License and flight school help
 

I'm 18, in high school and currently deciding between my options:
- flight school in Europe/USA (several options, but all confusing in terms of reviews)
- flight university program in Turkey (Ozyegin)
- a degree in another major (media; I'm a filmmaker too) and flight school on the side/after.

I know I want to become a pilot and all options make sense to me. But I'm an Indian citizen and thus unsure of where to go, and whether the license issuing country would matter. I guess my first job will have to be in India; which I don't mind but, do I still need to work as an FI before? CAN I work as an FI in Europe/Turkey/USA as an international student?

Any advice, tips or previous experience would be appreciated, and also what you would do if you were in my shoes. I just want to know the best route to get my licenses, and find a job ASAP; in the right country.

Thanks!

Start with the right to live and work and think your career through. Europeans can work in Europe, Americans can work in the US etc, Everyone can work in the Middle East - but only with a few thousand jet hours which means starting somewhere else. Unfortunately anyone with a non-EU non-US passport is at a disadvantage. At your age, in India, I would be looking at routes into Air India, IndiGo, GoAir, Spicejet etc but I would also consider whether there are other degree/career paths that could lead to emigration.

With regard to licensing you need the licence issued by the state that regulates the airline you're working for. In reality that means the place you will get your first flying job. It can be quicker or cheaper in some circumstances to get one licence then convert it to another (FAA to EASA for example).

Some countries like Australia and South Africa favour GA logbook hours; in the US it's virtually mandatory to have 1500 hours before you see a jet. In UK/Europe pilots are hired directly into jets and very few have any GA experience. I'm not too familiar with the aviation industry in India, but if more hours will help getting hired there then I'd suggest getting a 2 year training visa to the US, training there and working as a flight instructor for your final year. That also gives you 2 years to meet the right person if you know what I mean.

Thank you for your reply! and yes, I see what you mean.

Cadet programs in India are outrageously expensive (nearly 2 times the cost of regular flight school). and the job pays quite low, and there's a long bond with the airline- so I'm unsure about going that route.
As for your US route, that's what's ideal; or the same in Europe albeit it's harder there because like you said, students tend to head straight to jets. I've been in the Middle East my entire life and this is where I see the future of Aviation (as well as India now with Air India and Indigo's growth), but that 1500-3000 mark is what I need to hit

Are you a pilot? What was your route, if yes?
Thanks again for your advice!

Yup. I started in the US, built hours as an FI then converted to EASA. I missed a trick not getting married in the US! You have to do your own costings to see what makes sense. If you're Indian living in the ME you might be out of luck but if you hold dual citizenship you might get a cadetship on the ME.