PPRuNe Forums - Need advice on TR decision !

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Need advice on TR decision !

I passed out from IGRUA in August, 2014. I am not Type Rated yet.

Unfortunately, I did not clear the written Indigo JFO exam of Feb, 2015.
Now, I have missed the Air India and GoAir vacancies for TR A320 pilots.

I feel like jobs are just slipping out of my hand! Vacancies are here but I am not getting the jobs.

Okay. So my question is- should I go ahead with self-sponsered A320 Type Rating? Because you see, I am afraid that another vacancy may come up for type rated pilots?
What will be the cost of renewal in case I do not get a job in one year?
If I go ahead with TR, I will opt for an Indian centre.

Please. I need opinions. I am not very aware right now! :/

don't pay for a type rating unless a reputable airline promises to hire you when you get type rated (usually at a facility of their choice). A self-financed type rating on your own, which is not part of the hiring process of an airline, will rarely get you anywhere.

Need advice on TR decision !

DO NOT PAY FOR A TYPE RATING

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Unfortunately, I did not clear the written Indigo JFO exam of Feb, 2015.

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Vacancies are here but I am not getting the jobs.

BoooHu....

Spending daddy's money does not require much effort, does it?:suspect:

Instead of spending daddy's money without a job guarantee why don't you study hard and try to clear the next airline exam for CPL holders? If you feel that you did study hard then either you are being dishonest with yourself or you are not cut out for an airline job. Sorry.

Well our current situation here in the philippines, a few years back then, cadet program on such airlines were removed. And now, most of pilot's here are taking themselves with there own TYPE RATING at CAAP, well the result is supposed to be employed by that airline, but there is no guarantee. and that's why there's a bunch of pilots, who currently graduated with a320 type rating and hoping to get a call. reason? other airlines, are so selfish of themselves that they are protesting to postpone the expansion of other foreign airlines here in the philippines, while even themselves cannot even expand there fleet. Actually, we are running out of pilots here in the asia. Its just very strange that due to some egoistic act of some company here, they are on verge of jeopardizing the whole future of other pilots.

I know of a bunch of IGRUA graduates from 2012, 2013 who are still 'being patient'.:ugh::ugh:
Quite possibly there are many from earlier batches in the same situation. Having said that, I suggest you go through the thread 'Indigo call letters for freshers'. There's another thread on Jet hiring on the same forum. You might get a clue which helps to reach a decision. It's a very tough decision and my suggestion would be to take the ATPL exams while you are waiting. That helps. Just keep studying. All the best.

I believe the following post is quite apt to the original poster

Reposted with permission courtesy of Mr. Sushil Bajpai

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There was a time when the airlines around the world, paid for the type rating, in return for a bond to work for them for several years. That was the time before the airline industry got commoditized.

Now it was a race to the bottom, and continues that way today. Their margins have got eroded to less than 2%. Consequently, if the economy in one corner of the world, so much as sneezes, the airlines around the world, catch a life threatening flu.

The price volatility of fuel ensures a low immunity towards any shocks. High fuel prices send them in a crippling spiral. When the fuel prices go down, instead of recouping the losses or hedging against the future of high fuel prices, they wear out each other, selling tickets below par.

One of the direct implications of the cheap tickets is that the airlines stopped paying for the type rating. Initially the idea came in garb of loan, to be recovered from the salary. Then that pretence was gone as well. The prospective pilots needed to shell out the cost of their training upfront. While controversial, this is how the industry has organized itself. It is perhaps best to accept this, although in a country like India how fair is it for a large of people who can barely afford even basic flying is something that needs to debated.

But now the situation has taken an alarming turn. I read with growing concern, on this and other forums, that the desperate young pilots have taken this to another dimension. They are willing to commit to self-sponsored type ratings in a vain hope of landing a job in some unforeseen and unforeseeable future.

Type ratings on big jets are expensive affair. They need to be kept current. And keeping them current also costs money. Within the same type, there are several variants. Not only this makes the whole business very expensive, but sitting on ground, for anything more six months after getting a type rating also has safety implications.

This is a vicious cycle, which if left uncorrected, will lead to a situation where the young pilots will need to pay for type rating and also for flying till they get their ATPL and 500 hours on the type. The airlines would then become an extension of and behave like TRTOs.

While the low fare passengers add to the market share, the flying crew could contribute to the bottom line!

There is another aspect which we tend to ignore. A young pilot has just spend several Lakhs to acquire a CPL, ME, IR and is desperate for a job, for the independence that comes with it and to be able tell the parents that the money and effort is not wasted, to return the loans. It is potentially a very high stress situation.

I think we need to be honest with ourselves, and to seriously consider added expenses of type rating only when an airline at least offers an LOI. Otherwise the remedy may turn out to be worse than the disease itself.

What are therefore, the options. My suggestion is, accept that the big jobs will come when they come. In the meantime upgrade other qualifications, which come at much lower cost. They have added advantage of reducing the stakes and diversifying the knowledge and skill sets.

While one waits for the dream job, complete that graduation, which you left half way and go on to get post graduation. Seek other jobs related to flying training activities that keep you in touch with flying. Diversify your skill and knowledge set. Don't put all eggs in one basket.

There are any number of distance and online programs to enhance knowledge, skill and experience. Diversification is the key to successful adaptation. I see that many pilots quite wisely do just that.

Think through. Keep thirty Lakhs in bank. It's a lot of money and can help you make much more. Definitely don't take any loans to do that type rating for an elusive job, unless you have an LOI.

I write this as someone who has seen and lived aviation close up for well over thirty years. I love to fly. But I don't shy away from from other "mundane" jobs that help ensure that I fly.

I'm not saying anything new. Instinctively, we all know everything that I have said. Neither do I mean to discourage or to belittle passion for aviation. I just wish to caution against the actions (or lack thereof) that could lead to avoidable despair, hopelessness, and broken dreams.

I just want to be a voice of caution for the pilots thirty years younger to me, who will carry the burden of aviation upon their shoulders. I don't want those shoulders to sag under the insurmountable load that our dysfunctional system can create for the young and unwary.

So does the post by Mr Sushil Bajpai still apply to the current scenario of Indian Aviation Industry? In the past one year we have seen good number of A-320 Vacancies. In the year 2016 we already have had Air India and GO Air 320 ads. What's the take now? Still is it considered a wise decision not to do the self sponsored TR? I don't think this A-320 boom will be back soon again in the Indian aviation industry. People are getting rated and are getting recruited eventually. I'm sure this is the best time ever to get type rated in order to get eligible for the rated vacancies and getting employed eventually. What's your take friends?

So you feel getting typed will get you a job ?
In the near future we may see more of A320 rated guys than plain Jane CPL holders vying for jobs.
Now since you asked....
1) Ask your parents first then consider random people like me on pprune. I assume that money for the rating is coming from daddy's coffers. Aske em if they have the capacity to bear the loss should you not get employed soon
2)Study...Ensure you do not flunk an exam
3) Apply for ground jobs in airlines. It will help you
4) Clear your ATPL papers and orals.
5) Teach fellow pilots. It sharpens your skills.

My type rating was fully sponsored by an Indian airline. I got in by starting off with a ground job...No connections, No daddy's money......**** loads of hard work and determination and a little luck :E

VT-ASM,
1)Getting a A-320 Typerating is not a sure shot way of getting a job. But, yes it will hand me more opportunities to sit for the airline exams and it will increase my chances to get into the airline provided I'm up to the airline standards. In the last one year we have had numerous A-320 vacancies as against CPL vacancies which are just one or two on an average in a year. Now if someone's advice is not to do the TR then who will fill those type rated vacancies which we are seeing every 3 months. It's someone amongst all of us only who are getting type rated and getting in eventually. Just because you landed a Job without a TR doesn't mean that's the only way to go. Please be flexible with your thinking. In the present scenario having a rating will definitely hand you more opportunities as against having just a CPL.
2) Do not assume beforehand. I'll be financing my Typerating all by myself. I run a successful business. Sitting idle for all these years and wasting time was just out of question. I have utilised my time wisely.
3) Well, I have already cleared all the 3 ATPL written exams and Orals. And I'm making sure by working hard that I've the required solid knowledge base before appearing for that TR exam.

Everyone has different way to make it successfully to the airline (Getting a type or without type). Common factors are hard work, determination, perseverance, self-belief etc. What has worked for a particular person doesn't mean that's the only way to go.
By the way, what's wrong in funding a type training by taking "daddy's money"? How on earth will a person in his/her young days will finance himself for his/her training? We live in a culture and society where a family support their sons and daughters emotionally, financially and socially. Just because you got your training funded by the airline doesn't mean one shouldn't take that route and turn towards his/ her father for financial help. Which airline nowadays sponsors the TR right after or before the selection? I had asked views on the current scenario of A-320 opportunities. I do not wish to entertain one's advice whether one should spend daddy's money on TR or not. That should be utterly my god damn business where I'm getting the money from. But,yes without having required knowledge,skills and the required aptitude and utterly out of desperation one shouldn't invest on the TR. that will lead one nowhere.

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