Awoozy

First of all I sincerely hope I am posting in the right place. I have looked around and this seems to be the most fitting place. Apologies if I am mistaken. This is going to be a lengthy post so I will TL;DR main points on the end of it. I understand that there may have been many other people asking the same question of 'how does one become a pilot' but I feel like I could find some comfort if I was to ask it personally.

About me
I am 19 years of age (turning 20 on the 17th), have zero experience in flying and have never done any training courses or even touched on flying. I have wanted to fly for the longest I can remember and it's truly the only career that the thought of excites me.I had searched for information but the more I searched to more I felt like I became tangled in the information I read so at the age of 14 my mom agreed to take me to an open day that Virgin Atlantic (If I remember correctly. It was a long time ago) had. I don't remember much of what went on if I'm completely honest. The only thing that stuck was when the person ,who took the lecture, announced the cost of training. This is the point where I turned to look at my mother who had the 'Just forget it' look on her face. I looked for ins and outs to get around finance but was clueless. On top of that my mom, her bf and my sister didn't seem to be too supportive mainly due to my academic history. I had obtained C's and B's in GCSE's (without any revision) failed A level due to lack of interest and have only obtained a level 2 qualification in electrical engineering, chef cookery and have a life guarding certificate (What a discrepancy, I know). Essentially I have wasted my years of free education. I've always been the kind of person to really have to want something to work for it. Further more I am a very hands on kind of guy meaning sitting with a pen and piece of paper with study books was literal torture for me.

I am now at a point where I really want to start my career and independent life but I'm sat here asking what I'm going to do with my life and quite frankly feel like a bit of a failure. Searching for job after job I just can't help but think about getting my hands on Pilot training. Am I completely hopeless at this stage? Is it worth trying or should I just accept I would be out of my depth in even wishing to become a Commercial Airline Pilot?

TLDR Is it possible to do Airline Pilot Training and to become an Airline Pilot with no (or a tiny/irrelevant)academic history and if so how would I go about it?
-Finance is an issue. My family will be hesitant to support me financially as I have lost their trust
-What routes are there to take in order to get training
-What can I expect during training and within the industry? I have heard people say that the industry is 'drying up' I don't entirely see how that is accurate but regardless, they say it's not worth the pressure as a new Pilot as it will be a lot of stress especially so when starting out.
- I have shoddy eyesight. I have read wearing glasses is fine but Pilots must have multiple spare's at all time. Is laser eye surgery an option and how would it fare with an aeromedical examination?

Any help on the matter would be much appreciated. Sorry if I come across very naive. It's what I'm here for and will take on board any help I am given.

rudestuff

Dude, you've got your whole life ahead of you. You can make anything happen. Of course you won't realise that until much later. Make a plan and write it down, then stick to it. You don't need any qualifications apart from those required for licencing, but if you want A levels - then go and get them.

Your biggest hurdle is going to be money. Beg, borrow, steal - then use it wisely, go modular. For many it means getting a job or two or three, then working for years to make it happen. (Obviously it won't happen because you'll want to go out and spend it all like every other 20 year old.) Prove me wrong. Stay living at home as long as possible and get the best paying job you can, then go to your local flying school and work weekends for flight time. After a year you'll have your PPL. Get some credit cards for day to day purchases and pay them off every month (to build your credit history) - I would suggest work and save to get your first hundred hours, and only consider borrowing anything after you've passed your ATPL exams.
Everything you want is perfectly achieveable from nothing in 5 years. If you're lucky, you'll get hired straight away. If not, you might have to wait for the next wave to come along. It's not easy, but if you WANT to be a pilot you will be one.

MaverickPrime

Listen to rudestuff.

Firstly, you are what you say you are. So if you say you are a failure, then you are a failure. If you say you are a success, then you are a success. We can’t help you validate your self worth, only you can do that.

Before, you do anything, save yourself a lot of time, money and effort and go see if you can get a Class 1 medical. You won’t be a comercial pilot without it.

Contrary to popular believe, pilots aren’t supermen. You don’t need to be Einstein to fly a plane. You just need to be dedicated and determined to do the study and get through the training. Generally, GCSE level education with a good understanding of mathematics should be enough to get you through training.

The industry isn’t winding up, nor is it ‘not what it used to be’. There are a lot of old farts who look back to their youth with rose tinted glasses and reminisce about what it was like to be a pilot in their day, often leaving out all the downsides. You will come across a lot of negativity in this industry and people who will tell you to not bother being a pilot. However, if you really want it you will stay focused and cut through the negativity.

As for how, when or where to train. Well that is up to you to decide. You need to research, research, research and pick the best route for YOU. All I can say is you don’t need anywhere near £100k to get your fATPL.

Good luck!

Kafkaw

Hello all.
A 15 year old from Kuwait (yes that part of the world) aspiring to be a pilot (military fighter, transport/commercial airline transport pilot). Due to the whole "We don't have enough planes fiasco" going on in my Air Force, I'm currently looking into going into one of 3 airlines, Kuwait, Qatar, or Emirates. Currently, education-wise, have a steady 3.0 GPA average, finished Algebra iI, biology, taking pre-calc, chemistry, calculus, and physics in the coming years.

I speak both Arabic and English fluently, and have been playing flight sims for around 2 years now. Now my question is, what should I do? Apparently, the only way Kuwait Airways accept anyone is if they go through their own program for CPL/ATP/MOC, however I've been given an opportunity to start my PPL now, and not sure whether to take it or not. Also will be looking for a bachelor's degree in college/uni, and unsure whether to go a "normal" Uni, or a Uni with a flight degree/program, again this conflicting with possibly going into Kuwait airways. Lastly, going to see if I can be an airline pilot in the first place by going for a EASA Class 1, but any tips from now would still be appreciated.
Thanks all!

Tips in general on the best way to enter the aviation industry would be great as I get so lost from all the different approaches you can take into the industry.

frye189

Hi guys!

EASA license is one of the most respectful licenses in the world. For European guys here's no question-you have money, find a school, go and later with lots of problems find a job. Looks not easy however for not EU resident it looks impossible. So here we go. Where is this place in the world where EASA license with approx 250 hours will be enough to be hired at least on Cessna Caravan?

So I know one company in Indonesia it's Susi Air, everybody knows it. They're still hiring, the company is great and reviews as well. I think there's a possibility to find probably other two or three. It's only Indonesia. In my opinion, it's the only country where I'm with EASA license will fit the requirements and with huge "maybe" find a job on Caravan.

Latin America and Caribians they're hiring with some hours(min 500) and they prefer FAA. So no jobs there.

Africa? Who knows something about Africa? Bush pilot? You know I think it's a great experience for low hours pilot. If you know something about this continent feel free to respond.

The Middle East? They're full of Captains who have hours on 777 rather than Cessna

Let's return to Europe... And to be exactly correct to Eastern Europe. I read some topics about SmartLynx and Avion Express, not good reviews. But still, I'm asking about Africa as a great place to start, that's why Baltic states like paradise in the world SmartLynx has an opportunity to join them without EU residency. I will have to pay for TR and MAYBE they will hire me. The question is - is this only one company which has this requirement about citizenship or they're many of them, at least I know only one.

Price-60K for fATPL is max and max 20K for possible TR. What do think about it? Try luck or shut up?

Grateful for answers! Have a nice day!

q33139490

Glad to meet someone who is also looking for a trustworthy flight school with FAA CPL program. I've done a little work about this by reading on PPRuNe. It looks like Flightsafety Academy on Florida is a good choice, because several users in this forum both says this school is one of the best in US. What I have not know is the cost compare.
Maybe we could find friends to go to the same school together.

Fly_Pips

Hi all,

Forgive me if some/all of this information has already been discussed before.

I am 31 from London (UK), and have deiced I want to learn how to fly.

I'm aware it costs a fair amount to train, and that to be a commercial pilot is much more expensive than just the standard PPL.

So, what I wanted to ask is, if one had only the PPL, is it possible to earn an income with this level? If not, what is the minimum requirement to be able to earn from this skill? Do you have to have the full ATPL (which seems to cost a crazy amount of money, even through a modular route, with no guarantee of a job after).

My questions are based around being able to recover the costs of training, and actually being able to enjoy this without it draining a hole in my pocket continuously. So it appears the only way to do that, is to be employed as a pilot.

Does anyone know the most cost effective way to become a pilot and earn an income from it? Wether that be training in different countries etc.
And at what level can someone start to earn?

Sorry if these questions are quite broad, I'm new to this.

Thanks for reading.

BaronVonBarnstormer

To earn a salary from flying you need to have a minimum of a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL). This can then be teamed with other ratings to be able to earn money. A good example of an ‘entry level’ job would be a Flight Instructor for which you just need the CPL and to meet hours requirements. Flight instructing can be done part time and indeed many do part time instructing as a hobby job.

I’m judging by your post is that you already have a career and are looking to do this as a hobby. My advice would be to get your PPL first and then worry about whether you want to earn a living from it. Aviation is something you need to love, and a quick scan around this forum will show that earning a living from flying aeroplanes comes with a great deal of work and personal sacrifice, so you need to know that it is definitely something you would give everything for.

Its spring now, so you should be able to get a good few hours under your belt before the weather turns bad again. You mentioned other countries; there are hundreds of flying schools in the US and the med that benefit from year round weather and cheaper hourly rates. Perhaps taking a month off work and doing an intensive PPL course would work for you. The more you fly, the better you will be able to answer your own question. Whichever way you cut it, flying is always going to burn a hole in your pockets so you need to be prepared for that reality. Only when you have a secure flying job will the tide of cash start to turn the other way.

huseyydemm

Yes, on your way you need to clear your goals in your head... you want to be a hobby pilot, flying from A to B, for fun, or you want to do this for earning money?

As a Private Pilot, you can take passengers but do only cost share, not earning from it. During a CPL course you learn the aspects of commercial flying and taking responsibility as a "professional" pilot.
But if you love flying - you will see in your ppl course, after some experience you can think of becoming a pro, but starting with ATPL theory, not CPL.

Ellis_

Good evening, all!

I am a 15 year old student working towards my PPL and I would appreciate some advice to achieve my ultimate ambition of becoming a medium/long haul pilot for a large airline.

Currently, I am about to start flying a light aircraft(possibly a PA-28) and have started studying the 7 books. From here I would like to get an IFR rating, multi-engine rating and frozen ATPL.

Are these advisable ratings to carry out and are there any other recommended? Also, does anyone have a rough estimate as to what these ratings would cost, I am aware of the PPL costs?

I am also hoping to get a Class 1 medical at Gatwick before I "waste" any money.

With regards to current experience, I have been flying 7 times with the RAFAC in the Grob Tutor 115E and have four hours in the back of an R44.

This week, I also carried out work experience at Humberside Airport and was able to get a better picture of the industry which greatly enthused me, working with ATC, various aerospace companies and fire crews. Fortunately, I got to visit Eastern Airways which seems like a good airline to gain hours and experience, as they have employed pilots with hours as little as 200!

At school, I am currently doing well studying for my GCSEs which are: Higher Maths, Triple Science, English, Spanish, Computer Science, Electronics and Geography. For my A-Levels I am hoping to take: Maths, Physics and Geography.

Are these good options and will it be necessary to get a degree?

Could I please have some advice as to what to do next and a good path as to becoming a commercial pilot. Preferably at a lower cost than £100,000 but I appreciate that it doesn't come cheap!

Kind regards,
Ellis.

jamesgrainge

Go to Yorkshire Flight School at Breighton. They will look after you for the first part and save you some cash along the way.

Ellis_

Thanks for your advice, do you have an idea as to how much it costs at Breighton? I also heard that it is a bit of a "lawless" airfield.

I am just wondering whether it will provide that much of a benefit, as it is a 40 minute drive and I live on the same road as Sandtoft Airfield. My other nearby potential places to learn are Doncaster Sheffield airport and Humberside airport.

Regards,
Ellis.

rudestuff

Sounds like you have the right attitude, and you've got plenty of time. If I were you I would get myself a weekend job at a flight school and see if they'll pay you in flight time. If not, then ANY weekend job and spend it hour building (plenty of ways to hour build cheaply starting from £60 with a share) By the time you're old enough to get a CPL you'll have the hours.. Along the way, you can pick up your ATPL exams, IRR, then IR (CBIR route, obviously). That'll leave you a 15 hour CPL to get and the multi time for your MEIR. Get your parents on board by promising to move out when you get a job!

If you stay focused you'll be debt free and flying a Jet while your friends are graduating with Mickey Mouse degrees and loads of debt.

CaptainPugwash12

Yeah the younger you are the more appealing a career as a pilot and business case stacks up and possibly a better route than a degree but always have a back up career, who knows what can happen? Good luck!

Tommyc9494

BaronVonBarnstormer

Before worrying about anything else book in for an assessment for your Class 1 Medical. Its pointless worrying about grades etc before knowing that your body is up to it. It is an expensive process (£500 ish) but even if you can't get a class 1, you may be able to get Class 2 which will allow you to fly on a PPL.

Tommyc9494

jamesgrainge

Class 1 medical seems like a massive deal for someone who hasn't done it, but actually it's not too bad. The spirometry tests aren't extensive, a simple blow in and out of breath, and you should have no problems provided your vision can be corrected to 20/20 and your hearing doesn't require any aids, you should be fine.

carlapilot

In the beginning when I had no clue, I started with Class 1 medical instead of class2..... was not a big deal

ASFOS

Hi all,

I was hoping I could receive from guidance from anyone who may have been in a similar situation to myself or even some general pointers as they would be much appreciated. Essentially, I'm not sure if I should start my training with a decent chunk (a third) of money saved or to wait till I've saved the overwhelming majority and to then start training.

I'm currently a 20 year old working in an Accountancy firm on a higher level apprenticeship. The pay is relatively decent and by the end of 2020, I should have around £20k saved and I think this will cover off a PPL, ATPL Theory and some of the Hours Building. I will continue to work whilst training and therefore able to continue to save money however, I can't help but think, I'll most likely burn through the £20k and then I may need to stop/start to save for the CPL/ME/IR and I'm assuming the lack of continuity will naturally hinder my development. However, if I wait till I'm around 26-27, I should hopefully be qualified with an ACA and consequently able to save up around £60k which will hopefully cover off the overwhelming majority of my training. One of the reasons I would like to start a PPL relatively soon is aside from my desire to do so, I've attended a cadet program assessment day in the past for Aer Lingus, they had questioned why I hadn't commenced on my flying lessons and consequently not really shown a commitment to aviation yet which was fair enough. I'm not implying this is the reason why I did not get in, as every candidate I met there was highly talented and I'm sure they picked the best ones although it was a valid point. However, I can imagine that if I did get a PPL and then decide to stop there for a few years until I had enough for an CPL/ME/IR there would be regular ongoing costs to maintain my PPL which wouldn't be efficient as I'd much rather use that money to develop further

Any advice/personal anecdotes you may have would be much appreciated.