Training to become a commercial Pilot

[Ray Singh]

I lost my job of 15 years last week. It was quite a shock.

I am trying to keep my head and think about alternative careers as i dont think that i want to work in the telecommunications sector any longer. The reason for this is that work is fast drying up in the UK especially in the R&D sector where my skills are based.

Since childhood, being a pilot has been a dream. However, the cost and the qualifications put me off when i was younger. However, now, i may be in a position to train and fund this dream.

Does anyone has experience of being a pilot? Is there work out there? I do not have a PPL, and am prepared to try and achieve one myself. Would this be a benefit?

How much would it cost to become a pilot?
What are the work/career prospects like?
Are companies recruiting for pilots or is the industry flooded with pilots?

Any help is appreciated.

[Burrito]

It was something I was looking at a few years back and from 0 hours to full ATPL it was about £60k*. A quick google now indicates around £80k, with no guarantee of employment at the end, that's quite a gamble. I've toyed with the idea on and off now for some years, but I still cannot accept the risk and it's only getting worse...

* I was part way through my application for the BA scholarship programme (which is "free" with good chance of become a BA pilot after the course) when the twin towers were hit, they haven't run it since

PS Hard luck on the job loss. Your hand has been forced, so now might be the time to seize the opportunity.

Edited by Burrito on Saturday 30th April 13:58

[MrLou]

Paying the thick end of 100k to join a queue to maybe get a job doesn't sound like fun to me.

The brother of a friend of mine did it and didn't get a job for 6 months and when he did it was with the Orange mob so he had to move house. Despite earning a reasonable salary he can't afford to live in a decent place as he's debtted up to eyes. Works long hours (up before 0600, home after 2000) and, for obvious reasons, can't even chill with a beer when he's done if he's working the next day.

I don't think it's anything like the job it used to be. Have a look on the wannabe forum at pprune for more tales of woe.

Finally, if you're much over 25 not many places will be keen to offer you a training slot.

[rog007]

Agreed; pilots are treated like bus drivers now.

[Ford 2]

Just log onto pprune.org, Everything you need and more is there. I'm on the path now myself thankfully without debt. But I'd really consider doing this if it ment spending upwards or 60k on the trainning and the a further 20-30k for a type rating as an extra just to work for an airline

[okgo]

Isn't the pay st now, too?

[Chainguy]

okgo said:

Isn't the pay st now, too?

If you are an A320 TRE on Paypoint 12, no.

If you are a mere mortal, yes.

Think long and hard before throwing 2 years of your life and, including type rating, easily £120K/£130K, into this when the market is completely saturated right now with low hour pilots, and has been for quite some time.

Spend time on Pprune wannabees. Read everything written by Wee Weasley Welshman. He speaketh the unvarnished truth, much to the chagrin of certain slick rick flight schools out there.

Edited by Chainguy on Tuesday 3rd May 14:08