is this a logical path into the right seat?

[Kauley Hatton]

I'm in sixth form studying A-levels (3 in total, History, Psychology and Philosophy) and i'm not born into a billionaire family. i have 10 GCSE's. so basically i have educational requirements to become a pilot. you get the idea, i have always wanted to be an airline pilot and so on. but i'm serious now and i'm at the point where i need to start making decisions about how to get into the right seat of an airline.

i know that British airways have the future pilot program, and i would have grasped the opportunity and shown them my skills, BUT the course finishes (apparently) in 2014, and i will only be 17, not 18, and not have completed my a-levels yet. . i have hurt my brain in sorting out how to get to that all important position, and have devised a plan and need to see if it is actually a good idea, or i'm not just becoming crazy.

now i know and understand that the RAF are currently not interested in recruiting pilots as of now, so i decided to have a look at the army air corps in the British army. now i could go straight in as a pilot for lynx helicopters, but i thought of a more 'out of the box' way of doing that (as selection for that is also hard). i'm going to apply to join the army as an aircraft technician. now i thought as an aircraft technician, i would gain an inside out knowledge of how aircraft engines actually function, as well as enjoying the job in the process.

not only that, they army air corps has a 'soldier first, pilot second' tradition. this means that i could be an aircraft technician for 4 years, and when i am recommended for a promotion, i am able to transfer to flight school. if i pass my flight school phase and go on to become a pilot, i wuld be flying heli's and earning 30k a year. (even as an acraft technician i would be earning 17k a year, and have no living expenses). i would fly heli's (or be aircraft tech) until i have saved up around 150k (bearing in mind i would be having a good time in the process!)

now after spending 15 or so years and coming out with either military flying experience and aircraft technician experience, or just acraft tech experience, and that big lump of spending money, i could finaly 'buy' ATPL training into becoming a first officer for an airline.

now i would have heli flying exp, aircraft tech exp, ATPL and hopefully a house to live in, and then focus on being employed by an airline, and if no luck, well heck i still had a blast, and can continue with being and aircraft tech.

so there you have my life plan, into doing a desire i dont wish to sell my soul for. is it a really good idea? or am i just going mad in the head?

[SloppyJoe]

Those are slightly strange A-Level choices for someone who wants to be an aircraft engineer or pilot. Not wrong choices just unusual.

Your idea is an OK idea but in practice I doubt it will go to plan. You will be 35 or there abouts when you plan to leave the military. No wife, no kids? Maybe not in your plan but those things usually become part of life and good luck saving up GB£150,000 on 17-30K a year.

Now here is what I would do unless of course you would love to be an aircraft engineer in which case joining the military would be a good start or working towards your civilian licenses. I would go to university, join the university air squadron, get a part time job and have the occasional flying lesson with the aim of having a PPL upon graduation in 3 years. If you really would like to be in the military 4-5 years is a long time, maybe the RAF will be looking for pilots but more importantly you will be far more competitive for direct flying positions in the Army Air Corps or RN with a degree and more life experience.

You are at an age when you can make this happen, at 35 with not enough money saved up it starts to work against you, family, kids, responsibilities all make it harder. If you have kids can you spend all your savings and probably take out a descent loan for an unlikely chance at 35 of being an airline pilot? At 17 you may think so but with a few more years under your belt you will most likely not agree with yourself today.

Here is another idea. The chances of finding employment in Australia are much better than the EU due to more GA. If you go to uni in Australia you can end up with the right of abode, alternatively study for a qualification that is on the immigration list for immigrants to Aus so you can go live there once qualified. You can make a lot of money there working in the places no one else wants to. You could save up the funds for your license much faster and after the qualifying period would be able to work in any field not just the one you used to get there in the first place. Get a license and get a job flying. Your chances would be far greater with the right to work in EU or Australia.

Not saying that's the best idea just another to consider.

[BigGrecian]

I don't think your military plan has any real chance.

It is obvious from your email that you are not fully committed to the military and the recruiters will see right through this.
Also your chances of transferring to pilot training after being an engineer are next to nothing.

Your best route would be the civilian route.

[average-punter]

You remind me of myself when I was 16! Trying to work out the best way in and processing all the different methods of training was a very difficult task. I'm glad you've got the sense to realise you can't afford it immediately and will have to save for it (you'll be surprised how many people don't understand this and run to the bank for a massive loan!). I know nothing about the military and have never had any desire whatsoever to be involved. However the piece of information that I am aware of is that competition is fierce and you have to be 100% committed to the military, which, forgive me if I'm wrong but appears but that you may not be?

If you're interested in being a technician then perhaps you could go to your local college and learn the trade. I know people who have gone down this route and started at college doing something like this, http://www.farn-ct.ac.uk/subjects/en...neering%20-%20 A a good chunk of them have finished and have now secured apprentice jobs with TAG and I believe ATC Lasham to name a few.

I personally am not a massive fan of getting myself dirty so took a very different job in the industry to help fund training and gain some experience. I'm fortunate in the fact that I work for an incredibly secure and profitable airline, flying a variety of routes with a wide range of people. Further to this I’ve met some people who are generally willing to help me. Will it work? Who knows... we shall wait and see?

Best of luck to whatever you decide to do.

[barker987]

Hi, i was just wondering how much employers look at a level grades, im doing my best and hope to get a B in maths and economics, im really stuggling with physics though, i got a*s in science at GCSE but its looking like im gonna get a d/e in physics at a level, will this matter?

[pudoc]

I got a U in Physics and Maths and A-level. Hasn't affected me.

Edit:

I feel it's necessary to stress that it hasn't affected me. That's not to say it won't affect you when/if you apply to certain airline sponsored schemes which may require 2 A-C A-levels.

[Libertine Winno]

@ Kauley

If you're not actually that interested in joining the military, DO NOT even think about joining the army! Training is incredibly tough, especially if joining as infantry and not an officer. If you don't absolutely want it, you won't even complete basic training, presuming of course you can convince the recruiters to offer you a place at all.

The Uni suggestion is much better. Get joined up to the Air Cadets NOW, and then the UAS when you get to Uni. Do something that will get you a decent job in civvy street to pay for your flight training. The modular route will cost you circa £50k from zero to frozen ATPL including a MCC/JOC course, though this will be less if you leave Uni with a PPL.

Nobody knows what the airline industry will be like in 2 years time, let alone 5 or even 10 such is its volatility, so just give yourself the best chance and keep the ultimate goal in mind