying out of his future.
So for the time being, be good at school, play sports and if you can, get a paper round or something. No one knows what the market will be like in 8 or so years so it's best to have some money saved up.
Good luck
(Captain flying a Business jet all over Europe and beyond
)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: N/E England
Age: 47
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Josh...
What a wonderful pleasant read - you certainly display great enthusiasm for 10 year old boy. I would suggest you study really hard at school, try and develop a real interest into your education particularly English as well as Maths. If you have a computer, I would ask mum and dad if they would kindly purchase Microsoft Simulator for you (obviously I would expect you to pay out of your own pocket money!!). This way you are able to have hours of fun practicing the functionality of a vast array of aircrafts.
Best of luck young man..
What a wonderful pleasant read - you certainly display great enthusiasm for 10 year old boy. I would suggest you study really hard at school, try and develop a real interest into your education particularly English as well as Maths. If you have a computer, I would ask mum and dad if they would kindly purchase Microsoft Simulator for you (obviously I would expect you to pay out of your own pocket money!!
). This way you are able to have hours of fun practicing the functionality of a vast array of aircrafts.Best of luck young man..
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Josh,
When you are 13-14ish, join the Air Cadets. They will help you develop the team skills Redsnail referred to. You will also have the chance to gain air experience in gliders and maybe even get a scholarship for some powered airplane flying lessons. The Air Cadets also help people work towards the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Some air cadets go on to become pilots in the RAF, but many more of them train for commercial aviation. Whichever way you decide to go, the ATC will help you develop many valuable skills that will help you achieve your goal and best of all, it's all free.
When you are 13-14ish, join the Air Cadets. They will help you develop the team skills Redsnail referred to. You will also have the chance to gain air experience in gliders and maybe even get a scholarship for some powered airplane flying lessons. The Air Cadets also help people work towards the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Some air cadets go on to become pilots in the RAF, but many more of them train for commercial aviation. Whichever way you decide to go, the ATC will help you develop many valuable skills that will help you achieve your goal and best of all, it's all free.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Salford Lads Club
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep I'll second that Rugby, what a nice post indeed.
All good advice from the other guys and girls here Josh, maybe when you're 13, have a look at joining your local Air Training Corps squadron, you'll have a brilliant time. Loads of good activities to do, included some flying and gliding, sports, camps, loads.
In the meantime, your mum's cousin sounds like a brilliant bloke, Im sure he would be happy to chat to you about flying, as everyone here is too.
Work hard, ask questions on here, and flying will be there before you know it.
Welcome to PPRuNe too.
All good advice from the other guys and girls here Josh, maybe when you're 13, have a look at joining your local Air Training Corps squadron, you'll have a brilliant time. Loads of good activities to do, included some flying and gliding, sports, camps, loads.
In the meantime, your mum's cousin sounds like a brilliant bloke, Im sure he would be happy to chat to you about flying, as everyone here is too.
Work hard, ask questions on here, and flying will be there before you know it.
Welcome to PPRuNe too.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: manchester UK
Age: 52
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Josh,
welcome to our world!!. its great that you have an interest in aeroplanes!. As the guys above have said, do well at school and try in the future to take an interest in subjects at high school like maths and physics, this will give you a good grounding to understand some of the things you will have to study many years ahead if you do still have the same enthusiasm to become a pilot.
you may read some negative things on here sometimes but its only because us pilots types like to have a moan occasionally
, one thing we all have in common though, we all have a passion for aviation and love flying aircraft, whether it be for a job or just for pleasure. You wont hear of many pilots who dont like their job!!
Dont worry too much at the moment young man about all the buttons and levers on the big jets!, just enjoy your discovery of aviation and learning about aeroplanes and how they fly, most pilots on here started flying in little cessnas and piper aircraft first, have a look at those and learn what everything does, it will certainly impress your friends!. As the post above says, get a little paperround or clean your dads car for a small fee!!, save up and buy microsoft flight simulator. see if your dad will run you down to your nearest aircraft museum and have a look at the aircraft there. If you get him to run you down to your local airfield and ask someone very nicely, you never know, you might just get a tour, or of you are very lucky and someone is feeling generous, you might get a flight in someones aircraft!!!!, thats what i did when i was your age.
I wish you all the best for the future, you sound like an inteligent young man and we need more like you!!.
Good luck for the future and above all.......enjoy your journey into aviation!!
welcome to our world!!. its great that you have an interest in aeroplanes!. As the guys above have said, do well at school and try in the future to take an interest in subjects at high school like maths and physics, this will give you a good grounding to understand some of the things you will have to study many years ahead if you do still have the same enthusiasm to become a pilot.
you may read some negative things on here sometimes but its only because us pilots types like to have a moan occasionally
, one thing we all have in common though, we all have a passion for aviation and love flying aircraft, whether it be for a job or just for pleasure. You wont hear of many pilots who dont like their job!!Dont worry too much at the moment young man about all the buttons and levers on the big jets!, just enjoy your discovery of aviation and learning about aeroplanes and how they fly, most pilots on here started flying in little cessnas and piper aircraft first, have a look at those and learn what everything does, it will certainly impress your friends!. As the post above says, get a little paperround or clean your dads car for a small fee!!, save up and buy microsoft flight simulator. see if your dad will run you down to your nearest aircraft museum and have a look at the aircraft there. If you get him to run you down to your local airfield and ask someone very nicely, you never know, you might just get a tour, or of you are very lucky and someone is feeling generous, you might get a flight in someones aircraft!!!!, thats what i did when i was your age.
I wish you all the best for the future, you sound like an inteligent young man and we need more like you!!.
Good luck for the future and above all.......enjoy your journey into aviation!!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't worry about all the switches. After covering general basics and technical understanding, you will only have to specialize in the switches found on the one aircraft type you will fly in your job. No one knows all of them!
And of course we make mistakes, everybody does, every day, and anyone claiming otherwise should be punched in the nose. Luckily, not every error ends in disaster, though
And of course we make mistakes, everybody does, every day, and anyone claiming otherwise should be punched in the nose. Luckily, not every error ends in disaster, though
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cambridge
Age: 35
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JoshB,
What a wonderful post mate, well done!
If you're looking for enthusiasm and motivation, then here it is - it only seems like yesterday when I was 10 and talking to a group of parents at school about what I wanted to do when I grew up.
I'm now a co-pilot (the correct term is 'first officer') on the Boeing 737 for Ryanair, aged 20
I promise you, the time flies by, excuse the pun!
My best wishes are with you, and good luck, it's all good advice above!
Addison
What a wonderful post mate, well done!
If you're looking for enthusiasm and motivation, then here it is - it only seems like yesterday when I was 10 and talking to a group of parents at school about what I wanted to do when I grew up.
I'm now a co-pilot (the correct term is 'first officer') on the Boeing 737 for Ryanair, aged 20
I promise you, the time flies by, excuse the pun!
My best wishes are with you, and good luck, it's all good advice above!
Addison
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
Age: 72
Posts: 4,156
Likes: 0
Received 29 Likes
on
14 Posts
Hi Josh - make sure you get to study physics at school - that would be the best short cut you can make at this stage.
Good luck!
Phil
Good luck!
Phil
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While FS may be good to develop understanding of certain systems (I've seem some pretty good FMS/CDU setups, ie) and is fun to play with, it is not a substitute for experience. It does not develop airmanship or judgment. In the real world, there is no pause function, and there's not a reset button, either.
As a former flight instructor I've seen both worlds of simmers -- the ones that used it for what it's worth and got better at, say, their scan, and the knowitall-simmers that were trying to teach me how to fly...
That being said I did use FS during training and as a refresher before sim checks -- for raw data basic attitude flying, and nothing more.
As a former flight instructor I've seen both worlds of simmers -- the ones that used it for what it's worth and got better at, say, their scan, and the knowitall-simmers that were trying to teach me how to fly...
That being said I did use FS during training and as a refresher before sim checks -- for raw data basic attitude flying, and nothing more.
Gender Faculty Specialist
And here is another important talent for you to refine as you grow up Josh- The abilty to sort the wheat from the chaff.
There will always be somebody who talks utter nonsense, no matter how well meaning they are trying to be.
There will always be somebody who talks utter nonsense, no matter how well meaning they are trying to be.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Too far from home
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah now Josh, welcome to the world of aviation young man. The first thing you will notice are there are two types of people, grumpy old captains and desperate over arrogant 'wannabes'. Study both carefully and then find a happy medium and you should just about fit in!!
But seriously Josh, concentrate on working hard and getting the results you need, but also work on being a pleasant fellow too! A big part of getting a job with an airline is being able to demonstrate that you are a nice chap who a captain would be happy to sit next to for 12 hours.
As for flight sim, maybe have a play, but remember it's just a game, a real aircraft is very different and cannot be compared to a computer game, but nonetheless it can still teach you some valuable stuff.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a private message. It's very pleasant and refreshing to see such a well mannered and intelligent 10 year old!
But seriously Josh, concentrate on working hard and getting the results you need, but also work on being a pleasant fellow too! A big part of getting a job with an airline is being able to demonstrate that you are a nice chap who a captain would be happy to sit next to for 12 hours.
As for flight sim, maybe have a play, but remember it's just a game, a real aircraft is very different and cannot be compared to a computer game, but nonetheless it can still teach you some valuable stuff.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a private message. It's very pleasant and refreshing to see such a well mannered and intelligent 10 year old!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Co. Durham
Age: 26
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou - I am really grateful for all of the replies! I didnt think that i would get very many replies
I have read all your advice and will try to follow it. You said about keeping fit, I do Dog Agility, if youve been to Crufts you will have seen it. I am up against 16 and 17 year olds who are very good but I have won a few rosettes and trophies. I run my friends dog and my Mums dog at the moment but I hope to get a pup of my own to train in the next year or so.
Thank you Redsnail about wearing a helmet. I also need one for ankles so I can work plane rudders as when i was on my quadbike for the first time I was waving at my Mum and didnt notice a stone had fallen off the wall and I went over it and it stuck underneath
and it was like being in turbulence bumping up and down in a storm and I fell off and nearly broke my ankle!
I will be asking for advice please. I like watching the Aircraft programmes and have learnt lots of things - rudders, elevators (my teacher got embarassed by not knowing what an elevator was when we were designing Rockets!), two black boxes, voice recorder, data recorder and flaps - if you dont put those up on landing you're dead with a bang
I will try to work hard at school
. Ive just found out Ive passed an entrance exam to a very good Senior School that is connected with RAF Air cadets but I dont know if I can go as Mum and Dad say it is probably to big a commitment. Dad likes the school but says if I cant go he'll try to find places that do the activities they do so I dont miss out to much.
I was pleased to read everything, i told my Mum I would get replies at night as Pilots finish work between 8 and 9 then maybe 1 hour to drive home, then they unpack then watch a movie with their wife, their fiancee, whatever they call it, then go on the computer.
As I live in the countryside theres not many jobs but I have been lucky to do a little bit of TV work so apart form buying my little brother a present and payming my mum £5 per day when we were away I have put it in a Building Society account.
Got to go now, I typed this already once and it lost it so hope it doesnt happen again
BFN
Josh
I have read all your advice and will try to follow it. You said about keeping fit, I do Dog Agility, if youve been to Crufts you will have seen it. I am up against 16 and 17 year olds who are very good but I have won a few rosettes and trophies. I run my friends dog and my Mums dog at the moment but I hope to get a pup of my own to train in the next year or so.
Thank you Redsnail about wearing a helmet. I also need one for ankles so I can work plane rudders as when i was on my quadbike for the first time I was waving at my Mum and didnt notice a stone had fallen off the wall and I went over it and it stuck underneath
and it was like being in turbulence bumping up and down in a storm and I fell off and nearly broke my ankle!I will be asking for advice please. I like watching the Aircraft programmes and have learnt lots of things - rudders, elevators (my teacher got embarassed by not knowing what an elevator was when we were designing Rockets!), two black boxes, voice recorder, data recorder and flaps - if you dont put those up on landing you're dead with a bang
I will try to work hard at school
. Ive just found out Ive passed an entrance exam to a very good Senior School that is connected with RAF Air cadets but I dont know if I can go as Mum and Dad say it is probably to big a commitment. Dad likes the school but says if I cant go he'll try to find places that do the activities they do so I dont miss out to much.I was pleased to read everything, i told my Mum I would get replies at night as Pilots finish work between 8 and 9 then maybe 1 hour to drive home, then they unpack then watch a movie with their wife, their fiancee, whatever they call it, then go on the computer.
As I live in the countryside theres not many jobs but I have been lucky to do a little bit of TV work so apart form buying my little brother a present and payming my mum £5 per day when we were away I have put it in a Building Society account.
Got to go now, I typed this already once and it lost it so hope it doesnt happen again
BFN
Josh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Co. Durham
Age: 26
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the replies
This is a test e/mail as I typed a long one last night but it doesnt seem to have come on.
If this works I will re-type it tomorrow.
Thanks
Josh
This is a test e/mail as I typed a long one last night but it doesnt seem to have come on.
If this works I will re-type it tomorrow.Thanks
Josh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Co. Durham
Age: 26
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It worked
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for all the replies, I didnt expect that many. Mum thought I wouldnt get any. I told her they would come at night as Pilots dont finish work until 8-9pm, then maybe an hour to drive home, then unpack, then watch a movie with their wife or fiansi or whatever they call it then come on the computer.
I have a Flight Simulator (which I have crashed - oops). Its Flight Sim 98 so I think I need to save up for a better one and also a joystick.
Someone said about keeping fit, I compete in a dog sport called Dog Agility maybe you have seen it at Crufts? I borrow my friends dog and my mums but hopefully I will get my own pup to train in the next year. I'm up against very good 16 and 17 year olds sometimes so dont get lots of rosettes but its good fun. Thanks Redsnail for the Helmet advice, I could do with one for ankles to as when i was on my quadbike for the first time I was waving at Mum and didnt see a stone had fallen out of the wall. It got stuck under and it was like being in loads of turbulence up and down, up and down. I baled out but got my ankle caught, but my head was ok altho I wouldnt be able to use rudders for a while
I find school a bit boring but will try my best. Last week I heard i had passed an exam to get into a very good Senior School but I'm not sure if I can as mum and Dad say its probly to big a commitment. I want to go as they have RAF Air cadets. Dad says if I cant go he will try to find things outside of the school for me
Thanks for the advice re buttons, glad i dont need to worry about it to much. I enjoy watching TV programmes and have learnt a lot about aeroplane parts (the other day I had to tell my teacher what an Elevator was when we were designing Rockets). The flaps are my favourite as if you dont move them you crash!
Mum laughs about me saving up money, i am lucky I have done a bit of TV work so I have saved some, though I paid mum £5 a day for when we were away from home and bought my little brother a present and me a DS.
Thanks again, I hope to chat soon.
Hope this post works!!
Josh
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for all the replies, I didnt expect that many. Mum thought I wouldnt get any. I told her they would come at night as Pilots dont finish work until 8-9pm, then maybe an hour to drive home, then unpack, then watch a movie with their wife or fiansi or whatever they call it then come on the computer.
I have a Flight Simulator (which I have crashed - oops). Its Flight Sim 98 so I think I need to save up for a better one and also a joystick.
Someone said about keeping fit, I compete in a dog sport called Dog Agility maybe you have seen it at Crufts? I borrow my friends dog and my mums but hopefully I will get my own pup to train in the next year. I'm up against very good 16 and 17 year olds sometimes so dont get lots of rosettes but its good fun. Thanks Redsnail for the Helmet advice, I could do with one for ankles to as when i was on my quadbike for the first time I was waving at Mum and didnt see a stone had fallen out of the wall. It got stuck under and it was like being in loads of turbulence up and down, up and down. I baled out but got my ankle caught, but my head was ok altho I wouldnt be able to use rudders for a while
I find school a bit boring but will try my best. Last week I heard i had passed an exam to get into a very good Senior School but I'm not sure if I can as mum and Dad say its probly to big a commitment. I want to go as they have RAF Air cadets. Dad says if I cant go he will try to find things outside of the school for me
Thanks for the advice re buttons, glad i dont need to worry about it to much. I enjoy watching TV programmes and have learnt a lot about aeroplane parts (the other day I had to tell my teacher what an Elevator was when we were designing Rockets
). The flaps are my favourite as if you dont move them you crash!Mum laughs about me saving up money
, i am lucky I have done a bit of TV work so I have saved some, though I paid mum £5 a day for when we were away from home and bought my little brother a present and me a DS.Thanks again, I hope to chat soon.
Hope this post works!!Josh
Supercharged PPRuNer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
Posts: 1,183
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Josh, and well done - if only my written English was as good as yours when I was ten!
I started flying training when the internet was just getting going - I feel old typing that - and there wasn't anything like as much advice around then as there is now. Redsnail has been around even longer than me (sorry Reddo) and her advice is spot on. Working as a commercial pilot isn't about how well you can fly an ILS, it's all about teamwork - whether it's captain and first officer, flight crew and cabin crew, or dealing with air traffic, operations, dispatchers, fuellers, caterers - whoever. Airlines look for an ability to work as part of a team.
Aim for the best grades you can at school, target maths and physics at GCSE and A level, join any clubs that help you develop teamworking skills, and as others have suggested, consider joining your local air cadets.
The best news for you is that you have all the time in the world to train and join this industry - many people don't start flying commercially until their thirties, and I was 36 when I got my first airline job. Now flying Q400s and wishing I'd done it years ago!
I started flying training when the internet was just getting going - I feel old typing that - and there wasn't anything like as much advice around then as there is now. Redsnail has been around even longer than me (sorry Reddo) and her advice is spot on. Working as a commercial pilot isn't about how well you can fly an ILS, it's all about teamwork - whether it's captain and first officer, flight crew and cabin crew, or dealing with air traffic, operations, dispatchers, fuellers, caterers - whoever. Airlines look for an ability to work as part of a team.
Aim for the best grades you can at school, target maths and physics at GCSE and A level, join any clubs that help you develop teamworking skills, and as others have suggested, consider joining your local air cadets.
The best news for you is that you have all the time in the world to train and join this industry - many people don't start flying commercially until their thirties, and I was 36 when I got my first airline job. Now flying Q400s and wishing I'd done it years ago!
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: seychelles
Age: 33
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi josh
i am 17 now and next year I will knw my fate if I will be a pilot or not
The main thing you need is that you need to have true love for aviation and must have the will power
There are mnay guys in my school who wants to be a pilot but never show interest in it
So as the guys said 'Work well at school and do have a lots of positive fun and keep believe in your dreams'
You are 10 years old and the road may seem long but the time will fly faster then a Concorde in my opinion
i am 17 now and next year I will knw my fate if I will be a pilot or not
The main thing you need is that you need to have true love for aviation and must have the will power
There are mnay guys in my school who wants to be a pilot but never show interest in it
So as the guys said 'Work well at school and do have a lots of positive fun and keep believe in your dreams'
You are 10 years old and the road may seem long but the time will fly faster then a Concorde in my opinion