Hi African_TrouserSnake My caveat with the degree is the "no experience" bit. Sounds like you got a job relevant to the degree. Great. That's ideal especially if you can pay off the student loan (if you needed one). I got both my degrees while working ;) I haven't missed student life as I worked at a university for 8 years paying for my flight training. Fun times indeed.

I tend to agree. More education is never a bad thing, and you never know where you can put your degree skills to use in aviation. Many pilots end up in the office at some point in their career, where suddenly those stats and creative and technical writing courses begin to make more sense. For some, like me, education becomes a hobby in its own right, so having a degree or two is nothing more than the end result of that hobby. I'd argue that in many ways it's a pretty cheap hobby compared to others, but I digress.

Not all degrees are created equal if you are looking to simply pad your resume. Just because you have a degree in a field does not mean you can immediately return to that field should you find yourself an out-of-work pilot, which is what most suggest is the reason for getting the degree. Many degrees are useless after only a few years if you don't continue to study or work in the related field. Therefore, my typical suggestion is to get a generalized degree that you could build upon in the future, but not so specific that you may as well not hold that degree later five or ten years later. Alternatively, you could mix your passions. We have two pilots at my airline who hold doctorates and who split their time 50/50 between flying and research, and many more who have built a business around their education or who continue to study so they can use their degree later on.

Yeah, I partially agree. In fields like STEM, having recent or enough past experience matters. But it's not as black-and-white as some make it out to be. Having a degree doesn't just become useless after a few years.

You've likely come across vacancies that read requirements like: "Bachelor’s/Master's degree or equivalent practical experience," without specifying the area of study.
Institutions awarding BSc or MSc degrees stick to established procedures and undergo audits to ensure their programs meet certain standards, both nationally and internationally. As a result this allows employers to get an insight of your abilities, whether the company is from Norway or China.

Unfortunately, being a pilot doesn't usually count as equivalent experience. Many pilots w/o a degree have voiced complaints about this on LinkedIn following the pandemic, being limited by such requirements, despite being fully capable of performing the work. Though anecdotal, it might be worth considering in your evaluation.

Recommended school
 

Hello guys i have been looking at schools from all the world but its a bit hard to choose.Thats why i made this threat i really need help or someone just giving me advice where and what school is the best and fast to take your INTEGRATED ATPL.I have no experience in aviation but i really wanna become a pilot and learn everything.My budget is around 80.000€ or a bit more country doesnt matter i just have a quality school with good flying hours and hoping to finish it in 2 years or 2 and half.Thank you guys in Advance

Hi guys, what do you think of training in Poland ? Do you recommand ?

go for it! To my mind with the salaries you will eventually end up getting the risk in your situation is fairly low. Otherwise you might regret not having tried it before it´s too late.

All aircraft manufacturer predict massive pilot shortages for the upcoming decades. Someone has to fly all the aircraft that are being ordered. Additionally the baby boomer are retiring. All good arguments you will get a job one day.

Hello, short question- This is the only thing that it keeps me on hold.
After I finish fATPL with 200 hours and I will not have the money for type rating, I have any chances to get an airline jobs with a paid type rating and a bonded period to airline company( in Europe)? Also, a FI in Europe ehat salary have?

Currently 16 UK, just finished gcses. Aspiring to be a pilot and have a few questions
 

Everyone on Reddit told me to come here so here I am. I have just finished my gcses and I have a 2-3 month holiday now and I want to get some flight lessons and experience in. I first looked at biggin hill flight lessons but they are extremely overpriced, 5 hours being around £2250. After looking and researching a bit more I have arrived to the conclusion that redhill offers a decent price. It’s also near me, it’s around 220 for 60 mins on a two seater. As I want to get some hours in and the fact that I have no prior experience and I want to know more about piloting is this a good way to go about it? Fortunately for me money isn’t really a big issue, I would just like to know what I can do this summer to get as much flight experience that will benefit me in the future and ofc have some fun. But are there better alternatives? Btw I am planning to go sixth form and flight academy after. I’ve got many questions about this as well but since it’s quite early I don’t think excessive research on this is necessary right now. I suppose I am going to be 17 soon in a bout 4 months, is it time for me to look at flight schools?

It's a good opportunity to see if you and flying like each other (and the school - try others as well) , but before you do any serious training get a Class 1 medial. Be wary of doing integrated training (you mentioned flight academy) - DO NOT pay the fees up front. Treat it like any business decision, use due diligence, the way you will have to when flying anyway.

Karim.29 Go and do a trial lesson at your potential flight school (these hours count) & see how you get on with school/club, your instructor & aircraft. Assuming you are happy then CONSISTENCY is key you need to be booking ideally 2 lessons per week as several will end up being cancelled due weather etc. Choosing a relatively local airfield is a good idea as you know the area, less tired travelling, weather likely to be similar to home.
You will need a Class 2 medical before you go solo but as paco says get a Class 1 if you are thinking of going commercial eventually.

In theory with 2 to 3 months available you could be well on course to your PPL by September if you booked a lesson everyday or even two. When I started 50 years ago I took 2 weeks holiday from work & flew twice a day (subject weather) to get consistency during the circuit phase. However you seem to be saying you just want to try it and get a few hours in? but then might stop? If this is the case other than a trial lesson or two you would be wasting your money as you will almost be back at square one with a significant break. So either fully commit or don't do it until you are certain.

Hi everyone - would be very grateful for some advice.

I am based in the UK and it has been a lifelong dream of mine to become a pilot. I have done research online and whilst it is my dream, I am well aware of the pros and cons of the career (as there are with any career!). I fortunately have an offer on the easyJet MPL scheme and I also hold a Class 1 medical. Whilst I understand it's not a perfect scheme, it's one that seems to suit my preferences.

I am 25 and a recently qualified accountant and wanted to get the opinion of some UK pilots as to whether you would recommend the career change? Thankfully I have very few commitments at this stage in my life, but nonetheless would be great to get some opinions before making the jump!

Thanks and appreciate your help!

Ask yourself was it a life long dream to become an accountant?

Read the foreword to Jonathan Livingston Seagull and let go of the plant......

Hi All,

Just recently joined the forum after starting my research into obtaining an ATPL.

Short introduction: I'm located in Brussels, Belgium, close to the Airport. After obtaining my Bachelor in Law I decided to go work in our family business, 5 years later my parents decided to go on retirement and sell the business. I decided not to take it over because I was dreaming of being a pilot one day. Visited several flight school to get a taste of the program and the costs coming along with it. Covid hit, and so was the aviation industry. I decided to change my route and went for a Masters in Management in order to position myself better in the job market. Obtained it in 2023 and started working at DHL. Now one year later I'm earning well and have a good position, but everyday I'm confronted with aviation and started to think about it more and more..

In the meanwhile I turned 32, and I'm wondering If getting an ATPL is 'too late'? Is being in your 30's a disadvantage when starting your first job in aviation?

Many thanks,
All the best,

Arno

I started at that age. Got CPL but didn't go to the airlines. Still flying 45 years on. PM if you wish.

Hi Karim,

I'd say don't overthink it (Like i did for years and years!). What you're looking for is a trial lesson, call redhill and tell em you want a trial lesson, that will be your first hour of training. After that just tell them you'd like more! Earning a PPL in itself will be a pretty intense course of study alongside the practical training so start soon and fly oftern.

How's it looking in terms of time to study? Reckon you can manage it in the time you'll be in 6th form?

Oh snap! Well i hope it isn't because i'm in the same boat as you! To give you another point to think about, you will be 65 someday, how would you feel looking back on it and never having tried?

I don't think we're at a disadvantage at the 30ish stage, but pilots before us have made it, even well into their 40s some people were taken on as cadets by BA.

Go for a trial flight anywhere, when I took off I knew then and there, without any way of financing this thing I've got to at least try my best! It might make things clear for you too.

At last, someone has taken my advice and is playing the long game! Transfer into one of the DHL airlines ASAP, get your licence and then it's just a waiting game.

Help needed :)
 

Hello all,
First post on here. I was told by pilots to ask questions on pprune.
I have always wanted to be a pilot and I am going to become one. I just want some guidance from experienced people...
I live in Ireland and I would like to fly the A330 or A350 (preferably joint type rating) and of course I would like to fly for Aer Lingus. I was thinking of aiming for the Future Pilot Programme. If not maybe AFTA, or another well known college.
Recently, I was looking into Iberia. I would love to fly for either and fly the A350 or A330. I speak a decent level of Spanish and I learn it in School.
What I am asking is; which has a better quality of life, better salary, etc??
Thanks

Let me guess, 330/350 because that's what you fly in the SIM? There are few cold hard truths about aviation: You rarely end up where you thought you would. You take whatever job is available at the time and you go wherever you need to to make that happen. Sure, you might want to go to Aer Lingus on the 350 and you might actually get that as your first job - but there is a 99% likelihood that won't happen. I'm just trying to manage your expectations. Your first job might be an ATR in Croatia, followed by a 737 in Budapest. You might eventually get that AL A350 job, but you might also lose interest or find something better along the way. It's like jumping into a river - you just get sucked along.

Your questions now should be about medicals, EASA vs UK (get both!), where to get my PPL etc. Also, if and when you start a PPL, pack up the flight sim and forget everything you think you know.