Leaving that well paid job to fly
Join Date: Apr 2001
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ppl172,. .. .Did my ATPL exams, BCPL, Instructor Rating, IR and MCC whilst in a well paid full-time job which I still have. . .. .Result: CPL/IR, FI, MCC, over 1000 hours and no debts. No flying job either, yet. I have one disadvantage, I am in my mid-forties.. .. .I am still instructing, so at least I am in regular flying practice and hopeful that I will get that dream job. . .. .In the current climate taking eighteen months to two years to get a Frozen ATPL by distance learning and part-time courses might be the best plan of action.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Sorry to digress a bit but.... .. .Pilot Pete - how's your situation? Are you still flying for JMC? What's the word?. .. .Otherwise, make the decision and don't look back with regard to jumping into the aviation field! Just do it - you can always go back to the desk job..... .. .Cheers
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ppl172, I did my tech exams (UK ATPL) by correspondence while working full time - took 3 months with a 1 week full time brush up course. Navs took 4 months studying 8-12 hours a week. Did my flying after the exams though. JAA might be more work. Now I can't remember whether it was difficult or not - so don't worry, just do it....
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Oxfordshire. U.K.
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As everyone is saying, go for it - OK so the job market isn't as good as it was - but the business is cyclical and it'll come back.. .. .If you don't try it now, you'll always wonder. . .. .I was lucky enough to get a "big cheque" from my employer last year and signed up for a PPL at Oxford (I had many years on gliders before that) followed by their Full Time Modular course.. .. .I'm doing the ground school at present - quality of the teaching / books etc. is very good. For about £ 5.5 K for 7 months the cost isn't too bad and it's the same quality as the full time sponsored students get. . .. .Flying training looks expensive, but they run a satellite operation in Tyler (Texas) which would help if you are free to travel. The PPL school at OAT is good (albeit expensive) although they have been "poor cousins" of the commercial school for too long.. .. .OAT run open days every month or so. Adverts in Flight International etc. . .. .Best of luck...
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Lavdump. .. .Still clinging on by the toe nails! Currently working 3 months notice with a redundancy date of 7th May.............Still don't think I will be out of a job on that day, still some hope that things will change. Anyway, don't want to hijack the thread so I'll be off now, probably just as well as I think Mrs PP is (finally) going into labour!!!!!. .. .Oh, just to put something relevant into this post, there is a certain train of thought that during a downturn in the market is the best time to train........just don't sign up to get it all done in 12 months, take your time and keep earning in the meantime. If the realistic view is 3-4 years for 200hr pilots to be employed again in any sort of large numbers then plan to have 1000-1500 hrs by then (yeah I know the next question! Been done to death, use the search facility). Anyhow, 4 minutes apart so time to go pack the bag (we're old sweats at this now so there's no panic! PANIC, who said PANIC!. .. .PP
Join Date: Mar 2002
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I gave up a very well paid job, jumped through all the hoops, have all the paper work. Completed my FATPL and one year later still no real work. One more month or so and i'll be back on my tools if I can. I don't want to be all doom and gloom but I strongly suggest you carefully read and inwardly digest the thread on Rumours and News titled Free First Officers.. .Don't forget it's alot easier looking out from the inside than it is from the outside looking in.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Thanks for all the replies.. .. .I must say, in this crappy time for aviation, I'd be more inclined to stick with the day job... fly more in summer (evenings etc..), study more in winter. If it takes longer to get the FATPL, who cares? Maybe the industry will have picked up by then?. .. .ppl172
Join Date: Mar 2002
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I spoke to a commercial pilot who trained with Cabair and he said they ripped him off and it took some work to get a refund, so I'd take care if anyone is dealing with those.. .Pay NOTHING up fron. Pay as you go. I also hear stories of people paying cash up front, going to the states and finding tumble weed where a flying school once was.
Join Date: Mar 1999
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Just to add my bit.. .. .I did PPL, IMC, night, Multi, ATPL Writtens and BCPL all whilst working full time. It's hard going and the trick is really to keep motivated, I then took a career break for three months to do the approved IR upgrade full time - thankfully I have an understanding boss.. .. .As said earlier, do not burn bridges and work hard. It took me three years in total, and it was done just about within budget. It's challenging but also very enjoyable.
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Hi i did the same nearly 2 years ago now, company car, mobile, laptop and loads of money all given up for a life of studying, grabbing any flight time you can, early mornings, late nights for next to nothings. . .But i've never once looked back even during the toughest times.. .Looking down on all those people stuck in jams coming back from the office every day is great. And boy what a great office we have.
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Want to hear from somebody who nearly did it and didn't?? I was a cop in Kent, instructed part-time, booked my CPL course and then thought - 'I'm getting promoted, the job market for pilots is zip (80/81) - I'll stay in.' One thing I hated though was the unsocial hours so I eventually left for industry in 86. The biggest step for me was starting my own business - 5 years of sleepless nights but now success! I own 4 aircraft - nothing flash or complicated, just a mix of new and old fixed singles. More to the point - I can work when I like, fly when I want and sleep when I'm tired. Am I glad I didn't do it? Yes I am. However, had I not made a success of my business, things may well have been different. So, if you love flying - what better than to fly your own and hang it on your own business. However, if a big jet blows your frock up, you don't mind working for somebody else and may not get your command for some years - doo oo oo it! My ex-instructor chums have all gone on to be captains and are all happy with their jobs. Just remember her indoors though. No point in earning big bucks, giving most of it to no.1 wife and owning a tenth share in a 152. Oh yes. DO I miss being a cop? Not one jot!
Join Date: May 2001
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The Jar frozen atpl took me three years and approx 50k while working full-time at the same time but i had to quit a good management position to do the IR. . .I have been looking for a job for 1,5 years already, sent tons of cvs, without even one interview. . .standard answer : we dont hire or mins are 2500h Considering the crap state of the job market i would never do it again ! such an investment does not make sense if jobs are so scarce.. .I know many many guys in the same boat ath the moment. And dont expect it to improve soon for wannabes. For uk only, there are 1200 jobless experienced jet pilots.
Join Date: Mar 2002
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It's a very similar story for me to PiperIndian. . .The novelty has gone and the satisfaction of pursuing my dream has dissappeared with the 40 or so K .. .When I started out the market wasn't in such a dire state as it is now although it was in need of improvement. I was told the usual old storys by the trainning providers that things were forecast to pick up and of course being green fell for it with the rest.. .Very few people I know have got themselves that right hand seat which can only lead me to beleive that the pile of qualified pilots out of work must continue to grow by the month.. .Unfortunately as I mentioned earlier I may have to give up completely and due to my age albeit relatively still young and the state of the job market of the field I left I am becoming increasingly worried about finding work there.. .I don't wish to sound all bitter and twisted although perhaps I am just a little. That is why I directed people to the free first officers thread in the rumours and news forum before I posted further.. .I don't want to put of any wannabes off I just think that it may be prudent to wait it out for a while and take extra caution when planning for the future.. . . . <small>[ 23 March 2002, 10:22: Message edited by: Im Not ]</small>
