Maybe it's a good thing that you failed the cadetship
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Maybe it's a good thing that you failed the cadetship
Interesting article that I read from jetcareers.com
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As a long-term contributor to Jetcareers, who started off as the most eager aspiring pilot, it has been requested that I write up why I decided not to pursue this profession.
I started flying when I was 14, soloed by 16, gained my PPL when I was 17. I was the epitome of a 'wannabe' - worked at the pilot supply store, networked to the level that would bring a tear to Doug's eye (we all know how he loves that), and basically ate slept and drank aviation.
It all changed when I left for England at the age of 17 to attend University. My first memory of not being very impressed with a pilot career was actually departing from LAX. Through my networking I had arranged to sit jumpseat on the A340 during take off out of LAX. Although the guys flying were great fun, it seemed that there was not a lot to do. Their taxi was short then what I did in the 172, their take off roll was a bit longer, but at 500 feet they put auto-pilot and were in baby-sit mode. All the excitement I had imagined an airliner taking off was really not there.
Although flying in England was expensive it did not stop me going up. I joined British Airways Flying Club and every month I would go on a quick flight. After 6 months studying in the UK I decided that I would try for the BA sponsorship. It is well known that very few 18 year olds get through on their first try but for the last 3 years I had groomed myself to make me the ideal BA sponsorship candidate (Nigel in the making) so I wanted a go, and applied June 2001.
I traveled back to the US for that summer, and awaiting me on my return was a letter from British Airways. I had got passed the first round (where 30,000 [a year] go down to a couple thousand), and was invited in for some standardized testing. Being the ideal candidate I studied arduously for this test, however due to September the 11th my testing was cancelled.
This gave me a real perspective. I had only seen the airlines when they were thriving; hiring like it was going out of fashion, swimming in cash, etc. The tragic events of 9/11 allowed me to see the down side of the industry. I think this was a very big pill to swallow; what I think I liked so much about the airlines was that it was a job for life - that sadly is far from the truth!
At this time I was also flying the Atlantic frequently (approximately every 6 weeks) and started to despise the airport hustle and bustle. I was to the point where I flashed my magic gold card, check in a first class, wangled my way into the lounge, got on my plane, drunk, slept, looked at my watch numerous times until we landed at LAX, where my parents would meet me, and I can honestly say I would not have been upset if I had not seen an airplane for the following week. I had always envisioned myself as one of the dashing BA pilots coming out of the Bradley Building, looking very sharp - however that year I spent 1% of my life in an airplane and hated it - how could I possible spend 10% of my life in a plane and be happy!
With my BA application frozen I focused on my schoolwork, and alternative careers. I achieved my goal of graduating University at the age of 19, and moved back to California where I got a job as a finance broker. I had initially planned on keeping flying as a hobby, as I do enjoy it. I went flying about a dozen times, but never got back into the swing of it where I was happy to go on my own, and flying slowly became less of an important part of my life.
I look back and think about what if I got hired by BA, completed their training, and was flying the airways of the world. I would never have been able to uproot like I did in October 2003 and travel down to Australia for 6 months. I had wanted to do that since I was little. When you grow up in England there are 2 places you want to live - American and Australia. I have lived in both! My trip to Australia was something I wanted to do for myself - I learnt a lot, made a lot of friends, and had a great time. I would not have been able to this if I was a pilot.
I would have also never started playing polo - although I had ridden all my life, it was only out of luck that the CEO and President of the company I used to work for had started playing that I got involved. Now polo is my main hobby, and something I really enjoy!
Career wise I have aspirations to start my own company my head is constantly full of ideas, and I am currently working on putting them on paper. I am excited about this prospect, and the thrill of making my way in the business world.
About flying - to be honest it has been months since I went. My medical has expired, and I have no real passion to get going at it again. I like knowing my license will never expire, and it will always be there but beyond that I am busy with other things. If I end up back in England I would like to get into hot air ballooning - mostly for the views. I would like to learn to fly it, but drinking champagne as a passenger sounds equally as enjoyable.
Do I regret not becoming a pilot? Not at all, I am pleased that my BA sponsorship did not go through. I think at the age of 18 I was not ready to make that decision/commitment, and it would have been something I come to regret by the mid 20s. Although I had thought I researched every aspect of the airlines, I had only seen the good side of it - I pleased to got to see the bad before I was committed - I can honestly say I doubt it would have worked out!
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As a long-term contributor to Jetcareers, who started off as the most eager aspiring pilot, it has been requested that I write up why I decided not to pursue this profession.
I started flying when I was 14, soloed by 16, gained my PPL when I was 17. I was the epitome of a 'wannabe' - worked at the pilot supply store, networked to the level that would bring a tear to Doug's eye (we all know how he loves that), and basically ate slept and drank aviation.
It all changed when I left for England at the age of 17 to attend University. My first memory of not being very impressed with a pilot career was actually departing from LAX. Through my networking I had arranged to sit jumpseat on the A340 during take off out of LAX. Although the guys flying were great fun, it seemed that there was not a lot to do. Their taxi was short then what I did in the 172, their take off roll was a bit longer, but at 500 feet they put auto-pilot and were in baby-sit mode. All the excitement I had imagined an airliner taking off was really not there.
Although flying in England was expensive it did not stop me going up. I joined British Airways Flying Club and every month I would go on a quick flight. After 6 months studying in the UK I decided that I would try for the BA sponsorship. It is well known that very few 18 year olds get through on their first try but for the last 3 years I had groomed myself to make me the ideal BA sponsorship candidate (Nigel in the making) so I wanted a go, and applied June 2001.
I traveled back to the US for that summer, and awaiting me on my return was a letter from British Airways. I had got passed the first round (where 30,000 [a year] go down to a couple thousand), and was invited in for some standardized testing. Being the ideal candidate I studied arduously for this test, however due to September the 11th my testing was cancelled.
This gave me a real perspective. I had only seen the airlines when they were thriving; hiring like it was going out of fashion, swimming in cash, etc. The tragic events of 9/11 allowed me to see the down side of the industry. I think this was a very big pill to swallow; what I think I liked so much about the airlines was that it was a job for life - that sadly is far from the truth!
At this time I was also flying the Atlantic frequently (approximately every 6 weeks) and started to despise the airport hustle and bustle. I was to the point where I flashed my magic gold card, check in a first class, wangled my way into the lounge, got on my plane, drunk, slept, looked at my watch numerous times until we landed at LAX, where my parents would meet me, and I can honestly say I would not have been upset if I had not seen an airplane for the following week. I had always envisioned myself as one of the dashing BA pilots coming out of the Bradley Building, looking very sharp - however that year I spent 1% of my life in an airplane and hated it - how could I possible spend 10% of my life in a plane and be happy!
With my BA application frozen I focused on my schoolwork, and alternative careers. I achieved my goal of graduating University at the age of 19, and moved back to California where I got a job as a finance broker. I had initially planned on keeping flying as a hobby, as I do enjoy it. I went flying about a dozen times, but never got back into the swing of it where I was happy to go on my own, and flying slowly became less of an important part of my life.
I look back and think about what if I got hired by BA, completed their training, and was flying the airways of the world. I would never have been able to uproot like I did in October 2003 and travel down to Australia for 6 months. I had wanted to do that since I was little. When you grow up in England there are 2 places you want to live - American and Australia. I have lived in both! My trip to Australia was something I wanted to do for myself - I learnt a lot, made a lot of friends, and had a great time. I would not have been able to this if I was a pilot.
I would have also never started playing polo - although I had ridden all my life, it was only out of luck that the CEO and President of the company I used to work for had started playing that I got involved. Now polo is my main hobby, and something I really enjoy!
Career wise I have aspirations to start my own company my head is constantly full of ideas, and I am currently working on putting them on paper. I am excited about this prospect, and the thrill of making my way in the business world.
About flying - to be honest it has been months since I went. My medical has expired, and I have no real passion to get going at it again. I like knowing my license will never expire, and it will always be there but beyond that I am busy with other things. If I end up back in England I would like to get into hot air ballooning - mostly for the views. I would like to learn to fly it, but drinking champagne as a passenger sounds equally as enjoyable.
Do I regret not becoming a pilot? Not at all, I am pleased that my BA sponsorship did not go through. I think at the age of 18 I was not ready to make that decision/commitment, and it would have been something I come to regret by the mid 20s. Although I had thought I researched every aspect of the airlines, I had only seen the good side of it - I pleased to got to see the bad before I was committed - I can honestly say I doubt it would have worked out!
Join Date: Mar 2000
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And?
So whats your point?
You come onto a pilots network to say how you hated flying first class, dear Nigel, and how could you possibly fly for a living? Not at all committed my dear chap, rather the balloons for me you know.....what.
Good, one less w@nker to fly with I say
Fark, what a sorry story mate. Pity you, no passion in your life.
Nosey
You come onto a pilots network to say how you hated flying first class, dear Nigel, and how could you possibly fly for a living? Not at all committed my dear chap, rather the balloons for me you know.....what.
Good, one less w@nker to fly with I say
Fark, what a sorry story mate. Pity you, no passion in your life.Nosey
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Well, this is a personal opinion but I think that both aviation and the gentleman in this article have gained by him not following through an aviation career. Doesn't sound to me like someone who would be prepared to do the 'hard yards' and to make a judgement based on one long-haul sector is not being very objective, I would suggest? Had he qualified and gone short-haul with some one like SouthWest, Easyjet or Ryanair his hands would have been full, especially around Europe, had he been accepted by BA and gone on their short-haul fleet again, I think he would have been kept busy.
Just my personal view but obviously this lad was backed by wealthy parents, I don't think his case is very typical of your average Wannabe.
Keep trying lads and lasses, don't be influenced by one changed mind!
By the way, what degree course can you complete at University by the age of nineteen?
Just my personal view but obviously this lad was backed by wealthy parents, I don't think his case is very typical of your average Wannabe.
Keep trying lads and lasses, don't be influenced by one changed mind!
By the way, what degree course can you complete at University by the age of nineteen?
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None that I know of. Only community college offer 2 year courses. Assuming he completed even summer sessions, that will take 3 years still and that's at full course load every term. If he think the pilots actually fly the entire thing from start to finish, then he obviously didn't do his research. If he want excitement flying, go join the Air Force. Even then it's 98% boredom and 2% excitment.
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NelsonLee if you were truely a commercial pilot wannabe, there's no way you can give up on flying so easily.
It's not unusual for anyone to think longhaul is boring, and there's no fun. But that's what pilots do, if you enjoy watching the stock market all day everyday, i think you can do pretty well "baby-sitting" the plane for just a couple hours.
perhapes that 9/11 thing freaked out you. but hey, pilots are professionals, and experienced. Plus there's technicians to make sure the plane is in great shape. Have faith in the industry man. I say you have a better chance killing yourself on the road than as a pilot.
It's not unusual for anyone to think longhaul is boring, and there's no fun. But that's what pilots do, if you enjoy watching the stock market all day everyday, i think you can do pretty well "baby-sitting" the plane for just a couple hours.
perhapes that 9/11 thing freaked out you. but hey, pilots are professionals, and experienced. Plus there's technicians to make sure the plane is in great shape. Have faith in the industry man. I say you have a better chance killing yourself on the road than as a pilot.
Last edited by ::Joey::1985620; 19th Oct 2004 at 00:44.
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You ppl need to take it easy.
He is just expressing his opinion that after spending his childhood years dreaming about being a commerical pilot, he realized that there's more to life than being a pilot.
He is just expressing his opinion that after spending his childhood years dreaming about being a commerical pilot, he realized that there's more to life than being a pilot.
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Sometimes things happen in life, to make you realise what is actually important to you. For a lot of people, 911 was a real awakening to how sick this world is.
For many of the guys in HK, dreaming of a flying job, only do so if you can look past the uniform, the money, the birds and the rosters.
I miss my basic flying in a 152...but I also love my job.
Also be prepared to face failure, because it doesn't just stop once you got into the cadet program. It is only the beginning, as the mortality of a pilot can be short lived, medical wise, attitude wise or just the company don't like you.
For many of the guys in HK, dreaming of a flying job, only do so if you can look past the uniform, the money, the birds and the rosters.
I miss my basic flying in a 152...but I also love my job.
Also be prepared to face failure, because it doesn't just stop once you got into the cadet program. It is only the beginning, as the mortality of a pilot can be short lived, medical wise, attitude wise or just the company don't like you.
