Any 'Under-Educated' Pilots out there??
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Near sheep!
Any 'Under-Educated' Pilots out there??
Hi,
Weird question I know, but am wondering if there are any professional pilots out there (with decent jobs) with very little academic achievement.
I am 27 and racing through my PPL at the moment, but am finding it hard to pluck up the courage to commit (financially) to the commercial side of things.
I had a rough time at school and came away with very little. Then went on to become a carpenter, but my passion for aviation took over. I have worked within airline operations (awful hours) for five years trying to gain confidence.
I am an intelligent guy, and know I can get through the course, but fear my lack of academia will deny me a shot at an interview.
HELP.....
Weird question I know, but am wondering if there are any professional pilots out there (with decent jobs) with very little academic achievement.
I am 27 and racing through my PPL at the moment, but am finding it hard to pluck up the courage to commit (financially) to the commercial side of things.
I had a rough time at school and came away with very little. Then went on to become a carpenter, but my passion for aviation took over. I have worked within airline operations (awful hours) for five years trying to gain confidence.
I am an intelligent guy, and know I can get through the course, but fear my lack of academia will deny me a shot at an interview.
HELP.....
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 501
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From: YPPH
You may want to consider a "Pilot Pathway" course that combines a foundation degree with ATPL theory. You have to have your PPL by the second year but it definately is worthwhile.
I, too, don't have an academic background and have found that the first year really eased me into studying.
PM me if you want more details.
I, too, don't have an academic background and have found that the first year really eased me into studying.
PM me if you want more details.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 469
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From: U K
Windsheer,
I failed the 11+, left school at 14 and went into the building trade.The only exams i have passed worth a jot are the CPL/ATPL's. I am now a 10,000 hour jet captain. Go for it, it can be done!
With 491 posts since 2004, you will probably need to spend more time studying, and less time on Pprune though!
Good Luck.
BALLSOUT
I failed the 11+, left school at 14 and went into the building trade.The only exams i have passed worth a jot are the CPL/ATPL's. I am now a 10,000 hour jet captain. Go for it, it can be done!
With 491 posts since 2004, you will probably need to spend more time studying, and less time on Pprune though!
Good Luck.
BALLSOUT
Last edited by BALLSOUT; 8th April 2007 at 09:24.
Está servira para distraerle.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: In a perambulator.
Zounds!
Education equips a man with the ability to discuss many topics in a rational, intelligent and intellectual fashion. Education therefore, and by such definition, becomes a positive handicap for a prospective pilot let alone a practising one. Education, of course, should not be confused with cleverness, craftiness, connivance and cunning, attributes which most pilots find most useful from time to time, if only late at night in the long haul galleys.
It has been said, although one cannot quite remember by whom, that those females who aspire to pilothood are advantaged when provided with even less education than their male counterparts.
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Euroville
I came away from school with very little too Windshear
It is always something I fretted about when filling out job applications to major airlines. It didn't seem to matter in the end. I fly Medium Jets (737/A320 class) for a major airline now, about 2 years away from being a Captain I am told. I notice that most of my colleagues are in a similar position. I shouldn't worry about it, your performance in the sim is usually all the companies really care about come interview time.
It is always something I fretted about when filling out job applications to major airlines. It didn't seem to matter in the end. I fly Medium Jets (737/A320 class) for a major airline now, about 2 years away from being a Captain I am told. I notice that most of my colleagues are in a similar position. I shouldn't worry about it, your performance in the sim is usually all the companies really care about come interview time.
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I left school when I was 17 (am 32 today) and became a Carpenter, and worked as such for almost 8 years. Then I joined the army and did various other jobs as well, and I have never been back to school since the 9 th grade either.
I took a PPL when I was 26 just to see if it was for me. When I then wanted to become professional pilot I was told by the flying schools that I wasn't qualified for Integrated course, so I took it as modular. I passed faster and with better grades than most of the integrated i studied with, became a GA pilot on piston and props for 4 years and am today doing my second jet-rating (Airbus) joining a good company. I was amongst the 4 out of 14 in my class that got a job (by hard work), and the others all had much more education than me. (The clever guys had to buy their own jet-ratings and hours to get into business)
And all I ever had to pay was a half King Air rating just after 9/11. (And I swapped that bill with building a rooftop for the instructor).
Being a worker with the right attitude to hard work can bring you far in this business. It's those affraid of working hard that will have to buy their way to the top with expencive ratings. Educated or not!!
Looking back, I would never wish to come into this business without having been on the "real" jobmarket first, and am ever so happy about the path I have been following. More school wouldn't have made anything easier for me in the long run.
Just hang in there
I took a PPL when I was 26 just to see if it was for me. When I then wanted to become professional pilot I was told by the flying schools that I wasn't qualified for Integrated course, so I took it as modular. I passed faster and with better grades than most of the integrated i studied with, became a GA pilot on piston and props for 4 years and am today doing my second jet-rating (Airbus) joining a good company. I was amongst the 4 out of 14 in my class that got a job (by hard work), and the others all had much more education than me. (The clever guys had to buy their own jet-ratings and hours to get into business)
And all I ever had to pay was a half King Air rating just after 9/11. (And I swapped that bill with building a rooftop for the instructor).
Being a worker with the right attitude to hard work can bring you far in this business. It's those affraid of working hard that will have to buy their way to the top with expencive ratings. Educated or not!!
Looking back, I would never wish to come into this business without having been on the "real" jobmarket first, and am ever so happy about the path I have been following. More school wouldn't have made anything easier for me in the long run.
Just hang in there
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 312
Likes: 7
From: On the right of the clowns and to the left of the jokers
Stayed on for A-levels after GCSEs because that is what you needed for sponsorships, Hated school with a passion and there were no sponsorships, so left at 17 and did frozen ATPL instead of university.
Did frozen ATPL and 9/11 happened, did instructor rating at 19 and some freelancing on C421s etc, then did Citation type at 20. Really enjoyed corporate jets, and went on to get Learjet 45 and HS125 types.
Got my command at 22 and became Chief Pilot of a corporate outfit/my own management concern at 24. Scheduled to take delivery of my second aircraft next week.
Don't get me wrong, it was a hard road, and there were some very difficult times, but I often ask myself where I would have been if Id listened to the imbicile head of 6th form and finished my A-levels and gone to university (he said I could never get anywhere without) The best Answer I can come up with.............. about 5 years behind where I am now. I had 9 (fairly good) GCSEs when I left but regrets? I wish I could have spent the GCSE time doing the CAA writtens!
Did frozen ATPL and 9/11 happened, did instructor rating at 19 and some freelancing on C421s etc, then did Citation type at 20. Really enjoyed corporate jets, and went on to get Learjet 45 and HS125 types.
Got my command at 22 and became Chief Pilot of a corporate outfit/my own management concern at 24. Scheduled to take delivery of my second aircraft next week.
Don't get me wrong, it was a hard road, and there were some very difficult times, but I often ask myself where I would have been if Id listened to the imbicile head of 6th form and finished my A-levels and gone to university (he said I could never get anywhere without) The best Answer I can come up with.............. about 5 years behind where I am now. I had 9 (fairly good) GCSEs when I left but regrets? I wish I could have spent the GCSE time doing the CAA writtens!
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,611
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From: Gold Coast
I went as far as high school in Aus, and am a 747 Captain now.
My Dad was a 727 Captain and went as far as the second year of high school. (out of four years)
The need for extra education is utter rubbish.
All you need to be able to do to fly any jet is add, subtract, and multiply/divide by three or maybe four.
That's about as hard as it gets.
My Dad was a 727 Captain and went as far as the second year of high school. (out of four years)
The need for extra education is utter rubbish.
All you need to be able to do to fly any jet is add, subtract, and multiply/divide by three or maybe four.
That's about as hard as it gets.
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,153
Likes: 696
From: Brit living in Malaysia
Last job I had (after leaving RAF) before joining commercial airlines was making babies nappies for Kimberly Clark. Now LHS 744. Left school at 18 with some fairly average A Levels. No airline has ever really taken a serious interest in anything but my licence and log book.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 27
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From: London
hi 18-wheeler,
I am also a heavy captain and whilst I agree with the idea of just knowing how to divide/multiply by 3 or 4, lets face it, even if one cant divide by three, VNAV PATH usually gets it right!
I went pretty !!!!ty at school too.
I am also a heavy captain and whilst I agree with the idea of just knowing how to divide/multiply by 3 or 4, lets face it, even if one cant divide by three, VNAV PATH usually gets it right!
I went pretty !!!!ty at school too.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14
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From: uk
Go for it!
I left school at 16 with very bad cse's(for those that remember those). Went back to night school at 23 and sat GCSE maths, english and physics. Sat ATPL exams. I have flown in the military, been a captain of a jet and now fly the A320 for a large airline.
Good luck
I left school at 16 with very bad cse's(for those that remember those). Went back to night school at 23 and sat GCSE maths, english and physics. Sat ATPL exams. I have flown in the military, been a captain of a jet and now fly the A320 for a large airline.
Good luck
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 783
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From: The Deep South (Sussex)
As an 18,000 hour captain (and ex military pilot) I went back to a school reunion a few years ago. In conversation with one of the bright kids who went on to be a director of one of the nations larger engineering companies I mentioned that I regretted not working when I was at school.
After all, he left the place with several really good A levels and I left with a couple of indifferent O's .
His view was that had I worked I would have ruined my entire life and would have finished up stuck in some boring job like his!
My skill was in finding what I wanted to do then going balls-out for it.
After all, he left the place with several really good A levels and I left with a couple of indifferent O's .
His view was that had I worked I would have ruined my entire life and would have finished up stuck in some boring job like his!
My skill was in finding what I wanted to do then going balls-out for it.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 110
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From: Sussex, England
As my Chief pilot says, 'If you can hold a heading, height and conversation, you're in.' Actually perhaps that dumbs down the job but it isn't rocket science! I got 2 N's at A level, but could have recited Trevor Thoms PPL books to you at the time. Been to the top and have wandered back down now to ordinary training checking guy. Anyone with a will CAN! Go 4 it.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 264
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From: here today, there tomorrow
captain, been there done all that. cheers for the reply 
i was hoping to hear from current airline pilots who are short on the education avenue and have still managed to get jobs as pilots. some of the other posters have written some excellent stories about their experience, and i was hoping to hear from those who are flying regional/majors in asian/ME carriers.
thanks again
Richie
i was hoping to hear from current airline pilots who are short on the education avenue and have still managed to get jobs as pilots. some of the other posters have written some excellent stories about their experience, and i was hoping to hear from those who are flying regional/majors in asian/ME carriers.
thanks again
Richie