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I am completely new to the pilot thing, however, it has been a career option that I have wanted to follow for as long as I can remember.
At the moment, I have almost no flying experience (apart from about 30mins!).
I am very determined to become a pilot, however, I do not particularly want to join the armed forces in order to get trained. Does anyone have any tips on university courses I should follow (if any!), where I could get flying experience and any other general tips that they may be able to think of.
Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from some of you.
Anthony (17)
At the moment, I have almost no flying experience (apart from about 30mins!).
I am very determined to become a pilot, however, I do not particularly want to join the armed forces in order to get trained. Does anyone have any tips on university courses I should follow (if any!), where I could get flying experience and any other general tips that they may be able to think of.
Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from some of you.
Anthony (17)
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There have been a lot of arguments for and against my point of view. But speaking as someone without a degree (and embarking on a modular training course, but that is and an aside). My advice would be to get a good science or maths based honours degree (2.1 or above) before you really commit to pilot training. There is as good a chance that aviation is in for a rough ride as there is that it is not. When you have a good academic background you have flexibility.
However, you do not need a degree to become a pilot, and the theory stuff would barely test your GCSE knowledge! But overall, taking things into account, weighing up the options, creating opportunity and not painting yourself into a corner are paramount considerations for the years to come!
Might not have been the answer you were looking for, but I believe anything else would be nothing more than a venture and not a plan. Neither would skipping Uni provide a discernable advantage at the end of it all.
I wish you the best of luck
However, you do not need a degree to become a pilot, and the theory stuff would barely test your GCSE knowledge! But overall, taking things into account, weighing up the options, creating opportunity and not painting yourself into a corner are paramount considerations for the years to come!
Might not have been the answer you were looking for, but I believe anything else would be nothing more than a venture and not a plan. Neither would skipping Uni provide a discernable advantage at the end of it all.
I wish you the best of luck
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I agree with High Wing Drifter. You're young, so you've got plenty of time. Go get a degree in something employable (if nothing else it will help you pay for the training). It doesn't need to be aviation-related (as HWD says the ATPL writtens aren't rocket science) but it should be something you are interested in. It's very hard to do well in a degree subject that doesn't inspire you.
It's worth trying to save up a bit of money for a few hours before committing yourself to that fATPL, strange as it seems some people get started flying and then discover it isn't for them - might be worth posting on Private Flying to see if anyone will take you flying too. Plenty of PPRuNers around London and people are usually happy to take a passenger. Good luck!
It's worth trying to save up a bit of money for a few hours before committing yourself to that fATPL, strange as it seems some people get started flying and then discover it isn't for them - might be worth posting on Private Flying to see if anyone will take you flying too. Plenty of PPRuNers around London and people are usually happy to take a passenger. Good luck!
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Hi Anthony,
I agree with what Evo and High Wing Drifter stated before!
In my case im currently working full time so that i can afford flying at weekends ( Currently doing my PPL ) and University studies as well ( Part-time ) its not easy trying to combine this 3 things, but its not impossible and yes my plan is to go all the way until i get my ATPL, but for now and while i study, my PPL and loging hours will do just fine.
Anything just drop me a PM
Cheers
I agree with what Evo and High Wing Drifter stated before!
In my case im currently working full time so that i can afford flying at weekends ( Currently doing my PPL ) and University studies as well ( Part-time ) its not easy trying to combine this 3 things, but its not impossible and yes my plan is to go all the way until i get my ATPL, but for now and while i study, my PPL and loging hours will do just fine.
Anything just drop me a PM
Cheers
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I hate to be the one putting a dampener on things but I feel I have to offer my opinion on what you say about the writtens. In my opinion to say that
is a very careless and misleading statement. In my opinion they are very hard and I know many people who will back this up. They require a massive amount of work and fair level of intelligence, a lot more than GCSE level. I have a maths and aeronautics degree and I am finding them hard work.
I agree though that a degree isn't necessary other than to gain a bit of experience. Personally I would get a job and save like hell. But don't be mislead by these careless guys, the writtens are difficult.
and the theory stuff would barely test your GCSE knowledge!
I agree though that a degree isn't necessary other than to gain a bit of experience. Personally I would get a job and save like hell. But don't be mislead by these careless guys, the writtens are difficult.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Several replies already, and no one has mentioned money.
If you're not looking to join the armed forces, the chances of sponsership right now are low enough that the only realistic way of becoming a pilot is to pay for the training yourself. You'll need somewhere between £30,000 and £50,000.
Unless you're lucky enough to have parents who will lend you the money, you'll need to aim to get a job which will pay enough for you to save this money in a realistic time-frame. The other alternative is to get a loan, but if you go for that option you'll find that even if you do manage to get a job as a pilot at the end of it all, you'll struggle to earn enough to pay off the loan.
Good luck!
FFF
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If you're not looking to join the armed forces, the chances of sponsership right now are low enough that the only realistic way of becoming a pilot is to pay for the training yourself. You'll need somewhere between £30,000 and £50,000.
Unless you're lucky enough to have parents who will lend you the money, you'll need to aim to get a job which will pay enough for you to save this money in a realistic time-frame. The other alternative is to get a loan, but if you go for that option you'll find that even if you do manage to get a job as a pilot at the end of it all, you'll struggle to earn enough to pay off the loan.
Good luck!
FFF
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Thank you all very much for your help. I have pretty much decided that I am going to take a gap year and earn some money, and then hopefully carry on and go to study geography at uni (although I am undecided on which one), as it is a subject I enjoy. Although I feel slightly disheartened after reading the replies, I am still determined to become a pilot and will work at it.
Thanks all for your help.
Anthony
Thanks all for your help.
Anthony
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Anthony,
Don't be too disheartened. You are making a good choice. Now that you have decided to go to Uni, consider going to one that hosts a University Air Squadron. These are run by the RAF and require a high level of dedication from the student, but in return you get to fly some excellent aircraft and get a PPL! The training is second to none.
Kill two birds with one stone: http://www.cranwell.raf.mod.uk/eft/UAS.HTM
Don't be too disheartened. You are making a good choice. Now that you have decided to go to Uni, consider going to one that hosts a University Air Squadron. These are run by the RAF and require a high level of dedication from the student, but in return you get to fly some excellent aircraft and get a PPL! The training is second to none.
Kill two birds with one stone: http://www.cranwell.raf.mod.uk/eft/UAS.HTM
