wannabe
 

Hello, I would like to hear from people who have made it to the flight deck.

I am a 28 year old female secondary teacher and have just spent a year as cabin crew for EK. I had never thought I could one day become a pilot until I saw sponsorship ads and applied. It's extremely early days yet but I have started dreaming about it...
I have only had one hour flying lesson and really enjoyed it. I have also spent a week paragliding (I know it's not the same...) and would love to do it again.

Now could you please tell me if I should just stop dreaming now, because I am almost 30, have no experience and have never been very interested in physics (I have a MA in literature!) and my eyesight isn't perfect, or if there are people out there who made it against the odds.

I would love to hear about your experience...

Thank you

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...threadid=51690

should answer your problem

we all catch the flying bug at different ages :}

If you really have bitten the bug, you will get to it... if not...
As to the age, well I know quite a few who made it even approaching or above 40, so why not you?

Also plenty of ex cabin crew have made it to the FDK, at least they know in what direction their career will take'em.

Flying is by far the nicest way around to spend your time at work, though vastly underpaid in most airlines :{

All the best :ok:

28 is nothing!! If you don't get into a scheme, you may self-sponsor and get there yourself, if you really want it. Expensive but it's being done all the time.
So you might stop dreaming about being sponsored by an airline if it doesn't pan out, but you can keep dreaming of the flight deck if you take care of business yourself. Good luck and welcome to our dream world!!!:ok:

I haven't made it to the flight deck yet (currently training) - but I'd say Go for it!
If you're worried about your eyesight, check the Class 1 medical standard here

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?ca...90&pageid=2189 (opens as .pdf file, right-click and use "Save Target As")

I know people your age who are currently training with me (I'm 22) and they don't have a problem. Likewise, the people who are doing well on my course don't need to be physics/maths geniuses, they are the ones who really want to fly and are applying themselves.
Well worth a try if you really want to - good luck!

Cries of 'go for it' from those who haven't been there may be encouraging, but are little practical use. You are obviously a level-headed person, and are taking the sensible approach by asking the opinion of those who have gone before you. The trouble with Wannabes is that so many of its contributors haven't been there!

A big factor in your favour is that, as CC, you are aware of the lifestyle and its peculiarities and problems, so it won't come as a surprise to you. You also have some understanding of the pressures on airline pilots. This is all to the good - you will be making your decision with far more fore-knowledge than most wannabes.

Your age isn't an issue yet. There is no doubt that age is an issue; there wouldn't be so many threads about it if it wasn't, no matter how much some would wish otherwise. You may be too old for some of the 'assisted' training schemes (I would not call any of them sponsorships - you're the one that pays in the end!), but you're OK for others, I believe. However, you don't have long to make up your mind. If you don't manage to get on an assisted scheme, you need to consider how you will raise the considerable amount of mone you will need. There are several threads here about that thorny problem.

As for your eyesight, if it is correctable using spectacles you will most probably be OK. There are specific standards for all elements of your sight, however, so a visit to an Aviation Medical Examiner would be wise. If you're still in Dubai, you may be able to do that there more cheaply than here.

Don't worry about the maths and physics side too much. As a teacher, you have already more than adequately demonstrated that you have the intelligence required. You may need to brush up on a bit of basic maths and physics, but it really isn't that demanding.

So, what's the answer? Well, the odds against you are not unusually high. They're pretty daunting against anyone, however! You are likely to have as good a chance as anyone: your age isn't yet a problem, your eyesight probably isn't, and your science knowledge can be tackled. You appear to have a good attitude, and you don't seem to underestimate the challenge ahead. I would say that, if your aptitude is as good as your attitude, you should do well. Good luck!

Scroggs

And if these replies have inspired you, well that's good. Get to it while the going is good. But, as you will probably see in the posts in the section for Wannabes, their constant winge is "I've got no job, I'm broke and why doesn't anybody love me?" May I suggest that you have an edge on them as you are "in the system", all be it on the other side of door. If you make an effort to stay in touch with the "other side" whilst you are training, you may have a better chance of getting your foot in the door. For the majority, the most difficult part is getting the first job. Keep the faith, have fun.