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Aviation History
1992
1992 - 0069.PDF
THIS WAY UP The past two years have seen one of the worst recessions in aviation since the Second World War. Civil, general and military aviation have all been hit. The pilot market — always cyclical, with the lean years outweighing those of high demand — has seen the severe pilot shortage in 1989 turn in most parts of the world into the serious surplus of today. That has made the training deci sions facing the aspirant pilot al most anywhere in the world more difficult than ever. A wrong choice could mean that a trainee could spend several years' potential salary gaining a qualification which he or she will never be able to exploit fully — and therefore never be able to recoup that initial outlay. The aspiring pilot needs to clarify career goals early. Without at least some flying experience, some options are hard to evaluate. For instance, is the choice to be a military or an airline pilot, or to work in general aviation? Is it to fly fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters (which are not covered here) or both? Aspirants can usefully gain some air experience with a trial lesson at a flying school before making decisions. In Britain, young people who belong to the Air Training Corps or school Combined Cadet Force can try a Royal Air Force air experience flight which can be arranged through the liaison officer. The RAF also offers flying scholarships, for which competition is fierce. They cover 75% of the cost of training for the Private Pilot's Licence (PPL). Similar schemes oper ate in other parts of the world, and are well worth investigating. Assuming that air experience confirms the desire to be a pilot, a realistic goal needs to be set, because most subsequent training deci sions must be taken in the light of that goal. In few circumstances anywhere in the world, for instance, will a pilot starting basic training after his/her mid-20s rise to the captaincy of an interconti nental airliner? Once a goal has been set, the training cost to reach that goal must be considered. If sponsorship is possible, the employment commitment and financial repay- :lf-sponsored training to become : airline pilot is always difficult It in be complex, slow and relatively cheap, quick and expensive. In the first of an occasional zries, Robin Blech looks at the choices available to the young UK >r Europe-based ab initio student whose serious aim is to fly for an airline. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 15 - 21 January, 1992
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