How to become an airline pilot

I have just finished my A levels (about to find out the results next week) and I have decided that I want to become a commercial pilot. I live in the UK about 30 mins away from Heathrow if that is any help and I'm struggling to find good information on how to obtain the correct licenses and how much it might cost to become one any help would be appreciated.

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by user123456324

I have just finished my A levels (about to find out the results next week) and I have decided that I want to become a commercial pilot. I live in the UK about 30 mins away from Heathrow if that is any help and I'm struggling to find good information on how to obtain the correct licenses and how much it might cost to become one any help would be appreciated.

Good luck on your results.

As far as I know, there are 3 ways of getting a commerical pilot license in the UK:

•

Do a degree that would grant you a piloting licence (there are 3 in the country)

•

Apply for jobs as a cadet at commercial airlines with GCSEs where they train you to become a commercial pilot

•

Go out of your own way to get a commerical piloting licence yourself (costs at least £10k) - you will have to look for flight schools near you (there should be a few near Heathrow)

Ultimately, you want to star with ATPL and end up getting a CPL approved by the CAA in order to fly the planes you want to fly.

The following are the job profiles for the role:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/airline-pilot
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/airline-pilot
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/stem/job-profile/airline-pilot
https://www.planitplus.net/JobProfiles/View/468/125
https://www.teg.london/job-profiles/airline-pilot/
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/my-career-options/job-profiles/pilot-airline

Further information on the piloting licences:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

Getting the job is not easy, as there are always a lot of competition. However, it's possible if you play your cards right.

Reply 2

user123456324

OP

13

Original post by MindMax2000

Good luck on your results.

As far as I know, there are 3 ways of getting a commerical pilot license in the UK:

•

Do a degree that would grant you a piloting licence (there are 3 in the country)

•

Apply for jobs as a cadet at commercial airlines with GCSEs where they train you to become a commercial pilot

•

Go out of your own way to get a commerical piloting licence yourself (costs at least £10k) - you will have to look for flight schools near you (there should be a few near Heathrow)

Ultimately, you want to star with ATPL and end up getting a CPL approved by the CAA in order to fly the planes you want to fly.

The following are the job profiles for the role:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/airline-pilot
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/airline-pilot
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/stem/job-profile/airline-pilot
https://www.planitplus.net/JobProfiles/View/468/125
https://www.teg.london/job-profiles/airline-pilot/
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/my-career-options/job-profiles/pilot-airline

Further information on the piloting licences:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom

Getting the job is not easy, as there are always a lot of competition. However, it's possible if you play your cards right.

Ty for taking the time to gather this info it’s really helpful !

Reply 3

flyingpiper26

7

Original post by user123456324

Ty for taking the time to gather this info it’s really helpful !

Hi, the information given above is good but lacking a lot of details, I am currently in the process of becoming an airline pilot in the UK and I will try to give you a detailed training path.

Abbreviations: (PPL- Private Pilot Licence, CPL- Commercial Pilot License, ATPL- Airline Transport Pilot Licence, MEP- Multi Engine Piston, MEIR- Multi Engine Instrument Rating, APS MCC Course - Airline Pilot Standard Multi Crew Cooperation Course)

I will post as much detail as possible but if you have any other questions you can private message me.

I will explain the modular training route first which is pay as you fly.
In order from first to last:
PPL training
45 hours minimum training (although most finish in 55-65 hours).
PPL will cost you around £9k-£12k
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hour Building, ATPL exams and CPL
After the PPL comes the CPL, however you need 150 hours of total flight time under your belt to start this training. This will usually take 1-3 years depending on how much you fly. During this time you will also need to study for and pass 13 ATPL exams (You have 18 months to do them from date of first exam). After passing the last ATPL exam you have 13 months to Obtain a CPL and your MEIR which I explain next.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEP and MEIR
these 2 ratings make you qualified to fly multi engine planes and allow you to fly using instruments (in cloud, low visibility, the MEIR is considered the hardest part of training). Once you have obtained these ratings and a CPL along with passed ATPL exams you now have a frozen ATPL which makes you eligible to apply for airline jobs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APS MCC Course
This is the very last step in your training journey, this course teaches you how to work as part of a multi person crew. It also teaches you Crew Recourse Management, which allows you to best deal with emergencies and procedures in the air. This course is also crucial in helping you pass your first airline interview.

This whole modular journey will take anywhere from 4-6 years and will cost you £65k-£75k. The good thing with modular is that you pay as you fly, so hourly. This makes this route very affordable and you can work and fly at the same time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As opposed to modular you can do an integrated course, this will do all the steps mentioned above but in 18 months instead of 6 years. These courses will cost you £100k-£120k, which you have to pay as a down payment or in large instalments.
You do not need a university degree to become a pilot but it is recommended as backup since aviation is such an unpredictable industry and jobs can be hard to come by at times.

How to become an airline pilot

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