100 percent without a doubt must obtain a college degree to be competitive when applying for a job with one of the major commercial airlines (in the United States at least.) I would recommend your idea of ERAU or another University offering programs that partner with Airlines. Here are a few others: Arizona State University, Purdue University, University of North Dakota, Oklahoma State University. You can find additional University options by going to AeroSearcher and typing in “aviation universities” to the general aviation tab. Good luck!

Starting ATPL course, becoming a pilot
 

Hi, this is my first post here on PPRuNe.
I'm 19, I'm from Poland and this year I want to start the ATPL course. Right now I am considering the options I have and which path should I take to become an airline pilot: should I do the integrated ATPL in a private school, apply to the academies like BAA training or go directly to the airline and join something like WizzAir cadet program.
Is it worth paying much more and is that increasing my chances of finding a good job in the future as a pilot?
I would love some advice, feedbacks
Thanks

ask again in 12 months once the impact of C-19 is known. Go to University and get a good degree

Starting a 3/4 year uni course in autumn 2020 is probably about as sensible option as you can go for right now - certainly not a 16 month flight training course!

The world is on pause and you need to figure out how you can ride out that pause. Either work in whatever you can find, although that limits earning potential, or perhaps study in an inexpensive manner. University in my country is fairy expensive, but relatively affordable considering the three to four years it takes to get a degree and loans on offer.

Pick a valuable course, the only sure thing about coronavirus is that nations are going to have to increase their budgets for biological sciences and virology so a degree in that field is probably your safest bet if you’ve got the qualifications. Medicine is always a good shot, but you need to be best in your school for science and realistically, if that was the case, your teachers would be pushing you in that direction anyway without having to defer to PPrune.

2020 is categorically not the year to embark on a flight training course. Aviation will never be the same. The earliest I’d imagine it would return to 2019 levels is perhaps 2024-5? Ride this gap out doing something useful and constructive as a flight training course is, totally redundant right now!

CPL Or ATPL
 

It has always been my dream to be an airline pilot however I did not take A level Maths and Physics because my GCSE grades didn't allow me to. I then found out that if I wanted to do an ATPL course I need A level Maths and Physics or I have to do a CPL but I won't be able to fly for an airline with that. Is there any way that I can do my ATPL without the A level Maths and Physics as a requirement.
Thanks

The only requirements for self-funded ATPL are class 1 medical and PPL (private pilot) license. You will only need elementary level knowledge of maths & physics to complete ATPL. Airlines may then have their own entry requirements which may require A level maths/physics or university degree etc.

covid- new students, hiring
 

Hi everyone

I see some people asking about going to flight school now, Wizz cadet (doubt they will have one now), my opinion, and this is my opinion, if you are young, get a degree, have a back up plan if you can, or maybe consider going the modular path.
Currently and in Europe only, there are a few thousand pilots unemployed, and im pretty sure once this picks up, they will be the first ones getting employed by the "surviving companies" this, if they need them.
I think at least until 2023 the hiring will be veryyy slow.

I didn't have that and did both exams in my school, which were pretty easy and straight forward.

Advice for flying career
 

Hi all,
I seek your advice as I plan to pursue a career in aviation in Australia.
Corona will make things very difficult for an inexperienced pilot over the coming several years so I feel it's important to go about my studies gradually and with a plan in mind.
Initially I had intended to fly rotorwing, though decided against this reasoning the career path more difficult than fixed wing and the mid/late career earning potential heavily favouring an airline job. To scratch a helicopter itch I can always fly as a hobby in the future.
I'm 26 and have sufficient funds to cover my study and living expenses without relying upon full-time work. I'm not interested in pursuing an office job in future or continuing in self-employment at present so thought investing in myself and a flying career to be worthwhile.
I had intended to commence an integrated course early next year however will instead opt for a modular route and gradual self study with textbooks and online resources. When I return to Australia I was thinking of relocating to Townsville. Can you recommend schools/aero clubs/contacts in this region for me to consider? I thought it might also be beneficial to take excursions to other places across the state and elsewhere to build hours, diverse experience and networks.
I've been keenly reading the advice posted here about suggestions for new students and the nearterm uncertainty caused by coronavirus. As a result I'm thinking to acquire my PPL and gradually chip away at hours and theory exams. I'll delay finishing my CPL until international travel returns and only then should i start adding IR, multi engine and other endorsements.
Its not fantastic timing though perhaps not off by much if I can acquire my CPL in mid 2022. I believe that within the next 4-5 years the industry will rebound and that this crisis and the coming economic crisis (note: you should not be buying stocks here, you should be playing defensive) will present a new opportunities.
Thanks for any advice you have.

Are you saying you'll get your CPL before the IR? That's generally a very expensive mistake.

At your age you've got time on your side - and nationality. Why not consider a few years in the US? You can get both fixed wing and helicopter CPLs for less than you'd spend in Australia for just fixed wing - and have the opportunity to instruct to build flight time and work for regionals on an E1.

Thanks for this.

Aha, so things like SEIR (and others I'm assuming) are good to get during the course of CPL as they contribute hours towards CPL and will be necessary for first a first job anyway. This is what I'll have to try and figure out.

Learning in the US is an interesting idea, though i do have a spouse. I'll have to do some more research on E1 visa and school/location options.

Thanks so much.

I believe its the F1* visa you're talking about and there exists an F2 for spouse/dependants. I just had a brief look at some options for training and yeh its a whole lot cheaper. Looks like i can get CPL CFI CFII MEIR and multi engine CFI for around 70k- 80k, AUD whereas in aus this is running >120k.

​​Also AUD/USD is on the come up on the back of C19 and fed printing, so US training will only get "cheaper".

This looks like a great option, now to decide on california, arizona, florida, nevada or elsewhere for a school...

It's a lot cheaper than that mate, give me a PM if your want pointers.

​​​​​ Oh, and look up E3 visas 👍

Aha! So I can initially go on an F1 visa then change to an E3 when receive a job offer which allows 2 year extensions on an unlimited basis. Nice.

Ill PM too. Thanks

1 You don't need A levels to become a pilot.
2 You don't need an ATPL to fly for an airline
3 Your first professional licence will be a CPL
4 You can only get an ATPL once you've got enough airline experience (with your CPL)
5 Stop making excuses and become a pilot

Hear hear! Those academic requirements are for courses for the likes of easyj or FR, stuff you generally want to avoid getting mixed in with (few others had a very very bad experience) but there's generally no academic requirements to become a pilot just do your exams and it generally shows your capable. The longer you dwell on a levels that won't matter the longer you have till your flying


P.s sure a levels may be relevant when shortlisting candidates, however im not too sure.

Arithmetic; Sin/Cos/Tan is as difficult as it gets.
Physics at GCSE/Nat 5 is adequate. Boyle Law: Charles Law for meteorology is fine.

Get your Class One Medical first. Then PPL course & follow the modular route when the C-19 tsunami abates.

This sums it up. Don't think to much about the requirements, too be honest I think you're better off if you go in with a general understanding of maths and physics, such that you can absorb whatever EASA requires you to learn without doubt or hesitation.

An higher degree can work against you if they coincide with your ATPL subjects (mech/electr. engineer, medical students, etc). The exam questions often require a 'dumbed down' thinking pattern and are sometimes blatantly wrong, which favors the ones without in-depth knowledge beyond the atpl books.

Last century when the CAA set the exams pre JAR/EASA we had retired RAF A2 join the flying club as a part time instructor, aged 55.
He had decided to sit the CPL exams which were split into NAV BLOCK & TECH BLOCK.
The paper in question was DC ELECTRICS.

As an experienced aviator, he had flown Nimrod, Jetstream, Bulldog to name but a few. This question arose which completely baffled him, as the correct answer was three of the four responses depending which type from his experience he had flown. A C152 pilot would have known the “correct”.

In those days you could phone up the CAA and speak to the exam dept. The lady answering the phone said that they had been many phones complaining about that paper. He passed the resit.

Is it even worth the effort anymore to train?
 

Hello all,
I'll start by telling you all that I'm a complete newbie to the aviation industry as my only method of learning of it is reading of it for years (so don't go too hard on me). I'm currently a year 12 student who is looking at preferences for the future, with a major one being getting a bachelor in science (professional pilot) from a university flight school. I've been considering this avenue for years now, but this pandemic has put extra strain on my thoughts. My first issue is the availability of jobs in Victoria. I understand that pilot jobs are clearly not everywhere, forcing some to go interstate to find work, but this is a very unlikely scenario for me to undertake (family stuff = little to no chance). This means I'm limited to finding jobs in Victoria if there are even enough AUS wide for a graduate pilot! This on top of many other commercial plots losing work makes me feel as if my other not so interesting career avenues are more of a reality. The pandemic has also made me think about "backup" degrees, and I was wondering if any of you got a degree before going into flight school (which seems like a nice but EXTRA expensive idea).
In conclusion, commercial aviation would be a dream career for me, but is it really worth it in this day and age in this situation?
Thank you and please go easy
:)