A Jumbo pilot at 20 - Daily Mail July 12th
Join Date: May 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The truth of the matter is , as anyone whos been around for a few years will know, that of the 1000 or so(guess) <500hr frozen ATPLs out there looking for jobs a significant number will never make it.
Each year I see people of considerable quality drop out of flying purely on the grounds of economic nessesity. Now that it costs £60k or more to get a FATPL this number will increase. The predicted rise in interest rates next year will increase these numbers dramatically.
Yes some make it straight into an airline if that is what they want. Some, like me, spend a couple of years jobless(flying) then get a break flying C172s and end up in thier dream job (corperate) and the industry hushes up the rest. We dont like to talk about it because it makes us feel uncomfortable if talking to a guy who held a commercial ticket, maybe trained with us but didnt make it and now sells advertising space on the local rag but it happens.
Some of you will fail to make it. Its harsh but true. This is not (probably) down to your abilities but largely luck. If for whatever reason you cant afford to keep flying and pay off your debts your in for a rocky ride for the next year or two Im afraid. Even glider towing has a 2 year waiting list at our local club!
All this for a job that is far less glamourous and highly paid than the public ( and many students) percieve. £100k pa not any more!
Each year I see people of considerable quality drop out of flying purely on the grounds of economic nessesity. Now that it costs £60k or more to get a FATPL this number will increase. The predicted rise in interest rates next year will increase these numbers dramatically.
Yes some make it straight into an airline if that is what they want. Some, like me, spend a couple of years jobless(flying) then get a break flying C172s and end up in thier dream job (corperate) and the industry hushes up the rest. We dont like to talk about it because it makes us feel uncomfortable if talking to a guy who held a commercial ticket, maybe trained with us but didnt make it and now sells advertising space on the local rag but it happens.
Some of you will fail to make it. Its harsh but true. This is not (probably) down to your abilities but largely luck. If for whatever reason you cant afford to keep flying and pay off your debts your in for a rocky ride for the next year or two Im afraid. Even glider towing has a 2 year waiting list at our local club!
All this for a job that is far less glamourous and highly paid than the public ( and many students) percieve. £100k pa not any more!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: You Kay
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And with people willing to pay to have their application forms processed, paying for type rating when offered a job and even *some* willing to fly for free the pay packet for a pilot will get even less thus making the expense of training even more pointless and crazy.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Around
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok so the article was a little honey coated and I too would like to know what airline pays £100k, but at the end of the day we all trained and then have no jobs. A little bit of glory might not be a bad thing for this guy. I m in severe debt like alot of people and if this article helped some bigwigs realise how much we go through then great! I heard there s 800 of us low hour qualified pilots out there and slowly some are starting to get jobs. As for being young and flying jets I know several 18-24 yr olds who fly for very reputable companies. Easyjet, JMC and Cityexpress to name a few and quite a few weren t sponsored either. This is all pre sept 11th though. I wish my paper would do an article on me. Only joking! I get enough pity at work let alone the whole of the city staring at me. But if thats the route you want to take then good on you thats what i say.
