Pilot Training/ Class one medical

robfullam

Hi,

I'm thinking about being a pilot and training with PTC In Waterford (they do 10 out of the 14 months in Florida). I passed the skills assessment two weeks ago and had my interview and got accepted. I have my medical Next tuesday

Does anyone have anything to say about this school? Good or bad??

Whats the medical like?

donkey balls

the class 1 medical will take about a day depending on the amount of people getting it done.they hook you up to a ecg,chest x ray hearing&eye test and a few more check out this link.
http://www.materprivate.ie/services/specialities/aeromedical.htm

as for PTC there is a lot over on PPRNE about them and a few people including myself have been to PTC but ended up training modular.
they charge you 100k for what is a modular course and not intergrated if you were to train modular you could do it for around 65k.
you can then use the 30k for a TR with FR or Aer Arran dont get taken in with all the morketing:Dthese schools use slick websites to snare young people into training with them.(and dont beleive the crap about them getting you an airline interveiw).

robfullam

I got accepted into the college. The integrated course is €79500. Your guaranteed an airline interview its on my contract:o:o

smellslikeshoes

robfullam wrote: »

I got accepted into the college. The integrated course is €79500. Your guaranteed an airline interview its on my contract:o

And you fell for that?

Pilots with thousands of jet hours aren't able to get interviews right now.

donkey balls

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

And you fell for that?

Pilots with thousands of jet hours aren't able to get interviews right now.

its the morketing spin and just because you get an airline interview doesent mean your going get a job:D my mate got a job with FR and he spent 65k compared to an other guy who paid 98k.
as i said earlier thats enough for an FR TR so who is better off the person that paid 65k(modular) or the person who paid 98k for intergrated even though its modular:rolleyes:)

robfullam

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

And you fell for that?

Pilots with thousands of jet hours aren't able to get interviews right now.

Sure who is able to get a job these days??

Its what i wanna do so why not go for it? Yeah I might owe the banks 70 grand for a while but sure thats life!! I know guys and girls with masters who spent 7 years in college and trust me it costs at least 8 grand a year in college. Thats 56k. So why not go for a job as a pilot yeah its a risk but sure you won't get far with out taken any!

MightyDucks

Yeah I might owe the banks 70 grand for a while but sure thats life!!

sorry for going off topic but are the banks really giving out 70 grand loans for pilot training these days?

robfullam

Well my bank is. Went to them last week about it. The college wrote a letter to them saying I have the best ability to do the course blah blah ya get what i'm saying. Basically i've just to pay the interest on the 70 grand for 18 months then when hopefully I get a job even if I start on 25k a year I can easily affford the monthly payments:D

smellslikeshoes

robfullam wrote: »

Sure who is able to get a job these days??

Its what i wanna do so why not go for it? Yeah I might owe the banks 70 grand for a while but sure thats life!! I know guys and girls with masters who spent 7 years in college and trust me it costs at least 8 grand a year in college. Thats 56k. So why not go for a job as a pilot yeah its a risk but sure you won't get far with out taken any!

I never said anything about not going for it, I like most people on this forum are just like yourself and are mad into aviation and wouldn't dream of talking you out of it. I just don't want someone to go into training and expect to fall into a job at the other side of it because the flight school said so.

Right now there are no jobs out there and even if these bad times stopped tomorrow and lots of airlines started hiring again it would take a long time for them to soak up all of the 2k+ hour aptl holders without jobs before fresh out of training fAPTL holders would be looked at.

robfullam wrote: »

Sure who is able to get a job these days??

I'm not sure if you have factored in all of the costs but doing training the integrated way and then having serious trouble getting a job at the otherside of it while being in 100k+ debt is pretty different than just having trouble finding a job.

robfullam wrote: »

Well my bank is. Went to them last week about it. The college wrote a letter to them saying I have the best ability to do the course blah blah ya get what i'm saying. Basically i've just to pay the interest on the 70 grand for 18 months then when hopefully I get a job even if I start on 25k a year I can easily affford the monthly payments:D

Please Please Please for your own benefit go to http://www.pprune.org/ and read absolutely everything you can. If you expect to pay interest on your loan while you train and then start on 25k a year you are going to seriously get burnt, I can't emphasize this enough. The way things are going right now it's more likely you would be paying them!!!

Here is a really informative site, read every single bit of it. It's a blog of a guy who went to PTC expecting the world too.

robfullam

Thanks for that I read a lot!

What do i do though? I relly want to be a pilot:cool::(

donkey balls

robfullam wrote: »

Thanks for that I read a lot!

What do i do though? I relly want to be a pilot:cool::(

get a back up plan in place something that you could do if you ever fail the class 1 med, get a degree/trade.
as for spending 80k to train why do that if it can be done for 65k and still have the same fATPL licence at the end of the training.

my mate did his PPL(like me) in the US he then did full time ATPL in oxford(where the instructers are ex airline training capts who know their stuff)
after he finished the ATPL he headed back to the US for hour building CPL/MULTI.
he completed the IR in the uk and did his MCC/JOC in dub and managed to get a job with FR all for 65k not 80/100k.

robfullam

DEADLY!! Pm Me and can you explain where exactly he did all that??

Thanks

smellslikeshoes

robfullam wrote: »

Thanks for that I read a lot!

What do i do though? I relly want to be a pilot:cool::(

Take things sloooooow.
If you are already working a job stick with it and start your training part time or if you are just finishing school go after a back up plan like donkey balls has said. You can build up your hours without going into debt. While doing all of this keep an eye on forums like this pprune, watch for the upturn (it will come!). When Airlines start hiring again you should have plenty of hours logged and can decide then if you want to take a loan out to finish your training. But don't jump in too early as most of the early jobs will be going to out of work experienced pilots.

You won't be taking near as much from the bank at this stage. And you also stand a much better chance of not having to pay money to keep current for years without getting a job like lads finishing their training now.

airvan

Rob, good advice here. Do not rush into this. Sure you got 'accepted' into PTC, whatever that means. The test and interview process is only to eliminate the most inept students and to give the impression that you somehow have the 'right stuff'. It's more about marketing the course to impressionable young people and their parents than an actual test. Flying schools are commercial organisations not universities. Just remember that. They need your business in order to stay in business. They'll tell you anything you want to hear. Nothing wrong with PTC except they are inclined to go overboard with marketing and are expensive. Bear in mind too the many of their Instructors are waiting for the airline job too. Who do you think is going to get them first?

Here's the blog of a recent PTC graduate now back in his old job. Puts some perspective on their promise of an interview. Note that he didn't get one. Not even a Ryanair one. Your promise is not worth the paper it's written on.

http://www.pilotcourseireland.com/20501.html

Note:

Virtually all the other lads and ladies that finished the course with PTC in 2009 are jobless.

He could have added to that, almost everyone who graduated from all schools in 2009 are jobless and they are all ahead of you.

The rest of his website in interesting too. It details his training with PTC.

So slow it down. There is another thread on a similar theme here. Read that too. But do go and get the medical done. Another tick in the box. Another thing to bear in mind your 'guaranteed' interview might be with Aer Arann or Ryanair. Both require about €30k upfront for type training assuming you are accepted. But most applicants don't even get an interview. You'll need to factor that in any loans you might have.

There is no hurry. So make your plans and wait.

MightyDucks

[/QUOTE]There is no hurry. So make your plans and wait.[/QUOTE]

So are ye saying to hold off on the training for a year or two or what.

airvan

Essentially if you start now aiming to finish next year, it's likely you will simply join all the others on the waiting list. A 250/300 hour pilot is virtually unemployable at the moment. If recruitment starts again the airlines will cherry pick those with higher hours and recent currency and of course those who have already flown airlines but lost their jobs recently. People churning over ratings with a few hours here and there will struggle. It could take years for any kind of consistent recruitment to begin again. The aim really is to finish training as recruitment picks up or replace Instructors as they move on to the airlines. Timing is everything.

robfullam

Thanks for all your help guys. There is an option in PTC which is a 'FlyBe' Cadet ship or something? Have you ever heard of this? Seemingly if your accepted your guaranteed a job with FlyBe at the end of your training?? Could this be right?

Thanks;);)

View Profile

Seemingly if your accepted your guaranteed a job with FlyBe at the end of your training?

Only two things in life are guaranteed.

You seem in a big hurry Rob. Take it slow and easy. There is no rush, especially nowadays.

Flybe are a good option, but they only choose the best of the bunch. They have had a large holding pool for cadets for the past year. Friends of mine "selected" by Flybe who graduated last March are only beginning their type ratings now. And they are the lucky ones!

With the likes of Ryanair, expect to fork out nearly €40K when you take into account all the extra costs (accommodation, uniform, travel, meals, licence fees, headset, rent, car.....etc).

So even if you go modular, you'll still be paying over €100K.

robfullam

I may check it out. I'm just doing my Leaving Cert In June and if i go to college thats gonna cost near 30grand for yrs so i dono what way to go exactly?

View Profile

I decided to get a degree before I began my career in aviation. Never hurts to have a back up if flying dosent work out.

robfullam

And do you have a job now with an airline?

View Profile

You could say that.

robfullam

Ha what does that mean?? Your not flyin but....

donkey balls

rob did you get the pm i sent you? if your only doing the LC this year you have loads of time to train, listen to the advise of the lads here including myself i worked for one of the biggest airlines and its all got to do with timing.
just say you fail the class 1 med and cant be a pilot what career/degree would you like to do? what ever it is do it,DONT EVER put all your eggs in the one basket.
why not start off with the PPL and take it from there i know two LTC for an irish airline who held down full time jobs while training.

MightyDucks

would it do any harm to train now if you are guarantied work in another job after training?or do the airlines only want guys fresh outa college?i know there are fees to be paid to keep your licence but apart from that....

robfullam

Yup thanks very much for that pm. I am contemplating on what to do. I have My CAO Form filled out I Have a course in DCU Called Aviation Managment As number one so if i fail the medical i'll try that. Also when i'm 19 in november i'm invited to this assessment to try become an Air Traffic Controller

airvan

would it do any harm to train now if you are guarantied work in another job after training?or do the airlines only want guys fresh outa college?i know there are fees to be paid to keep your licence but apart from that....

No harm training now. Flying schools are not colleges, whatever they call themselves. Fresh pilots are low time and inexperienced. Airlines prefer experienced type rated pilots. Failing that some airlines like graduates of integrated courses from certain establishments. Most simply judge the person and the experience. It isn't just about fees to be paid to keep your licence current. I would suggest that many who apply to Ryanair for example are puzzled by the lack of even an interview.

Let me give you two examples: A friend, qualified Engineer, late twenties got his licences and rating in OBA in Florida cheaply as possible. Applied to Ryanair end of 2008. Got an interview a week later and was told he was in the same day. Now based in Dublin, he flew 850 hours last year.

Another acquaintence, straight out of a full time course from a 'college'. Nothing, nil, nada. His £50 application fee was lost.

The difference? Timing for one but both my friend and I believe it was because he flying for most of the year. His CV stood out. The other guy was just renewing his licences.

One other point, my friend would have gone back to Engineering if he had missed out on the Ryanair thing, just like the guy in the blog I linked to. The other lad, well I don't know what happened to him but his only qualifications are as a pilot. So it won't be good.

There is a joke 'What do you say to a pilot with 300 hours and a CPL, Multi Ir and Frozen ATPL with MCC?

A Big Mac and fries please!'

That's the way it is sometimes.

MightyDucks

lol:D I'm starting to think i might give the training a miss for another year and head to australia to make a few bucks.see how things are wen i get back. would you know much about oxfords integrated course?

robfullam

I've the Medical Tuesday anyways i'll see how that goes then see what to do??:p

airvan

It's expensive and the graduates of the last one are in the same dole queue as the the guys who trained somewhere cheaper.

MightyDucks

airvan wrote: »

It's expensive and the graduates of the last one are in the same dole queue as the the guys who trained somewhere cheaper.

Ya but when the airlines do get around to hiring them would they go for oxford students than other?

airvan

OAA would like you to think that. So do FTE, Cabair etc etc. As it is only Aer Lingus and BA have a known bias towards integrated schools. But the only jobs at the moment are Ryanair and they don't care.

robfullam

Haha the actual Stress trying to decide what to do!!! :mad:

donkey balls

MightyDucks wrote: »

lol:D I'm starting to think i might give the training a miss for another year and head to australia to make a few bucks.see how things are wen i get back. would you know much about oxfords integrated course?

i know a lad thats started in oxford you do all the atpl exams first before heading out to arizona to start flying.£80k my mate did his ground school full time in oxford and the rest of his training in a certain school in florida which im sure more than one poster on this forum has been to;).

and yet the only $$$$$$ he owes the bank is just for the TR

robfullam

Probably LOADED With money!

MightyDucks

donkey balls wrote: »

i know a lad thats started in oxford you do all the atpl exams first before heading out to arizona to start flying.£80k my mate did his ground school full time in oxford and the rest of his training in a certain school in florida which im sure more than one poster on this forum has been to;).

and yet the only $$$$$$ he owes the bank is just for the TR

i know 80k is alot of money but i think its the best college with the best course and for me full time is the only way i think id be able to do it

airvan

Obviously not everyone has been hit by the recession! You can do it full time anywhere. The 'best school' is a relative term and the course is the same everywhere with the same licence and ratings at the end. But if you can afford it, places like OAA, FTE etc are great. So go for it. A few years from now just like the Leaving certificate. No one will ever even mention it and it won't appear even appear on your CV.

Definitely the best way is go full time wherever you train if you can. It's a bit quicker too so you can get on the dole earlier LOL;)

donkey balls

airvan the lad i know thats gone to OAA is their because the bank of mam&dad are funding it,now just because the course is 80K that does not mean that once you pay up(all upfront)that at the end of it your going get your CPL/MEIR you have to work for it.
me and the lads tried to tell the lad thats gone to OAA to do it modular full time as he could get it done within the same period that it takes to do it intergrated and have the extra $$$ for an FR TR our advise fell on deaf ears

MightyDucks

donkey balls wrote: »

airvan the lad i know thats gone to OAA is their because the bank of mam&dad are funding it,now just because the course is 80K that does not mean that once you pay up(all upfront)that at the end of it your going get your CPL/MEIR you have to work for it.
me and the lads tried to tell the lad thats gone to OAA to do it modular full time as he could get it done within the same period that it takes to do it intergrated and have the extra $$$ for an FR TR our advise fell on deaf ears

First of all the recession has hit me, hence the going to australia to try make money.
Second there is no "bank of mam and dad".
Third your advise hasn't fallen on deaf ears thats why i'm on this forum to ask as many questions as i can.

The reason im THINKING!!!!!! of doing the integrated is because

1: its an intensive course which i think i would need to just keep focused for the 14months or what ever it takes.
2: Having gone to a couple of the flyer exhibitions both ireland and england ive heard talks been givin saying that most airlines would rather employ integrated students.
3: If i was to do modular it would take longer to do because of the weather in ireland and its a longer course. You might say whats the rush, well i want to get back out working again after training.

Everything i'm saying is to the best of my knowledge and some points (hopefully not all) may be incorrect so don't slate me if i'm wrong:o

Finally i do take what ye say into consideration be ye have to understand its difficult for people like me looking to start out and every college, school we mention gets slated.Thanks again for the advise

donkey balls

mighty ducks the schools mentioned on this forum do most of their flight training in the USA if you want to get it done fast you can just do the ATPL ground school in oxford full time(takes about 6 months).
after that hour building in the USA followed by CPL/MULTI then head back to the likes of bristol to do the IR which can take 2-3 months depending on weather.
and as airvan stated earlier the only gig in town at the moment is FR the likes of BA/Virgin hire alot of the guys from the RAF,so the likes of my mates brother in law will more than likely walk into BA after he finishes his stint in the RAF(the lucky b,stad flying the euro fighter)

View Profile

With the likes of FTE you can do it all in one location (no moving around) and have your CPL ME IR MCC within 14 months.
Thats quicker than oxford....if you are in a hurry.

And the MCC is on a 737 NG btw.;)

airvan

saying that most airlines would rather employ integrated students.

That's simply not true. That is what's called marketing. It's good salesmanship to get people to believe your expensive product is the best.

Meanwhile in the real world which I and most others inhabit, only BA and Aer Lingus have shown a preference for integrated students. But it's worth pointing out that the Aer Lingus pilots have agreed to 70 redundancies today. So do you honestly think there's a job to be had there?

Quite simply there is nothing wrong with doing an integrated course as long as you realise you are paying extra money for a course which in the real world won't actually make any real difference to your prospects. Quite often the people who say integrated course graduates have an advantage came throught that system. Aer Lingus is full of pilots who never had to spend a penny to train. They haven't a clue to put it politely.

Like I said there is nothing wrong with doing an integrated course as long as you go into it with your eyes open. Don't be like some people I've seen on Prune who finish an integrated course and then complain bitterly that it's been three months and they haven't had an interview with BA. To be fair you don't sound like that but beware of marketing.

donkey balls

airvan wrote: »

That's simply not true. That is what's called marketing. It's good salesmanship to get people to believe your expensive product is the best.

Meanwhile in the real world which I and most others inhabit, only BA and Aer Lingus have shown a preference for integrated students. But it's worth pointing out that the Aer Lingus pilots have agreed to 70 redundancies today. So do you honestly think there's a job to be had there?

Quite simply there is nothing wrong with doing an integrated course as long as you realise you are paying extra money for a course which in the real world won't actually make any real difference to your prospects. Quite often the people who say integrated course graduates have an advantage came throught that system. Aer Lingus is full of pilots who never had to spend a penny to train. They haven't a clue to put it politely.

Like I said there is nothing wrong with doing an integrated course as long as you go into it with your eyes open. Don't be like some people I've seen on Prune who finish an integrated course and then complain bitterly that it's been three months and they haven't had an interview with BA. To be fair you don't sound like that but beware of marketing.

+1 and another thing the course fee does not include resits of failed exams/skills test

MightyDucks

Cheers thanks guys/girls.

robfullam

Initial Class One Medical Tuesday :(

View Profile

I hope you're good at blowing..................:o



Best of luck!

robfullam

haha whys that?? :eek:

View Profile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LAxSRRZyUs

Spirometry is a Pulmonary Function Test, measuring lung function, specifically the measurement of the volume and/or speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled.

robfullam

That looks difficult

donkey balls

robfullam wrote: »

That looks difficult

just take a big breath and blow for as long as you can

robfullam

I'm Fasting now as its in like 12 hours