Give up the dream or go for it?

[Omlaaay]

It's just with the price of fuel, this huge aviation boom that we're all expecting can't really be as great as what people are forecasting.

I know it's hard to believe as I'm having to ask this question, but it is really all I want and I would never be able to forgive myself if I didn't go for it and never found out. So, I guess I have answered my own question.

I just need to pluck up the courage in the next 2/3 years to actually go ahead with it and take the risk

[Piltdown Man]

What risk? Is it your money? What would be truly dreadful is if you were risking your parents money, especially if it was raised with the expectation you would be able to repay it once you have a job flying. I have two sons and and daughter and given the condition of the market today, I wouldn't lend any of them money to go flying. I'd help them with a degree or a vocational course, but not flying. The conditions for the new joiners in most airlines are dreadful, verging on the criminal. I'll not encourage my kids to camp in their car at an airport car park and eat beans for every meal for a couple of years.

Get an A-Level, yes. Get a degree - but only if it is useful (ignore Meeja Studies and other such bunkum) and then think about flying with an older head on your shoulders. Go gliding. Maybe even a get a PPL but don't go flying for a living until the terms and conditions change for the better for the new joiners.

[rleungz]

My advice is to do a degree with the option to take a placement year. Work hard and get yourself a graduate offer.

That means you have a job at the end of your degree and have a chance of becoming a airline pilot (or paying off 9k x 4 fees).

[Omlaaay]

Piltdown Man

Yes, virtually all of it will be my money. Got a job the day after my 16th Birthday and getting as many hours in as possible so I can afford to fly in the future. I would never and will never expect my parents to give the me the money to learn to fly. They gained their jobs themselves and have earned all their cash themselves, they are both very much looking forward to retiring and have been saving up for a long time. I would never want to accept their money and for them not to have all the things they were hoping and dreaming of, just because of me. Many people have done it on their own, and I would much rather do it on my own than with the financial support of my parents, it'll be more rewarding that way too, even if it will be difficult!!
I'm going to get my A-Levels and whilst I'm doing them, I'll get my PPL so I have all doors open.


rleungz

If I knew I could do a degree and there would be a job in whatever field waiting for my after, and then I could learn to fly. I would, in a heartbeat. But even now for graduates, jobs are scarce! I guess I'll have to see in 2 years time.


john_smith

I agree with you saying the best days are long gone. I often wish I was born 40/50 years ago! Wow, you were lucky!!! That's pretty impressive but surprising that you'd want to leave it behind, I guess we all have our reasons and opinions though I would never leave school as soon as possible, besides I think my parents and my entire family would string me up for doing so! When you put it like that, paying for University doesn't seem that bad at all and compared to paying for flying, it's loose change! I'm definitely not doing Maths/Physics, I'm thinking English, Geography and French? I definitely see where you're coming from and thank you for the sound advice! I shall see what the current situation is like in 2 years time and then go from there.

[Whirlygig]

I often wish I was born 40/50 years ago!

When there were no/few women pilots? It was only about 20 years that the RAF allowed women to fly. Things have progressed loads since then so. although the economy is not the best, the opportunities for women are better. Sometimes we need to be thankful for what we have and where we are.

[FANS]

To give up or go for it? You don't need to decide for the next ten years - you're 15 not 51!!

[rleungz]

Agreed, you're only 15 years old.

My dream was crushed by an RAF Medical Officer telling me at OASC I failed the eyesight test.

[Omlaaay]

FANS

yes, you're right, thank you


rleungz

oh that must have been pretty devastating!

[The Old Fat One]

If you can do something vocational like Law, Medicine, Dentistry etc. so much the better. Then, if you absolutely must fly, do a PPL, buy a share in an aeroplane and have some fun while earning more money than you could realistically hope to earn as a pilot.

Very, very sound advice...usually it will be ignored.

.....this huge aviation boom that we're all expecting can't really be as great as what people are forecasting

Anybody expecting a huge aviation boom anytime in the next 10 years has either got a very vested interest or the IQ of a jellyfish with learning difficulties.

[Omlaaay]

The Old Fat One

In that case then I'm not quite sure they hire jellyfishes as pilots Damn! Well, you may be right. But no one can predict the future accurately. Everyone is saying different things and not everyone can be right, so I guess we'll just have to see when the time comes.

[rleungz]

Go to University and join the RAF UAS. They give out free flying lessons and you get paid. I also think the Uni Naval Units give out free flying lessons.

[Piltdown Man]

Maybe you should be giving us the advice. If at the age of 16 you can earn enough to pay for a CPL and fund yourself through a degree you certainly don't need our help. But if you think jobs for graduates are scarce have a second look at aviation. I'd suggest that there are several thousand disillusioned people with nice shiny (and many well tarnished) but as yet unused CPLs. I'm also sure I'm correct in suggesting that there will be hundreds of un-employed type rated pilots. Really, do something else before looking at flying. I'm 100% in agreement with John Smith above.

[Omlaaay]

I don't mean I have the cash in now, I have a job currently and do as many hours as possible, what I mean is, if I were doing CPL or going to University, either way I'd need a loan and I wouldn't expect my parents to help with the repayments. Although a loan for a CPL at this moment in time would be a death wish with the economy. I'll have to think about that one.
I've been hearing the same for a while, I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a secure career beforehand, whether it be through University or not, and then take a second look at how everything is panning out!

[captainsuperstorm]

Although a loan for a CPL at this moment in time would be a death wish with the economy. I'll have to think about that one.

eh? someone with a brain here...UNBELIEVABLE!!!


let s go celebrate.
bring cakies and champagne...

[Omlaaay]

Yeah, you're right. Luckily, I won't have the problem of keeping 'the wife' in the lifestyle she has been accustomed too, because I'll be the wife in the relationship

I know you're not, I agree that you have to be realistic as well as optimistic. £41K for a Captain is pretty ridiculous!

Do you know what you're wanting to do as a career instead?

Well that in it's self certainly says something. Although, both my parents work in the same industry and neither of them want me to go down the same route as them, not sure if that's just a parent child thing.

[captainsuperstorm]

I know several pilots,24, 30 , 40, 50, 52 years old.

they lost their job and with their age, it' s going to be very harder to get a job.
now they stay at home wondering what will be their futur.

some are living with their mom because they have no money, and no place where to stay.

I know a few young chap, making less than 700 euro/month. They have no other choice and in these last 30 yeaars, I have see the condition to be worse, not better.

in 10 years, no pilot in this world will be paid.our license will be changed to "professional PPL" and it will cost 250'000 euro.