40 at the moment so will have to pay my way at CTC

Difficult one this

Flying F

I considered a Shed type rating about 18 months ago just after I got my licence. The company I looked at offer the rating and the possibility of a job at the end of it. Before you go ahead with it, It may be worth asking the training provider how many people have done the course and how many positions have been filled recently. When I looked into it, the number of people gaining the rating far outwieghed those who were offered positions. Bearing in mind that there are not that many Shed operators these days, I decided that the chances of getting a position were fairly small.

worzel

FF,

I am ex CTC.

I have to say that I think the AQC would be the best option, however as you are over 34 I don't think they will help you. You certainly will not get a jet job thru CTC at your age.....sorry, but I think that is a fact.

A "SHED" rating? Don't know the value of one to be honest. As someone said, there ain't many "SHED" operators about. If I were you, I would concentrate on getting another non flying job. Keep instructing and keep your cash in the bank until things pick up.... and I reckon there will be recruitment in small numbers later this year.

Join BALPA as an associate member and pay £30 to go to the EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE in London in October. See what employers say there. Even ask them directly as to what may be best.........it is a bunfight, but you WILL get up to date information.

You can then use your cash to pay for whatever may help you best then......

Remember a co pilot on a "SHED" will earn about £19k tops I reckon.......is it worth the risk?

I'm also pondering this myself. At age 35, I don't know if CTC can help or not, guess I'll have to ask them how strict the 34 age limit is?
I've been reliably informed that there are aprox' 30 Shed's on the U.K. reg, operators include Emerald and Chan-Ex', both of which operate out/into Cov, which is my base and where Streamline do the type rating. By the way Chan-Ex have been interviewing recently for the Cov rostering.
The plus points of CTC are, even if you're too old for the ATP scheme, and you reach the required grade that would have allowed you entry you have an MCC that is a recognisable standard for the likes of Ezy/Monarch/Brits/Maersk. Not a bad thing for the old CV, and a definate plus for any sim' check, as the third week envolves jet handling on a similar type - the pondering continues!

An MCC is nothing more than an MCC. CTC is good for the low time who will get on board the scheme and later on land a jet job but whether you have done an MCC with The Academy, Multiflight or the Wright's Brothers, this has hardly any relevance in the selection process.

Like the man Tailscrape has said, for the over 34, get a cheap MCC, save the £,err... I mean your pounds and keep current, fly instrument, get an instructor rating, do anything to keep the old log book ticking.

As for getting a Shed rating, well, apart from the principle that I don't necessarily support, most importantly are the rather limited prospect.

Guys,

AMEX is spot on.

As for the over 34 rule, it used to be VERY STRICTLY enforced. i.e. NO-ONE over 34 gets on the ATP scheme.

I am sure this chap won't mind me saying, but here goes:

I did my ATP Academy sim with perhaps the most capable pilot I have ever met. He was just 35 then. He aced the sim and then got told he was too old for the jet course. He now flies a Turbo for a UK regional.

He is quite frankly one of the best hand fliers I have seen and a bloody nice guy.

Don't get your hopes up about rule bending at CTC. They just don't need to do it.

Just out of interest - how much do they charge for a shed rating ?

Streamline do one for about £8,000. I think BAC do one for about £10,500.

I'm not sure why there's a price difference - maybe aircraft rental rates - Streamline have a Shorts 330 available whereas maybe BAC have an all SD360 fleet (therefore higher a/c rental)?

It's a common type rating for the 330 and 360.

cheers!
foggy.

Foghorn,

you can do a B737-300 type rating for less than 15,000 pounds at gatwick - wouldn't that be more useful ?

easondown,

Like anything in life, of course a 737 rating sounds better than a SD360 rating.

However, realistically how many 737 operators will give you a job with no experience on type except half a dozen circuits? Not many I think. Perhaps Ryanair will give you a pittance for coming qualified? I don't know.

easyJet have stated 500 hours on type is their minimum now, and I doubt that you get that included in a type rating. Unless you are really hopeless. In which case it will cost more than 15 grand won't it?

I still say "keep your money in the bank" until a clearer employment picture develops.

I've received the following information about Streamline's Shed rating setup which you might find of interest:

1. Ground school is done at Southend. Flying training can be either Southend or Coventry. It depends on where the 330 is.
2. Not every one will get a job after doing the course. Just as not every one will get a job after doing the CPL. Many people stuff their chances by abusing the office staff. Very bad move.
3. TRTO is a lower priority to the scheduled work and ad hoc charters.
4. Now taking on FO's from the courses ran latter half of last year.

In general, I'd advise that type ratings are not very useful if you don't have experience behind you. A shiny 737 rating with no line hours is a total waste of time and money. A Shed rating with reasonable air time might be worth a go if you fancy that kind of flying, but there are very few Shed operators these days!

easondown
Although I had a disagreement with Tailscrape on a few occasions, I must say the man might not be telling what you would like to hear but he has a fair point.
Do what what you like, he only speaks from experience.......

As far as from having a hobby/life, no problem for him, he has/will get more/plenty of time for that.

See you on the Golf course ;)

Amex,

I am also speaking from experience. A good friend of mine has recently completed B737 rating and got a job straight after it. Its not something I'll be doing as I'm quite happy flying the A320 at the moment.

:D I love posting at 3 am after returning from the Pub.
Makes great reading the next day ;)

Thanks for all the replys, still undecided which way to go.

One more question to those in the know.
Is it possible for the over 34's to pay there own way and complete the AQC course, if so does it get you any higher up the CV pile and more employable.

Thanks again

Flying F

Unless the intention is to go through the mill of the ATP scheme (which you can't due age) then is it really worth the £6.5K for ten or so hours in a generic 737 sim?

No doubt the experience of an AQC will be of extremely high quality tuition which will help in any forthcoming airline sim assessments, but will any chief pilots know what an AQC is when they read your cv?

Surely you would want to keep as much money in the bank if you are about to lose your regular income?

As for the shed rating, I know two people that did it and both eventually got jobs, but that was a couple of years ago.

Shed Rating
 

I am seriously considering doing the Shed rating even if this would mean being placed into a holding pool. One thing though, would it be better to lay out an extra 3-4 grand and perhaps go for an F27 or ATR rating as there are more operators about? Anyway, if anyone is thinking about doing the Streamline course please E-Mail me for a chat!

easondown,

The problem with the 737 rating is that £16,500 (GECAT quoted figures) only buys you the groundschool and sim parts of the rating - the base training is around another £4,000.

You can get an SD330/360 rating for £8,000 and that includes 7 hours in the aircraft.

I could stretch to £8,000 if it increased my chances of being employed. At the moment £20,500 I could not stretch to without robbing a bank or discovering a rich uncle I didn't know about. It's proving hard enough working out where the money to renew my IR is coming from (thank you Mr Visa)...

Of course, as has been highlighted, the Shed operators that offer type ratings fit the training in around their usual flying program so you could be left waiting a long time to complete the course - as the old saying goes 'time to spare, go by air' I suppose.

Thanks for the inside track on the shed rating, Scroggs.

cheers!
foggy.

Foghorn,

You are right about the Gecat figures at Gatwick, but there is another company at Gatwick which will do the B737 type rating for approx 15000 pounds inc base training and vat.
Hope this inf is helpful.

Yes but that 'other' company at gatwick do not even have the decency to answer e-mails or telephone enquiries... :mad: