View Poll Results: When did you start to train to fly, as commercial aviation being the goal?
17-20
49
44.95%
21-25
31
28.44%
26-30
17
15.60%
31-35
8
7.34%
36+
4
3.67%
Voters: 109. This poll is closed
Young flyer
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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Young flyer
I am going to be 18 when I plan to start my ATPL training, and not go to university. I will have done my A-levels with grades most liky to range from B-D. I did not study hard enough at college, but have been told I pick up flying very quickly when doing the very few flying lessons with the Air Training Core. I have also passed the RAF computor based pilot aptitude test.
I know that I will have to study like mad when doing my ATPL, and I will.
1) Do you think I am to young, and might I need to do extra courses like instructor rating?
2) Do you think not having a degree, and although having A-levels, not great qualifications will be a problem?
I know people ask these sorts of questions all the time, but I am desperate to fly.
Thank you TH.
I know that I will have to study like mad when doing my ATPL, and I will.
1) Do you think I am to young, and might I need to do extra courses like instructor rating?
2) Do you think not having a degree, and although having A-levels, not great qualifications will be a problem?
I know people ask these sorts of questions all the time, but I am desperate to fly.
Thank you TH.
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I'm not sure if you are too young - university is certainly not a bad idea these days anyway, but you will obviously have to weigh up 10K going to uni, against the 40-50K training costs for the ATPL. It is better to be younger rather than older though, as some employers will require less experience the younger you are (to a point.)
Your A level grades are not as important as your aptitude as a pilot - which it sounds like you have, and knowing that you enjoy it and have the comitment to see the training through. Your time in the ATC idicates this is the case.
It may be worth doing some more aptitude tests that can be done with various flying training organisations that are mentioned on these forums or with GAPAN (see their website www.gapan.org). Also get a class 1 medical - about £400 to check you are fit enough before paying anyone else your money!
I am 22 and am hour building at the moment, I went to university and am glad I did (but I am fortunate enough to have some of the funds required for ATPL training.) You must decide what will work best for you.
Good luck,
TCM
Your A level grades are not as important as your aptitude as a pilot - which it sounds like you have, and knowing that you enjoy it and have the comitment to see the training through. Your time in the ATC idicates this is the case.
It may be worth doing some more aptitude tests that can be done with various flying training organisations that are mentioned on these forums or with GAPAN (see their website www.gapan.org). Also get a class 1 medical - about £400 to check you are fit enough before paying anyone else your money!
I am 22 and am hour building at the moment, I went to university and am glad I did (but I am fortunate enough to have some of the funds required for ATPL training.) You must decide what will work best for you.
Good luck,
TCM
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Hi Tom,
My advice to you would be to do your PPL whilst at Uni (maybe get into UAS), THEN start your ATPL studies.
You are not alone in that desperate urge to get airborne, but take a step outside the box.
If we go to war then that could well put the fabled upturn back a year or more.
You are young (not all of us are that fortunate!- although apparently I was once), get some life experience, go to Uni, have a laugh.
I remember that I posted on one of your other threads about being 18 for CPL and 21 for ATPL, what do you plan to do for those couple of years until you qualify to hold an ATPL? Do you think that perhaps there is a reason for putting the age at 21 for an ATPL?
Im not trying to pour cold water on your fire, just asking that you look at things clinically and dont be distracted by this buzzing in your head (we all get it) telling you to get down to the flying club and go flying!
Sorry if this sounds like a lecture, its not meant to be, and its your life, just use it wisely.
Cheers
TBL
My advice to you would be to do your PPL whilst at Uni (maybe get into UAS), THEN start your ATPL studies.
You are not alone in that desperate urge to get airborne, but take a step outside the box.
If we go to war then that could well put the fabled upturn back a year or more.
You are young (not all of us are that fortunate!- although apparently I was once), get some life experience, go to Uni, have a laugh.
I remember that I posted on one of your other threads about being 18 for CPL and 21 for ATPL, what do you plan to do for those couple of years until you qualify to hold an ATPL? Do you think that perhaps there is a reason for putting the age at 21 for an ATPL?
Im not trying to pour cold water on your fire, just asking that you look at things clinically and dont be distracted by this buzzing in your head (we all get it) telling you to get down to the flying club and go flying!
Sorry if this sounds like a lecture, its not meant to be, and its your life, just use it wisely.
Cheers
TBL
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Thanks for the advice, don't worry TBL I know its not a lecture, these are the type of different oppinions I am looking for.
In terms of the age thing, I was thinking of doing an instructors course after my ATPL course to build up hours untill I get my ATPL issued to me.
What do you think.
Cheers, TH
In terms of the age thing, I was thinking of doing an instructors course after my ATPL course to build up hours untill I get my ATPL issued to me.
What do you think.
Cheers, TH
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Well Tom,
The good thing is that you are thinking about things, do you have a plan B/C? What if you cant get a job as an instructor? At the moment I believe that there are lots of instructors out there (too many by all accounts), so do you have a trade/skill that you can fall back onto?
Being an instructor is a great way of building hours, but ask your self this question "AS a customer would I be happy to get into the cockpit with a young lad?". Before people flame me for being ageist I'm trying to point out what people ACTUALLY think!
I suspect that you will have to do a CPL/Instructors then when approaching 21 "upgrade" to the ATPL.
These are just my thoughts, and I'm playing Devils Advocate (about the best thing I inheritted from the Old Man), make sure that you have a fall back position if everything goes FUBAR.
Please feel free to ask anything Tom, it wasnt too long ago that I was in your position, but I had a career that I can go back to and a house I could sell to finance this dream, but I can still remember what its like having to make decisions.
Good luck
TBL
The good thing is that you are thinking about things, do you have a plan B/C? What if you cant get a job as an instructor? At the moment I believe that there are lots of instructors out there (too many by all accounts), so do you have a trade/skill that you can fall back onto?
Being an instructor is a great way of building hours, but ask your self this question "AS a customer would I be happy to get into the cockpit with a young lad?". Before people flame me for being ageist I'm trying to point out what people ACTUALLY think!
I suspect that you will have to do a CPL/Instructors then when approaching 21 "upgrade" to the ATPL.
These are just my thoughts, and I'm playing Devils Advocate (about the best thing I inheritted from the Old Man), make sure that you have a fall back position if everything goes FUBAR.
Please feel free to ask anything Tom, it wasnt too long ago that I was in your position, but I had a career that I can go back to and a house I could sell to finance this dream, but I can still remember what its like having to make decisions.
Good luck
TBL
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I see what your saying TBL, so does no one ever go into flying without a degree? Looking at the poll the majority say they started training at 17-20.
I got the advice about doing an instructors course from a guy at Cabair. So is that all these people are trying to do, just grab my money instead of giving me sound advice?
Thanks for the comments,
TH
I got the advice about doing an instructors course from a guy at Cabair. So is that all these people are trying to do, just grab my money instead of giving me sound advice?
Thanks for the comments,
TH
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To a degree (no pun intended) they are loking at you and seeing a keen young lad easily parted with his money (and lots of it).
Try to take a really cynical view of what these people are saying to you.
I would suggest visiting www.becomeapilot.co.uk and purchase their book 02FO, its about £30 and well worth the investment, especially when you consider how much youre looking at spending.
Buy that and read it before you do anything else, it saved me thousands in bad decisions.
TBL
Try to take a really cynical view of what these people are saying to you.
I would suggest visiting www.becomeapilot.co.uk and purchase their book 02FO, its about £30 and well worth the investment, especially when you consider how much youre looking at spending.
Buy that and read it before you do anything else, it saved me thousands in bad decisions.
TBL
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Yes, but the poll does not reveal how old these '17-20' y.o. trainees now are. With times as they are, people start out later and later, and many people I know have put it all on hold. I would guess that with our government requiring 50% in HE, either more and more will require a degree from low hours joiners, or the degree will be so devalued that it doesn't matter. ie get a good degree if you are going to bother at all from an established university. And aim high on the A-Levels, at least C if you can to go for sponsorships - may as well save the money if you can.
Also try the Air League - web address I do not know.
Also try the Air League - web address I do not know.
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Started PPL on 16th Birthday.
Passed test on 17th Birthday.
Passed IMC 2 months later
Flew around Europe 4 months after passing PPL
Typing up article for "Pilot" Magazine..
Can't be bad. Go for it.
I start my ATPL's hopfully on Tuesday 17th this month
Passed test on 17th Birthday.
Passed IMC 2 months later
Flew around Europe 4 months after passing PPL
Typing up article for "Pilot" Magazine..
Can't be bad. Go for it.
I start my ATPL's hopfully on Tuesday 17th this month
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I am surprised by the results of this poll.
Of the two (modular) training providers I've attended, the average age of the students seemed to be in the mid 20's, and the guys in their 30's seemed to outnumber the youngsters.
Regards, GS. 26 years old with a grey hair or two starting to appear.
Of the two (modular) training providers I've attended, the average age of the students seemed to be in the mid 20's, and the guys in their 30's seemed to outnumber the youngsters.
Regards, GS. 26 years old with a grey hair or two starting to appear.
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G.S
You're 26. Didn't know that. Never thought of trying to put an age to you before.
Guess you can call yourself 'a man of learning and letters'
Im still 'a whimpering youth all pimples and brilliantene!' But quite old for a Dolphin!
But yes our groundschool class was pretty mixed the youngest was me (21) and the oldest early 60's. Guess the average was late twenties.
You're 26. Didn't know that. Never thought of trying to put an age to you before.
Guess you can call yourself 'a man of learning and letters'
Im still 'a whimpering youth all pimples and brilliantene!' But quite old for a Dolphin!
But yes our groundschool class was pretty mixed the youngest was me (21) and the oldest early 60's. Guess the average was late twenties.
Last edited by Gassbag; 15th Sep 2002 at 22:59.
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Why not both!
My best advice to you, after going through that torment myself a few years back, is to do some sort of higher education beyond A-levels. i.e. Degree, Hnd, etc. If all goes wierd then you have a backup ... potentially a nice career in aviation engineering perhaps? or software systems for the flight deck / testing etc. Both pretty well paid and you can fly in your spare time or even after work!
I went to uni (Cranfield Uni, Shrivenham branch) to study Software Eng. There was a gliding club 200yds from my front door so guess where all my spare time was spent! Others spent money on beer/fags, I spend it on flying ... which is more worthwhile?
BUT ... BEYOND ALL THAT AND ABSOLUTELY MORE IMPORTANTAATBLY ... SO IMPORTANT THAT I CAN'T SPELL IMPORTANTLY! ... GET THAT CLASS 1 MEDICAL NOW! NOW! NOW NOW NOW! The Best £400 you will ever spend for Piece of Mind! Book it today!
CAA, Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex
England
RH6 0YR
Tel: 01293 573700
You've got plenty of years ahead ... get as much qualifications behind you now so that if you fail a medical somewhere down the line you're not left in the lurch! You'll have more time to fly than may seem apparent now - I make the time! Using sticky back plastic and shreddies!
Good luck!
Graeme Scott
[email protected]
I went to uni (Cranfield Uni, Shrivenham branch) to study Software Eng. There was a gliding club 200yds from my front door so guess where all my spare time was spent! Others spent money on beer/fags, I spend it on flying ... which is more worthwhile?
BUT ... BEYOND ALL THAT AND ABSOLUTELY MORE IMPORTANTAATBLY ... SO IMPORTANT THAT I CAN'T SPELL IMPORTANTLY! ... GET THAT CLASS 1 MEDICAL NOW! NOW! NOW NOW NOW! The Best £400 you will ever spend for Piece of Mind! Book it today!
CAA, Aviation House
Gatwick Airport South
West Sussex
England
RH6 0YR
Tel: 01293 573700
You've got plenty of years ahead ... get as much qualifications behind you now so that if you fail a medical somewhere down the line you're not left in the lurch! You'll have more time to fly than may seem apparent now - I make the time! Using sticky back plastic and shreddies!
Good luck!
Graeme Scott
[email protected]
