My Plan
 

Firstly Hi all!!

Been lurking too long, thought it was time to pipe upo and ask some questions!

I'm 20 years old after after 5 long years and countless rubbish jobs I've finally managed to relieve the bank manager of enough cash to go flying-GREAT!!

So heres the thing, I have enough to pay for the full course at OATS,which is my preferred option, but It will mean spending every single penny I have ( and some that I don't!!!) and even then I can only just afford it.

So I thought about doing it this way:
150hrs PPL & IMC at PanAm
Full Time ATPL Groundschool, CPL/IR & MCC at OATS then a FI Rating.

If i go the modular way I will have alot more peace of mind, because I won't be putting all my eggs in one basket I'll still have reserve cash in case I need it. Also I think that instructing would be a great way to start off and would probobly teach me morein one day than the full time course would in a year!! I would very much like to do it.

But everyone I ask seems to say the same thing which is that if you can go to OATS Full Time do it, but I'm just not sure that their reputation alone is worth all the extra cash


SO whaddaya think?

If you can afford it do an integrated course go for it, but why just look at only OATS? have you checked what the other Ab-Initio schools can offer?
They may offer something similar for less and at the end of the day I really don't think which school you went counts for a huge amount, despite what the marketing departments may want you to believe. As long as you have the requisite bits of paper and ticks in the boxes, from what I can gather talking those in the know, with the right personality and a huge amount of good luck you should be on the right track.

A sound plan? (www, IFR & Scroggs please comment!)
 

Hi there folks,

I'm currently playing around around with a few ideas in my head how to spend the next year or so. I graduated in aero eng in july, and was hoping to apply to every sponsorship available. If unsuccesful, I was hoping to go through the modular route starting mid 2002.

Nearly all graduate jobs are now commencing NEXT september, so I missed the boat whilst holding out for sponsorships :( . I currently have a PPL and 70ish hrs, and am looking for work.

Is the following a reasonable plan?

1) Apply for graduate jobs now, intending to start Sept 2002.
2) Spend the time between now and then completing IMC and ATPL's.
3) Once started on the graduate job fly regularly to build hours.
4) Look out for any sponsorships that DO appear (I realise having done the IMC and ATPL's I'd be over qualified for most)
5) As things pick up in the aviation industry (1-2years time?)complete CPL/IR/MCC in a one block.

Doing it that way, I get to make a start towards my licence ASAP :) and earn the money to pay for the latter stages (no loan needed). However, I realise from start to finish I may have taken 3-4 years to complete the licence. Also there will be a gap between finishing the ATPL's and starting the CPL/IR/MCC.

Does the plan seem sensible? Or should I go back to the drawing board? I recall a thread where www said do things in one block - did you mean the entire licence or just CPL/IR/MCC?

Any help appreciated!
A confused JT8 :confused:

[ 22 October 2001: Message edited by: JT8 ]

Anyone?!? Or was it that bad a plan!? :confused:

Yeah thats a reasonable plan for now. As good as any other I can think of...

Good luck,

WWW

JT8

go for it mate - sounds similar to what I'm doing. Just watch out for the 3 year time limit on doing the ATPL theory exams until finishing your CPL/IR/MCC. If I understand the regs correctly, you would have to redo them if you couldn't finish by then.

Sounds like you should be able to finance it all in 3 years though (always good advice to have a degree), by which time (we all hope) someone will be hiring again.

Good luck

I agree with WWW JT. Not much to say in addition to your own thoughts really. Just don't give up.

Good luck,

IFR

A Man With A Plan !!!!
 

This is my plan at present (subject to change at any given moment!)

I am currently working towards my PPL (A) in the UK (part time). I intend to complete this here then go on to study for the ATPL theory exams (distance learning, as I am working full time to pay for all this, and intend to right to the end). After completing these (I make it sound so easy! I did say plan?) I am hoping to go off abroad (which ever FTO fits the bill, cross that bridge when I come to it) to complete my CPL/IR and QFI rating. I then hope like so many of us to get a job as a flying instructor, but I would at this stage be snatching off arms for any aviation job that comes my way (crop dusting, tugging, cargo, nutters that jump from aircraft, ect).

So what is my question, well I was wondering does anyone out their know off any FTO’s abroad that will give you a FI job after you complete their CPL/IR and QFI courses? I know this may be a stupid question but I am sure I did see such a thing a while ago in one of the mags.

Also what is stopping me once I have a (f)ATPL (low hours) from going off and buying a used aircraft with some friends and starting my own charter business (work permitting of course) ?

I know that I will get the answers from you guys; thanks in advance all feedback is appreciated.

I don't know about FTOs that will give their graduates instructing jobs; if I were a potential customer I would want the FIs to have somewhat more experience! However, they may be out there.

Your charter idea will prove to be a lot more complex than you imagine. I recommend you contact the CAA and ask them about setting up an airline - as that is what you are proposing. You will find that the requirements for an AOC, insurance, engineering, etc. are extremely rigorous, and likely to be well beyond the means and abilities of a newly-graduated fATPL! But you could try it in one of the less-regulated parts of the world. Others have, and some have succeeded, but it'll be bloody hard work!

Scroggs,

Many thanks for your feedback. I did not realise that it would be that complex to start up with one aircraft and do pleasure flights. I guess I will have to look at some other area. Seemed like a nice way to earn a living, flying holiday makers around say the Caribbean islands.

Thanks for the pointers
:)

The way to start one-aircraft pleasure flights is to gain a flight instructor rating. Then you sell introductory lessons. Since you don't require an AOC for flight instruction all you will require is insurance and maintenance suitable for aircraft hire, and good publicity in a crowded market. For the latter a draw such as unusual/classic aircraft type may help.

Thanks for the info Send Clowns, looks like there is hope for my idea after all, but could I still sell them as "pleasure flights" to hotels ect but officially they would be “introductory lessons”?

Nice idea about the unusual type, hadn’t thought about that at all. I am looking at this obviously for the future but I am very interested in getting some info now as this is ultimately what I want to do with my CPL/IR when I get it. It’s as much a lifestyle choice as a lifelong ambition to fly.

Many Thanks.
:)

In response to your question regarding FI position with FTO, I believe EFT in fort pierce offer you a job if you train with them.
To what degree you can trust this I don't know but it seems genuine enough, give them a call and see.

Many thanks Friday, I will check it out now. Any idears about my last post re "introductory lessons" sold as "pleasure flights" to the hotels abroad ?

Cheers

:)

PiperPilot,

Yesterday I was going to post and suggest something very similar to your new plan, but I decided you probably wouldn't listen. I'm glad I was wrong.

Changing a life plan and admitting you were wrong to thousands of people takes guts, and maturity too I might add. And I sympathise with the addiction to aviation taking over your life - been there, still am, and spent a fortune on helicopter flying, but I'm a lot older than you and it was my money to spend (or waste, as some might say :D ). And you have age on your side; I don't. Different situations need different solutions.

Anyway, lots of luck! Bristol Ground School is good - if I managed to pass the ground exams, they must be. :eek:

If you are looking for a FI job locally i.e. Leeds then it would be a huge advantage if you had done your training at that FTO. Be nice, make the tea, smile a lot and that is your foot in the door post FI rating....

Good luck,

Looks like a viable plan to me.

WWW

Sounds like an much better plan to me.

Your chances of success just increased many fold.

Best of luck, mate, and hopefully see you in the crew room in a few years time...

cheers!
foggy.

As someone who was quite harsh regarding your "previous" attitude I have to say credit where credits due (no pun intended).

Much respect for changing your plans.

Good luck

TBL:D

That's more like the piperpilot I remember from various postings a few weeks back!

Good luck to you PP. A contingency plan like yours shows maturity and forward thinking - vital when you're hurtling along at 250kts and it all goes t*ts up! [:)]


MB - Fellow Tyke but "down sarf" at present enjoying their Shandy!

Congratulations
 

I really do applaude you, as Whirly has already said "guts and maturity". Remember this time, because in a few years there will be another 17 year old with the same ambition as you, who could do to accept some of your new found "experiance".

I wish you the very best of luck - lets hope we both make it to the crew room in the not too distant future! Keep us all up to date with your progress on Pprune, I feel we might have another "This is how I did it..." in a couple of years time.

Oh, one more thing - I am sure you already have this in your "experiance" bag (putting this one in the bag "cost" you quite a bit!) - keep your password to yourself :D