mystify2431

Hello everyone. I'm 35 years young and am considering a career change. I'm in quite a fortunate position where I have enough savings and can finally pursue the dream of being a pilot.

It seems like every view suggests going the modular route and given I could carry on working while pursuing that it seems like a no-brainer. So I plan to do a trial PPL lesson and get a Class 1 medical booked in in the next few months and see how it goes from there.

I live in London, and would prefer to stay in the area both during the training period and ideally during a potential pilot career although I appreciate that being picky about jobs is probably not a liberty I'll have.

This brings me to my first question, related to Brexit, and how it is impacting opportunities for UK pilots. Jobs seem to be competitive enough at is, and I have read a few articles suggesting it had made it more challenging for UK pilots by essentially limiting them to UK aircraft based in the UK. Is this still an ongoing issue? It seems like it would be a huge challenge to get employed compared to being able to choose across an entire continent and it is something I am concerned about.

Regarding the medical, my main concern (at least that I'm aware of) is my eyesight is quite poor (I'm around a -7 in both eyes) and it looks like the requirements are for a maximum of -6 for short-sightedness although if I'm reading it correctly it seems that it could be passable if referred for further assessment. Does anyone have any experience of this or if this is a total non-starter then it would be good to know!

I'd also like to get a better idea of starting pilot salaries. I'm happy to take a paycut from what I currently earn but it would be good to know what sort of figures to expect so I can adjust my lifestyle accordingly. I do have a mortgage so there is a limit to have far I can go. I've seen everything from 30k to 75k suggested online for a fresh pilot.

Any advice on the above would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Alexjvb123

Hi, I’m 15,16 this year and I am doing my GCSEs. I am going to be doing maths physics and chemistry at a level and am currently getting my microlight pilots license. I am wondering on the best option to become a commercial pilot as I love flying. I would like to get a uni degree in something physics based. I am also in the air cadets. I am looking for advice on the routes to go down and which one would be best for me. Thank you.

rudestuff

Work hard, get a job and keep flying. In fact get 2 jobs, or 3 if you can fit them in. Live at home with your parents, don't smoke or drink and definitely don't get anyone pregnant, and you'll be a commercial pilot by 21. That's literally all you have to do: You need 200 hours - it takes a long as it takes but do the necessary courses on the way and once you hit 200 you'll have a fATPL. Unfortunately microlights don't count, but have a look at getting your PPL on a TMG, they're cheap and your can convert to SEP easily, plus you can count 30 hours towards your 200.

Hien Ngo

Hi everyone, I'm from Vietnam and I'm graduating in this year and I'm looking for options to become a pilot. Should I join flight school all by myself and work my way to the airlines or pre-signing a contract with an airline first and join its training program? What are the benefits and drawbacks of both? I really need your opinion on this. Thank you in advance.

Aleks93

Hello!
You have several options:
Modular - better value for money, as you can pay for training with your own schedule and take it bit by bit.
Integrated - will require full financing, but will get you there faster. Some flight schools offer scholarships
MPL - straight away contract with airline, safest option, but need to check which airlines offer that.

Hope this helps.

Aleks93

Hey!

Pilot training and job requires a lot of dedication. If you have doubts before starting, you should think more. It is very intense training and afterwards job might require sacrificing some social life.

J2wannabe

Edited

RichardH

Hi J2wannabe

There are lots of commercial pilots out there with little or no school qualifications so I shouldn't worry too much, that said you are unlikely to be accepted on to an airline 'sponsored' or integrated flight course as you stand. Nobody gives a jot about GCSEs results once you are over 21 & holding what really matters - a frozen ATPL.

I shouldn't waste your time going back to school but just get on with the flying via the Modular route (Class 1 Medical first then PPL, ATPLs, hour building etc. etc.), with your job you should have some flexibility to earn & learn at the same time. Do not underestimate the work required for the ATPLs. Most are not technically difficult but it's the volume of mostly useless rubbish in time available that is the killer. You need to be 110% focused & committed preferably with no baggage & are prepared to put your social life on hold for the duration, so it's short term pain for long term gain - attitude is everything.

I was an ATPL theory instructor (TKI) for over 20 years and without a doubt UK students biggest weakness is their standard of maths. One school I instructed at one time actually did a week of maths & physics prior to starting the ATPLs, so get yourself back into maths as you need to be able to manipulate basic formula, interpolate data tables, read graphs & do simple gross error calculations in your head.

Feel free to PM if you wish.

RichardH.

J2wannabe

hi mate thanks for your response and taking the time, yeah my thoughts where the airlines don’t require any formal grades aside from strong ATPL results.

However the only thing putting me back is I may not even make it past the CV stage. I’ve heard some outfits receiving over 7000 applicants. I feel it’ll put me out of the running at the first hurdle.

Modular has been done before and it can be done again

rleungz

Hi all,

I'm now in a position at the grand old age of 33 years old to fund my pilot training. I was so naïve back when I joined PPRUNE at 16 years olds - didn't realise the salary you need to fund such a dream.

I'm planning to start my PPL and obtain my class 1 medical. Being an professional pilot is a 2 - 5 year plan due to money, availability and family commitments.

However, would a PPL be a suitable test to establish if I am capable of getting through to fATPL and becoming a professional pilot? My maths/science isn't a subject I was strong at, but willing to work to refresh and train up the brain for this stuff.

Thanks,
R

rudestuff

None of it is particularly hard, it just takes perseverance. GCSE level maths. If you can drive a car then you can fly a plane. 2-5 years? If you've been saving until age 33, money isn't a problem so training should only take you a year give or take. As always, trial lesson aside, always get your class one medical before you start flying.

redsnail

Ok. No one appears to have answered your questions or offered their thoughts.
Your eyesight may present an issue. Your Class 1 medical will let you know soon enough.

If you only get a UK CPL/ATPL you'll be restricted to only flying G-reg aircraft. Unless the UK rejoins EASA, that will remain the case. If you want both licences, then you'll have to do all the exams effectively twice. Yes, it's nuts... Of course, when you have experience, you can apply to the Gulf states and they'll take care of the licence validation.

You've answered your own question about staying in London. You could be lucky, but I would bet on moving away from London for a good few years. I moved 10,000km.

New CPL salaries? As ever, it depends on what/how/where. Personally, I'd budget a salary from £25K upwards. If you start instructing, half that. Yes, it's that bad. This of course, assumes you get a job after you finish your training. If you don't, you'll have to budget to keep your Instrument rating and medical current. The IR skills deteriorate pretty quickly.

ElegantArmor

Considering US flight schools, but currently based in Scottsdale, AZ. I have a pair of degrees, no debt, and willing to take on my first loan to make this happen.
What are considered maybe the top 3 schools for quality of training and/or hiring potential & airline partner programs?
ATP and Aeroguard have come up often, both happen to be in AZ--do they make the cut? Skyborne in FL seemed tempting because of the Delta pipeline, but I'm slightly plartial to United or Alaska for personal reasons, but that doesn't matter if there's a clear choice for highest percent of working graduates.
Thank you!

rudestuff

In the US it really doesn't matter where you train. You can't go from flight school to an airline anyway. Your only choice is to become a Flight Instructor and get a job teaching for a year or two.

CaptSackJarrow

Ask this in r/Flying (reddit) for a better response, but from what I know. US is PPL -> CPL MEP etc -> FI instruct for 1500hrs to get your ATPL. Where you train etc doesn't hold much to any value, after all you've just spend the past 2-3 years breaking your back instructing in a 172! Go to the cheapest and count yourself lucky that your country gets aviation. Good luck

Unhinged_pilot

This doesn't seem to be such a hurdle in Europe, where we see people come out of an integrated ATPL(A) program and get FO seats with the airlines.
Why is that hour building such a crucial step in the US?

rudestuff

Because in the US you need an ATP to fly for an airline, in Europe you can be hired with a CPL.

Unhinged_pilot

Doesn't an ATPL(A) in Europe include the CPL part as well?
Most integrated training programs I've seen for ATPL(A) include a CPL with flight hours.

thegoosefeet

I'm pretty sure it does

rudestuff

Correct. An ATPL includes CPL and PPL privileges. But you can't get an ATPL straight out of flight school (unless you spend £1M+ renting a multi crew aircraft for 500 hours, which isn't really an option for most people!). When you graduate flight school you have a CPL. Then you get an FO job. Then you get 1500 hours. Then you get an ATPL.
So I'm sorry but you've never seen an ATPL integrated course - because they don't exist.