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01/07/2008, 7:46 PM pilotwanabe08 Joined on 01/07/2008 Posts 3 Airline Pilot Need some help, I am a 17 year old student looking at going into becoming an Commercial Pilot. I have done ALOT of research from many websites, books etc etc and I have sent of for brochures from Oxford Aviation Academy. I am looking at becoming a sponsor, so I can be sponsored by an airline. I have looked at a variety of different airline choices which are partnered with places like Oxford. I would like some help regarding the length of time the courses last (Oxford, Cabair)? I have had several emails from CTC Wings about there courses and I believe there course is: 12 months in New Zealand and 4 months in the UK to do the ground exams (but I dont think that is your PPL included as far as im aware you need your PPL before you go on the course). Could someone enlighten me about this please?  The prices of the courses are very very steep, that is why I am looking at a sponsorship. I understand you need 5 GCSEs A-C inc English Lang, Maths and a Science & 2 A Levels at C or above (which I am currently studying). I do believe Oxford requires 2 A Levels in Maths & Physics, and as I am not doing these subjects for A Level are their anyways around them? The hard route is to pay for your own training, and go through each section in your own time. This can also be a bonus as you are working at your own pace, however I understand there are flight schools that only teach: PPL, CPL & IR with exams. I would want to have my ATPL which the flight schools do not cover, where are the possible routes in the UK to get it from if you have your PPL & CPL? I have gone on abit now, sorry :) The New Boy :D    Report

02/07/2008, 10:00 AM tom Joined on 30/06/2008 Posts 71 Re: Airline Pilot Hi , ye im 17 as well currently working at leicester airport .Oxford do not need A levels as they told me on their open day and on their website and as stated on their website their course lasts about 14 months. I think you should read and research more. Also sponsorship As you should already know most of the sponsorship schemes have shut down mainly due to 9/11 and the only 1 i could find worth going for is virgin atlantic and so i am going to try for it. However sponsorship for just about every airline or company want a ppl first and a driving licence so make sure you have those., i am currently doing my ppl because i am trying to go for virgin. As you already know Oxford take you from the novice stage of nothingness and take you all the way to a frozen ATPL which again, as you already know , lets you fly as co-pilot in an airline and to get it unfrozen you need so many hours as a co-pilot. You do not need a ppl to start the oxford course but by doing it before as i am you can saftly decide whether you can 'hack' it or not. you can get a loan for oxford of HSBC if you pass the initial test but the loan only goes up to 50 000 so you'll need an extra 20 grand or so as the oxford course costs 60 , minus the living costs.     Hope this helps mate if you want to email me , email  tmp@hotmail.co.uk   Regards Tom.    Report

02/07/2008, 2:05 PM pilotwanabe08 Joined on 01/07/2008 Posts 3 Re: Airline Pilot Yes I understand you do not need A Levels however to join Oxford as a sponsorship even if its only part of it, Oxford is partnered with XL, Thomas Cook, Flybe which require A Levels, so i suggest you read abit more lol :P  I know they deal with loans by HSBC, I know all the information required. Just like to ask, you said the course lasts 14months is this everything included e.g. PPL, CPL then fATPL plus Ground Exams etc? What do you work as in Leicester Airport? As I contacted my local airport and they said they would not be able to take me on until im 18 which is in about 5 months. Good Luck with Virgin mate. p.s I will also add you on MSN if thats okay?    Report

02/07/2008, 4:47 PM tom Joined on 30/06/2008 Posts 71 Re: Airline Pilot just emailed mike mate at oxford and they don't do sponsorships anymore however, they do do garenteed jobs with those airlines in which you need 2 or more passes at A level. Regards Tom.    Report

02/07/2008, 11:40 PM pilotwanabe08 Joined on 01/07/2008 Posts 3 Re: Airline Pilot Righto, okay thanks mate Many Thanks Cj    Report

06/10/2008, 5:43 PM Anthony Tester Joined on 24/09/2007 Vienna Posts 106 Re: Airline Pilot Guaranteed jobs? I don't think anyone gives guaranteed jobs. Unless that includes keeping graduates on as FI's. If they are guaranteeing you a job with an airline get it in writing!    Report

13/10/2008, 7:12 PM Morbz Joined on 06/02/2007 UK Posts 263 Re: Airline Pilot Agree with Anthony CTC Wings were about as close you could get to a guarenteed job, but sods luck now that when I finally get a place with them, the economy turns for the worst and no job is even remotly guarenteed as no airlines are hiring!  Have you tried CTC?  Its probably the best option out there, better than oxford.  Their training standard is just as high and they are partnered with the major airlines, in fact if you complete your training with CTC you can walk into a job with Easyjet or Thomascook without so much as an interview- providing the airlines are recruiting. At the minute, no route is best to take as the economic climate is so bad, there are already hundreds of pilots in hold pools waiting for the recruiment drives to occur.  As for GCSE's Alevels and all the rest of it, to do a course such as Cabair or Oxford training you only need 5 GCSE's, but for CTC (partially/fully sponsored route) you need 2 A levels too- preferred in maths and physics but NOT a requirment (as well as passing their selection process).  Other airlines who sponsor often require driving licenses as mentioned above, A levels and GCSE's and of course the class 1 medical.  BUT the main thing to take in in all of this is that right now, training is questionable as jobs are almost non existant at the end of it all. Any advice on anything in particular your welcome to send me a message.  I have PPL experience 60 hours plus, information on scholarships (recieved one in January) and plenty of information on CTC Wings as I recently passed all 4 stages of their selection! Morbz        Report

20/01/2009, 2:26 PM janet-street porter Joined on 20/01/2009 Posts 1 Re: Airline Pilot Hi there Morbz, Interesting statement regarding CTC. I am off to their open day on the 7th February. I have been looking for potential ab-initio to frozen ATPL training and I am slightly concerned about the employment prospects, mainly because my age will be 36 on induction. Luckily I do not have any requirement for financial help for the course or type rating. Oxford seem to be slightly discrimatory on age; CTC the opposite. I love the idea of working for NetJets though. Regarding your statement would you hazard a guess as to the probability of whether EasyJet or Thomas Cook will be recruiting at say year 2010 based on the information I have provided? Do CTC have any collaboration with NetJets? I have been informed that employment is cyclical and that refreshment will be due around then (hopefully) would you agree with this statement? You seem a learned fellow! Mr Janetstreetporter    Report

22/01/2009, 12:46 AM tom Joined on 30/06/2008 Posts 71 Re: Airline Pilot Hopefully we can all time it well enough so we come out with our FATPL's just as the economy is getting back on its feet.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------     {Latest News, Tech Center, Gallery, Music. http://www.parpeople.com }    Report

22/01/2009, 4:46 AM Morbz Joined on 06/02/2007 UK Posts 263 Re: Airline Pilot  janet-street porter wrote: Interesting statement regarding CTC. I am off to their open day on the 7th February. I have been looking for potential ab-initio to frozen ATPL training and I am slightly concerned about the employment prospects, mainly because my age will be 36 on induction. Luckily I do not have any requirement for financial help for the course or type rating. Oxford seem to be slightly discrimatory on age; CTC the opposite. I love the idea of working for NetJets though. Regarding your statement would you hazard a guess as to the probability of whether EasyJet or Thomas Cook will be recruiting at say year 2010 based on the information I have provided? Do CTC have any collaboration with NetJets? I have been informed that employment is cyclical and that refreshment will be due around then (hopefully) would you agree with this statement? Hi Firstly aged 36... The oldest on the course I am in is 27, and I believe the oldest I am aware of at the minute isn't much older than that age.  I may be wrong and I will find out internally for you what your chances are if you apply, because I always thought there was a rough age limit of 28 but I might be wrong so I will check and let you know.  It may be that you cannot get on the wings course but you can get on the iCp course (iCP is self funded whereas wings has a harder selection and you get advanced training plus a type rating plus recruitment help slung in there too).  Yes CTC are partnered with Netjets, and I think they will be doing fairly well- it seems to be that business jets are doing well above many other airlines at this present time but then again I might be wrong.  As for Thomascook easyjet etc etc recruiting in 2010 that's any ones guess.  However, at the minute nobody is recruiting- that goes for all airlines at the moment, there are students stuck swimming in holding pools so ignore the 100% employment rates a little as these would have been to summer 2008.  As for CTC I know that some airlines are giving the heads up at the minute about future requirments, I will have to private message you if you want to know more, but as for 2010 its generally a predicted time, but despite that, this spring the summer recruitment drives should start and that should give indication of how well the recruitment side of things is doing.  I think 2010 would be a good time to estimate, although if you get into training now and come out in 2010, you will find like myself that you will still be at the back of the que - especially with CTC and Oxford as its first come first serve with cadets who made it through first.  Employment is cyclical for sure, in fact after 9/11 it wasnt all that long before aviation boomed again.  You may like to read the ICAO release on the recommendation that now is the best time to train for the pilot shortage in a few years time, the CTC news release on their website about the pilot shortage looming and various bits and pieces. Ignore PPRUNE and that pessimism, just think that those who thought it was clever to train in the booming economy wouldnt have dreamt to be in the position they are now!  Morbz      Report

01/02/2009, 2:23 AM Morbz Joined on 06/02/2007 UK Posts 263 Re: Airline Pilot Found out that there is no age limit for CTC    Report

18/08/2009, 1:03 PM Ricko Joined on 18/08/2009 Posts 1 Re: Airline Pilot Hello everyone, Just wanted to say there is no relationship between CTC and NetJets. Only Oxford and NetJets do business together with the Ab-Initio program. Ricko    Report

06/08/2010, 11:23 AM Flying Podcast Joined on 08/04/2009 Manchester Posts 3 Re: Airline Pilot Have a listen to this interview with Thomas Cook's Chief Pilot. Very interesting if you are thinking of going down the sponsorship route: www.flyingpodcast.co.uk    Report

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