Advices for a (hopefully) future student pilot
 

Hello everyone, I am about to (hopefully) enroll in a flight school very soon, I am going to a European flight school under EASA. However, I hae some questions that I was hoping could be answered.

First of all: Can someone please explain me the structure of the flight school courses? Kinda like how you explain a kid about school: how he will go through Kindergarden - to board exams, what kind of grades he should get and what are the consequences he will face when he doesn't meet those expectations.
My father is a pilot as well, and he is rambling to me about all these things about "forzen-atpl", "type-rating", or some other weird flight school-related terminologies, and they're all going over my head.

Also what would be some advices for me? Ones that all of you here, had to learn the hard way; so then I could avoid it? Thanks.

Moved from the Australian Forum but relates to European flying training.

The answers you get here may not be correct. I suggest you take up your questions with a European flying school in the country in which you intend training.

Firstly, stop. You’re about to enrol in a flying school and you know nothing about the process. Now clearly everyone builds their knowledge up from somewhere but to be about to start training without the knowledge yet is definitely unwise. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.

Presumably you want to be an airline pilot? Here’s some things I’d Google/ChatGPT as starters. It’s pointless trying to give you an entire overview as it’s so broad. Better for you to establish where you are and where you want to get to, then ask specifics here after.

• Modular vs integrated
• What is a type rating
• What is a frozen ATPL
• Class 1 medical (get this booked today)

Plenty of other topics to look at, don’t just pile into being a pilot because your dad did. Advice for the interview, it’s not just gentlemen that are allowed to do aeroplaning..!

I did do research on that, at least about the part about Modular vs Integrated training, and what a type ratings essentially etc. However, yes, you're right. There are much more I need to learn. I kinda posted this thread in hopes of starting that.

Welcome on Pprune 😉,

That first step is good.

Asking questions is always good. There are no stupid questions😄.

Tbh, it seems you are still very young, which is not bad of course and know not so much about the job as a pilot.

What type of flying? Different sorts of flying.

Aviation is a tough cut throat business. You really need to want it, otherwise it will be really hard to survive in aviation.

Little example of myself.

Graduated in 2013. Could not find a job as a pilot so applied for a job as a Cabin Crew. Worked as a CC for 3.5 years. That airline went bust.

6 months later got my first job as a FO on a 737-300/400. Flew for that company for 2 Summer seasons ( 2018/2019).

Then autumn/winter 2019/2020 in another company.

Then we all know what happend. Lost my job.

Worked as Package Courier together at Food Delivery for the Orange company. Tough times. Was about to give up flying.

Only early 2022 got finally a job again on a big jet.

Just let that sink in.

Times to find a job now are pretty good, but will ot be when you finish training?

Do you hava a plan B?

Otherwise you might end up doing unskilled jobs with the salary to it.

In the meanwhile, watch ALL Episodes of Air Crash Investigation.

Better inform yourself better about this business 😉.

Good luck 😄.

haha yes, I am quite young 😅, I just graduated from school . I kinda wanna follow the career path of my father, as a commercial airline pilot. I have seen what kind of a life it is from a very young age, as he was a pilot long before my birth.

Just keep in mind, your fathers career looks glorious as he is the last generation who actually got a bit of the good times, but life as a pilot is not that glorious these days. Especially not when you dont end up in a Legacy Carrier.

The road can be long, depending on the earlier mentioned also on the market.

I have friends who it took 6+ years to get the first job.

Myself 4.5 years.

It might be that you have to start as a an instructor. Then Small Turbo Props in dodgy outfits who cut corners in safety and not respecting your FDPs.

Maybe bad paid job on a Citation in another cowboy outfit.

Step by step you maybe get to bigger jets in ACMI clubs ( lease charter ), where they still treat you 💩.

Maybe short haul cargo flying ( very tough business, 80% night flying ).

You work days others are off. Working X mass, Easter, maybe cannot get off for your future wifes or childrens bdays.

Looong 4 leg tiring days, unruly passengers, cold/hot wx ops. Delays due to slots, cpts discretion, extention, broken APU, no airstarter available, again missing slot.

Airplane not airworthy, but pax already on board. Disembark, pax angry.

If you are unlucky with the company you work for, you have to find yourself an hotel to stay.

Working via agencies as a contractor.

Aviation itself is a horrible business, where you get screwed one way or another.

Im standing very strong in my shoes, and so far I am handling it pretty well, but this is not made for everyone.

It is really not that shiny.

For the job itself, flying, it is incredible. I love it every second. When I walk up to the aircraft and knowing that I will fly her, still gives me a special feeling. Same after I get of the aircraft.

But you have to orientate more on what this business is like.

You must be VERY passionate to survive here. Especially if the worldsituation is like the financial crash in 2008 or this Pandemic.

I was twice very close to giving up, and I can tell you, I gave everything to get there where I am right now.

I wish you wisdom but again, read into what this business is really like.

Companies go bust. Again you have to look for new job. On the bottom of seniority. Lay Offs due to reorganisation.

KR,

P40

Where can you fly? That is, what nationality are you? Do you have the right to work and live in the EU? Otherwise an EASA licence may be a very expensive waste of time.
Spend some time researching aviation stuff on Skybrary. It is a very good source of unbiased information, especially in human factors and air law. Find out the different licences etc.
If you want to fly because your father did, that's fine, but it's more of a vocation than just a job. Like anything with a high cost of entry, the competition is tough, especially in the beginning and you're at the behest of the economy and financial managers - and I use that term loosely! The view is great though.