commercial pilot?

A.G.S

hi is it possible to become a commercial pilot for the likes of ryanair if you only have your junior cert done and and a frozen atpl ?

searescue

If you're determined yes - I've a few friends and cousins in Ryanair - all 5 are captains - two without a leaving cert. One of those two is a base captain. Another is a training captain (not a captain in training but a captain that trains).

Leaving Cert helps but isn't essential for likes of Ryanair.

Hope this helps.

TangoVictor

A.G.S wrote: »

hi is it possible to become a commercial pilot for the likes of ryanair if you only have your junior cert done and and a frozen atpl ?

If you have a fATPL(A) then it's not a Leaving Cert you need, it's a 738TR for Ryanair! Then you can spend the next couple of decades waiting on the phone to ring for your next sector, paying off your debt as a self employed pilot and sitting locked in isolation in a small room all day. On the plus side, you do get to fly all across europe and thus get to enjoy the marvellous view from the flight deck of the exterior terminal building wall for 25 minutes before you push back for the return flight to the hotel which you're paying for out of your own pocket (and it is your own pocket, after all you've bought the FR uniform right?)...

Enjoy!!

- tv

xflyer

You don't even need a Junior Cert to be a pilot, truth be told. But a lack of education won't help during the training process. A lot of technical knowledge is required at every stage.

Zyox

TangoVictor wrote: »

If you have a fATPL(A) then it's not a Leaving Cert you need, it's a 738TR for Ryanair! Then you can spend the next couple of decades waiting on the phone to ring for your next sector, paying off your debt as a self employed pilot and sitting locked in isolation in a small room all day. On the plus side, you do get to fly all across europe and thus get to enjoy the marvellous view from the flight deck of the exterior terminal building wall for 25 minutes before you push back for the return flight to the hotel which you're paying for out of your own pocket (and it is your own pocket, after all you've bought the FR uniform right?)...

Enjoy!!

- tv

:rolleyes:

Heli Services Ireland

It is entirely possible to be a commercial pilot without a Leaving Cert once you pass the CPL/ATPL exams required. These can be done over a period of time, you can get Ground School classes and even private tuition if you find any area a bit difficult. You can do the exams at your own pace, not as difficult as some people would suggest. Entirely different to 'school' study and exams and besides, it is already something you are interested in which makes it easier. Sharing with other students who are all in the same boat is also good for support.

Remember that Ryanair pilots are drawn from all nationalities. Many countries have entirely different exams systems, subjects and structures. Many of these Pilots have learned to fly in different country from their own home country, in places like USA and other EU countries, Australia etc but they can convert to an IAA/ CAA or whatever licence is required by the airline, depending on the country they work in - eg the far East or whereever.

Initially is may seem tough as does anything new but when you are up and running there are plenty of fixed wing flying jobs out there and Ryanair are not the only game in town. You can go abroad where there is a big shortage of pilots and even Easy Jet have been 'poaching' pilots from other companies with financial incentives.

If you really want to be a commercial pilot stick with it - its well worth it.
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jmayo

Heli Services Ireland wrote: »

.
...
If you really want to be a commercial pilot stick with it - its well worth it.
www.heliservicesireland.com
Follow us on Facebook

Sorry going off topic a little but dear God are the only two people whose mugs you could put on your website christy de burke and his daughter ?

To OP get an education as it helps to have a few strings in your bow to fall back on as aviation can be cruel business that suffers downturns.
Also if your health fails slightly and as you get older and things stop working you may not be able to fly commerically.

virmilitaris

Lads trying to find out some info for my brother re this. I've been trying to find info about the medical requirements and educational requirements but sites I get often contradict each other or are really long winded and complicated to understand.

Is a bachelors degree required ?

What are the medical requirements to be an airline pilot ?

When you get your private pilots license and then your commercial license. Then how do you get an airline pilots license ?

Zyox

virmilitaris wrote: »

Lads trying to find out some info for my brother re this. I've been trying to find info about the medical requirements and educational requirements but sites I get often contradict each other or are really long winded and complicated to understand.

Is a bachelors degree required ?

What are the medical requirements to be an airline pilot ?

When you get your private pilots license and then your commercial license. Then how do you get an airline pilots license ?

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/131649-archive-reference-threads-posting-guidelines-read-before-you-post-question.html

BostonB

Its a bit meh not being able find this out. Kinda falling at the first hurdle so to speak. How about a summary of the basics.

You don't need any qualifications. But obviously airlines take the best people. So the better your CV is the better you're chances are. Same as any job.

You get PPL then a CPL then for the airlines you'll need a type rating on a particular aircraft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Pilot_Licence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Pilot_Licence

Airlines used to take people and train them from knowing nothing all the way through. And pay for everything. Like a cadetships. These days they also (mainly?) take direct entry where people have gone and got a lot of their training themselves, this is a direct entry. Its cheaper for the airline so much more common these day than it used to be. But every expensive for the person paying for it.

xflyer

You don't need any degree to become a pilot. Although generally it's requirment to get into major airlines in the USA even with pilot qualifications. Here in Europe generally all you need is money. But it's fair to say that in general pilots are well educated. Even when Aer Lingus sponsored cadets, the didn't ask for a degree. But as you can imagine having a degree wasn't exactly a disadvantage.

As for the medical requirements. Here's the CAA version. http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=68&gid=211

For the Airline pilot's licence, you won't get a job in an airline without having passed the ATPL written exams. After reaching 1500 hours and meeting the requirements and passing a check. You get the ATPL. Essentially you get the airline job first then the ATPL.

BostonB

Most of the pilots I know would be have great leaving certs at the minimum.

stevielenihan

I am a pilot with ryanair and I didnt do the junoir or leaving cert..

kub

stevielenihan wrote: »

I am a pilot with ryanair and I didnt do the junoir or leaving cert..

Then here i am thinking that in order that my own kids get decent jobs, at the very least they would need 3rd level qualifications.

Well done you

sparrowcar

stevielenihan wrote: »

I am a pilot with ryanair and I didnt do the junoir or leaving cert..

Thank God for air traffic controllers so :rolleyes:

kub

sparrowcar wrote: »

Thank God for air traffic controllers so :rolleyes:

Why is flying a plane a subject in secondary schools now?

Suits

You may get into Ryanair without the LC but progression onwards would be quite hard. Nowadays you dont want to spend a career at Ryanair if you are an up and coming young lad, you want to move on eventually and generally the larger carriers require you have a LC/A-Levels/Bac and so on...

phonypony

stevielenihan wrote: »

I am a pilot with ryanair and I didnt do the junoir or leaving cert..

Never did you any harm

xflyer

Suits wrote: »

You may get into Ryanair without the LC but progression onwards would be quite hard. Nowadays you dont want to spend a career at Ryanair if you are an up and coming young lad, you want to move on eventually and generally the larger carriers require you have a LC/A-Levels/Bac and so on...

Seriously? I would have thought they were more interested in your 5000 hours as a Captain, Multiple type ratings, IRE/TRE etc. Rather than the marks you got in Home Economics when you were 17 years old.

In my experience once past a certain point of your career in terms of qualifications and experience, what you did or didn't do in school is of no interest to any employer.

Suits

xflyer wrote: »

Seriously? I would have thought they were more interested in your 5000 hours as a Captain, Multiple type ratings, IRE/TRE etc. Rather than the marks you got in Home Economics when you were 17 years old.

In my experience once past a certain point of your career in terms of qualifications and experience, what you did or didn't do in school is of no interest to any employer.

Most major airlines have it as an employment minimum that you have the LC or equivalent regardless of experiance. EY and EK and even EI wont take anyone who hasnt completed "high school".

You only have to look at the recent EI cadetship to see how they valued many "irrelevant" Uni degrees over young guys with licences and private GA experiance, and that trend is very much carried through into their DE campaigns.

I've heard this asked about before at seminars etc and the reason stated my multiple airlines was that they want their pilots to be educated to a minimum standard and that is where the line is drawn(LC etc). Ryanair really want bodies to fly the planes and couldnt care less as long as you can do that.

xflyer

Cadetships are one thing. Later in your career it's all about your pilot qualifications. Sure they have a certain standard. But the argument is academic anyway because as a rule pilots are generally well educated and almost intelligent. Kind of goes with the territory.

Suits, you seem to have the impression that Ryanair take all comers. Not so. More than one applicant has been puzzled not to even receive a reply to their application.

Suits

xflyer wrote: »

Cadetships are one thing. Later in your career it's all about your pilot qualifications. Sure they have a certain standard. But the argument is academic anyway because as a rule pilots are generally well educated and almost intelligent. Kind of goes with the territory.

Suits, you seem to have the impression that Ryanair take all comers. Not so. More than one applicant has been puzzled not to even receive a reply to their application.

Generally they do want their pilots to have a LC.

And I know they dont take all comers, but they take more comers than your average airline...with a few less questions asked...and a lot less experaince...as policy!:D

xflyer

True, they are democratic like that. But they're ruthless, fail to meet the standard and you're out.

But most FR pilots I know are only there long enough to get what they need and move on. No illusions.

John_Mc

In fairness, I don't think there's any excuse for not completing your leaving cert in this day and age. It was a lot different years ago and that's why you hear of pilots without the LC or even JC done, but these days it's a minimum for most jobs.

To undertake such massive debts to go the pilot route is a big gamble and you would be absolutely stupid not to not do your LC given the many things that can take your licence off you. What would you do then to repay the debts? Your career options outside of aviation would be extremely limited without the most basic of certifications under your belt and so would the salary you could make.

ro95

Most companies will look for leaving cert

LeftBase

I had this discussion with a guy on the line not more than 3 hours ago. You can get hired with the JC or equivalent, however if there was an accident that was down to pilot error the airline would be quizzed over the pilots "lesser level of education" and that is something they do not want to chance.

Most guys with the drive, money and general "altogetherness" to be a pilot will most like have done the LC these days.

I can imagine you having to give a pretty cast iron reason for not doing the LC at interview.

Xpro

LeftBase wrote: »

I had this discussion with a guy on the line not more than 3 hours ago. You can get hired with the JC or equivalent, however if there was an accident that was down to pilot error the airline would be quizzed over the pilots "lesser level of education" and that is something they do not want to chance.

Most guys with the drive, money and general "altogetherness" to be a pilot will most like have done the LC these days.

I can imagine you having to give a pretty cast iron reason for not doing the LC at interview.

Any degree will definatelly be an advantage while looking out for jobs,looks good on your cv:) but going as far as saying that if in an accident they will look out for your education levels , i personaly would not believe in that. Its not as if you were flying an airliner with your PPL

Say i have a Bachelor degree in Biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences and something happend.
Its a degree that has absolutely nothing to do with aviation.

In the end its your licence,your atpl results,your ratings that make you a pilot. If you have all that, it means you have achieved something, as they are not given out for free nor obtained easily

LeftBase

Xpro wrote: »

Any degree will definatelly be an advantage while looking out for jobs,looks good on your cv:) but going as far as saying that if in an accident they will look out for your education levels , i personaly would not believe in that. Its not as if you were flying an airliner with your PPL

Say i have a Bachelor degree in Biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences and something happend.
Its a degree that has absolutely nothing to do with aviation.

In the end its your licence,your atpl results,your ratings that make you a pilot. If you have all that, it means you have achieved something, as they are not given out for free nor obtained easily

In the past economic or domestic reasons may have forced people out of school early. But if a 20-30yo rocked up now with no LC it would raise eyebrows as to why. They may have a good reason for it, however even the most "disadvantaged and uninterested" guy in the class nowadays at least sits the LC.

Be it the LC, GCSEs, or the Bac, they are the modern levels you are expected to have leaving school. Degrees are another thing, you may not need a degree(I dont have one), but I think in modern times you are expected to finish school if you want a high responsiblitu job like piloting a passenger jet. The LC develops you personally in the opinion of most companies in all industries.
When I was at interview and confirmed I had no college degree the response was "well at least we know this is what you want to do".

stevielenihan

Im pilot with Ryanair for 10 years and its a great job and I love it.

LeftBase

stevielenihan wrote: »

Im pilot with Ryanair for 10 years and its a great job and I love it.

Ryanair or Brookfield?

bluecode

My Ryanair friends like it mostly. Brookfield or not. If you have the right base. It's fine. If not you know it's a step on the road.

Leftbase, have you got a job yet?

LeftBase

bluecode wrote: »

My Ryanair friends like it mostly. Brookfield or not. If you have the right base. It's fine. If not you know it's a step on the road.

Leftbase, have you got a job yet?

I do

bluecode

Good man. You do have an a bit of an attitude. I like it but it's a bit strident. Either I know you or you work for someone I know. Either way you will have a career. Unlike one or two pilots I know. I'm about to to dispappoint someone.

LeftBase

bluecode wrote: »

Good man. You do have an a bit of an attitude. I like it but it's a bit strident. Either I know you or you work for someone I know. Either way you will have a career. Unlike one or two pilots I know. I'm about to to dispappoint someone.

Thank you....I think

bluecode

Leftbase, I know at least one pilot like you. You are pretty sure of yourself. This is not a negative for me. Cocky pilots are normal. I like cocky pilots.

I also like taking them down though. Bit of reality does help them live a bit longer.

Even good pilots need to be scared every now and then.

smurfjed

I also like taking them down though. Bit of reality does help them live a bit longer.

is this your concept of "teaching" ?

Smurfjed

bluecode

Merely one small aspect. Some younger pilots are a little overconfident. Think they're Skygods.:D Too sure of themselves. Needs reining in a bit. Particularly straight from flight school with little real world experience. A demonstration of how easy it is to get into trouble does them no harm. Particularly when they're going on to fly single pilot. As the saying goes: 'Better to learn from other people's mistakes because you won't live long enough to learn from your own.'

IngazZagni

@Smurfjed

I don't know what that post has to do with Bluecode's comment. It seems you formed your own opinion on what he is trying to achieve based on one of your own personal experiences. Sure these guys you describe exist but I think you are missing the point.

There are many in this industry with a cocky, borderline arrogant attitude to their job. They think they are the perfect driver, they don't need anyone to teach them more. These types are dangerous. There is a way of taking these guys down a notch without becoming a power tripper yourself.

In general , while a passenger might not agree with this comment, it is a good thing to "get a fright" every now and then. Complacency is your enemy.

stevielenihan

LeftBase wrote: »

Ryanair or Brookfield?

Im a Pilot with Ryanair At first I was the Co Pilot but then after a year or so I was promoted to Captain.

L1011

stevielenihan wrote: »

Im pilot with Ryanair for 10 years and its a great job and I love it.

You got a job as a pilot when you were 7?

(http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81595455)

cuterob

stevielenihan wrote: »

Im a Pilot with Ryanair At first I was the Co Pilot but then after a year or so I was promoted to Captain.

that was quick

LeftBase

stevielenihan wrote: »

Im a Pilot with Ryanair At first I was the Co Pilot but then after a year or so I was promoted to Captain.

No you weren't....

roadtohell

If you put your mind to it you can do anything. I left school when I was 15. Got into the ambulance service in the UK doing mickey mouse work. After a while of doing small courses I am now a Paramedic and going on to do some more advance stuff.

Keep the head down and work hard. It will pay off in the end

Peregrine

stevielenihan wrote: »

Im a Pilot with Ryanair At first I was the Co Pilot but then after a year or so I was promoted to Captain.

So you're saying Ryanair employed you?

Well that's new

And a year later you were promoted from FO to Captain?

Xpro

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

So you're saying Ryanair employed you?

Well that's new

And a year later you were promoted from FO to Captain?

What he means when you fly FSX you can promote yourself or you can be a captain straight away.

And you can pretend that Ryanair is your employer:D

stevielenihan

In Fact I am a pilot wiht Ryanair.

Xpro

stevielenihan wrote: »

In Fact I am a pilot wiht Ryanair.

What headset do ryanair use?

John_Mc

stevielenihan wrote: »

In Fact I am a pilot wiht Ryanair.

No you're not. You have serious grammar issues and failed to distinguish the fact that all Ryanair flight crew are contracted through Brookfield.

Please stop destroying this thread with your lies