Has anyone done it?
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Has anyone done it?
Hi,
I was just wondering if anybody has made the transition from a sea career into an aviation one? Earlier this year I declined my CTC wings offer as I tried to see through their glossy magazines, and their affiliations to airlines and job promises (which I have no doubt about). However in September I will be going off to a Nautical College in Southampton to study a 3 year degree course in Maritime (learning to drive ships) and the security of a 2 year job contract after with Royal Caribbean International, as they are sponsoring me throughout my course.
But my ultimate goal is to become an airline pilot, but possibly go through the modular route. However I was basically wondering anyone has made the transition from a sea related career into an aviation one?
Thank you
I was just wondering if anybody has made the transition from a sea career into an aviation one? Earlier this year I declined my CTC wings offer as I tried to see through their glossy magazines, and their affiliations to airlines and job promises (which I have no doubt about). However in September I will be going off to a Nautical College in Southampton to study a 3 year degree course in Maritime (learning to drive ships) and the security of a 2 year job contract after with Royal Caribbean International, as they are sponsoring me throughout my course.
But my ultimate goal is to become an airline pilot, but possibly go through the modular route. However I was basically wondering anyone has made the transition from a sea related career into an aviation one?
Thank you
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maybe not your main concern now, but ships can ruin relationships even more than airlines. months away from home. the months at home can't always make up for what you missed. on the bright side, no huge expenses for typeratings etc. no p2f. and you're actually in charge of a watch as a third mate. the bridge is yours.
A long time ago at age 18 I was offered a Cadetship with P&O. The same week I also landed a flying scholarship which funded a substantial amount of my CPL. I already had a PPL so I took the soft option. I did not want to chip rust and learn to paint and all the other hard graft that went with going to sea back then. I was a lazy little bugger. Flying was much cleaner and was something even then I never really had to work at. Flying theory was far easier then and is even more so now.
Now retired, having been through a couple of airline bankruptcies and a revolution that saw me redundant with money saved seriously devalued, I know with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight that I should have gone with the ships.
I have met several retired sea captains and they are WAY ahead on the finances. Certainly the guys I know could easily afford their own light aircraft if they wanted to fly for fun. Many of the ex airline pilots I know can barely afford the cars they drive. One or two divorces and airlines going belly up can have that effect. Sure, occasionally shipping lines fold, but not nearly as often as airlines, it seems. Also, I don't think being at sea would be any worse for collecting ex wives. Less opportunity could be a good thing....
Now retired, having been through a couple of airline bankruptcies and a revolution that saw me redundant with money saved seriously devalued, I know with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight that I should have gone with the ships.
I have met several retired sea captains and they are WAY ahead on the finances. Certainly the guys I know could easily afford their own light aircraft if they wanted to fly for fun. Many of the ex airline pilots I know can barely afford the cars they drive. One or two divorces and airlines going belly up can have that effect. Sure, occasionally shipping lines fold, but not nearly as often as airlines, it seems. Also, I don't think being at sea would be any worse for collecting ex wives. Less opportunity could be a good thing....
Like a Arctic Circle, I too worked at sea while doing my (modular) flying training. I worked for BP doing 3 months on, 2 months off. As he says, the crossover in the academic subjects is large enough to make the ATPL exams much easier. There's sod all else to do when you're at sea than study too!
You also have large chunks of disposable income when you come home from a trip and the time to pursue your flying training during your leave without a day job to bother you.
Plenty of bitter divorcees at sea too, and I did my share of winters in the Baltic taking a wooden mallet to chip the ice off the tank vents. Working at sea will also prepare you for working with people from differing cultures and backgrounds. Try having a chat with the Filipinos about their childhood!
You also have large chunks of disposable income when you come home from a trip and the time to pursue your flying training during your leave without a day job to bother you.
Plenty of bitter divorcees at sea too, and I did my share of winters in the Baltic taking a wooden mallet to chip the ice off the tank vents. Working at sea will also prepare you for working with people from differing cultures and backgrounds. Try having a chat with the Filipinos about their childhood!
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I think CTC would have been your best chance at getting into this business fairly painlessly to be honest. I got my first job through CTC, albeit about seven years ago. Upfront, to the point and honest is my experience of them.
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CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, based at Kidlington, are having an Open Day tomorrow for prospective students. Possibly more expensive than CTC, but the word on the street is that the quality of training is infinitely better.
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I still love flying, but totally detest where the aviation industry has plummeted to, attributable to a large extent by the rise of the "Harp".
If you are able to make anything approaching a lucrative living sailing the seas I would recommend sating yourself by enjoying & progressing to the max in "recreational flying" , or indeed even going so far as instructing part time in an aero club (because you want to, not because you have to )
I hate to give advice like this, but I cannot imagine where this industry will be in 20 years time, having been sad witness to where it has gone this last 20, then again, the Marine industry could well be just as much of an open sore ( would be surprised if it wasn't) so ? well, I would prefer to fly, but don't do it at "any cost".
If you are able to make anything approaching a lucrative living sailing the seas I would recommend sating yourself by enjoying & progressing to the max in "recreational flying" , or indeed even going so far as instructing part time in an aero club (because you want to, not because you have to )
I hate to give advice like this, but I cannot imagine where this industry will be in 20 years time, having been sad witness to where it has gone this last 20, then again, the Marine industry could well be just as much of an open sore ( would be surprised if it wasn't) so ? well, I would prefer to fly, but don't do it at "any cost".
I must respectfully disagree with captplaystation, having experienced both the deep sea and the Loco life. Being home every night on a fixed roster, with the odd week here and there away is infinitely preferable to 3 months working a minimum of 10 hours a day, 7 days a week in some fairly rough weather. If you think the walk around in Poland in January is bad, try mooring ops at the top of the Baltic at the same time of year!
That's before my wife and family start coming into the equation. If flying is what you really want to do, go for it. But if you do, keep your CoC for the ships current as it means you always have an exit in your back pocket. Cruise ships are not as glamorous as you might think either - the pay is worse than cargo, you spend more at sea do you can't save as much, and 4 months doing the same one week cruise out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale would drive me utterly insane.
That's before my wife and family start coming into the equation. If flying is what you really want to do, go for it. But if you do, keep your CoC for the ships current as it means you always have an exit in your back pocket. Cruise ships are not as glamorous as you might think either - the pay is worse than cargo, you spend more at sea do you can't save as much, and 4 months doing the same one week cruise out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale would drive me utterly insane.
In a bit of a hurry just now so just a quick note; I made the transition.
I'm now 73 and went to sea aged 19 in 1962. I mention that to put any comments I make into perspective; things have changed.
Aged 15, Apprentice engineer - Aged 19, seagoing marine engineer for almost three years. Great for a young chap and, on banana boats, got to see places where the tourists didn't go.
By the age of 22, I had decided that, one day, I’d get married and was a bit concerned that a seagoing life was not an ideal occupation for a married chap.
I HAD thought, that, if I continued at sea, I'd go for liners/cruise ships for the more interesting social life (although, in those days, consorting with pax was frowned upon). We carried twelve pax and I recollect a young 3/O taking up with a comely wench. The poor guy was dead on his feet - remember, she could sleep whilst he was on watch
I'd thought that I'd work in a turbine generating station for which my experience at sea would have been suitable but, thanks to the Cold War and the failure of the two Ks to play nicely together, the RAF needed cannon fodder and I needed a career. (I occasionally raise a glass to Kennedy and Kruschev)
I had to get myself some O-Levels and worked in quality control at IBM until the exams came round and was extremely lucky to be selected for RAF training. Although I wasn't happy with the £5 per week I was paid as a cadet cf the £20 I earned as 4th engineer, it was a lot better than PTF.
My feeling? The sea was fun for a couple of years but I wouldn't have liked to make it a lifetime career. The other thing which I learned was that, at the time, an engineer could come ashore and easily find engineering employment; for the mates it was dead mens' shoes in pilotage, harbour master or instructing.
Nowadays? Either get into the mil, a major or an airline which looks likely to be taken over by one.
Re how to handle DIY training; the advice you get here from people in their twenties and thirties will be more up to date than anything I can say.
In the end it's your decision. My life has been a series of serendipitous accidents.
May yours be similar.
p.s. I think my previous as MN officer helped a little at RAF interview. I am sure that deck officer training would help even more at any interview.
I'm now 73 and went to sea aged 19 in 1962. I mention that to put any comments I make into perspective; things have changed.
Aged 15, Apprentice engineer - Aged 19, seagoing marine engineer for almost three years. Great for a young chap and, on banana boats, got to see places where the tourists didn't go.
By the age of 22, I had decided that, one day, I’d get married and was a bit concerned that a seagoing life was not an ideal occupation for a married chap.
I HAD thought, that, if I continued at sea, I'd go for liners/cruise ships for the more interesting social life (although, in those days, consorting with pax was frowned upon). We carried twelve pax and I recollect a young 3/O taking up with a comely wench. The poor guy was dead on his feet - remember, she could sleep whilst he was on watch
I'd thought that I'd work in a turbine generating station for which my experience at sea would have been suitable but, thanks to the Cold War and the failure of the two Ks to play nicely together, the RAF needed cannon fodder and I needed a career. (I occasionally raise a glass to Kennedy and Kruschev)
I had to get myself some O-Levels and worked in quality control at IBM until the exams came round and was extremely lucky to be selected for RAF training. Although I wasn't happy with the £5 per week I was paid as a cadet cf the £20 I earned as 4th engineer, it was a lot better than PTF.
My feeling? The sea was fun for a couple of years but I wouldn't have liked to make it a lifetime career. The other thing which I learned was that, at the time, an engineer could come ashore and easily find engineering employment; for the mates it was dead mens' shoes in pilotage, harbour master or instructing.
Nowadays? Either get into the mil, a major or an airline which looks likely to be taken over by one.
Re how to handle DIY training; the advice you get here from people in their twenties and thirties will be more up to date than anything I can say.
In the end it's your decision. My life has been a series of serendipitous accidents.
May yours be similar.
p.s. I think my previous as MN officer helped a little at RAF interview. I am sure that deck officer training would help even more at any interview.
Last edited by Basil; 16th May 2015 at 12:10. Reason: p.s.
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At 18 years of age, you have your whole life ahead of you! The maritime opportunity sounds great, and IMHO you would be crazy to turn it down! You can learn a profession, see the world, fill your boots 
and have some amazing life experiences, which will make you stand out from all the other hundreds of 200 hour aces, graduating from the sausage factories in Oxford & Jerez.
Integrated or Modular, that debate has been done to death on these forums. It's horses for courses at the end of the day. The biggest risk for new Pilots these days is, not getting their licence, but getting their first job. A lot of guys & girls get lucky, many do not! Having a Plan B is very important, and you seem to have some very nice options.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck! It would be very interesting to hear how things pan out for you over the course of the next few years!
and have some amazing life experiences, which will make you stand out from all the other hundreds of 200 hour aces, graduating from the sausage factories in Oxford & Jerez. Integrated or Modular, that debate has been done to death on these forums. It's horses for courses at the end of the day. The biggest risk for new Pilots these days is, not getting their licence, but getting their first job. A lot of guys & girls get lucky, many do not! Having a Plan B is very important, and you seem to have some very nice options.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck! It would be very interesting to hear how things pan out for you over the course of the next few years!
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You are getting good advice here. At your age, you can opt for a flying carrer later. if you choose to go to flight school in 5 years, you'll still do more than 40 years of flying, that will be enough for sure.
you will not regret getting more than one career, it gives you diversified experience, and more options.
you will not regret getting more than one career, it gives you diversified experience, and more options.
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Sea to Air
Many have gone that route before you.
Going to sea will give you very valuable life experience and it will help you to get through flighttraining since a lot of subjects are the same/simliar.
I too was able to save for the flighttraining (modular) whilst working at sea in just a few years.
Captain Playstation, im not entirely disagreeing with you but just bare in mind, what aviation is going through, shipping has been there long before. (I believe your current boss learned all his dirty tricks in the shipping industry as well).
Personally I have absolutely no regrets going to sea, I would do it all over again. I also have no regrets leaving it all behind. Work/Life balance is a lot better when flying.
Going to sea will give you very valuable life experience and it will help you to get through flighttraining since a lot of subjects are the same/simliar.
I too was able to save for the flighttraining (modular) whilst working at sea in just a few years.
Captain Playstation, im not entirely disagreeing with you but just bare in mind, what aviation is going through, shipping has been there long before. (I believe your current boss learned all his dirty tricks in the shipping industry as well).
Personally I have absolutely no regrets going to sea, I would do it all over again. I also have no regrets leaving it all behind. Work/Life balance is a lot better when flying.
I'm a pilot who sails for fun. Lots of seafarers fly for fun. Whatever you do for a living becomes routine and mundane and you yearn for the other. Take your pick!
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Has anyone done it?
Thank you all so much, especially to those who have given me an insight who have made the transition. I'm most definitely going to do the cadetship in September, however will see what the future holds in both industries, as to whether it will be worthwhile to switch over. As for the whole integrated and modular thing, I don't want to open that can of worms on here, but again if I do make the switch I'll consider which route is appropriate at the right time. I just hope that any choice I make will not be a naive and regrettable one!!!
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Owu, hearty congrats. At 18, go for the sea and stick to it. When I was 18 I applied for a Hamble Cadetship and failed, I tried BUA and failed. I headed for the RAF Cranwell Cadetship & failed. They automatically considered me for Supp list but I failed that too. Reckoned the Navy 8 year deal was good and I fancied flying on & off carriers in my Bucaneers but the RN didn't like me either. There was a fab chance with a three year commission in the Army Air Corps & possibly flying fixed wing beavers (whatever the hell those are) but failed the first stage assessment at my local Army Recruitment Office.
I wound up as a Loader at LGW. BUT, paths opened up and following advice of my Peers like Cap EN Jennings,Cap Moss and many others I wound up with 22000 hours as an Airline Pilot. I often looked down, from 40 odd thousand feet at sea going stuff and thought.........."Aaaaaah, that's the life". I met others who were ex fish-heads who, presumably, at the same time, looked up at me & thought ; " Aaaaah, that's the life" ! Oh, I did, in between all my failures try for a P&O Cadetship but failed the first interview and the British Merchant Navy fell into decline anyway.
Look, go for it, Very fortunate & enjoy a truly great career. Aviation is currently going right down the pan. Awful, awful, awful.
I wound up as a Loader at LGW. BUT, paths opened up and following advice of my Peers like Cap EN Jennings,Cap Moss and many others I wound up with 22000 hours as an Airline Pilot. I often looked down, from 40 odd thousand feet at sea going stuff and thought.........."Aaaaaah, that's the life". I met others who were ex fish-heads who, presumably, at the same time, looked up at me & thought ; " Aaaaah, that's the life" ! Oh, I did, in between all my failures try for a P&O Cadetship but failed the first interview and the British Merchant Navy fell into decline anyway.
Look, go for it, Very fortunate & enjoy a truly great career. Aviation is currently going right down the pan. Awful, awful, awful.