Advice for a future airline pilot

[Flyer-Katanic]

Hey everyone,

I find this site really interesting and lot of information about flying, airlines, selection process and etc, so I decided to sign up and ask a few questions.

Just a little bit of back round info on me, I'm 19 and I live in Toronto Canada I have a PPL and I am returning to my home country, Serbia this summer to finish my pilot license (CPL & ATPL) at Prince Aviation, and work up my hours to 1000 (Hopefully haha). Hopefully when I have enough hours I want to hopefully fly for a Middle - Eastern airline company such as Emirates, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, and Etihad airways.

Just have a few questions for some professionals to answer and give me useful advice.

What's a good way to build up fly time hours ?

I was checking on the websites for Etihad Airways and it states "A minimum of 1000 hours on multi crew,glass cockpit jet aircraft of which 500 hours should be on one of the A320 Family and Current on one of the A320 Family" Can someone elaborate on that please ?

]I am really confused and do not no what to do after I finish and obtain my CPL, ATPL and all other add ons that are needed in order to fly for an Airline.

These are the links that I have been reading

FLyDubai
Pilots - work with us - flydubai

Etihad Airways
Job Search

Emirates
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Thank you for reading this and please any advice is appreciated!

[Diego767]

Advice for a future pilot

Hi, my name is Diego and I want to be a professional pilot when I graduate from high school. I'm a junior in high school and I hope to start my training next year. I love aviation and I can't wait to start my training. However, during the last few weeks, I've been doing some research about this career to see if it's worth it. It seems like it is not and I think that I will have to chnage my career, and probably become an aerospace engineer. Before doing this research, I used to say this to myself "i would love to become an airlinr pilot even if the pay is not that good because i love flying!"

This shows my determination, and that's great!! But thinking realistically, we all want to have a good paying job, because that is going to be our main income in our life. Having a job of an airline pilot is different to leisure time and having fun. In leisure time activities, or doing something to get pleasure out of, you wont care if you're being rewarded or not, you just want to have fun. Flying for the pleasure, for example.

In the US, the regional airlines pay you little and you have to work close to 16 hours a day. In addition, you have to pay a lot (more than 100,000 dollars) to obtain your licenses and then when you start working for the regionals, you earn $ 20,000 a year.

So after doing this research, I decided to study something else (aerospace engineering) first, then earn some money and start my training later on. After planning my future, I realized that I might start my training at the age of 30 or 33.

So, my question is, should I follow this route, or should I follow my heart and become a pilot right away. My plan is to attend Embry-Riddle. Yes, I know is expensive, but with financial aid, scholarships, and parent's savings, I know that I will be able to cover all the expenses. Please I need a good advice because I feel lost and don't know what to do. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it

[Gregling]

@Diego767

The decision is only yours, the only thing you want to do is something you like. If you can do that, it's already a miracle.

From what I know, and as you told, it's not the best time to become a pilot in the world. I'm, as everyone else on this forum, looking for a job. I finished my training a year ago knowing that I wouldn't be able to find a flight deck job soon. But that's today. As everything else in this world, everything changes. We had the same thing in Europe (France) in the middle 90'. If you start your training this year, you're going to finish it in 2015 normally. You've got time to see what's going to happen.

On another hand, if you want to play the safety card, you can perform aerospace studies scolarship. Nothing will stop you to become a pilot after that.

[pudoc]

The airlines you posted links to are ambitious for a new pilot. Keep those airlines in your head, you have to have goals in life but these airlines come later.

Not sure about Canada, but in the US I know you'd have to start with some regional airlines or general aviation (instructing, banner towing etc). Only a tiny % of new pilots will end up at a big national airline straight away. But as I said, goals are good. So look at what these airlines want. Make sure they'll accept the type of license you'll get in Canada. I cannot remember what licenses ME airlines will accept so check their website, it's probably an ICAO ATPL.

"A minimum of 1000 hours on multi crew,glass cockpit jet aircraft of which 500 hours should be on one of the A320 Family and Current on one of the A320 Family"

It means just that. Before they'll look at you you need 1000hrs on an a/c where there are 2 pilots required, hours on a jet (glass cockpit is a cockpit with screens instead of analogue gauges like the 737NG, A320) and 500 on A320. This basically says "new pilots off". The way you have to do it is not build hours when there is no reason to. You'll have to find a job somewhere. The requirements above mean you have to have experience on A320, so this could take many years to get to depending on how the job situation is in Canada. I have no idea, probably just as bad as EU. And remember, minimum requirements are only minimum. There will be others applying for that job way more experienced than you so I'd double the hours they require and then you'd be in for a good chance.

I believe in North America a lot of airlines want uni degrees also so look into that.

Before Emirates, expect to spend a lot, earn little and work very hard. And I heard Emirates work you very hard also so don't think it's all glamour on a Dubai beach only flying 10 hours a week.

[Stonebaked]

You need to start at the bottom and work your way up. It's all about hours and experience. Try and find some kind of employment (as hard as it may be) and get some multi crew hours on a recognised aircraft type.

Good luck

[Graham@IDC]

You need to go to the Flyer show at the Sofitel Hotel T5 Heathrow this Saturday. There will be dozens of schools there which can offer you advice.

[pudoc]

^Bit far to go to from Toronto.

[aditya104]

Flying schools are not the best places to seek advice.

[Flyer-Katanic]

Thanks for your replies, but id like some advice from a professional airline pilot, not schools. I've taken tons of advice from schools, they were all useful and all happened to say the same thing to pull me towards their own courses.

[Genghis the Engineer]

not schools. I've taken tons of advice from schools, they were all useful and all happened to say the same thing to pull me towards their own courses.

You sir, may just have the right attitude.

G

[206Fan]

What's a good way to build up fly time hours ?

Have you considered the Instructor Route?

[Flyer-Katanic]

Instructors route... sounds like a good idea I've never considered it!
One question, after I finish all my training and obtain all the required licenses, I'm considering to get a Type Rating on one of the Airbus planes, advice on that ?

Thanks

[500 above]

I suggest you do a forum search on buying type ratings and P2F. It's precisely this that has lowered our terms and conditions.

[KAG]

I'm considering to get a Type Rating on one of the Airbus planes, advice on that ?

Get an A380 type rating


My first airplane was the Cessna 172, i dont regret it.

Times are harder and it's more expensive nowadays, aim to start on Ultra light or Cessna 150...
Vfr and single piston engine rated, here is the real pilot.

[Flyer-Katanic]

What does P2F mean ?
Sorry I'm still new to the aviation world.

[pudoc]

Pay to fly. It means you pay an airline (usually at least £30,000) to sit in the right hand seat (RHS it's usually called on here) for a year for no pay.

Never ever for forever ever do this.

[Flyer-Katanic]

Whats the average cost to obtain a type rating ?

[KAG]

You haven't started and already think about P2F?

Flyier Katanic:

Whats the average cost

You got it my friend, COST.

My advice is to take your $150 000 (that's what your dream will most likely going to cost you if you add the loss of salary from a nice job, the cost of your brand new CPL, the cost of your type rating, the cost of your pay to work scam, and other spendings al together...) and play with it on wall street or in The City (London): you'll lose less.

Burning $150 000 within 5 years was already a very stupid choice in the past, but nowadays if you add the fact oil price will sky rocket within a few years (within 8 years conventional oil is schedule to decrease dramatically, replaced by much more expensive oil and other energy...), it just look like a casino game played by an addicted: the one who loses at the end whatever happen.

You are in Canada? Stay there if you want to be a pilot.

Start on C172 (or the like), and see where it goes from there, that's where almost all the canadians pilots start from, it costs incredibly less and makes you a better pilot.

[wingreencard]

after line training, you will line up in front of the employment office with thousand of other pilots still looking for a job....

if lucky, you will line up in front of a company, to get a seat to pass psycho tests and interviews and they will ask you if you are willing to pay for their line training program....because each time you change airline, you have to restart the line training program.

[pudoc]

Whats the average cost to obtain a type rating ?

Turboprops tend to be cheaper. Could be anywhere from £13k-£30k. And then you have to add accommodation, living expenses and don't forget the airline may want you to buy your own uniform etc. Generally speaking, various type rating organisations charge around £17k for a 737NG type rating.