I did say that I would not post anymore because of juvenile and sarcastic remarks from a few people but I have to thank all the people that have given positive advice and I will relay this to my son who is stuck in lodgings at gatwick, he doesnt know about this but as a father who sees his sons dream collapsing I thought that I had to do something and try and be useful, once again many thanks and hoping no one else falls into this trap

Tell him to never give up. If this is his dream job, he will find his way into a flight deck.

As far as I understand, the MPL license is tailored for one operator. easyJet is considered to be one of the best training in the industry.
Keep networking and ties from the flight school. Keep current and up to date with the industry.
This will open him perhaps doors and opportunities to other airlines.
The market will pick up again, but nobody knows when this is going to be. One needs to be persistent, especially during these times.

All the best, and I wish him well.

This. Never give up. Took me nearly 4 years to get my first pilot job. In that gap, I had another 3 jobs.

Make sure he also stays current (medicals, ratings, knowledge).

Hi Larki,
like many others I’ve been in that uncomfortable situation of looking for a job during an aviation crisis... The advise worth taking right now is never give up! All other advises are worthless as all times, situations, and places are all different from each other and what got me out of the ditch won’t apply to your son... Nobody knows what will happen in a months time.... Unlike others, I appreciate the fact that a father holds his son’s hand trough a dark time but there is always light at the end of the tunnel however long that might be so don’t give up and don’t let your son give up...
best of luck!

Larki. I have read the comments on here following your post. Some make me ashamed to be an airline pilot. Whilst it is true this is a fickle and difficult career, full of highs and lows (I have worked for 4 airlines that have left me redundant and had to spend years in the middle east when there were no jobs at all for a low hours pilot in Europe). This is a bad time for your son but things will recover......ignore to doomsters and the plain ignorant/rude. I fully understand, as do most decent human beings, what you are feeling on behalf of your son at the moment and just stay close to eJ.

I'm also sorry to hear your situation.

If I were him, I'd be looking to transfer the MPL to a frozen ATPL, likely get some hours in by instructing, and applying for every Cadetship going. It will happen, it may sadly just be a while. Captain here, but I've just lost a job offer (but luckily hadn't handed in my notice yet), so fully understand your frustration..

Following qualification and before getting a job, I worked several jobs. It took about 2 years for me to find something, and I was training during 2001, so hopefully under worse circumstances than now.

The current situation is much worse than 2001. The whole world is into a recession now, and it's going to get worse, a lot worse before it starts to get better.
Thousands of unemployed pilots all over the world.

2 years in current circumstances is very optimistic, I believe it will be 3 - 4 years at least.

Time to get real. He’s got an MPL, this leaves him in possibly the worst of all situations when it comes to being a job hunting pilot today. Telling his father that it ‘will happen’, whilst very nice could be seen as being disingenuous. It probably ‘won’t happen’ without a significant further investment that will turn his son into a ‘real pilot’ that can fly other classes and types of aircraft. Even then the odds will be stacked against him just like everyone else. We all said this about the MPL when it was first introduced. FTO’s don’t give two hoots, they are focussed on the next batch of youngsters looking to buy the dream.

I have to agree - it will be several years before he will be picked up, if ever, if he doesn't stay current - which would be very expensive - likely to be good money after bad.

It's difficult to write off this size of investment, but most of us have lost this sort of sum at one time or other, especially recently. Airline flying ain't what it was anyway, and will be worse after c19. My advice would be to invest in training for a future proofed profession,eg IT. After a period of employment, there are some good government schemes which will provide and pay for this training

Thats the best advice anyone can give in this case. When I finished flighttraining there were hardly any jobs going around, so it took me about 4.5 years to get to the flightdeck. In the meantime I worked in factories, call centres, all sorts just to pay the interest on my loan. Eventually I got a job flying small aircraft around for a few summers and ended up with my first commercial job and now I’m at a big airline in the UK. This is a horrible time to be newly qualified, but with a little luck and perseverance eventually he will get there. All the best!

Having had a similar start in aviation as MANSNOTHOT and others above, I would add the importance of networking and trying to stay connected with the industry in some way, if that is possible. When there is a shortage of jobs someone who can give you the nod that X airline is recruiting is worth a 1000 speculative job applications. That was certainly my experience 25 years ago.

Just to add my 2c.

Don't give up! Hate to say it, but it's going to be a minimum of 2-3 years before the airlines will be recruiting again. In the mean time, try and keep current, network and try anything to get some hours.

This crises will eventually be forgotten, and the public will fly again. By this time, lots of pilots will have retired, moved to other professions, and lets be honest, who in their right mind is going to enter pilot training for the next few years? End result, after the carnage of the next few years, I think we're being set up for a large shortage in maybe 4-5 years. We were already experiencing one when this hit, and that was with schools throwing out hundreds of pilots. Don't misunderstand me, airlines are going to go lay pilots off (I most likely included), airlines are going to go under, and at the moment its horrible timing. But don't give up! And probably more important, don't be drawn in by the aviation sharks that will be swimming very soon trying to sell hours etc.

Larki. I do tend to agree that the MPL is not the best in these circumstances and most of us warned against this as opposed ATPL. Hence my earlier comment about staying close to Easy. I do not necessarily agree with the doom and gloom merchants that surface whenever **** happens. I am now an Easy captain and have serious concerns about the near future but I have been flying for 14 years and in that time had several setbacks that seemed terminal to my career at the time. There will be downsizing and some airlines will be gone. Some will not have the financial clout to survive. On the other hand many will survive and those will be looking to get back to high pax capacity as soon as they can. Easy, I would consider, are well placed to see out the storm and bounce back quickly. A lot will depend on a covid vaccine. If one does emerge this year the travelling public will be back and those airlines that have survived will be looking for capacity. So, in my view, pain now but the future is not as dark as some will have you believe. Just tell your son to be patient.

Pay a good accountant to ringfence all your assets and get your son to declare himself bankrupt. 5 years of pain and then a clean sheet.

Larki,

Try not to take too much notice of what's said on these forums. You have to remember, much like you, a lot of people on here are not pilots, or if they are, may not have in depth (if any) knowledge of airline recruitment.

It is a very unfortunate situation, however I think it's just a waiting game for the time being. There have been a lot of 'I've lived through 9/11 and 2008 and this is 10x worse' kind of chat. What we have to remember is that there wasn't a terrorist attack, People aren't scared of flying, airlines aren't having to change the way they operate to increase security. This is something completely different.

Some airlines will fold, some will survive, new airlines will pop up afterwards, seizing the opportunity of recovery. Things will be different, but it's anyone's guess what the recruitment situation will be like.

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Larki, I was in a similar situation and the one thing I can say is that a instructor rating was not worth the investment. I did that and struggled like hell to find any flying. The problem was I was now a low hour pilot with a instructor rating and no experience. The experienced pilots who held instructor ratings flooded the market again and there were very very few opportunities if any. Just another x thousand pounds spent.

What worked for me was keeping myself current. I flew SEP to keep my hand in but more so to keep contacts. I had my type rating so I kept that valid. The people I knew kept me informed what was going on and I was slipped a few contacts. I say I got lucky but actually I was fortunate, I made my own luck. When I got offered a interview it was not even under the guise of an interview. The recruiter had no jobs but had a sim slot so offered to renew my rating. At this point we had been in contact for 15 months. When I arrived I was offered a base and told not to screw the sim up. The feedback I received when I asked why me was “I did not need pilots on Wednesday and on Thursday at 9am I was told we needed 30 ASAP, I though of you straight away and knew you were current and ready to go”. Keep current and believe that all these 1000’s of aircraft will not fly themselves.

Sorry that you received some of the comments you did. We are all feeling at risk and all pilots are the same, we are great to each other in the good times, but in the bad times it brings out the worst in us. I sit in what would probably be a “safe seat” but given the size of the crisis I do not believe I will have a job come October. Right now it’s more about protecting my career rather than worrying about my job right now.

As a father you need to help keep your sons chin up. Depression can easily set in and that just destroys your chances. He needs hope and he needs to know how much you are behind him. This is not his fault but he will feel he is failing and angry. He will get there with support of his friends and family.

Just to re-iterate what some others have said; all is not lost and your son is not the first to find himself in this position. I was also on a cadet scheme with a company who we're making redundancies upon the completion of my training. It took just under 3 years between finishing and getting my first flying job. The silver lining is when you do finally get there, you certainly appreciate it!

From my experience, my best advice is 'plate spinning'. Assume being a pilot is off the table and work out what you would like to do with your life. There is no reason why you cant keep yourself current / apply for flying jobs and pursue another profession. It will keep you sane, and if the worst should happen you're still not in a bad place. I was studying for financial qualifications; whilst to the bemusement of my fellow students studying ATPL theory in my lunch hour to keep current.

I spent a nearly 6 months moping around, applying for flying jobs that probably didnt even exist when I first 'graduated'. My best advice is to get out there and do something else. I think the most important attribute in anyone looking to become a pilot is perseverence. It might take a while; but the market will very quickly turn and if you keep pushing, you'll get there in the end.

Good luck!

(and as mentioned above, I'd pay little attention to the silly comments on here. A good proportion of the membership on here are not pilots, and just come on and spread nonsense)

Hey Bex88

Wondering what's changed your train of thought since the 18th April, wrt what you say above about being laid off by October?

ATB

so many kind words of wisdom on here amidst the few silly ones, and I thank you all for your advice, I will pass on the messages and also have been in contact with CAE , I am not holding my breath for an answer but if one is forthcoming I will let you know how we get on, once again many thanks for your reassurance.

Maybe I am just fed up but it seems like governments are going to be far more restrictive and our government far less supportive than first thought. Like most things, I plan for the worst but aim to achieve the best. I think I am just having one of those low points. Apologies if I caused you increased anxiety, there is no factual evidence to my thought process.

oh yeah the kids have started home school with Microsoft teams and that is doing my head in. Honestly children and no school = a vow of celibacy :*