Discussion
I am currently a 6th form student doing my a-levels, i have just finished my first year and im now moving on to my final second year and my plan (up until a few weeks ago) was to finish my second year and train to become a commercial pilot.
However early in the year i went on work experience at a vauxhall garage that my uncle is the manager of as a mechanic and really enjoyed myself. I enjoyed it their so much that i worked their during my school holidays without getting paid.
A few weeks ago my uncle told me that i could have an apprenticeship their if i wanted it. This has really messed my whole plan of things up. I would bite my uncles hand off if it was a garage specialising in performance cars and brands as i am really passionate about high performance cars however it isn't. My uncle has told me that there are a range of jobs that i could go into once im qualified however i am still unsure.
I have posted this because there may be people on here who have had to make similar decisions in the past.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks Tom
However early in the year i went on work experience at a vauxhall garage that my uncle is the manager of as a mechanic and really enjoyed myself. I enjoyed it their so much that i worked their during my school holidays without getting paid.
A few weeks ago my uncle told me that i could have an apprenticeship their if i wanted it. This has really messed my whole plan of things up. I would bite my uncles hand off if it was a garage specialising in performance cars and brands as i am really passionate about high performance cars however it isn't. My uncle has told me that there are a range of jobs that i could go into once im qualified however i am still unsure.
I have posted this because there may be people on here who have had to make similar decisions in the past.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks Tom
You cannot expect to work with performance cars when you have limited experience, knowledge and skills in this industry. The Vauxhall garage would be an ideal place to learn the fundamentals of being a mechanic and gain real life skills and experience.
As for being a commercial pilot you need to - if you haven't done so already - do a good amount of thorough research into the requirements to qualify. You should consider the cost implications and also the job opportunities.
You are still young so it is very difficult to make big decisions like this. Ask yourself what really motivates and excites you about the two of these very different careers. Consider the lifestyle that both of these careers offers. Money really isn't everything, but job security and the support of friends and family is. Have a chat with your parents. I wish I had listened to my parents when I was your age. They know you better than you know yourself and have the benefit of their life experiences.
If you realise in time that you made the wrong choice you have the chance to change as you are so young. I have had four different careers. Each of them were rewarding and challenging. Life's a long journey and it can be a very interesting one if you are prepared to take chances. I wish you well.
As for being a commercial pilot you need to - if you haven't done so already - do a good amount of thorough research into the requirements to qualify. You should consider the cost implications and also the job opportunities.
You are still young so it is very difficult to make big decisions like this. Ask yourself what really motivates and excites you about the two of these very different careers. Consider the lifestyle that both of these careers offers. Money really isn't everything, but job security and the support of friends and family is. Have a chat with your parents. I wish I had listened to my parents when I was your age. They know you better than you know yourself and have the benefit of their life experiences.
If you realise in time that you made the wrong choice you have the chance to change as you are so young. I have had four different careers. Each of them were rewarding and challenging. Life's a long journey and it can be a very interesting one if you are prepared to take chances. I wish you well.
Current costs for training to be a commercial pilot is around £ 80k if you want to get a job based in the UK. My friend is currently doing this and only can because he's working a lot of bar work hours but mainly as his parents have remortgaged their house.
I have my PPL (private pilots licence) and did look at training to become a commericial pilot but I cohort justify the risk/reward ratio for the training. If you quit, don't suceed or can't get a job that debt is still going to be there. If you have the funding, and a realistic chance of being a pilot then do it, if it's a bit of a pipe dream, and you don't even have your PPL yet, do the mechanic training. You can always re train later when you have some money.
I have my PPL (private pilots licence) and did look at training to become a commericial pilot but I cohort justify the risk/reward ratio for the training. If you quit, don't suceed or can't get a job that debt is still going to be there. If you have the funding, and a realistic chance of being a pilot then do it, if it's a bit of a pipe dream, and you don't even have your PPL yet, do the mechanic training. You can always re train later when you have some money.
Well, here's my twopenneth:
First off, a commercial pilot gets paid a relatively large amount sure, but its extraordinarily competitive. Plus with the likelihood of BA or other large airlines going down in the near future, I'd have thought their shortsighted recruitment policies will mean that they won't be recruiting, and if they are they'll be wanting the best. I'd guess that people like ex -RAF pilots will take that kind of priority. As people have mentioned, if you're learning to fly independently it will cost £60k + and you'll still need to pay this to an airline training school that appear to want to make you go through the difficult recruitment process before they'll take you on. A friend of mine did an 'airline studies' degree course at university, and spent most of his time on the flight sim. He realised that he wasn't ever going to become a pilot unless he spent lots of cash that he didn't have. He's a computer engineer now. Thats not to say you should forget about it. If you're into aircraft and flying then you shouldn't give up on it.
With the apprenticeship to become a mechanic, it doesn't matter that you'll be working for a vauxhall dealership doing basic servicing. Experience is experience, and money is money. Once you've done a few years and you're competent, you can work your way through other dealerships and garages to get the job you want. That said, you will have to spend years doing oil changes and checking brake pads. Thats what everybody has to do really. Even graduates have to start at a low level and work their way up. There is no way to leave school and earn mega bucks really, unless you're a pretty young female and become a pornstar or something, or you're as talented as David Beckham.
I was once in a similar dilemma, I wanted to become an RAF pilot but my eyesight wasn't good enough. I went to university and then ran out of money. I ended up with just A-Levels. I applied for loads of jobs, and ended up in the industry I'm in now. It was a total accident but in actual fact I enjoy it quite a lot. So, don't get too hung up on your career. It might take a while but you'll end up doing something you like eventually.
Personally, due to the money thing if I were you I'd be the apprentice. Its much better to be an apprentice at 18 than to work in Maccy D's for ten years and then have to go through it all at 28. There isn't actually anything stopping you from becoming a mechanics apprentice, learning the ropes, saving some cash and then becoming an airline pilot. The world is your oyster I guess.
First off, a commercial pilot gets paid a relatively large amount sure, but its extraordinarily competitive. Plus with the likelihood of BA or other large airlines going down in the near future, I'd have thought their shortsighted recruitment policies will mean that they won't be recruiting, and if they are they'll be wanting the best. I'd guess that people like ex -RAF pilots will take that kind of priority. As people have mentioned, if you're learning to fly independently it will cost £60k + and you'll still need to pay this to an airline training school that appear to want to make you go through the difficult recruitment process before they'll take you on. A friend of mine did an 'airline studies' degree course at university, and spent most of his time on the flight sim. He realised that he wasn't ever going to become a pilot unless he spent lots of cash that he didn't have. He's a computer engineer now. Thats not to say you should forget about it. If you're into aircraft and flying then you shouldn't give up on it.
With the apprenticeship to become a mechanic, it doesn't matter that you'll be working for a vauxhall dealership doing basic servicing. Experience is experience, and money is money. Once you've done a few years and you're competent, you can work your way through other dealerships and garages to get the job you want. That said, you will have to spend years doing oil changes and checking brake pads. Thats what everybody has to do really. Even graduates have to start at a low level and work their way up. There is no way to leave school and earn mega bucks really, unless you're a pretty young female and become a pornstar or something, or you're as talented as David Beckham.
I was once in a similar dilemma, I wanted to become an RAF pilot but my eyesight wasn't good enough. I went to university and then ran out of money. I ended up with just A-Levels. I applied for loads of jobs, and ended up in the industry I'm in now. It was a total accident but in actual fact I enjoy it quite a lot. So, don't get too hung up on your career. It might take a while but you'll end up doing something you like eventually.
Personally, due to the money thing if I were you I'd be the apprentice. Its much better to be an apprentice at 18 than to work in Maccy D's for ten years and then have to go through it all at 28. There isn't actually anything stopping you from becoming a mechanics apprentice, learning the ropes, saving some cash and then becoming an airline pilot. The world is your oyster I guess.
Keep your head down and aim for the best grades you can get, apply for the RAF and pursure a flying career that way or if you drop out you could look at mechanical trades.
Any pilots I know military or private say it's the best job in the world, can't say the same for mechanics...
As MarJay has just said though, you have time on your side. I wish I'd done a few things differently at your age instead of chasing pound notes.
Any pilots I know military or private say it's the best job in the world, can't say the same for mechanics...
As MarJay has just said though, you have time on your side. I wish I'd done a few things differently at your age instead of chasing pound notes.
Edited by v8will on Friday 25th June 20:57
natureboy8891 said:
If you think you have any chance of becoming a pilot go for it, much beter pay and a beter job really.
You sure? Expensive to qualify (50-75k), short term contracts when you have, re qualification costs and lots of competition. Cut-throat business at the moment.Maybe combine both, and be an aviation engineer....
eldar said:
natureboy8891 said:
If you think you have any chance of becoming a pilot go for it, much beter pay and a beter job really.
You sure? Expensive to qualify (50-75k), short term contracts when you have, re qualification costs and lots of competition. Cut-throat business at the moment.Maybe combine both, and be an aviation engineer....
OP, have you looked at PPRUNE to see the stories about job security/costs/etc for pilots?
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