19 year old airline pilot

[BRISTOL86]

ClaphamGT3 said:

I seem to recall we were quite happy to have 19yr olds flying Lancasters/Stirlings/Halifaxes back in the the day - good on the guy; wish there were more with his drive

Absolutely. Being an airline pilot was my dream all through my teens, sadly that's all it ever was!

[Chuck328]

El Capitano said:

Simpo Two said:

eharding said:

...or next Tuesday, when the Captain keels over and slumps in his seat on the climb-out from Luton.

Yes, that's a bit worrying. It would certainly be a test of 'calmness under pressure'... ulp.

Some of the replies to this thread are a bit confusing really.... Why is it worrying? He's been tested to the same standards.

Everyone starts somewhere, so would it make you feel better if a 35 year old first officer was at the controls despite having the same amount of training and hours as this guy - Just because he's older?

Fair play to him. That said, becoming a first officer as this age is not as rare as this article would have you believe.

Edited by El Capitano on Sunday 3rd July 00:26

Not wishing to bash too much but the FO of the Asiana 320 that went down was in his forties and had only just started out as a pro pilot. Needed a bit extra help to get him up to speed and then THAT all happened soon after....Age really does mean sod all.

[DukeDickson]

Hackneyed phrase, but if you're good enough....

It wouldn't be a problem in other worlds, so why not in this one?

[David87]

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

[Hilts]

ClaphamGT3 said:

good on the guy; wish there were more with his drive

Yes, well done.

Of course there are plenty more with his drive and possibly a lot in excess so need to wish, there are not that many with their father as a Captain with the same airline as they get a job with though.

Edited by Hilts on Sunday 3rd July 23:47

[RobDickinson]

David87 said:

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

I'd imagine its much harder to get into the RAF as a pilot than find £100k for private training.

[Hilts]

David87 said:

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

Unless your son wants to fly RAF fast jets and wants to be in the military then forget that and get him a commercial pilot medical first and then take him from there.
Plenty of help available on the web now.

[Crush]

David87 said:

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

How old is he at the moment? He can go solo from 14 in a glider (16 years old for licence) with no limit on learning age.

Gliding could be a good and cheap intro that'll provide useful skills and experience for powered flight (instruction is often free, glider hire is cheap). Plus it'll show an interest in flying if/ when he applies to a training organisation.

https://www.gliding.co.uk

This will be handy if you're feeling a bit lost.

https://subscriptions.flyer.co.uk/product/learn-to...

Covers recreational flying, military and civil aviation.

[Evanivitch]

David87 said:

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

By no means the right way but my friend got an Aerospace engineering degree, then did his PPL then applied for several airlines, eventually ending up with Qatar and having completed training he is now due to start work with then.

[G600]

Strange, I had to wait until I was 21 to be allowed to sign off maintenance on aircraft.

[5150]

David87 said:

What's the best way for someone at school to become a commercial pilot? RAF? Pay privately? Airline training scheme? Would I be wrong in assuming that spending a few years in the RAF as a pilot before moving across to commercial side would lead to someone who ultimately has a more rounded skill set? Only asking as I can see my son wanting to be sitting in the pointy bit of an Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

Good luck to this guy, though. Pleased for him.

Sponsorship is what I tell any aspiring commercial pilot.

Military flying is different and not always relevant. Most ex-military guys look to airlines to further their career, and end up a long way down the pecking order (in seniority-based airlines) compared to someone who started out as a career civvy pilot, so while it probably means nothing to a young lad thinking about 'A' level choices, it will do later down the line.

I flew with many young lads like the one mentioned here, straight from school into a sponsorship, then straight into low cost short haul flying. This headline is nothing new, and whilst they're all good, competent flyers., they have a lifetime of flying ahead of them, in an industry that is racing to the bottom in terms of rosters and pay. He'll get flogged by easyJet, but still enjoy it, despite the majority of his salary going towards his six-figure debt for all his training.

Would I have jumped at the chance of a jet job at the age of 19, absolutely, but that was a few years back now, before the low-cost airlines saw crew's maximum hours as a target rather than a limit.

[Crush]

G600 said:

Strange, I had to wait until I was 21 to be allowed to sign off maintenance on aircraft.

That is because you're doing the difficult bit

[AAD44H]

Fair play, well done!

[5150]

G600 said:

Strange, I had to wait until I was 21 to be allowed to sign off maintenance on aircraft.

So would he - min age for Captain is 21, but he'd be looking around 10 years to switch seats if he stays at easyJet.

[JuniorD]

19 is fantastic but not that unusual. A friend of mine was the same age and Willie Walsh was younger still. Neither had any prior experience or family ties to industry.

[MoggieMinor]

Very well done and good luck to the guy. Fair play to his father for encouraging him too.

Hope he has a fantastic career ahead.

[carreauchompeur]

MoggieMinor said:

Very well done and good luck to the guy. Fair play to his father for encouraging him too.

Hope he has a fantastic career ahead.

Yeah absolutely, who doesn't want their kids to follow in their footsteps and do the best they can?

The prospect of being a pilot's massively appealing but I don't think I have a methodical enough brain. Shame really, I currently live in Ecuador and I'd love to do some Mickey Mouse light aircraft job up in the hills...

[J4CKO]

carreauchompeur said:

MoggieMinor said:

Very well done and good luck to the guy. Fair play to his father for encouraging him too.

Hope he has a fantastic career ahead.

Yeah absolutely, who doesn't want their kids to follow in their footsteps and do the best they can?

The prospect of being a pilot's massively appealing but I don't think I have a methodical enough brain. Shame really, I currently live in Ecuador and I'd love to do some Mickey Mouse light aircraft job up in the hills...

I get what you mean but really, you can't be a pilot, in whatever capacity if you think it is mickey mouse in any way, you have to treat that Cessna like a 747, you do have to be methodical, and anal, I am not cut out for it either !

[rs4al]

carreauchompeur said:

Yeah absolutely, who doesn't want their kids to follow in their footsteps and do the best they can?

The prospect of being a pilot's massively appealing but I don't think I have a methodical enough brain. Shame really, I currently live in Ecuador and I'd love to do some Mickey Mouse light aircraft job up in the hills...

I'm sure there is some fairly lucrative work in light twins in that part of the world

[carreauchompeur]

Hahaha, Hola DEA