How to become an Airline Pilot?

Hi,

I have recently been considering my options after college (other than Medicine) for my subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Physics [Possibly dropping Biology to do Further Maths at the end of this academic year])

I was looking into Physics, Maths and Chemistry degrees, the engineering options and now I want to look at being a pilot as they are people I have always admired, but I have never really thought about being one until now.

There are no degrees for this though, so what is the "route" into becoming a pilot, without having money to throw at training (which I have heard costs upwards of 90k?) :/

Thanks.

Most pilots are ex RAF.

Get in the RAF as a pilot, get your training, get your flying hours, do your minimum service with RAF, leave. Viola.

I doubt they are. Worst advice ever for wanting to be a commercial pilot. The RAF is not an easy route to the airlines.

Okay. Well I don't see you offering an alternative, care to share it with us?

Yes, you could get private flying lessons / qualifications and build up flying time that way, but who can afford to do that?

Okay. Well I don't see you offering an alternative, care to share it with us?

Yes, you could get private flying lessons / qualifications and build up flying time that way, but who can afford to do that?

Trust me, as someone whose first choice of Career is Medicine, I know how competitive things can be and how much determination you have to have (and quite often luck). I am just looking at other options, as I have a wider range of interests, I like Physics and I have always liked the idea of being a Pilot - I just never really thought I'd be able to until now.

It's all well and good saying you know what determination is because of medicine, but it's a very different type. Being good at one doesn't mean being good at the other. Also remember the fact that there are more pilots than planes available.

It's all well and good saying you know what determination is because of medicine, but it's a very different type. Being good at one doesn't mean being good at the other. Also remember the fact that there are more pilots than planes available.

Are you trying to say that I am not right for being an Airline Pilot? We must know eachother.....

There are more Medicine applicants than there are places, it takes (very) Hard work and determination - not just academically. Once you become a Doctor, you will have the responsibility of a life(s) in your hands, quite literally. You also work very long hours. To me the two sound very similar, although obviously not the same.

I am not saying I am the perfect pilot wannabe, but I don't think it is right for you to imply that I have no idea what its like and try to put me off before I have really considered it.

I only asked for a bit of advice on how to become a pilot, as I still don't really know what I want to do, although Medicine is the one that I think most about.

I was looking into Physics, Maths and Chemistry degrees, the engineering options and now I want to look at being a pilot as they are people I have always admired, but I have never really thought about being one until now.

On the contrary, I'm merely trying to impress upon you the difficulties and complexities of getting into the industry. An industry which you freely admit you've never really thought about and consequently don't know much about. Which you admitted yourself:



I have several friends who are airline pilots - and more who are RAF pilots - and know how hard they've worked and for how long they've been in the system. I also know many people who had the same background as the now-Pilots, same training and advantages and are nowhere near a seat in a cockpit. It is not a route for the fainted, or indeed half, hearted.

Unless you actually want to be an RAF pilot, then don't go in the RAF just for the sake of it. They'll notice straight away you're not committed to them and won't even give you another look. Even then, you're not properly qualified to fly commercial jets even after being in the RAF. The planes are 2 completely different things. And if you do get into the RAF, they'd want at least 8 years out of you before you decided to leave.

If you're really, really serious on working in the aviation industry, you might as well see if you can get your PPL (Private Pilot License) now whilst doing your A-Levels, it'll cost you around £7000 but it's good to get your first foot on the ladder and you can see if it's really for you. If not, keep it as a life-long hobby. Nothing has been wasted. If you can't afford it, don't stress. Not many teenagers can.

After your A-Levels you have the options of going to a dedicated flight school such as Oxford Aviation Academy or CTC Wings, but their integrated courses claim to cost around £70,000 without accommodation and living costs. But I'd always add 10-20% of the 'cost' because in realistic terms, flying always costs more as there are many factors which you can't control, weather being a main one. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if you're looking at around £100k once all costs have been taken into consideration. Also, loans for such courses usually only cover up to half with a property being used as security - scary thought! Doing an integrated course will gain you your CPL and a Frozen-ATPL which means your basically set up to finding a job with the airlines. This route will probably take around 18 months, maybe a little less.

You can also look at doing the above, in a modular way. At your own time and pace and is usually cheaper. London Met University offer a course to get your APTL licenses and there is also a work from home company called ProPilot which do the same but be warned learning ATPL from home, on your own is incredibly difficult and is really not advisable unless you have a passion and knowledge for what you're doing. To get your ATPL this way (providing no re-sits are needed) will probably cost £3000ish but it is a lot harder.
Then you can go to somewhere like Stapleford which offer great courses to get your CPL, this will probably cost you £21,000 - £25,000. Then you'll need your IFR etc which will cost more. Modular, if done right, can probably done for around £50k but it's a lot more difficult. You could always look at doing it abroad which would be slightly cheaper but with a weak pound, it's not as cheap as it was so that should be considered carefully too. And you'll have to convert your licenses once you're home.

If you're very lucky, you may get onto a Cadet Scheme with an airline such as BA or Monarch but these require a £80,000 up front cost which will then be paid back in your first 7 years of working for them. It guarantees an airline job and type rating which is very rare in this day and age. However, BA, who is doing the biggest recruitment drive only has 400 places over 5 years on this scheme and competition is scarily tough. Thousands apply and the process is very rigorous, so you have to be passionate and know your stuff. Aviation isn't just a job for people who 'don't know what to do and being a pilot looks cool' you really, really have to want it and if you do, that's great! But these schemes are rare and very difficult and people should never assume that they'll be able to get on one. Also, degrees are becoming a favourite for airlines training and recruiting through cadetships.

The next big thing once you've crossed this monumental and expensive hurdle is actually finding a job. There are barely any out at the minute, especially in Europe. There are so many airlines in financial turmoil, like one of the biggest in the world for example, American Airlines. It wouldn't be surprising if you had to move to the Middle East or Asia to find your first job, but they, unsurprisingly favour people from their own country before anyone else. The aviation industry, similar to the rest of the economy is not set to get any better either. But it's very cyclical and things can change in a blink of an eyelid, they can go from being bad, to great, to being awful again. I know many unemployed pilots and some who have had to move to countries such as Qatar and Azerbaijan just to find a job.

Another thing you'll have to look at in the mean time is your Class 1 Medical, these cost around £300 initially and I cannot stress enough how essential they are to get.

As long as you're 100% sure being a pilot is for you and you're committed as many aspiring pilots have been since their age was in single figures, you'll be fine. But you have to want it as wannabe pilots are just as competitive (if not more so) than Med students, it's a dog eat dog world. But the reward is worth it!

I'll leave you some links below that may be of use to you too:

http://www.oaa.com/
http://www.ctcwings.com/
http://www.balpa.org/Home.aspx
http://www.airleague.co.uk/
http://www.flysfc.com/
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/lmbs/subjects/aviation/residential-atpl.cfm

Hope this helps and hope you find what you're looking for

^Quality advice. You've done your research! What is your planned route? Apart from the bit in bold which isn't true. The BA FPP is engineered in a way that BA take little risk themselves.

I like your username

Thank you! And I was hoping OAA/CTC but it's a bit pricey to say the least. Maybe modular through London Met, Stapleford etc but to be honest, I don't really know. It all seems to boil down to money.
How about you?