Everyones all doom and gloom - but I read recently in Flight International that airlines will face a shortage 'wall' when the rebound comes. With the UK perhaps coming out of recession (Dare I even suggest that will happen!) perhaps in the last quarter, a 12-14 month course of training started now should put me in a good position?!

[My harness is secured for the backlash I'm sure is coming!]

 

yep this indeed is a good timing to train as a pilot. never mind about the global down turn and even the aviation industry down turn

As the global economy slides, new jets are cheaper to operate than the planes they're not replacing as airlines may find it impossible to use them profitably - a clear indication that "the worst is yet to come"... Have you clicked yet!

I absolutely concur absolutely! The ditherers who wait for some hypothetical optimum time to begin training will probably remain ditherers all their life and end up moaning wanna-bees who will try to find excuses as to why they did not push ahead with all their resources and determination to make it into the command end of an aeroplane. It does not matter one whit whether the 'public' think transport pilots are merely 'bus-drivers'. Who actually cares as to their opinion anyway? Go for it; or get left behind. You make the decision. In any case, who needs a 'ditherer' in the cockpit!!!!!

Why do you say never mind? I'm currently on a fligth school and after spending a considerable amount of money in my course, It's hard to see some good perspectives in the near future. All we can see is companies going down, restructuring their routes, reducing costs, etc.... I'm a late starter, have already a family to support and being a pilot was always what I've wanted to. Only now I could have the conditions to become one, but by the end of this year, when I'm finished with my course with only 200hrs and just a ATPL with no rating, what will I do? Probably I will continue what I'm doing now, but with less amount of money for my kids! It's hard not to mind! It's inevitable!

If I were you I'd pray to God and start writing a letter of apology to your loved ones.

From my experience of living through previous recessions (yes, we've had them before!!) I would say that yes it probably IS a good time to start pilot training(ATPL) Certainly if you have sufficient means to do so. Normally, after a period of recession, we have a prolonged boom period. Please, please correct me if I'm wrong, but after the last recession in the early 90's (interest rates went upto something like 16%!!!!!!!!!!!!) and soon afterwards EasyJet were offering "Golden Hello's" of upto £60,000 to Captains to willing to join them. Such was the shortage of pilots. John.

HA Ha Ha Ha Ha, Easyjet!

I'd rather start off with nothing and work my way up to an extreme state of poverty!

Hey hey...brace up here. You will have 200 hours and at least the theory part of an ATPL done. That is a hell of a lot more, aviation-wise,  than you had before, is it not? Then you had absolutely nothing to offer. I suggest you ponder deeply on the fact that there is a sort of "Darwinian" survival of the fittest at work here. There always has been, and there always will be. At present you have a job, you are able to care for your children, you have a life! If you were misled by some body, or company, as to your immediate job prospects, well I am sorry. Learn from it and move on mentally. But for goodness sake, when revising your CV, or attending interviews, don't come over as a moaner who considers the industry owes you a living...that way lies rejection. Trust me...I have seen piles of CV's on my desk, and conducted interviews, and may assure you that it is rather easy to sort out the people you really would not wish to be sharing a flight deck with. But all the very best to you and bear in mind your personal attitude may well determine your aviation future....go to it! 

I agree with Dakota67 on this: Attitude is paramount.

To succeed in aviation you need a private income, a sense of humour, and a rather more credible trilby hat than this one...

 

 

 

Now that i'm reading it again, it does sound a bit moaning

Perhaps what i've written wasn't exactly what I wanted to say, all I wanted to explain was that one must be very sure about this decision. Things aren't always bright and shine!

Anyway, the previous post was a bit of a relief, it's a life's dream becoming each day harder to achieve.

Nevertheless, i will pursuit it and will never give up of this dream, i'm very sure of what i want to do. Even in the worst times, when we feel the objective will be far far away!

That's the idea that Positive_rate has to have. If he is sure about what he want's to do, then all times are good times to start, just have to bear in mind that thing's won't be always easy!

By the way, if in my post it can be interpreted as if anyone or something owes me, that wasn't the intention!

 

I fully agree about attitude issue and i think my attitude is normally very positive.

But there are sometimes when we just feel.....      well...      you know!

Good luck Positive_rate

I concur with the previous post.

Just sometimes, you can feel things that leave you "lost for words" like a language and educational failure.

UKads wrote:

'new jets are cheaper to operate than the planes they're not replacing'

Please can you clarify?

Yes I know the worst is yet to come, but my situation is that I will be finished basic with a fATPL end '09. And predictions are that we will begin to see signs of recovery by then. My concern is staying up to speed with my IR in the interim.

Any more comments anyone? Feel free to e-mail me.

This is as good a time as any, and possibly better than most, to start training as a pilot, because the industry will be recovering by the time you emerge with your full qualifications. 

If you look at the last training feature in Flight International you will see the broad picture discussed by industry gurus. You can also find out what Flight International's Crew Management Conference revealed about the state of the market for pilots.

In Flight International's 27 January issue there will be a new update on the state of the training market which will reflect developing thinking in the industry.

If you are completely self-sponsored, don't start training without putting yourself through an aptitude test. The best flying training organisations offer them. Any flight training organisation that takes you on for training to commercial pilot level without offering a full set of psychometric and mental aptitude tests before you start is suspect, and the very best schools will not even take you on unless you pass.

Check out your attitude as well as your aptitude. Airlines worth working for want people who are committed to their whole service ethos, not just to people who dream of flying aeroplanes.

Finally, have a cynical look at how the industry treats its pilots in my blog "don't marry an airline pilot". It's not all sweetness and light. That's not all: try "Pilots as commodities", and "Piloting is going blue-collar."

One way of keeping up to speed with your IR on a limited budget is with 'Microsoft Flight Simulator'.

PM me your email address if you decide to purchase it anytime. I can offer you a CONCORDE FLYING MANUAL & SIMULATOR TUTORIAL ( the only one I have)

The main thing to remember is "you're not in an aeroplane – you're in a Concorde” and flying approaches on the back of the drag curve is not only quite dangerous but extremely uneconomical.

It's up you really although it might one day save you another 6 months in ground school and 19 four hour check rides
 

David Learmount:

T

Finally, have a cynical look at how the industry treats its pilots in my blog "don't marry an airline pilot". It's not all sweetness and light. That's not all: try "Pilots as commodities", and "Piloting is going blue-collar."

I think this last paragraph can resume my idea. That's a great help! Sorry for my wrong selection of words, but since i'm not English, sometimes i'm not quite sure about the terms in English. About the IR, can't help you on that one!

It's a bit old and battered, but if you make me a decent offer for my Concorde Flight Manual I'll help you with your English for free!

...you see, I'm a select member of the Literary Community (English Language) and before I became UKads  I was an Officer in the past and always a Gentleman (Manners & Decency)

Mmmmm! May I, on behalf of many of us, enquire as to what sort of Officer? And which service? And why is their a picture of a female on your posts if you were ALWAYS a gentleman. I am easily confused.

Well, I was once a First Officer (albeit briefly) and I should not really be telling you this but the crew of the future will consist of one pilot and a dog. "The pilot will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to bite the pilot if he touches anything."

He will still be the Pilot in Command while visiting the passenger cabin chatting up the birds or helping serve the drinks if 'he and she' are ex-Loganair.

Good luck to all new starters...

It's essential to know every new starters.. "you need to take all security measures before starting up training".. Best of luck my dears,,,