Becoming a Pilot

Becoming a pilot is a thing of children's dreams, and this desire is often carried into adulthood. Although there is always the option of training and obtaining a Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) for civilians, the cost of buying or hiring a plane once you've qualified, fuel fees, maintenance, hangarage costs, and landing fees all add up to a veritable sum.

A career as a pilot is an option that will allow you to experience your passion on a daily basis, with the added bonus of earning a more than reasonable salary from doing what you love. Here we look at the different employment routes available, as well as the skills needed to enter a career where competition for a job can be high.

Making the Decision

The decision to make a change of career to become a pilot is a massive consideration and should not be taken lightly. This is because the training schedule is extremely involved and dedication is key.

If you wish to become an airline pilot, you'll probably also need to have obtained your CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence), something that will take dedication, time and quite a considerable investment of money – anywhere between £35,000-£50,000. It used to be that airline companies would fully sponsor a pilot's training, but this is no longer the case. There are some sponsorships programmes available to cover the cost of qualifying for a CPL, but these may be slightly biased towards younger candidates.

The Age Factor

Age is also an important issue if you're considering a career change. Aviation companies are keen to recruit pilots who have the potential to gain as much experience and flying hours as possible. Fitness, co-ordination and general health tests are all part of the screening process. You should bear in mind that if you were attempting to enter a training school to become an airline pilot, you would have to undergo a special pre-entry test by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) known as a Class 1 medical test.

If you think you will meet the physical requirements of flying, it might also be worth taking an aptitude test to see whether you have the necessary Personal Skills, such as the ability to work under pressure and to multi-task. Although aptitude tests are also taken before commencement of training, taking one beforehand may save time and money if you find later on that you're not suited to a career in flying.

You will also need to have gained some GCSE or A-Level qualifications. Although the entry standard varies between pilot schools, in most cases a bare minimum of five good A-C GCSEs including maths, English and science will be needed, in addition to two A-Levels or equivalent. There is a definite preference for Maths and physics qualifications for pilots, and any subsequent degrees in the fields of physics, maths, other sciences or aeronautical engineering will be looked upon favourably.

How to Start Training

Trying to gain a place in a pilot training scheme is extremely competitive. Having evidence of a passion for aviation, such as membership of a local Air Training Corps (ATC) or a PPL, will be extremely valuable. If you also have proof that you are disciplined, logical, fit and a good team player, you will also be considered as a potential candidate. Schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award are often a good indicator of this.

Frozen Airline Transport Pilot's Licence

Assuming that you have met all the criteria and have managed to land a place at a pilot school, you will then have to start your first officer training. If starting from 'scratch' with little or no former flying experience, you'll start training towards your Frozen Airline Transport Pilot's Licence (FATPL). The first stage involves racking up 750 hours of study and instruction and 150 hours of flying in a light piston (propeller) aircraft. The study topics included in this first stage includes aviation law, navigation and meteorology.

It usually takes just over a year to complete the first stage of training, which leads to gaining a CPL and Instrument Rating (IR). You will then need to undertake additional training, which deals with commercial aircraft and team working, resulting in a Multi-Crew Operation Certificate. Once this has been obtained, the usual route is to secure a job with an airline that will then pay for the final stage of training, known as Type-Rating training. The remaining training towards a full ATPL will then include flying around 50 flights as a first officer with a training captain, as well as building up 1,500 hours of flying experience while flying with a line pilot.

Employment Routes

There are a variety of employment routes for airline pilots. If you already have a PPL, you could 'promote' yourself to entry level by acquiring sufficient flying hours and gaining a qualification as an assistant flying instructor. This will allow you to build your experience to a level where you can directly apply to an airline for the necessary training programme.

The second option is to apply via the route described above, by applying to a CAA registered airline training school, or applying directly to an airline that partakes in a sponsorship scheme. Alternatively, another option is to join the armed forces. The RAF seems an obvious choice but there are also opportunities to train as a pilot in the Army's Air Corps and the Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

Whichever route you choose to take, the likelihood is that it will be hard work, and you'll have to be extremely committed and passionate about your work. A career change to becoming a pilot is no simple undertaking, especially later on in life when you may have other financial or familial responsibilities to consider.

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