Step 1 to change my career
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Step 1 to change my career
Could anyone please give me advices regarding my career change, as It was one of my dream to become pilot, but to save money I decided to work first as civil engineer.
I am looking now for some tips to start training and studying to be CPL then PPL,I am living in UK East Midlands and I am confused from where should I start!
like should I keep going to chase my dream or it will be worthless, should I take the training through a school or training center, what should be my first step after the medical check?
Thanks in advance for any advise!
I am looking now for some tips to start training and studying to be CPL then PPL,I am living in UK East Midlands and I am confused from where should I start!
like should I keep going to chase my dream or it will be worthless, should I take the training through a school or training center, what should be my first step after the medical check?
Thanks in advance for any advise!
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Go down the modular route, that way you can work while you fly. To start with get your PPL at your local flying school, then get your night rating and build some experience/hours.
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The most sensible first steps are below:
0) Do lots of research. Read blogs, visit school websites, information sites, forums, watch Youtube videos and more. Work out a budget. How much is each stage going to cost and what exactly can you afford? Do you have a contingency? What if things all go wrong? Put a plan together.
1) Get a class one medical. Do it before spending money on anything else.
2) Get a PPL. The best place is likely a local flying club. There are so many factors involved, but find out information including prices and then visit a few places to get a feel for one you like. Tell your instructor your aim is commercial and ask him/ her to be a bit stricter with you than Sunday flyers and to get you to practice lots of comms is various types of airspace. I know others who have gone to Spain and done it full-time in a month. It could be a good option, but do lots of research before committing. Aeros has a reputable fairly-flexible modular programme which might be suitable too and they have a base in Coventry. It depends on you and what you prefer.
3) The ATPL exams/ night rating/ hour building. ATPLs are 13 exams you just have to get through. You''ll find lots of advice out there though. You need 100 hours PIC to complete the CPL skills test with at least 50 hours PIC cross-country for the IR one. HB is, usually, either done bit by bit when you study or done intensively over multiple weeks. You'll need a night rating at some point and doing it at this stage is pretty normal.
Up to this point, you could easily still continue working. Though the ATPLs can be quite tough - I tried working through, but gave up my job for six months as I found it too tough for example - but others have, somehow, done them working full-time with a family.
The other question is whether you do just UK CAA ATPL exams or both UK and EASA ones. The extra cost is really not that much and it will keep more doors open. I have advised several Brits to do both, but it's really up to what you think. Ask Alex Whittingham from Bristol Ground School for some advice (he's on here).
Only after this would you need CPL, and ME-IR. Some advise you to do them together (which is the most common path) whilst others advice doing IR(R) or SE-IR and then some hour building and then converting it to ME-IR. You can do it 'dual' (i.e. both UK CAA and EASA) at several ATOs. Most people seem to do this type of course full-time, but I know part timers too. It'll be hard to do just evening and weekends though.
However, this stage is a long way away for you.
One other important point. Whatever you do, please don't pay up large amounts of cash upfront. Remember you could lose everything you pay to a school. Do really strong due diligence. Visit schools. Look at classrooms and planes. Speak to students out of earshot of sales staff. Do research online - but take everything online with a pinch of salt too. Don't be pulled in by glossy advertising or a slick salesman.
Best of luck and don't live a life of regrets!
0) Do lots of research. Read blogs, visit school websites, information sites, forums, watch Youtube videos and more. Work out a budget. How much is each stage going to cost and what exactly can you afford? Do you have a contingency? What if things all go wrong? Put a plan together.
1) Get a class one medical. Do it before spending money on anything else.
2) Get a PPL. The best place is likely a local flying club. There are so many factors involved, but find out information including prices and then visit a few places to get a feel for one you like. Tell your instructor your aim is commercial and ask him/ her to be a bit stricter with you than Sunday flyers and to get you to practice lots of comms is various types of airspace. I know others who have gone to Spain and done it full-time in a month. It could be a good option, but do lots of research before committing. Aeros has a reputable fairly-flexible modular programme which might be suitable too and they have a base in Coventry. It depends on you and what you prefer.
3) The ATPL exams/ night rating/ hour building. ATPLs are 13 exams you just have to get through. You''ll find lots of advice out there though. You need 100 hours PIC to complete the CPL skills test with at least 50 hours PIC cross-country for the IR one. HB is, usually, either done bit by bit when you study or done intensively over multiple weeks. You'll need a night rating at some point and doing it at this stage is pretty normal.
Up to this point, you could easily still continue working. Though the ATPLs can be quite tough - I tried working through, but gave up my job for six months as I found it too tough for example - but others have, somehow, done them working full-time with a family.
The other question is whether you do just UK CAA ATPL exams or both UK and EASA ones. The extra cost is really not that much and it will keep more doors open. I have advised several Brits to do both, but it's really up to what you think. Ask Alex Whittingham from Bristol Ground School for some advice (he's on here).
Only after this would you need CPL, and ME-IR. Some advise you to do them together (which is the most common path) whilst others advice doing IR(R) or SE-IR and then some hour building and then converting it to ME-IR. You can do it 'dual' (i.e. both UK CAA and EASA) at several ATOs. Most people seem to do this type of course full-time, but I know part timers too. It'll be hard to do just evening and weekends though.
However, this stage is a long way away for you.
One other important point. Whatever you do, please don't pay up large amounts of cash upfront. Remember you could lose everything you pay to a school. Do really strong due diligence. Visit schools. Look at classrooms and planes. Speak to students out of earshot of sales staff. Do research online - but take everything online with a pinch of salt too. Don't be pulled in by glossy advertising or a slick salesman.
Best of luck and don't live a life of regrets!
Step 1 is a Class One medical before anything else. Look up the UK CAA website to book an initial Class One and do it now.
Be fully aware, that to become an airline pilot takes a huge amount of work, (and money). Things you might never have thought about such as atmospheric pressure, magnetic variation, aircraft pressurisation and world time calculations, for example.
The training is relentless, both the exams and the actual flying. Also frustrating in UK weather, (but gives you a good appreciation of weather).
I did my ATPL about 25 years ago, so am out of touch with current practice and what is now availble. But probably if you are less than 30, you have time to go modular. If you are approaching 40, you need to get your ATPL as soon as possible, so a full-time integrated school might be a better option.
Even if not full-time; some sort of school for the exams will help with explaining concepts and how to work through and solve complex navigation questions for example.
Be under no illusions, this is going to be difficult and take up almost all of your time. I went to a UK full-time integrated school in the late '90s, and it took 18 months from zero to frozen ATPL licence. And that was full time attendance, as I say, with 3 hours homework every night on top of that - no time for working as well. And your family won't see you very much.
And don't pay the whole fee upfront, you should be allowed to pay by instalments as you go.
Good luck
Be fully aware, that to become an airline pilot takes a huge amount of work, (and money). Things you might never have thought about such as atmospheric pressure, magnetic variation, aircraft pressurisation and world time calculations, for example.
The training is relentless, both the exams and the actual flying. Also frustrating in UK weather, (but gives you a good appreciation of weather).
I did my ATPL about 25 years ago, so am out of touch with current practice and what is now availble. But probably if you are less than 30, you have time to go modular. If you are approaching 40, you need to get your ATPL as soon as possible, so a full-time integrated school might be a better option.
Even if not full-time; some sort of school for the exams will help with explaining concepts and how to work through and solve complex navigation questions for example.
Be under no illusions, this is going to be difficult and take up almost all of your time. I went to a UK full-time integrated school in the late '90s, and it took 18 months from zero to frozen ATPL licence. And that was full time attendance, as I say, with 3 hours homework every night on top of that - no time for working as well. And your family won't see you very much.
And don't pay the whole fee upfront, you should be allowed to pay by instalments as you go.
Good luck
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Have you ever been in a single engine plane before? Even before getting your medical done, go up with an instructor for an hour or so and make sure your body can take the environmental factors first. You will spend lots of time in that plane for training and you better make sure that you are actually comfortable being in there
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THANK YOU SO MUCH
I really appreciate you clear explanation and advices, thank you so much for your time.
I will start doing all your advices and will speak to Alex too.
Thank you again, you are very helpful.
I will start doing all your advices and will speak to Alex too.
Thank you again, you are very helpful.
All great advice above, I'd not disagree with any of it.
From Sutton Coldfield, your two nearest training airfields at Coventry and Wellesbourne-Mountford. I'd suggest that you go and visit both, see what you think of the schools, and get a trial lesson at each to see what you think of the professionalism, learning environment, and the instructors.
G
From Sutton Coldfield, your two nearest training airfields at Coventry and Wellesbourne-Mountford. I'd suggest that you go and visit both, see what you think of the schools, and get a trial lesson at each to see what you think of the professionalism, learning environment, and the instructors.
G
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All great advice above, I'd not disagree with any of it.
From Sutton Coldfield, your two nearest training airfields at Coventry and Wellesbourne-Mountford. I'd suggest that you go and visit both, see what you think of the schools, and get a trial lesson at each to see what you think of the professionalism, learning environment, and the instructors.
G
From Sutton Coldfield, your two nearest training airfields at Coventry and Wellesbourne-Mountford. I'd suggest that you go and visit both, see what you think of the schools, and get a trial lesson at each to see what you think of the professionalism, learning environment, and the instructors.
G
