Seeking advice on an ambitious plan to fly commercial
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Of course and thank you for the concern, I am currently in a stable office job on a full time salary, so at the bare minimum I have that for the next 50 years... My PPRuNe account is just for all things flying, I tend not to talk about my current job / education as in my eyes it is not relevant to my posts. 
Save,save and save again.
You could complete flight training and be looking for a job in any country that will issue you a medical in 6-7 years.
Mostly debt free.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
Yeah at the moment it is definitely just a saving game, I'm not so worried about obtaining a medical, but moreso about visa / immigration to the country that I am getting a medical in, for now the plan is definitely to just work and keep living at home, saving every penny. The questions I ask on here are for 2+ years in the future anyway. Thanks again.
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: UK
The route I took was:
- Unable to get a UK (at the time EASA) Class 1 due to eyesight
- Got an FAA Class 1 via a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability - had to do a brief checkride in the US with an FAA staff Examiner)
- Got an FAA CPL (also Instrument & Multi, but not relevant in this context)
- Got a UK / EASA Class 1 based on the renewal requirements rather than initial issue requirements on the basis of my FAA CPL
- Got an UK / EASA CPL / IR / ME
- .... never managed to get a job with it!
It was a few (10 or 12 ?) years ago now, rules may have changed.
- Unable to get a UK (at the time EASA) Class 1 due to eyesight
- Got an FAA Class 1 via a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability - had to do a brief checkride in the US with an FAA staff Examiner)
- Got an FAA CPL (also Instrument & Multi, but not relevant in this context)
- Got a UK / EASA Class 1 based on the renewal requirements rather than initial issue requirements on the basis of my FAA CPL
- Got an UK / EASA CPL / IR / ME
- .... never managed to get a job with it!
It was a few (10 or 12 ?) years ago now, rules may have changed.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
The route I took was:
- Unable to get a UK (at the time EASA) Class 1 due to eyesight
- Got an FAA Class 1 via a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability - had to do a brief checkride in the US with an FAA staff Examiner)
- Got an FAA CPL (also Instrument & Multi, but not relevant in this context)
- Got a UK / EASA Class 1 based on the renewal requirements rather than initial issue requirements on the basis of my FAA CPL
- Got an UK / EASA CPL / IR / ME
- .... never managed to get a job with it!
It was a few (10 or 12 ?) years ago now, rules may have changed.
- Unable to get a UK (at the time EASA) Class 1 due to eyesight
- Got an FAA Class 1 via a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability - had to do a brief checkride in the US with an FAA staff Examiner)
- Got an FAA CPL (also Instrument & Multi, but not relevant in this context)
- Got a UK / EASA Class 1 based on the renewal requirements rather than initial issue requirements on the basis of my FAA CPL
- Got an UK / EASA CPL / IR / ME
- .... never managed to get a job with it!
It was a few (10 or 12 ?) years ago now, rules may have changed.
The amount of time and effort and emotions vested and not the desired outcome.
This is not an easy industry to say the least.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 326
From: Hong Kong
There will always be people who never get a job, regardless of the industry. Some people just time it badly and give up, some people are able to get qualified but have no idea how to actually get an interview and some people were unemployable from the start. But that's not a reason not to go for it. That's why I recommend that if you need a job to pay for flight training, get an airline job. At least that way you're half way through the door. Its a long game but it's tried and trusted.
