Becoming an airline pilot? [+REP]

[kuzkasate]

Since I was like 10, I've wanted to become a pilot, first for the army, but then decided to become an airline pilot.

The thing is, I dont know anything about it. I need to know EVERYTHING, for example stuff like:
- What do you have to study at uni?
- What qualifications do you need?
- How much will it cost over all to go to the uni & train to become a pilot and stuff?
- Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Oh, I also know another language very well cos its my first language if thats any use lol
And all the other important things! I know someone on here is learning to be a pilot, but didnt want to load him with all these questions, and want to see what others say. So please, let me know!

+repp

[AgnesIO]

I can't help you much here Elle, however:

An advantage would be I know the pay packet is very good, in like 6 figures
A disadvantage on the other hand is with family on long haul flights (depending on what airline you are with) you may be away for days at a time. Obviously if you are thinking short flights like england-germany/england-spin etc then that ill just be a day trip lol (maybe even two in a day haha)

[Kieran]

Since I was like 10, I've wanted to become a pilot, first for the army, but then decided to become an airline pilot.

The thing is, I dont know anything about it. I need to know EVERYTHING, for example stuff like:
- What do you have to study at uni?
- What qualifications do you need?
- How much will it cost over all to go to the uni & train to become a pilot and stuff?
- Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Oh, I also know another language very well cos its my first language if thats any use lol
And all the other important things! I know someone on here is learning to be a pilot, but didnt want to load him with all these questions, and want to see what others say. So please, let me know!

+repp


Well I guess I'm the person to give you all the information you need beings as I'm going through it all myself!

I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.

You don't need to do anything at university. There are currently a number of UK Flight Training Organisations (FTO) such as Oxford Aviation Academy (Where I go), CTC Wings and Cabair. Oxford only requires you to have GCSE's (5 at C or above including a science and English). I think CTC requires A-Levels but I never bothered visiting them, I had my heart set on Oxford once I visited it. There are 19 people on my course and I'd say about five or six of us came straight from A-Levels so university really isn't necessary. I myself saw it as a waste of three years of my life that I could be flying. The airlines don't look at your school grades or degrees, they're meaningless. They base your interviews on your ATPL grades and your personality.

I think I answered the qualifications question above.

The course I am on costs £71,000. That doesn't include living expenses or the possible cost of a type rating. By the end of all my training I will probably have spent about £110,000. In terms of University costs, I'm sure someone who has been or goes can tell you the cost of that. There are methods of borrowing the money if your parents or yourself can't afford it. A number of people on my course have borrowed the money from a specialist bank that is affiliated with Oxford Aviation Academy.

Knowing a different language can be a great advantage. I know at the moment a questionnaire has been going round to see if anyone can speak fluent Spanish for potential interviews.

Feel free to PM and I'll be happy to give you any information you need. I know what it's like trying to find it all!


I can't help you much here Elle, however:

An advantage would be I know the pay packet is very good, in like 6 figures
A disadvantage on the other hand is with family on long haul flights (depending on what airline you are with) you may be away for days at a time. Obviously if you are thinking short flights like england-germany/england-spin etc then that ill just be a day trip lol (maybe even two in a day haha)

The pay packet has the potential to become good.... realistically, you're probably going to start in the region of around £30-35k depending on who you get a job with. Some airlines will pay their first officers £50k. You aren't likely to start flying long haul initially. It's more likely going to be short haul.

[Matthew]

wow kieran, thanks! im hoping to become a pilot aswell, i flew (controlled :P) a plane for the first time last week :) (joined RAF at school)

[Kieran]

wow kieran, thanks! im hoping to become a pilot aswell, i flew (controlled :P) a plane for the first time last week :) (joined RAF at school)

I joined my school's RAF. Got a few flights out of it :)

[kuzkasate]

Well I guess I'm the person to give you all the information you need beings as I'm going through it all myself!

I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.

You don't need to do anything at university. There are currently a number of UK Flight Training Organisations (FTO) such as Oxford Aviation Academy (Where I go), CTC Wings and Cabair. Oxford only requires you to have GCSE's (5 at C or above including a science and English). I think CTC requires A-Levels but I never bothered visiting them, I had my heart set on Oxford once I visited it. There are 19 people on my course and I'd say about five or six of us came straight from A-Levels so university really isn't necessary. I myself saw it as a waste of three years of my life that I could be flying. The airlines don't look at your school grades or degrees, they're meaningless. They base your interviews on your ATPL grades and your personality.

I think I answered the qualifications question above.

The course I am on costs £71,000. That doesn't include living expenses or the possible cost of a type rating. By the end of all my training I will probably have spent about £110,000. In terms of University costs, I'm sure someone who has been or goes can tell you the cost of that. There are methods of borrowing the money if your parents or yourself can't afford it. A number of people on my course have borrowed the money from a specialist bank that is affiliated with Oxford Aviation Academy.

Knowing a different language can be a great advantage. I know at the moment a questionnaire has been going round to see if anyone can speak fluent Spanish for potential interviews.

Feel free to PM and I'll be happy to give you any information you need. I know what it's like trying to find it all!



The pay packet has the potential to become good.... realistically, you're probably going to start in the region of around £30-35k depending on who you get a job with. Some airlines will pay their first officers £50k. You aren't likely to start flying long haul initially. It's more likely going to be short haul.

omg thanks. this really helped. how long do you reckon it'll take to get the full license and i'm from manchester. d'ya know of any good fto's in manchester? +repp


I can't help you much here Elle, however:

An advantage would be I know the pay packet is very good, in like 6 figures
A disadvantage on the other hand is with family on long haul flights (depending on what airline you are with) you may be away for days at a time. Obviously if you are thinking short flights like england-germany/england-spin etc then that ill just be a day trip lol (maybe even two in a day haha)

well i was thinking more of flights to russia lol seeming as russian is my first language & i know quite a lot about it, but we will see! ~ cant repp gotta spread!

[Sink]

Well I guess I'm the person to give you all the information you need beings as I'm going through it all myself!

I'll try and answer your questions as best I can.

You don't need to do anything at university. There are currently a number of UK Flight Training Organisations (FTO) such as Oxford Aviation Academy (Where I go), CTC Wings and Cabair. Oxford only requires you to have GCSE's (5 at C or above including a science and English). I think CTC requires A-Levels but I never bothered visiting them, I had my heart set on Oxford once I visited it. There are 19 people on my course and I'd say about five or six of us came straight from A-Levels so university really isn't necessary. I myself saw it as a waste of three years of my life that I could be flying. The airlines don't look at your school grades or degrees, they're meaningless. They base your interviews on your ATPL grades and your personality.

I think I answered the qualifications question above.

The course I am on costs £71,000. That doesn't include living expenses or the possible cost of a type rating. By the end of all my training I will probably have spent about £110,000. In terms of University costs, I'm sure someone who has been or goes can tell you the cost of that. There are methods of borrowing the money if your parents or yourself can't afford it. A number of people on my course have borrowed the money from a specialist bank that is affiliated with Oxford Aviation Academy.

Knowing a different language can be a great advantage. I know at the moment a questionnaire has been going round to see if anyone can speak fluent Spanish for potential interviews.

Feel free to PM and I'll be happy to give you any information you need. I know what it's like trying to find it all!



The pay packet has the potential to become good.... realistically, you're probably going to start in the region of around £30-35k depending on who you get a job with. Some airlines will pay their first officers £50k. You aren't likely to start flying long haul initially. It's more likely going to be short haul.



What he said ;)

[kuzkasate]

What he said ;)

omg +repp. thanks ;)

[Kieran]

omg thanks. this really helped. how long do you reckon it'll take to get the full license and i'm from manchester. d'ya know of any good fto's in manchester?



well i was thinking more of flights to russia lol seeming as russian is my first language & i know quite a lot about it, but we will see!

There aren't any FTO's in Manchester that I know of... if I were you I'd apply to Oxford or CTC, they're probably the most well known in the world, so you'd get a reputation coming from either of them. I'll break my course down a bit for you :)

I started on December 7th 2009. At Oxford, they believe that you should get all the ground school out of the way before even touching an aircraft. To get a license (Frozen ATPL) you need to pass 14 JAA exams in the following subjects:

Phase 1
Principles of Flight
Instruments
VFR Communications
IFR Communications
Human Performance
Systems - (Airframes, Electronics, Piston Engines and Gas Turbines)
Meteorology

Phase 2
Air Law
Mass and Balance
Aircraft Performance
Operational Procedures
Flight Planning
General Navigation
Radio Navigation

As you can see, I split it up in to two phases. Phase one took around 16 weeks. This included 14 internal practice exams (2 on each subject) and 7 external exams. Phase two is where I currently am and will take about 12 weeks, again 14 internal exams and 7 external exams.

After you've passed all 14 external exams you will go to Phoenix, Arizona for 5 months of single engine and multi-engine flying. Once this is complete you will hold a CPL license. On returning to Oxford, you complete around four months of bad weather flying (IFR) and complete your IR examination. Once this is completed, you now hold a frozen ATPL and can apply to airlines for First Officer positions :)

I'm due to finish completely in April 2011. So all in all, the course should take about 16/17 months to complete.

[kuzkasate]

There aren't any FTO's in Manchester that I know of... if I were you I'd apply to Oxford or CTC, they're probably the most well known in the world, so you'd get a reputation coming from either of them. I'll break my course down a bit for you :)

I started on December 7th 2009. At Oxford, they believe that you should get all the ground school out of the way before even touching an aircraft. To get a license (Frozen ATPL) you need to pass 14 JAA exams in the following subjects:

Phase 1
Principles of Flight
Instruments
VFR Communications
IFR Communications
Human Performance
Systems - (Airframes, Electronics, Piston Engines and Gas Turbines)
Meteorology

Phase 2
Air Law
Mass and Balance
Aircraft Performance
Operational Procedures
Flight Planning
General Navigation
Radio Navigation

As you can see, I split it up in to two phases. Phase one took around 16 weeks. This included 14 internal practice exams (2 on each subject) and 7 external exams. Phase two is where I currently am and will take about 12 weeks, again 14 internal exams and 7 external exams.

After you've passed all 14 external exams you will go to Phoenix, Arizona for 5 months of single engine and multi-engine flying. Once this is complete you will hold a CPL license. On returning to Oxford, you complete around four months of bad weather flying (IFR) and complete your IR examination. Once this is completed, you now hold a frozen ATPL and can apply to airlines for First Officer positions :)

I'm due to finish completely in April 2011. So all in all, the course should take about 16/17 months to complete.
Thanks a lot, dont know if I could of got any better answers anywhere! I've told my mum and dad and they are like "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!" and normally they are like, no your being a doctor okay?

So I'm really chuffed with that! Thanks a lot. Only problem is tho, that there are none in Manchester which means I'd have to move for some time. But I'm sure it'll be worth it! :D

[Kieran]

Thanks a lot, dont know if I could of got any better answers anywhere! I've told my mum and dad and they are like "Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!" and normally they are like, no your being a doctor okay?

So I'm really chuffed with that! Thanks a lot. Only problem is tho, that there are none in Manchester which means I'd have to move for some time. But I'm sure it'll be worth it! :D

Moving away from home is so good and it's good going back every now and then. In all fairness you'd have to leave home at some point anyway! If you want anymore information then you can PM me your MSN or email address if you want. I always answer my emails because they come straight to my phone :)

[kuzkasate]

Moving away from home is so good and it's good going back every now and then. In all fairness you'd have to leave home at some point anyway! If you want anymore information then you can PM me your MSN or email address if you want. I always answer my emails because they come straight to my phone :)

Okay thanks! I will send you my email!

I just love planes so much. Manchester airport isnt that far from my school and I can just stand outside and watch planes landing (rarely see them taking off tho) and I just get this feeling lol.. but everyone else is like.. its only a plane lol? I dont think they understand.

[Matthew]

kieran im gonna +rep you but i need to spread ;)
great work, thanks very much

[Kieran]

kieran im gonna +rep you but i need to spread ;)
great work, thanks very much

Happy to help! I know how hard it is to actually find decent information that isn't just generalised rubbish from places like Connexions who basically have no idea what goes in to the training. My schools own career advisor had no idea and basically left me to get on with it myself!

Again Matt, if you want my email or MSN just ask and I'll be happy to keep in contact with you and answer any questions you have :)