Learning to fly for real...

[section7]

Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you I could help me with some advice? I am looking into doing my PPL with the future goal of flying for an airline. I have found myself a flight school in England but I was wondering if anyone else has gone down this route and what is the best way of eventually flying for an airline?

Any advice would be great!

Thanks
Section7

[C]

The most economical way is sponsorship of some kind, although unfortunately most of it is now only part sponsorship, and there would be a good chance you'd go abroad to do you training. I think BA are probably the only UK airline to do the full cadet pilot programme at no financial cost to the student.

A few of the smaller airlines are doing a scheme which involves the use of a bond of about

[section7]

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated! I have emailed British Airways as they currently have a pilot training scheme that looks pretty good so hopefully I

[C]

I was just wonder, with this kind of job ? do you get to see your family much? I know you fly at strange times and things but is there enough time to fit in family life as well?

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that one...

Try the forums at

http://www.pprune.org

Charlie

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]. I was just wonder, with this kind of job

[Hagar]

I would have thought that this would depend on whether you do international or domestic flights. Either way you'd see your family more than if you were working on an oil rig or something.

Or a long-distance truck driver for that matter.

I'm sure you could arrange your life around your job. Not everyone works 9 - 5 nor wishes to do so.  I know a few airline captains on long range routes & this doesn't seem to interfere with their private lives or their hobbies. My niece is  a senior flight attendant on the Virgin Atlantic international routes. She recently got engaged at the top of Table Mountain in South Africa. Her boyfriend had arranged to accompany her on a regular trip. The whole crew knew all about it, except her. A close friend on the crew went with them & got the whole thing on video, with the boyfriend on bended knee & all the bells & whistles. It must have been a wonderful surprise & very romantic. Fortunately she accepted.

[section7]

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that one...

Try the forums at

http://www.pprune.org

Charlie

Thanks for the link / Advice Charlie! I'' check it out..  :)

[section7]

I would have thought that this would depend on whether you do international or domestic flights. Either way you'd see your family more than if you were working on an oil rig or something.

I think if I was ever lucky enough to get on with an airline I would really like to do domestic flights as that way there would be more of a chance to spend time with my family. I know what you mean though about 9 to 5 and it is great that some people make it work and can still have time with there families. I have just found the best girl in the world and I really don

[Hagar]

I have just found the best girl in the world and I really don't want to spend days apart from her.

Aha. I suspected as much.

I think you need to get your priorities sorted out. If she is the best girl in the world she will know all about your ambitions & support you all the way. If not, you'd be better off looking around for a different job. IMHO

Most commercial pilots I know spend all their spare time messing around with aircraft in some way. Many of the display pilots at air shows are airline pilots & others have their own light aircraft. They do this for two reasons. To relieve the boredom of their job but mainly because they have a fascination with aviation. What is known as a Total Aviation Person or TAP for short. Most people involved in the business are TAPs.

PS. This is my opinion. Please don't let me influence you.

[section7]

Aha. I suspected as much.

I think you need to get your priorities sorted out. If she is the best girl in the world she will know all about your ambitions & support you all the way. If not, you'd be better off looking around for a different job. IMHO

Most commercial pilots I know spend all their spare time messing around with aircraft in some way. Many of the display pilots at air shows are airline pilots & others have their own light aircraft. They do this for two reasons. To relieve the boredom of their job but mainly because they have a fascination with aviation. What is known as a Total Aviation Person or TAP for short. Most people involved in the business are TAPs.

PS. This is my opinion. Please don't let me influence you.

Cheers for the advice Hager, it is appreciated as every little helps! I know I

[Woodsup]

Hate to bring bad news but BA recently stopped their pilot training scheme and havent updated the site. A friend of mine had been promised a space but has been told to look elseware. I believe the best way to get into airline flying is to go to one of the commercial training schools which offer flight training loans which must be payed off once your flying.

Woodsup  ::)

[section7]

[quote]Hate to bring bad news but BA recently stopped their pilot training scheme and havent updated the site. A friend of mine had been promised a space but has been told to look elseware. I believe the best way to get into airline flying is to go to one of the commercial training schools which offer flight training loans which must be payed off once your flying.

Woodsup

[beefhole]

All I have to say is be careful.

I've heard a million and one stories of pilots who went to flight academies (Pan Am, etc.), got loads of debt, lost their dream, and now work at KMart. Flight colleges and universities (ok, so they're the same thing, back off ya hiyenas) are safer.

MAKE SURE YOU SHOP AROUND.

Very important.

[Woodsup]

Unfortunatly beefhole is painfully right. Most of the places ive heard of cost

[Craig.]

If you go to a foreign school, remember they may not work to the JAA standards, so you need to check they offer that training, or you will have to re-take the tests, to get your certificate here.
And yes sadly BA have ended their Sponsorship scheme, and wont be bringing it back anytime soon, i applyed over a year ago and they had cancelled it back then. Virgin offer the same sort of scheme, but its not widely advertised and usually only 13 places are avaliable with thousands of applicants. Easyjet have a partnership scheme which sends you to new zealand but be very careful of that one, you start on very poor money with them and they take close to 50% of your wages a month to pay back the training costs, for the first few years.