Airline Pilots help!!!
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Here`s one
As previously said, get going with your PPL. Good fun flying, which is what flying ideally should be like. Instructing is also fun, for those who enjoy the challenges of teaching, but you won`t get rich. If you can finish your PPL without taking on a loan, that`s great! As you say, a lot of pilots training nowadays have to fork up big amounts just to finish the CPL. Next step is to get a job, or more experience, with about 250 hours total. 250 hours is not a lot! Ready to fork up more cash then? A lot of flightschools will more than encourage you to buy a typerating on a jet, and might help you into a 6 month contract with a lowcost carrier, defined as "line training". BTW, often you`ll have to pay for this as well. and when the 6 months are up, you`re kicked off the apron, because there`s a new "hire" with stars and shiny jets and loads of disillusion in his/her eyes. Can you now estimate the size of the loan? And... you also have to have a roff and some food and clothes and transportation
. This is Europe anyway. South Africa sounds like a much better idea. I imagine the flying is a lot more fun than just programming an FMS and autopilot. That comes later. Not everyone knows this. There`s a lot of backstabbing, as well as whining. Long periods away from home and very little social life, because your friends know you`re away most of the time, and soon won`t bother calling you up for a pint and such, because they already have figured out the answer. Status is pretty low now, huh? Pay is just slightly higher
. But it does seem you`re doing some research, and you might also do some research about the T&Cs
. But all this hardship starts the moment you have completed your CPL and need to start paying your loans.
On the other hand, if you want some status, or at least some people admiring you... you now, the people with whom you socialize? Then get your PPL and take them flying. Often! Make an annual trip with your mates to somewhere you can fly yourself. Part of the trip is getting folks together and do some planning. Maybe you can even get one of the lads to do a PPL as well? And it`s all about stick and rudder, which at he end of the day is what is really fun about flying
As you see, there are at least 2 sides to any situation. Depends on what you make of it.
Good luck!
As previously said, get going with your PPL. Good fun flying, which is what flying ideally should be like. Instructing is also fun, for those who enjoy the challenges of teaching, but you won`t get rich. If you can finish your PPL without taking on a loan, that`s great! As you say, a lot of pilots training nowadays have to fork up big amounts just to finish the CPL. Next step is to get a job, or more experience, with about 250 hours total. 250 hours is not a lot! Ready to fork up more cash then? A lot of flightschools will more than encourage you to buy a typerating on a jet, and might help you into a 6 month contract with a lowcost carrier, defined as "line training". BTW, often you`ll have to pay for this as well. and when the 6 months are up, you`re kicked off the apron, because there`s a new "hire" with stars and shiny jets and loads of disillusion in his/her eyes. Can you now estimate the size of the loan? And... you also have to have a roff and some food and clothes and transportation
. This is Europe anyway. South Africa sounds like a much better idea. I imagine the flying is a lot more fun than just programming an FMS and autopilot. That comes later. Not everyone knows this. There`s a lot of backstabbing, as well as whining. Long periods away from home and very little social life, because your friends know you`re away most of the time, and soon won`t bother calling you up for a pint and such, because they already have figured out the answer. Status is pretty low now, huh? Pay is just slightly higher. But it does seem you`re doing some research, and you might also do some research about the T&Cs. But all this hardship starts the moment you have completed your CPL and need to start paying your loans. On the other hand, if you want some status, or at least some people admiring you... you now, the people with whom you socialize? Then get your PPL and take them flying
. Often! Make an annual trip with your mates to somewhere you can fly yourself. Part of the trip is getting folks together and do some planning. Maybe you can even get one of the lads to do a PPL as well? And it`s all about stick and rudder, which at he end of the day is what is really fun about flyingAs you see, there are at least 2 sides to any situation. Depends on what you make of it
. Good luck!
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Nice post!
Again however, the negativity pushing through. Im starting to wonder, why does anyone ever get involved with airlines if its as bad as almost everyone on this site makes out..... why hasnt everyone just stopped at PPL?
Maybe all airline pilots are a bit thick?
lol.
Again however, the negativity pushing through. Im starting to wonder, why does anyone ever get involved with airlines if its as bad as almost everyone on this site makes out..... why hasnt everyone just stopped at PPL?
Maybe all airline pilots are a bit thick?
lol.
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That's because like most things you don't really understand it untill you do it for a while, say 6 months to a year. Then you realise it's just a job, with plenty of downsides to counter the good stuff. The industry is not what it was, it's changed so much even over the length of time that i've been flying commercially ( 4 years ).
Get a PPL, that's the fun part, enjoy it, build some experience and come back in 2 to 3 years time and see what the state of the industry is then. It's not a good place to be at the mo.
WBV
Get a PPL, that's the fun part, enjoy it, build some experience and come back in 2 to 3 years time and see what the state of the industry is then. It's not a good place to be at the mo.
WBV
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thanks lads... this is all good stuff...ill defo do the PPL...even excited thinking about it...ah sure i think nearly every industry is bad to be in at the moment no...
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sleepyrascal
Really? I count 5-6. You suspect not very many because we are being fairly negative, and I suspect we are not telling you what you want to hear.
We could just lie and say it is all a bed of roses but it isn't. And the clear message we are giving you is that right now the job is not worth the initial investment. People I trained with 4 years ago are being made redundant and others more recently out of training are declaring themselves bankrupt. I don't quite know what you would have us say when you bear this in mind.
I suspect not very many...
We could just lie and say it is all a bed of roses but it isn't. And the clear message we are giving you is that right now the job is not worth the initial investment. People I trained with 4 years ago are being made redundant and others more recently out of training are declaring themselves bankrupt. I don't quite know what you would have us say when you bear this in mind.
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When he said "stupidity" I imagine he was referring to those who choose to commit to training which they cannot afford to pay for.
Like overspending on a credit card and not having money to pay for it.
Stupid might not be the right word as unlike many careers, there is often a great deal of passion involved when someone opts to throw themselves into the aviation industry. Perhaps so much so that sense goes out the window.
Like overspending on a credit card and not having money to pay for it.
Stupid might not be the right word as unlike many careers, there is often a great deal of passion involved when someone opts to throw themselves into the aviation industry. Perhaps so much so that sense goes out the window.
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I’m about to start my PPL training and think modular is the best way to approach it too. I don’t want to cram it into 18 months of prescribed learning, even if age isn’t on my side.
I’d rather have a bit of fun on the way and drop it if it’s not right. I’m looking forward to hour building and taking mates up, doing a booze cruise or two to France, flying in Florida when I take the kids to Disney etc etc:
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve wanted to do this all my life. I have a job I despise and always will if I don’t grab the bull by the horns now! But if it all goes tits up I can just stop the training and carry on with my wonderful IT job, and just go on expensive booze cruises.
I’d rather have a bit of fun on the way and drop it if it’s not right. I’m looking forward to hour building and taking mates up, doing a booze cruise or two to France, flying in Florida when I take the kids to Disney etc etc:
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve wanted to do this all my life. I have a job I despise and always will if I don’t grab the bull by the horns now! But if it all goes tits up I can just stop the training and carry on with my wonderful IT job, and just go on expensive booze cruises.
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Hi,
I was reading your post and I would like to give you a bit of advice that no body has mentioned. I’m have way through my atpl’s. I agree with some of them saying to get your ppl and then wait.
Do that and when you get your ppl study for your atpl’s while your waiting. From the date you first sit the first exams you have 18 months to finish all 14 exams. When you have all atpl’s done you have 3 years to complete your CPL and IR. That is plenty of time to wait. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE LAD don’t mind what there saying if this is want you want go for it and don’t look back. It’s worth the risk.
I was reading your post and I would like to give you a bit of advice that no body has mentioned. I’m have way through my atpl’s. I agree with some of them saying to get your ppl and then wait.
Do that and when you get your ppl study for your atpl’s while your waiting. From the date you first sit the first exams you have 18 months to finish all 14 exams. When you have all atpl’s done you have 3 years to complete your CPL and IR. That is plenty of time to wait. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE LAD don’t mind what there saying if this is want you want go for it and don’t look back. It’s worth the risk.
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Smoke 78,
No offense to the guys who are telling you to get on with it but most of them are as green as the grass and have no idea what the industry is like as they are but a few hours into it.
Age is not an issue, I trained late and if anything it helped, but the industry is getting worse everyday. If I had my time again I would get a proper job that actually pays well and treats you better and fly for fun.
Some times that dream that you put on a pedestal is best left there, if you do decide you can't live life without trying then best of luck and don't go to a sausage factory school as you will be exactly the same as everyone else.
All the best
No offense to the guys who are telling you to get on with it but most of them are as green as the grass and have no idea what the industry is like as they are but a few hours into it.
Age is not an issue, I trained late and if anything it helped, but the industry is getting worse everyday. If I had my time again I would get a proper job that actually pays well and treats you better and fly for fun.
Some times that dream that you put on a pedestal is best left there, if you do decide you can't live life without trying then best of luck and don't go to a sausage factory school as you will be exactly the same as everyone else.
All the best
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There are 3 types of lie. Lies, damned lies and statistics. A flight school would make their stats look good, even when most of their students who got jobs did it off their own backs and also had to pay for a TR.
The only thing I can say is that if you try it you must be able both financially and emotionally prepared to fail to ever get a job. If you can do that then why not try. The market is improving but is still a terrible place to be with a huge debt and no experience.
Tough choice. Good luck.
The only thing I can say is that if you try it you must be able both financially and emotionally prepared to fail to ever get a job. If you can do that then why not try. The market is improving but is still a terrible place to be with a huge debt and no experience.
Tough choice. Good luck.
