What should I be doing right now?
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What should I be doing right now?
Hello all,
I am a 15-year-old wannabe pilot but I'm a little confused about what I should be doing right now. I'm going to take Maths, Further Maths and Computer Science for A Level and I'm planning on pursuing Computer Science at University. The thing is though, I want to work in some sector of transportation and being a pilot is really appealing to me too... I mean flying with a front window view... what gets better than that right? I've read around on this forum but I'm not going to lie, a lot of it is confusing. What sort of things do I need to do to pursue a career as a commercial pilot? Should I be taking flying lessons now or is that something for after university? What sort of licenses should I be "chasing"?
I'm from the United Kingdom by the way.
Also, I wouldn't say I'm too much of an aviation nerd. I mean, I do planespotting once in a while, I occasionally spend hours staring at flightradar24 or I take the training lessons on msfs2020 but that's pretty much it
Thanks in advance.
I am a 15-year-old wannabe pilot but I'm a little confused about what I should be doing right now. I'm going to take Maths, Further Maths and Computer Science for A Level and I'm planning on pursuing Computer Science at University. The thing is though, I want to work in some sector of transportation and being a pilot is really appealing to me too... I mean flying with a front window view... what gets better than that right? I've read around on this forum but I'm not going to lie, a lot of it is confusing. What sort of things do I need to do to pursue a career as a commercial pilot? Should I be taking flying lessons now or is that something for after university? What sort of licenses should I be "chasing"?
I'm from the United Kingdom by the way.
Also, I wouldn't say I'm too much of an aviation nerd. I mean, I do planespotting once in a while, I occasionally spend hours staring at flightradar24 or I take the training lessons on msfs2020 but that's pretty much it
Thanks in advance.
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At the states you need to have a degree to be hired by a major, but in the UK and in Europe this is not the case (AFAIK), and it is possible to have a career as a pilot without going to college first.
It is relatively simple to be a pilot, as long as you have the money for it. Just search online for a flight school near you, wait until you are 19 (I believe that is the minimum age for a frozen ATPL), pay the school, and obtain your license. The experience you will have after finishing flight school, although officially is enough for any airline to employ you, is not competitive, and most probably you will have to pay for your own type rating, line training, or sign on enormous bonds so an airline hires you. That will pretty much depend on the market situation when you get your license, which is something that nobody can predict 6 to 8 years ahead of time, which is your case.
No, there is no need to take maths, science, or any subject prior to enrolling in an integrated ATPL course (integrated will give you all the licenses and ratings you need, condensed in 18 months time). All the knowledge you will need as a pilot is already included in the syllabus.
The issue here is not becoming a pilot, but doing it spending the less amount of money possible, and receiving the best training for that amount, without risking losing it in a flight school that may close doors before time leaving you stranded in the middle of the course. And the yet even bigger issue is accessing a job after you get your license. In 2015-2016, almost every pilot that came out of flight school got a job within months, the market was open and hungry for pilots. Seeing that, many enrolled in integrated courses, and by the time they got their licenses in 2018-2019 the market was already full and airlines were not recruiting, and then came Covid, which has brought to a stop the flying career of many fresh graduates.
So, don't focus on what to do, focus on how you are going to pay for it, and how you are going to survive financially if you are not able to get a job after getting your license.
And not being an aviation nerd is a +1 for me. Nothing worse than a 5 hours sector with someone that only talks about airplanes.
It is relatively simple to be a pilot, as long as you have the money for it. Just search online for a flight school near you, wait until you are 19 (I believe that is the minimum age for a frozen ATPL), pay the school, and obtain your license. The experience you will have after finishing flight school, although officially is enough for any airline to employ you, is not competitive, and most probably you will have to pay for your own type rating, line training, or sign on enormous bonds so an airline hires you. That will pretty much depend on the market situation when you get your license, which is something that nobody can predict 6 to 8 years ahead of time, which is your case.
No, there is no need to take maths, science, or any subject prior to enrolling in an integrated ATPL course (integrated will give you all the licenses and ratings you need, condensed in 18 months time). All the knowledge you will need as a pilot is already included in the syllabus.
The issue here is not becoming a pilot, but doing it spending the less amount of money possible, and receiving the best training for that amount, without risking losing it in a flight school that may close doors before time leaving you stranded in the middle of the course. And the yet even bigger issue is accessing a job after you get your license. In 2015-2016, almost every pilot that came out of flight school got a job within months, the market was open and hungry for pilots. Seeing that, many enrolled in integrated courses, and by the time they got their licenses in 2018-2019 the market was already full and airlines were not recruiting, and then came Covid, which has brought to a stop the flying career of many fresh graduates.
So, don't focus on what to do, focus on how you are going to pay for it, and how you are going to survive financially if you are not able to get a job after getting your license.
And not being an aviation nerd is a +1 for me. Nothing worse than a 5 hours sector with someone that only talks about airplanes.
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First rule - before you do any serious training, obtain a class 1 medical - plenty of time for that because you can do a private pilot's licence meanwhile as a stepping stone. You don't have to be 19 to get one. By the time you finish training you should be somewhere near the minimum age for a PPL. Without a class 1 medical, all the training in the world is useless. You only need a Class 2 medical for a PPL, which can be upgraded later.
There are two types of training, integrated (mentioned above) which is a package deal in that you can walk off the street with zero qualifications and end up as a commercial pilot. Then there's modular where you can pick and choose your training providers, the first step into which is the PPL mentioned above. You have to study for 13 exams and do the flying training. You can do both at the same time, but you can't take the final flying test until you have passed all the written exams. Which leads me to the second rule - don't pay any money up front for anything - at least, not more than you can afford to lose. There are sharks out there, just as there are in any other business (and this is a business decision, for which it is a good idea not to be an aviation nerd, so you can take a step back).
At least with the modular route you get a piece of paper entitling you to fly at a very early stage, whereas the integrated onlygets you that at the end of the course, assuming you pass it. Also, you get to see if flying likes you as well as the other way round. I would probably in your case pop along to the nearest flying club and get to know one or two people there. You will likely find them very friendly.
There are two types of training, integrated (mentioned above) which is a package deal in that you can walk off the street with zero qualifications and end up as a commercial pilot. Then there's modular where you can pick and choose your training providers, the first step into which is the PPL mentioned above. You have to study for 13 exams and do the flying training. You can do both at the same time, but you can't take the final flying test until you have passed all the written exams. Which leads me to the second rule - don't pay any money up front for anything - at least, not more than you can afford to lose. There are sharks out there, just as there are in any other business (and this is a business decision, for which it is a good idea not to be an aviation nerd, so you can take a step back).
At least with the modular route you get a piece of paper entitling you to fly at a very early stage, whereas the integrated onlygets you that at the end of the course, assuming you pass it. Also, you get to see if flying likes you as well as the other way round. I would probably in your case pop along to the nearest flying club and get to know one or two people there. You will likely find them very friendly.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
You don't need a degree in UK/EU but given how competitive any full time tagged course is, for many, a degree is necessary. (A tagged scheme is one where the airline has agreed to hire you after full time training but you still pay the exorbitant fee).
Ensure you have no limiting medical conditions. Eye sight, eg colour blindness, needs very strong prescription, cross eyed etc. Hearing, diabetes, kidney issues etc. Some conditions are hidden...
Other than that, play team sports if you can. Reason? Team work, team building. Also, handling pressure etc.
Get the best grades you can. Don't drink and drive (later) and avoid recreational pharmaceuticals.
Are you near a glider site? Wander over there for some cheap flying. You can't log it for your CPL but it's all great experience.
Ensure you have no limiting medical conditions. Eye sight, eg colour blindness, needs very strong prescription, cross eyed etc. Hearing, diabetes, kidney issues etc. Some conditions are hidden...
Other than that, play team sports if you can. Reason? Team work, team building. Also, handling pressure etc.
Get the best grades you can. Don't drink and drive (later) and avoid recreational pharmaceuticals.
Are you near a glider site? Wander over there for some cheap flying. You can't log it for your CPL but it's all great experience.
What would I tell my 15 year old self?
Yes there are options where everything is given to you on a plate, but they are few and far between so if you want to be a pilot, plan on paying for it yourself and you won't be disappointed.
Step 1: Get a medical!!
There is no minimum age for getting your aviation medical. That is the first thing you should do. The initial is a very big deal, they check everything and it costs about £600. You MUST get a class one if you intend to fly commercially. People will probably try to tell you you don't need one to get a PPL etc - which is true - but there's a huge difference between a class one and a class two - basically you need to know sooner rather than later IF you can pass one. The good news is that the renewals are much cheaper and easier. You can let a class one lapse by up to 5 years without needing to go through the initial procedure again.
So start saving, get a weekend job, put it on your Xmas/birthday list etc...
Step 2: Make a plan.
Once you've got a medical you can start planning your future. Do you need a degree to be a pilot? Definitely not, although as others rightly say it's usually better to have one than not. Unless you're in 1970s Cambodia.
If you get a Degree it's going to take 3 years and cost £60,000. A frozen ATPL can be had for £40,000.
If you spend those 3 years working, saving and flying part time then the cost of the fATPL will drop considerably. If you spend 3 years doing something where they clothe you, house you, feed and pay you (like the Military) then you'd be fully qualified by the time you left. A pilots licence is mandatory for being a pilot, a degree is not. You can always get the degree later.
Of course, if you really want to make the big bucks you could become an aviation engineer!
Yes there are options where everything is given to you on a plate, but they are few and far between so if you want to be a pilot, plan on paying for it yourself and you won't be disappointed.
Step 1: Get a medical!!
There is no minimum age for getting your aviation medical. That is the first thing you should do. The initial is a very big deal, they check everything and it costs about £600. You MUST get a class one if you intend to fly commercially. People will probably try to tell you you don't need one to get a PPL etc - which is true - but there's a huge difference between a class one and a class two - basically you need to know sooner rather than later IF you can pass one. The good news is that the renewals are much cheaper and easier. You can let a class one lapse by up to 5 years without needing to go through the initial procedure again.
So start saving, get a weekend job, put it on your Xmas/birthday list etc...
Step 2: Make a plan.
Once you've got a medical you can start planning your future. Do you need a degree to be a pilot? Definitely not, although as others rightly say it's usually better to have one than not. Unless you're in 1970s Cambodia.
If you get a Degree it's going to take 3 years and cost £60,000. A frozen ATPL can be had for £40,000.
If you spend those 3 years working, saving and flying part time then the cost of the fATPL will drop considerably. If you spend 3 years doing something where they clothe you, house you, feed and pay you (like the Military) then you'd be fully qualified by the time you left. A pilots licence is mandatory for being a pilot, a degree is not. You can always get the degree later.
Of course, if you really want to make the big bucks you could become an aviation engineer!
Yep. To become a pilot flying the big shiny jets, you need:
A Class1 medical.
Piloting ability and skill.
An airline transport pilot's licence, ATPL(A).
Probably a type rating.
A way of funding your ATPL training.
An ability to assimilate and learn a LOT of information.
Luck.
I would apply for your Class 1 medical as soon as possible - a few hundred pounds, and I don't know if there is a minimum age limit - search the CAA website. If there is a medical issue, you need to know now before you spend any further money.
Take a trial lesson or two in a propellor aircraft at your local flying school or GA airfield. See if you like it. Or maybe try glider flying.
Look into joining the RAF, (when old enough).
It is a very long haul from where you are to getting your ATPL, if that is what you want, and you basically have to chose between buying your training or getting onto the housing ladder.
I worked in my first career for almost 20 years before changing career and signing up for a full-time ATPL course. So I had a mortgage, and I had the funds to pay for it and the ATPL.
Good luck
A Class1 medical.
Piloting ability and skill.
An airline transport pilot's licence, ATPL(A).
Probably a type rating.
A way of funding your ATPL training.
An ability to assimilate and learn a LOT of information.
Luck.
I would apply for your Class 1 medical as soon as possible - a few hundred pounds, and I don't know if there is a minimum age limit - search the CAA website. If there is a medical issue, you need to know now before you spend any further money.
Take a trial lesson or two in a propellor aircraft at your local flying school or GA airfield. See if you like it. Or maybe try glider flying.
Look into joining the RAF, (when old enough).
It is a very long haul from where you are to getting your ATPL, if that is what you want, and you basically have to chose between buying your training or getting onto the housing ladder.
I worked in my first career for almost 20 years before changing career and signing up for a full-time ATPL course. So I had a mortgage, and I had the funds to pay for it and the ATPL.
Good luck
