Thanks for the reply.
I want to fly the 330/350 because the A350 is modern and will be in service for ages, A330 because EIN uses it on long hauls. I would prefer to be a long haul pilot (ofc I understand the cons of this aswell as having to fly short haul first). And you said EIN have A350s, which they don't, the orders were cancelled. I understand that I will need to take whatever job is available to me when I finish school, however if I get a cadetship I won't have to worry about that. Plus, highly unlikely I will start on an ATR because, I will have to get multiple type ratings over a short space of time, because often pilots only fly ATRs to start/finish their career.
I do have qs about medicals, as any unexperienced person should be. But I have researched it, and I will be able to attain it. As for the EASA/CAA, most European flight schools now offer the opportunity for both/conversion. As well as that they offer the PPL (if doing an ATPL course) over the course.
Why would I pack up the flight sim if I enjoy it? And if CPLs fly on them? And why would I forget everything I know, if it is a lot? All I was asking for was advice on what I asked, not somebody to tell me a scary story about flying ATRs in Croatia :ooh:

Lower your guard. You have asked a question, someone who knows what they are talking about has answered your question.

My question would be broader. Do you want to be a pilot? As in, a pilot first and foremost. Or do you want to be a longhaul pilot above all else, for a flag carrier?

If you knew how that you’d never get to fly for aer Lingus, or fly longhaul, would that change your mind about pursuing the career? If yes, I’d question your motivation a little more before committing. The training can be pretty miserable especially in the ground school stage. Your first job could be on anything, and anywhere, including the dreaded ATR..!

Take the advice and slow down, work out what it is you actually want to achieve, and then people can help.

As an aside, if you want to be a pilot then go and get a class 1 today. Madness to even humour the career choice if you don’t have a medical. You never know what you might fail on.

I admire the confidence but you'd do well to heed the advice of Rudestuff.
It's great you're thinking about the Future Pilot scheme, I guess you know it's extremely competitive? What are you doing to prepare for it? Also, just because you get onto a scheme, it doesn't mean you'll be taken on. There are many cadets over the years who's dreams were shattered by economic downturns.
Medical situation. Can you pass a Class 1? Many people thought they could, but failed. Go and get one.

Whilst flight sims (and really, they are at best, synthetic trainers) are useful but only up to a point. Your PPL is spent looking outside the aeroplane, not at the instruments.
As for Iberia? Whilst you have an EU passport which is very useful these days, have you checked the requirements for employment?
In aviation we have back up plans, it's essential. It's nice to have a goal of a particular type for a particular airline, you might get it, but what's your back up plan if you don't get that scholarship?

As for your question re QoL. Long haul will take a toll on your health. It is swings and roundabouts. I know as I have aged, jet lag and fatigue takes longer to shake off than when I was in my 30s. Hence I chose a fleet that doesn't often go over many time zones. Which airline is best? Flown on both of them, Aer Lingus appears to be better from a pax point of view.
Do you want to live in Spain or Ireland and that depends on where your preferred fleet is based.

Thanks for the details in this!!!!
I do know that it is competitive. I am organizing work experience at airnav Ireland and a place with the Aer lingus motion Sims. I also am organizing a meeting with the head of the future pilot programme with whom I have a mutual friend. I can get a class 1, I have researched that.
As for the Ppl, I have flown a DA62 last year and I am going to join my local flying club, try and get in the air there. I looked up the requirements for Spain and I meet them, as well as for Iberia.
My backup plan is going to one of the main aviation colleges in Europe. AFTA, CAE, or EFA.
As for long haul/short haul... I would get the chance to experience short haul at the start of my career, then make my decision after that.
Thanks again for your help

Make sure you tell doctor that. They'll be able to skip a lot of the tests.

Yes I do! It's my one true dream in life. I don't really care what I am flying or where, as long as it isn't ATRS :E
But seriously, I would fly anything, anywhere. The reason I asked about IBE/EIN and longhaul is because that is what i would want if everything goes my way (which it won't but iot would be nice to end up there)

Thanks mate, I nearly sprayed my tea every where! :D

Flight training
 

Hi all, I’m 24 and looking to start flight training.

I’m considering AFTA’s Ryanair mentored program, or schools like Aeros (modular), Skyborne, or Leading Edge.

I’ve heard mixed things , some warn about putting big money upfront or schools being in debt, but I’ve also seen recent grads finishing in under 2 years through integrated programs.

Modular seems safer but could take me too long while working full-time. I’d really appreciate any advice from recent students or anyone who’s been through this, especially around choosing the right school and route.

Thanks!

What you’ve said doesn’t entirely make sense as to where you’re coming at this from. You wouldn’t be working whilst doing integrated, so presumably you’ve got the funds up front? In which case why would you be working whilst following a modular programme? Two years is pretty slow, can easily fire out 0-fATPL in 18 months ish, that’s a pretty normal timeline.

Assuming cash is no problem it just comes down to modular vs integrated. Lots of views on here.

Ultimately you end up with the same bit of paper at the end of it. It’s just you may have an extra £20k sitting in your back pocket should you wish to. That’ll get you most of a type rating if needed.

A little dream, a dream i want to pursue so looking for advice.
 

A dream that I must fulfill, every day here working and everything, it feels like it's lashing onto me, no way out of it. So I need advice from my seniors who have been through the same. I want help regarding how I should proceed and what I should aim for and thing I must study, and everything that comes with it to become a pilot. I am not particularly looking for an FAA license, rather GACA, cause FAA and other countries are crazy expensive, so help me out, everyone, so I can decide what license I should go for, and please overlook my mistakes and correct me where I am wrong.

You've clearly done your homework.

thanks, tbh I really had to cause Europe and the West they're hotspots and surviving there as a newbie, not a small talk, so that's why I am asking for help, help me if possible.

zayuuh, I have a few points for you:

My first bit of advice would be to remove the stronger emotions. Passion for aviation is certainly a key to success in many parts of the world. Without it, it is hard to grind through the lower stages of your learning and career. But your passion can be preyed upon, and not always by others. Many pilots have been given promises of a future, only to find their money was taken from them from a flight school manager or an instructor who was more interested in you giving them money than them giving you instruction. In the same breath almost every flight instructor has had that one student whose passion exceeded their ability, and that student wasted tens of thousands of dollars bouncing between instructors, each of whom tried (and failed) to get the student to realize flying wasn't for them.

I'm not saying don't enjoy your training or take pride in the accomplishment once you're done, not at all. I'm saying you need to temper your feelings when you are looking for a flight school and certainly more so while you are undergoing instruction if you want to breed success. Your stronger emotions will blind you to the reality of the school or your own performance. Take your statement that an FAA or other licenses are crazy expensive as an example. That's apparently your whole rationale for discounting them. But have you stopped to ask yourself why certain licenses or flight schools are more expensive than others? Could they be more globally recognized? Might they present you more opportunities sooner than others? Might they be easier to convert later on should you need to move and obtain a new license? There is a saying: you have to spend money to make money. Doing something as cheaply as possible can lead to just as poor and costly an outcome as going the most expensive route. Price is both the most important and least important aspect of your flight training. Least important because at the end of the day, we all walk out with the same thing in hand: a license to pilot an aircraft. Most important because other than a house, this is likely the most costly investment you'll ever make, and it will take up to a decade to see any return on investment.

My second bit of advice starts off with a statement: Only you can answer what you want from this industry. Is this a passion project where you want to fly on the weekends or do you want to make this a career?

You write as though you want this to be a career, but there are so many different options within the term "career" that your aim will fall short if you don't have a clearly defined end-target. This end-target (or goal) will outline everything else you do. Your end-goal will also allow you to set up your other goal: short, medium, and long term. You are working on a short term goal of picking a flight school cannot be successful without that long term goal. So you have to work backwards. Where do you want to be in 5 years? Once you've clearly defined that, then you can ask what steps are required.

But a word to the wise: once you've picked your long-term goal don't lose sight of it, but don't also focus so much on it that you lose sight of what's of immediate importance. I say this from the experience of a few students who wanted to be airline pilots. They wanted it so bad they dressed, acted, and pretended to be airline pilots while at the flight school. It would have been funny if it wasn't so sad given their performance. They could tell me everything about an a 747, yet they could not consistently make proper radio calls in the circuit or land within the touchdown zone. They couldn't do this because they spent all their time focused on the far future, not the next lesson.

i really am grateful to you, you took your time and answer my question, I'm really thankful to you. i understand every word and every advice you have given me. to give you my basic background. a lot things had happened and then i had to stop my education and all then one day it felt like, what am i without this little dream i have? from when i was a kid, i always wanted to become a pilot, even tho my knowledge wasn't even that great about aircraft and all that, then something came and made me realise that, the dream makes me who i am. there is no value here if, if i don't outshine from everyone here, i never wanted to settle down for less. as you said my dear, this is my dream and i want to build a career around it. i am not very emotional guy tbh, but it just came out today and then deepseek brought me here, i want help cause there is a lot of things i don't know, but my aim is to fly high, I'm saying this because i don't tell people usually this sort of stuff but today i choose to be this way. so i need your advise, cause i refuse to be the way i am now, i need a advice what license i should pursue and what academy would be good for me, cause at least i understand this much that, if i follow your advice i will be in good hands. not like I'm emotional or anything it just, i liked your perspective and everything you said is logical and not rational with great experience so that's why. you think, you can help me out with some information?, if so that would be great.

Everyone's journey is different and some are a lot harder than others. The right to live and work will ultimately decide what licence or certificate you need, and your current financial and educational circumstances will determine how long of a journey you have ahead of you. Education can be gained, money can be earned and passports can be obtained but a lot depends on the lottery of life and how you play the hand you're dealt.

Understood, I am also reconsidering my options right now, money can be obtained, and you're right, that's why time right now is the hardest of all. thanks. i am looking forward to seeing more advice from everyone.

and

That advice is hard to give if you don't tell us what you want to accomplish in your future career. The specific advice depends on what you want to fly and where you want to work. We can recommend any number of flight schools around the world, but that doesn't help you if you only dream of flying for Biman. There may be other options for that case. That's why I suggest you first outline what you want from your career. Do you want to fly airliners or business jets, do you want to do scenic flying or get your hands dirty doing bush flying?

Then, as rudestuff points out, it's even more basic than the flight school. If you wish to learn outside of your home country, you will likely require a student visa to study elsewhere, which comes with a lot of other considerations outside of flying those questions may be best answered by an embassy or consulate.

Don't worry about time. Consider this your first lesson in aviation.

The first quote: There is no problem so bad that you can't make it worse.

The second quote: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

In other words: don't rush. Take your time and be diligent. Make sure to understand the information you obtain and put it all into context. Rushing at this stage could cost you thousands of dollars at best, or your entire dream at worst. As such, you have to answer these questions first:

• Where do you want to fly?
• What do you want to fly?

Everything else falls into place once you've provided answers to those.

Looking for the Best Flight School in Europe
 

Hello everyone.

I am looking to for the best flight academies in Europe that offer accredited programs for obtaining the required flight licenses, including PPL (Private Pilot License), CPL (Commercial Pilot License), ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), as well as EASA-approved licenses, from recognized civil aviation authorities. I am particularly focused on academies with a strong reputation for providing high-quality education, practical training opportunities, and those that ensure credibility in their educational and professional operations.

I have heard of many academies that claim to offer accredited programs but, in reality, lack the proper competence, trained staff, and suitable aircraft. These academies often exploit people by taking their money without providing any real educational value. Therefore, I am keen to avoid these kinds of academies that do not adhere to high professional standards.

I am also interested in hearing others' experiences with Gulf Air Academy. Do they offer globally recognized training programs, including EASA licenses? What is your opinion on their credibility and the quality of their training?

Any recommendations or experiences or any advice would be appreciated you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much!

Best regards,
Paul

dubai or qatar airways these two are my final destination. i want to go eventually there. i don't want to study in my country its a worst place for aviation and i have been thinking about going Philippine for academy, CAAP license for now, as then build my hours, required hours converse my license then i will be thinking about dubai or qatar. in philippine royhle academy is relevantly good seen some reviews but they offer single engine rating, they have Redbird FMX and REDBIRD SD gamin 1000, cessna 172 single engine. they offer 210 hours and for extra hours i have pay for them. also have seen AAG they offer FAA license but their cost is way too high. i have to think about that as well.
i want to fly Airbus A320 or 80 or 80s & Boeing 777, 737.
so what do you think, is it bad idea or perhaps i should go for it? what should i do now?

thank you sooo much for your kind words, i really mean it. my ultimate goal is to be fly for emirates or qatar airways. i want to take that root. i know is vastly important thats why i want to take a that would lead me there eventually cause i cant efford their direct school cause they charge aloooot so taking a detour is only option for me or rather thats what i see because of limited information and recourses. again thank you so for taking your time and answering my question. i dont want to settle down for less, no matter how hard it gets i want to be there, what is stopping me is my inability and i hope you understand, what i am trying to saying.