Advice to someone considering career change to pilot
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Advice to someone considering career change to pilot
I am very keen to explore the opportunity to change career to being a pilot. I have friends who fly for a living, and can fund the modular route in the uk no problem. I am considering it as it seems an interesting job, and something that would suit me. I am not one of these people who is obsessed with planes, engineering and flying, it is more the opportunity for interesting work, and something that pays relatively well. is this reason enough to pursue a career change in this area, or should you be truly passionate about aviation?
I am very keen to explore the opportunity to change career to being a pilot. I have friends who fly for a living, and can fund the modular route in the uk no problem. I am considering it as it seems an interesting job, and something that would suit me. I am not one of these people who is obsessed with planes, engineering and flying, it is more the opportunity for interesting work, and something that pays relatively well. is this reason enough to pursue a career change in this area, or should you be truly passionate about aviation?
‘It seems an interesting job’. Since when, yesterday. A few weeks ago? Since you were 5 years old? You don’t have to have always wanted to do it, I scoffed at the idea of flying commercial aircraft until I was in my 20s. But at some point it really does help if you become naturally obsessed, to a degree.
You don’t have to live the tech stuff, or the nighstops, or the flexible working etc. But there needs to be something about the job that fires you up. That gets you genuinely excited about doing the training.
Because there will be times when the training sucks. You’ve spent 2 hours planning an immaculate nav route and then the plane’s got a flat tire on your walk around. Engineer can’t be bothered to fix it until the next day, you feel a bit screwed over, and are just done with flying for that moment. Couple of dozen knocks like that and you’ll be in dire need of motivation.
Same when you need to work for peanuts in your first job being hammered around the clock for a low cost to get some time under your belt. Schlepping back from Malaga to land at 4am running on half a left over pesto panini that the crew have managed to save for you.
‘It seems interesting’ is a start, but not enough. If in 6-12 months you’re still wanting to do it, go for it. But if you start down this path and have a ‘meh’ point where you just can’t be bothered you’ll be £50K in the hole and have lost a year from your other career.
Best job in the world though, if you’re something like the right sort of personality. Worst job in the world if you’re not.
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I am going to be honest with you.
The flying itself is fun. I am thankful every day when I see the plane I am flying knowing I will take control of her.
When I hear a plane flying over, I ALWAYS look up to identify it.
This business is NOT for everyone. The chance you will get into an Legacy Carrier, or an Operator with proper Rosters, is really small.
Nowadays you will be most surely going to fly ACMI > Wet Lease, and not directly hired, but as a Contractor. Bases all over the world. 20 on 10 off or something. That means you will be away from home A LOT. Is your home situation allowing you that? Because AIDS > Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome IS a thing. I have my first Divorce behind me, and so is with many of my colleagues.
You will be away from home and miss all the family gatherings, Xmass, NYE, Birthdays, Family Reunions, etc etc.
Or if you fly Europe Favo Airline > Blue and Yellow, you are going to bust your bollocks 4 legs a day, turn around 25 mins. Always tensed, same is with outfits like the Orange ones and the Purple Pink ones for instance.
If you are lucky that your base is close to home, then at least you will be sleeping every day in your own bed. This is great, but if you wish to see something of the world, then maybe not, as in those jobs, and nothing wrong with it, but it is more like driving a bus. Every day the same, and I know loads of guys who fly these kinds of ops, and sadly they lose the love for their job very quickly as it becomes very monotonous.
The flying itself Medium Jets is fun, I used to fly the 737 before I got on the Queen. It is really fun to fly her.
But that is about the Medium Jet Market.
Turbo Prop is even harder work. Not seldom, you will have more than 4 Legs a day. Lots of Duty but not so much Flight time. Very often with not-so-great terms and conditions. And probably stuck on Turbo Props for a long time, as many airlines consider those hours as useless when you apply for a Jet Job, which in my opinion is ridiculous, as you really learn to fly with those TPs.
Then the Business Aviation, very often even Lower Paid, but you pay of course also 20-30K for your TR, and in return, you get about 2500 Before tax.
If you are lucky you move on to clubs such as Vista, Flex, or NetJets, otherwise, stuck for a long time in small Biz operators, where it is more like cowboy ops. And not to forget, there you will not ONLY be a Pilot, you are also a Luggage Loader and helping with Snow Removal.
And moving on from Biz to bigger gigs, is even harder, as the airlines know that most Biz operators are Not as strict with SOPS.
Then the general common thing in the aviation business, if you do not end up in Major / Legacy Carriers, the other operators are there to always screw you. Low T and C's, especially with your first job. Ignoring Flight Time Limitations. Giving you horrible tours, sh1.t.tty hotels, no proper crew catering.
You NEED to know the truth about our business. Dig more into it. If you are not passionate about it, you won't hold out till the legal retirement age. Most probably not even 5 years, or maybe after 5 years you are stuck, knowing that with the 9-5 job, you will make less, than staying in our business. Because if you do make it in a more proper outfit, you have the chance to earn pretty OKish.
I can tell from my own experience as mentioned earlier, 1 divorce, luckily no kids involved with that woman, and now a GF who really has hard times when I'm away from home. It is tough. Also for me, I breathe JET A1 Fumes and have JET A1 in my body. This has been my dream ever since I was a kid. Back then even I had the chance to sit in the cockpit during the flight for a few hours, that confirmed it, I wanted to become a pilot, it only took MAAAAANY years until I got where I am right now. I love it with all my heart.
I watch tons of documentaries about aviation, Air crashes and Incidents, and read Accident and Incident reports.
This is NOT a job for someone who thinks, it might be a nice job, not it is NOT nice, it is really Great, but ONLY when you love it.
I am happy in the company where I fly for, but again, being away that much from home is also a potential relationship/marriage killer. You have to accept that and need someone behind you who supports you and can handle it.
Wow, I have written a Novel here, but just think about everything yourself. Evaluate it. Ask yourself if after reading this and knowing how this business really is if this is for you and worth spending or wasting your money at.
I would do it again if I was 10 years younger, as I cannot imagine myself doing something else.
I wish you a lot of wisdom.
The flying itself is fun. I am thankful every day when I see the plane I am flying knowing I will take control of her.
When I hear a plane flying over, I ALWAYS look up to identify it.
This business is NOT for everyone. The chance you will get into an Legacy Carrier, or an Operator with proper Rosters, is really small.
Nowadays you will be most surely going to fly ACMI > Wet Lease, and not directly hired, but as a Contractor. Bases all over the world. 20 on 10 off or something. That means you will be away from home A LOT. Is your home situation allowing you that? Because AIDS > Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome IS a thing. I have my first Divorce behind me, and so is with many of my colleagues.
You will be away from home and miss all the family gatherings, Xmass, NYE, Birthdays, Family Reunions, etc etc.
Or if you fly Europe Favo Airline > Blue and Yellow, you are going to bust your bollocks 4 legs a day, turn around 25 mins. Always tensed, same is with outfits like the Orange ones and the Purple Pink ones for instance.
If you are lucky that your base is close to home, then at least you will be sleeping every day in your own bed. This is great, but if you wish to see something of the world, then maybe not, as in those jobs, and nothing wrong with it, but it is more like driving a bus. Every day the same, and I know loads of guys who fly these kinds of ops, and sadly they lose the love for their job very quickly as it becomes very monotonous.
The flying itself Medium Jets is fun, I used to fly the 737 before I got on the Queen. It is really fun to fly her.
But that is about the Medium Jet Market.
Turbo Prop is even harder work. Not seldom, you will have more than 4 Legs a day. Lots of Duty but not so much Flight time. Very often with not-so-great terms and conditions. And probably stuck on Turbo Props for a long time, as many airlines consider those hours as useless when you apply for a Jet Job, which in my opinion is ridiculous, as you really learn to fly with those TPs.
Then the Business Aviation, very often even Lower Paid, but you pay of course also 20-30K for your TR, and in return, you get about 2500 Before tax.
If you are lucky you move on to clubs such as Vista, Flex, or NetJets, otherwise, stuck for a long time in small Biz operators, where it is more like cowboy ops. And not to forget, there you will not ONLY be a Pilot, you are also a Luggage Loader and helping with Snow Removal.
And moving on from Biz to bigger gigs, is even harder, as the airlines know that most Biz operators are Not as strict with SOPS.
Then the general common thing in the aviation business, if you do not end up in Major / Legacy Carriers, the other operators are there to always screw you. Low T and C's, especially with your first job. Ignoring Flight Time Limitations. Giving you horrible tours, sh1.t.tty hotels, no proper crew catering.
You NEED to know the truth about our business. Dig more into it. If you are not passionate about it, you won't hold out till the legal retirement age. Most probably not even 5 years, or maybe after 5 years you are stuck, knowing that with the 9-5 job, you will make less, than staying in our business. Because if you do make it in a more proper outfit, you have the chance to earn pretty OKish.
I can tell from my own experience as mentioned earlier, 1 divorce, luckily no kids involved with that woman, and now a GF who really has hard times when I'm away from home. It is tough. Also for me, I breathe JET A1 Fumes and have JET A1 in my body. This has been my dream ever since I was a kid. Back then even I had the chance to sit in the cockpit during the flight for a few hours, that confirmed it, I wanted to become a pilot, it only took MAAAAANY years until I got where I am right now. I love it with all my heart.
I watch tons of documentaries about aviation, Air crashes and Incidents, and read Accident and Incident reports.
This is NOT a job for someone who thinks, it might be a nice job, not it is NOT nice, it is really Great, but ONLY when you love it.
I am happy in the company where I fly for, but again, being away that much from home is also a potential relationship/marriage killer. You have to accept that and need someone behind you who supports you and can handle it.
Wow, I have written a Novel here, but just think about everything yourself. Evaluate it. Ask yourself if after reading this and knowing how this business really is if this is for you and worth spending or wasting your money at.
I would do it again if I was 10 years younger, as I cannot imagine myself doing something else.
I wish you a lot of wisdom.
de minimus non curat lex
Modular is a good choice. Obtain your PPL & see whether flying is for you
Your instructor will have a fairly good idea if you are ‘the right stuff’
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It's like running away to join the circus - my mum still thinks I went out for a coffee 
Seriously, if you feel the urge, as Parkfell says, do the PPL to see if you like it and vice versa, but it's like any job, doing it professionally is a whole different ball game. And remember that airlines are not the only game in town - there's firefighting, filming, survey, etc. I remember pulling up at the terminal at Calgary in the Beaver and the DC 10 guys (shows how old I am) would come along and say they wished they were back flying them.
Seriously, if you feel the urge, as Parkfell says, do the PPL to see if you like it and vice versa, but it's like any job, doing it professionally is a whole different ball game. And remember that airlines are not the only game in town - there's firefighting, filming, survey, etc. I remember pulling up at the terminal at Calgary in the Beaver and the DC 10 guys (shows how old I am) would come along and say they wished they were back flying them.
‘It seems interesting’ is a start, but not enough. If in 6-12 months you’re still wanting to do it, go for it. But if you start down this path and have a ‘meh’ point where you just can’t be bothered you’ll be £50K in the hole and have lost a year from your other career.
Professional Student
I am very keen to explore the opportunity to change career to being a pilot. I have friends who fly for a living, and can fund the modular route in the uk no problem. I am considering it as it seems an interesting job, and something that would suit me. I am not one of these people who is obsessed with planes, engineering and flying, it is more the opportunity for interesting work
