Growing within the airline industry
 

For the last 4 years, I´ve had a non aviation related job which has enabled me to study and earn money to become a pilot. From the practical point of view I couldn´t have found a better job, it´s fully flexible so I decide if I want to work 7 days a week or none, I decide my holiday, the days I need to work facing exams... But on the other side, it´s highly stressful, has nothing to do with aviation and I often feel I´ve been "selling my soul" in order to do the ATPL exams, burning years of my life.

In a few months time I will have finished all my exams and then it will be the moment to earn more money than ever, do the time building plus CPL, ME...I know that we´ve got 3 years from the last exam to do the rest of the training and I would like to use that time wisely and also enjoy it.

I´m 25 years old now and the idea of spending 2, 3 or 4 more years doing this job makes me feel sick and sad. I´ve thought that I would love to work as a cabin crew while building hours and finishing my pilot training. I would prefer to spend 3 more years working as a cabin crew and slowly finishing my training rather than year and a half in a fully flexible well paid job that has nothing to do with aviation and which causes me suffering and stress.

Which airlines would you recommend me to grow and step into aviation? I know that some airlines do internal recruitment, easyjet, thomas cook...what about Norwegian, British Airways cityflyer, BA... I´d love Thomson Airways although I read there will be some readjustments in a couple of years...

I just want to spend the rest of my youth and following years working on a plane:(

Kind regards.

I'd be concerned that the cabin crew job may not give you either the income or the flexibility you need to continue on your chosen path.....certainly the cc where I work are going flat out and once someone else is writing your roster organising training and exams is going to become much more problematic.

if your current job gives you the income and flexibility to continue your studies then I'd consider bighting the bullet and hanging on in there.

Thanks a lot for the answer wiggy.

To be honest, the idea of becoming a cabin crew popped up 3 years ago and the only thing which has been stopping me from doing it are the theory exams of the ATPL. I´ve already gone mad quite a few times, sent cv´s to a couple of arlines and just before deciding the interview date thinking:} "it´s not sensible, focus on the exams".

I think it would be interesting to get some experience in aviation, as you said a permanent contract may not be the best option to earn plenty of money but maybe a temporary contract next summer would be ideal. I could even get a permanent contract with an airline and continue doing shifts at this job every now and then.

Anyway, working somewhere else would allow me to get a break from my current job, spend 5-6 months with a nice airline and then start with my time building.

Any input will be appreciated.:8