A very bleak future for me! and you?
Guest
Posts: n/a
A very bleak future for me! and you?
Im sure im not the only one so ive decided to post so all of us who feel the same can get some info.im not posting this so everyone can say all is well and work out right in the end, coz the way the last 21yrs have gone, it probably wont!
Firstly im 21(supposed to be the perfect age!).
Ive got the the golden PPL with 45hrs P1 100 TT.
To get this far i worked all week and most weekends. I was on £7500 pa but i still managed to spend £5000 on the PPL.
Now i get £13662pa (£850 every 4 wks) Of this money i spend £700 on a block of 10 hrs per mnth.Leaving me with £150 to live on for 4 weeks.
I faught on hand and foot to get my class1. Trying to get through the rediculous beaurocracy of the CAA!!.
Im very close to commiting myself to groundschool F/T (ATA) in April next year.This means giving up work.
The problem is by the time i get to ATA i will only have enough money to pay for my accommodation and nothing else.I cannot delay this as i need to get out of my current job. So as a result not only will i be leaving home and my G/F i will have no money as well.
Assuming i get through the 6 mnth with no money and I pass the exams first time I will then have to borrow £10,000 to pay for my CPL/ME and also my FI(r).
Then ive got 3mnth to get a job as a FI or im Fu***d. Repayments @£300 P/Mnth with out a job!!!!
On top of this ive got my dad telling me:
1. Im not rich enough to fly
2. Im not good enough at maths to pass the exams.
3. He wants £100 p/week rent to stay at home!
My girlfriend telling me:
1. Shes sick of having no money and hates living like a skunk.
My mum telling me:
1. Flying is too dangerous for her son.
My local Flying club telling me:
1. They have 20 instructors and only 6 aircraft.
People who promised to come flying when i had my license saying
they would contribute £30)
1. Ive got no money! --Youve got no money what about me!
OK so to be a good pilot you must cope well under stress, but this is all really starting to P**s me off!!
Im not asking you all to pat me on the back and telling me everything is alright!!
I just thought id let a few of you self funders no what its like when the times are down!
I know there are some more on this forum who feel like this but just wont speak their mind.
But on the other hand- Screw em all
Atleast when i finish work in about 2 hrs im gonna be at 2000ft - Looking down on evey one of em!!!
Firstly im 21(supposed to be the perfect age!).
Ive got the the golden PPL with 45hrs P1 100 TT.
To get this far i worked all week and most weekends. I was on £7500 pa but i still managed to spend £5000 on the PPL.
Now i get £13662pa (£850 every 4 wks) Of this money i spend £700 on a block of 10 hrs per mnth.Leaving me with £150 to live on for 4 weeks.
I faught on hand and foot to get my class1. Trying to get through the rediculous beaurocracy of the CAA!!.
Im very close to commiting myself to groundschool F/T (ATA) in April next year.This means giving up work.
The problem is by the time i get to ATA i will only have enough money to pay for my accommodation and nothing else.I cannot delay this as i need to get out of my current job. So as a result not only will i be leaving home and my G/F i will have no money as well.
Assuming i get through the 6 mnth with no money and I pass the exams first time I will then have to borrow £10,000 to pay for my CPL/ME and also my FI(r).
Then ive got 3mnth to get a job as a FI or im Fu***d. Repayments @£300 P/Mnth with out a job!!!!
On top of this ive got my dad telling me:
1. Im not rich enough to fly
2. Im not good enough at maths to pass the exams.
3. He wants £100 p/week rent to stay at home!
My girlfriend telling me:
1. Shes sick of having no money and hates living like a skunk.
My mum telling me:
1. Flying is too dangerous for her son.
My local Flying club telling me:
1. They have 20 instructors and only 6 aircraft.
People who promised to come flying when i had my license saying
they would contribute £30)1. Ive got no money! --Youve got no money what about me!
OK so to be a good pilot you must cope well under stress, but this is all really starting to P**s me off!!
Im not asking you all to pat me on the back and telling me everything is alright!!
I just thought id let a few of you self funders no what its like when the times are down!
I know there are some more on this forum who feel like this but just wont speak their mind.
But on the other hand- Screw em all
Atleast when i finish work in about 2 hrs im gonna be at 2000ft - Looking down on evey one of em!!!
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tell your dad that you'll get him cheap flights for life when you're qualified...
You should be able to get some weekend work in a bar or petrol station.
The other option is to sit tight, get another part time job in the evenings (at least that'll get you away from your moaning dad!), and go to ATA a few months later with some more savings in your back pocket. Also you might want to try a HSBC load in addition to the Career development loan.
Keep yer chin up - lots of people have been through it...
You should be able to get some weekend work in a bar or petrol station.
The other option is to sit tight, get another part time job in the evenings (at least that'll get you away from your moaning dad!), and go to ATA a few months later with some more savings in your back pocket. Also you might want to try a HSBC load in addition to the Career development loan.
Keep yer chin up - lots of people have been through it...
Guest
Posts: n/a
NS,
The 10k is from HSBC. I am going to wait till i do the IR for the CDL.
Cheap flights for my dad!!, Not a chance he sucks monster c**K!!!
Good idea about the bar work. I was thinking about trying my local flying school bar!!
Cheers for that.
It makes you feel better when you know people have had to go through the same crap as you.
Edited coz i cant spell!!
[ 21 August 2001: Message edited by: Cpt Dick ]
The 10k is from HSBC. I am going to wait till i do the IR for the CDL.
Cheap flights for my dad!!, Not a chance he sucks monster c**K!!!
Good idea about the bar work. I was thinking about trying my local flying school bar!!
Cheers for that.
It makes you feel better when you know people have had to go through the same crap as you.
Edited coz i cant spell!!
[ 21 August 2001: Message edited by: Cpt Dick ]
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Manchester UK & Cape Town South Africa
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cpt Dick
Whatever you do don't give up!!! I'm 23 self employed and earlier this year was £30K in debt and my business looked as if it was screwed. It looked that I would not be able to fly for a long time but with hard work and determination I have turned things around and I am doing my PPL right now.
If its inspiration you are after there was a post on here by Pilot Pete about 2-3 weeks back. It was probably the best post on PPRUNE i'd read.
As for practical solutions to your problems I'm sure others are better placed to comment but from what you say I would think about the following options:
Why not do a distance learning ATPL course eg the Oxford one. You can do it in your own time and still earn money.
secondly have you considered the KLM-UK part sponsorship in conjunction with Cabair? They have just changed the website and the details don't appear very clear - but from memory I think the deal is as follows:
You need to have a total of 150 hours including a night rating and possibly an IMC rating as well. You are required to pay £8000 up front and they train you for a frozen ATPL. They then give you an instructors rating and you instruct PPLs at Cabair for a period of time then they give you an Mulit IR and MCC. Then supposedly you end up in the RHS of a KLM-UK turboprop.
From what I gather the down side is that Cabair screw you for every penny of the £8K but the upside is it provides structure and a very good chance of getting an airline job on qualifying.
Re. Your parents, I know its tough but you simply have to stay focused. Easier said than done I grant you but what other options do you have.
Re. Your girlfriend, If she loves you she will put up with a few tough years. If she only loves you once you have several stripes on your shoulder and a few quid in your pocket she's not worth ****!!
Hope this helps!!!
Speedbird59
Whatever you do don't give up!!! I'm 23 self employed and earlier this year was £30K in debt and my business looked as if it was screwed. It looked that I would not be able to fly for a long time but with hard work and determination I have turned things around and I am doing my PPL right now.
If its inspiration you are after there was a post on here by Pilot Pete about 2-3 weeks back. It was probably the best post on PPRUNE i'd read.
As for practical solutions to your problems I'm sure others are better placed to comment but from what you say I would think about the following options:
Why not do a distance learning ATPL course eg the Oxford one. You can do it in your own time and still earn money.
secondly have you considered the KLM-UK part sponsorship in conjunction with Cabair? They have just changed the website and the details don't appear very clear - but from memory I think the deal is as follows:
You need to have a total of 150 hours including a night rating and possibly an IMC rating as well. You are required to pay £8000 up front and they train you for a frozen ATPL. They then give you an instructors rating and you instruct PPLs at Cabair for a period of time then they give you an Mulit IR and MCC. Then supposedly you end up in the RHS of a KLM-UK turboprop.
From what I gather the down side is that Cabair screw you for every penny of the £8K but the upside is it provides structure and a very good chance of getting an airline job on qualifying.
Re. Your parents, I know its tough but you simply have to stay focused. Easier said than done I grant you but what other options do you have.
Re. Your girlfriend, If she loves you she will put up with a few tough years. If she only loves you once you have several stripes on your shoulder and a few quid in your pocket she's not worth ****!!
Hope this helps!!!
Speedbird59
Join Date: Aug 1998
Location: ....
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right, In order....
Your Dad...
1. You don't need to be rich. Borrow the cash. Anything can be done with the right approach. Treat it like setting up your own business - then the sums don't seem so bad!
2. I'm sh*t at maths. Failed O level maths (well, nearly) but so what. I fly an A330 on longhaul routes and the only maths I use regularly is the 3 times table (height/distance) and the reciprocal of bearings (-200 +20). Piece of Pi*s mate. If I can do it, anybody can!
3. Tell him to give you credit for the rent for 13 months. Should not be a big deal for you to pay back 1300 quid when you land that first job
Your girlfriend:
1. You're going to leave her eventually, so don't worry about it now! Or is that too cynical?! Tell her a salary of £2400 per month should be less 'skunk like' (without wishing to enquire further about what that style of living exactly involves)!!
Your Mum:
1.You are much more likely to be killed driving/taking the train to work than flying a plane. Not pleasant, but true.
Your Local flying club :
1.Find another. Their lack of aircraft is their problem, don't let it be yours!
People who promise you money:
1.No-one is going to give you anything for nothing in this industry. Only believe them when you have the cash in your hand. Eggs and hatching etc etc
Those doubters who you work with....
I was told by some supposed 'good friends' that I worked with a few years ago "You are a fool for leaving a stable career and risking it all for a foolish dream". I think about that every time I fly over my previous employers on the approach to 27L at LHR. I am earning three times what I was then.
At the end of the day, just remember PMA (positive mental attitude) will get you everywhere. It is not easy to keep it all the time, and reaching your dreams is never easy, but if you stay focussed you WILL (I repeat WILL) get there. Just ignore the doubters and go for it. Do you want to sit in your twighlight years thinking "What if I had....."? No? So, in the words of the great sporting shoe company 'Just Do It'.
[ 21 August 2001: Message edited by: Busta Level ]
Your Dad...
1. You don't need to be rich. Borrow the cash. Anything can be done with the right approach. Treat it like setting up your own business - then the sums don't seem so bad!
2. I'm sh*t at maths. Failed O level maths (well, nearly) but so what. I fly an A330 on longhaul routes and the only maths I use regularly is the 3 times table (height/distance) and the reciprocal of bearings (-200 +20). Piece of Pi*s mate. If I can do it, anybody can!
3. Tell him to give you credit for the rent for 13 months. Should not be a big deal for you to pay back 1300 quid when you land that first job
Your girlfriend:
1. You're going to leave her eventually, so don't worry about it now! Or is that too cynical?! Tell her a salary of £2400 per month should be less 'skunk like' (without wishing to enquire further about what that style of living exactly involves)!!
Your Mum:
1.You are much more likely to be killed driving/taking the train to work than flying a plane. Not pleasant, but true.
Your Local flying club :
1.Find another. Their lack of aircraft is their problem, don't let it be yours!
People who promise you money:
1.No-one is going to give you anything for nothing in this industry. Only believe them when you have the cash in your hand. Eggs and hatching etc etc
Those doubters who you work with....
I was told by some supposed 'good friends' that I worked with a few years ago "You are a fool for leaving a stable career and risking it all for a foolish dream". I think about that every time I fly over my previous employers on the approach to 27L at LHR. I am earning three times what I was then.
At the end of the day, just remember PMA (positive mental attitude) will get you everywhere. It is not easy to keep it all the time, and reaching your dreams is never easy, but if you stay focussed you WILL (I repeat WILL) get there. Just ignore the doubters and go for it. Do you want to sit in your twighlight years thinking "What if I had....."? No? So, in the words of the great sporting shoe company 'Just Do It'.
[ 21 August 2001: Message edited by: Busta Level ]
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
above post is right, but I would just add the following... Get the finances sorted as best you can, get the girlfriend and folks in check BEFORE you start studying. You really need as little distraction as possible!!
As for your dad saying you are not rich enough to fly, tell him that you want to make sure that your son may have every opportunity possible, ans this is a way of doing it. Hold back the rent money and give him a £300 bonus when you start work and tell him that that is for all his support.
Maths?? well I have mental shut down over maths and having just found out that working out a reciprical by 200-20 and not -180 has put a smile on my face.
Good luck
As for your dad saying you are not rich enough to fly, tell him that you want to make sure that your son may have every opportunity possible, ans this is a way of doing it. Hold back the rent money and give him a £300 bonus when you start work and tell him that that is for all his support.
Maths?? well I have mental shut down over maths and having just found out that working out a reciprical by 200-20 and not -180 has put a smile on my face.
Good luck
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You're doing a lot better than me Busta, since I started flying the A330 I stopped figuring out the 3/1 profile thing; when you get to the arrow push the button...
A little off subject, sorry about that...
A little off subject, sorry about that...
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: LONDON, ENGLAND
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cpt Dick
Dream what you want to dream; go where you want go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do!!!!
This should motivate you a bit!
Cheers
Ed
Dream what you want to dream; go where you want go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do!!!!
This should motivate you a bit!
Cheers
Ed
Supercharged PPRuNer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
Posts: 1,183
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It probably doesn’t feel like it Captain, but you’re actually in quite a good position to be setting out on an ATPL. Aged 21 with a PPL and 100 hours TT, you’re about 80 hours ahead of me – aged 29 and with a bloody great mortgage. And it could be worse, imagine if you were in your mid-thirties with 2 kids when you got bitten by the bug?
Your dad:
1) I’m not rich enough either – to fly as a hobby. I’m resigned to 10 years of debt but console myself with the thought that I’m investing in my future career. (Incidentally, the only career that will ever make me truly happy).
2) So your dad is up on the maths requirements for pilots then?
I’ve got a C at ‘O’ level, and failed ‘A’ level, and it ain’t stopping me. If your maths has got you this far, then its good enough.
3) Very supportive. I can only suggest what others have already said – that you offer to pay him back with interest when you land your first job.
Your girlfriend: I think you already know the answer to this. Your finances are going to get much worse before they get better, and if she can’t hack it now then something’s got to give. Give up flying for her and you’ll probably resent it all your life. Give her up for flying and find someone who’s prepared to back you 100%. My wife does, and believe me it makes life much much easier.
Your mum: Demonstrably wrong. You’re far more likely to kill yourself on the drive to the airfield – any official statistics you care to mention will back you up.
Your flying club: Find another one. Mine’s got 21 C152s & 5 warriors lined up waiting to go.
Friends: Sure, everyone says they want to come for a ride, I get the same thing. You just have to do it with or without them.
At the end of the day, you’ve got to be certain in your heart that flying is what you want to do, and then be utterly bloody-minded in your determination to get there, whatever the cost.
Try and get jump seat rides whenever you can (its a wonderful shot in the arm for your motivation), and all the airline drivers will tell you the same thing – it’s that determination that gets
you through. And above all, good luck!
Your dad:
1) I’m not rich enough either – to fly as a hobby. I’m resigned to 10 years of debt but console myself with the thought that I’m investing in my future career. (Incidentally, the only career that will ever make me truly happy).
2) So your dad is up on the maths requirements for pilots then?
I’ve got a C at ‘O’ level, and failed ‘A’ level, and it ain’t stopping me. If your maths has got you this far, then its good enough.3) Very supportive. I can only suggest what others have already said – that you offer to pay him back with interest when you land your first job.
Your girlfriend: I think you already know the answer to this. Your finances are going to get much worse before they get better, and if she can’t hack it now then something’s got to give. Give up flying for her and you’ll probably resent it all your life. Give her up for flying and find someone who’s prepared to back you 100%. My wife does, and believe me it makes life much much easier.
Your mum: Demonstrably wrong. You’re far more likely to kill yourself on the drive to the airfield – any official statistics you care to mention will back you up.
Your flying club: Find another one. Mine’s got 21 C152s & 5 warriors lined up waiting to go.
Friends: Sure, everyone says they want to come for a ride, I get the same thing. You just have to do it with or without them.
At the end of the day, you’ve got to be certain in your heart that flying is what you want to do, and then be utterly bloody-minded in your determination to get there, whatever the cost.
Try and get jump seat rides whenever you can (its a wonderful shot in the arm for your motivation), and all the airline drivers will tell you the same thing – it’s that determination that gets
you through. And above all, good luck!
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: on a pavement outside the Red Lion
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nothing I can add to Busta's post except keep at it! I was rubbish at maths-they stuck me in the low level class at high school because I scored 25% in the test at the end of third year, but I had no real problems with it. A bit of basic mental arithmatic is the best skill. I've been broke forf ages now, while one of my mates has got a job in the city and is driving a flash car and has a share in a nice glider-but so what? I've finally qualified, and if the airlines aren't recruiting right now, they will again soon. I'm finding it tough waiting, but in six months time, I guess it won't matter. If you realy want to do-go for it, wether or not your parents approve. And if your girlfriend can't stick by you during this tough bit, well what can I say? Been there too. Best of luck, mate. 
