[luqman15]

Can you tell me a route which i can follow to become a pilot please,


Thank you,

[The Black Lips]

why not just google it? Far more useful than a bunch of students who the majority know nothing on it.

[The Black Lips]

Also I will add don't rush into thinking about that course listed above at Bucks Uni, its with Cabair which isn't among the most respected academies. You should be looking at CTC Wings or Oxford Aviation Academy, or alternitavely directly to an airline as a cadet.

[ProStacker]

(Original post by The Black Lips)
or alternitavely directly to an airline as a cadet.

Which is the least likely route for the forseeable future.

[The Black Lips]

(Original post by ProStacker)
Which is the least likely route for the forseeable future.

Maybe not from BA, but easyjet, ryanair, jetstar etc all have schemes running at least once a year.

[ProStacker]

Mostly through CTC Wings - who want a £69,000 security bond paid to them during training (after paying £7,000 for their Foundation Course). You work that bond back if and when you start flying with an airline.

I'm trying to keep this realistic.

[Major93]

(Original post by The Black Lips)
Also I will add don't rush into thinking about that course listed above at Bucks Uni, its with Cabair which isn't among the most respected academies. You should be looking at CTC Wings or Oxford Aviation Academy, or alternitavely directly to an airline as a cadet.

There's a few routes possible, but if you're going to mention CTC and OAA, you should let the OP know about the course prices, OAA charge £69,500+ for intergrated pilot training

[dean01234]

be like tommy from come fly with me

[luqman15]

any other route which is cheaper.

[ProStacker]

You won't be qualified to fly commercial aircraft in the RAF. The military flying only counts for a small part and time, money and effort is then required to qualify. It should not be seen as a cheap / free route to civilian flying as signing up for something like 12 years in the military (if you pass the massively competitive selection process for the shrinking number of places) could see you in combat.

There isn't a cheaper / easier route.

[Major93]

(Original post by xxhari)
RAF? If you get you'll be qualified for free? My dads a fast jet pilot, you can leave and fly for the airlines after about 9 years I think

Firstly it depends if the OP wants to fly jets.

There are STRICT entry requirements for pilots in the RAF due to types of aircraft flown and being in an airforce, and it's usually 9 years service, 6 years reserve.

Then he'd have to get his license converted to commercial and what not

[thegiantinfinity]

Give Ryan Air a phone call and say you'll work for £1 an hour. They don't need qualifications at that rate.

[stevop21]

The airline industry is a mess, but a small upturn may be on the horizon. There are two main ways to gain your fATPL, which is the license you need to fly an airliner. These are integrated like Oxford Aviation that has been mentioned above, the other route is modular which would be somewhere like Bournemouth flight centre of Stapleford. Many airlines prefer integrated cadets when looking for the first job. Once you have that first job and want to move on your training becomes almost irrelevant. Some airlines like Ryanair don't give a t*ss about where you trained. You must remember that bottom line is that flight schools are a business and they are there to make money, therefore will try and do a hard sell.

an ATPL license requires you to sit 14 ground school exams. GCSE level maths is the highest that will be expected. Trig is crucial, make sure you can write out sides and angles without thought and having to re-arrange. The six times table is also very useful in flying. Maths and Physics A-Levels are recommended but certaintly aren't essential. They may create a good understanding for you when it comes to the ATPL ground school. If you apply to an airline cadet scheme. Maths and Physics A-levels will be expected. However, if you do not enjoy them there it little point in taking them.

My personal opinion is that uni courses combined with pilot training are a waste of time and money. Just get the training. The shiny blue CAA license book will look the same regardless of how you get it.

One thing I know for certain is that it will be very difficult to get your first job. Small turboprop operators like Loganair, Eastern Airways and Flybe are good places. Ryanair also take on new pilots.

It is an expensive business, integrated courses like Oxford and CTC are grossly overpriced for what they give you. Many airlines will also expect you to pay for your Type Rating which enables you to fly a specific type of aircraft. For example, you may be typed on the A320 family for easyJet or 737NG for Ryanair. Once you have that first job you are in a good position to move jobs to more 'career' airlines once you have hours and experience. Many British pilots emigrate to Dubai to persue a career with Emirates. Some will hope to go from easyJet to BA as they operate the same type of aircraft. Some guys will go to Virgin aswell.

The key is that first job, it can be very hard to get. If you cannot immediatly get a job the most important thing is to keep current. An instructors rating is a good idea. An 2 years old CPL/MEIR license is of no use to an airline as you may have forgotten the 'art' of basic flying.

The guys above are correct, the RAF should not be seen as an option for entry into airlines. The fast jet time is although valuable to the airlines. You would also need to do a little bit extra to be properly qualified.

Best of luck to whatever you choose to do.

[luqman15]

Thanks for all your help, but do you know any good schools.

[S119234]

My father is a pilot (Captain for British Midland) and I can tell you the following, from what he's said to me about becoming a pilot :

Firstly, unless you can get a cadet scheme or get a sponsorship from an airline then you're not going to be able to immediately go and train as a pilot, it's just far too expensive. Cathay Pacific I happened to notice have cadet schemes open right now, but you need to have good results etc and I think you need to take a test.

So, go to uni and get a degree in something that interests you, then go get a job from that degree or in something that interests you. Go and earn some money to pay for training eventually. Many of my father's co-workers went into finance and saved up for years and years to train as a pilots and work their way up the airline company "ladder" to where they are now.

Also, do note that getting a job as a pilot in a top airline is VERY difficult, not impossible, but very difficult. Most airlines will not take on pilots unless they have a certain level of flying hours so be prepared to train and wait years until an airline takes you on. Emirates I can tell you for a fact won't look at your application unless you have several hundred hours of flying in "proper" planes (IE not cessna's etc).

But best of luck man! Although it sounds gloomy, if it's what you want to do then do it!

My father trained at Oxford Air Training School by the way on a British Midland Cadet Scheme back in the late 1980s. He entered service as a First Officer in the early 1990s and is now a captain for them.

[stevop21]

bmi is a great airline! Very nice how he was sponsored. Wish those days came back. 4000 hours total time or around 2500 jet time is required for emirates.

S119234 talks some very good sense, unless you can get onto a cadet scheme it is a good idea to enter another job before.

There are loads of good flight schools. Type flight schools into google