The last instalment is acually here

PP

Lawmaker,

One other thing PP seems to omit on every single post he ever makes is that he would have found it a lot more difficult training if he had been on his own, financially and emotionally. He had tremendous support from myself from when he left work to when he needed another £15K to pay for the upgrade, plus I was there paying his mortgage and bills etc.

I do know a number of people that started off training with a supportive partner and had to complete it without one.

I also know plenty of pilots that at the point of them starting an airline job owe at least £30K to their parents/ bank / overdraft/ re-mortgage, etc.

One cannot justify the money it takes to pay for the licence without knowing if there is anything at the end to repay the debts and have a successful airline career. I think the figures are for every pilot that trains only 10% move on to successful airline careers so statistically the odds are against you.

However if you believe you can do it then you have to go with your gut instinct and believe that you are going to achieve your goal. It takes as much effort in getting a job as it does to get the licence, believe me there are not many airline pilots that have had a smooth ride into an airline career. But rest assured if you don't do it, it will probably be one of the biggest regrets of your life. The old saying 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' is completely true and if you want life without risk then I would stay being a lawyer (no offence intended).

In any event I wish you and all of the other people out their training to be pilots all the luck in the world and to remember that when you think you have revised enough for exams, and practised enough of your flying and are absolutely exhaused mentally then you need to do it some more.

With kind regards.

Bovey

I really hope for all wannabe including me that the numbers are better than you said.

Not sure where the missus got that 10% figure from, but I was told by a CAA guy that 75% of the people in the exam hall when you sit never go on to get a commercial flying job............... The number who get a frozen ATPL with IR and who eventually get an airline job is substancially higher. Everyone I know from training is now flying for an airline.

PP

:ok:

My moral goes up, I go back to work now !

Gosh! That post took me as long to Read as it did for you to complete all of your training since 1997!
That sounds like very hard work to me!
what you didnt mention there though pete, is that every training wannabe will get the breaks that you got!
bonjour!

oh yes,
dont know if you all heard-but that story actually appeared in "pilot" magazine in 2002, well someone must have sent it in or a version. Apparantly they fitted it all into a single paragraph! The well-edited version appeared below:

My Story- Pete the pilot

Slummed it out for 10 years, then got the big payoff!
Worked in Recruitment, then discovered "THE" magazine
Got PPL, and the baby was sick
The baby was sick again, very messy!!!
Then the Nanny was sick! (!!!!!)
studied hard and commuted a lot
got lucky(very), Job in Scotland (not enough hours!)
Remortgaged Flat, got Student Loan (ouch!)
Ran Outta cash- So busked for cash and lost 2 stone.
Got enough cash busking to Do CPL etc
Got shiny new licence, and got the hours
Went for JMC job, more training and Commuting! (!!!!!!)
waiting for line training
waiting for line training
still waiting for line training!!!
Got the right hand seat!
Now Inslovent, house reposessed, licences expired

Pilot magazine verdict- We'll call this weeks reader 'peter pan' - flies a lot and makes dreams come true! (sometimes hits walls when flying though)


:sad: :O :{ :ugh:

I say "well done Pete!!"

Of the pilots i know none is more deserved of their dream job than Pete. Determination really does pay off.

I take my hat off to Pete and his family as times have surely been tough.

Pete, looking forward to the next "lock in".....:ok:

Dan.

Excellent PP, great reading especially for a wannabe.

'RE'

what an inspiration for us!!!!!!