Pilot training in Ireland.

damo · 10-12-2006 05:46PM

cianr wrote:

I just finished training recently with Flight Training Europe in Spain. Ive just been offered a job in the UK. Its a lot of money but its a good investment in the long term - check out the Pilots Job Network for an indication.

Congrats on the job Cian, I hope i find one that quick after training!

jimi_t · 10-12-2006 08:50PM

Friend of mine is over in North Bay, Canada at the moment training for a commercial licence. He did a lot of research and he said it was the cheapest and the easiest to transfer the licence over to Europe (or something along those lines). It's costing him something like 40k for the year (euro)

MojoMaker · 11-12-2006 12:33AM

Where can you / who said you could get a CPL for 5k? Sign me up (again), lol

The beauty about the integrated path is that it's all spoonfed to you, easier for the ones with poor study discipline - you also complete it in a faster time. However you carry a much larger debt and you don't get the chance to hour build in interesting locations, which is all part of the experience.

Treating PTC (or anywhere else) as a shortcut to the airlines would be a mistake. If you're not into the actual flying you're wasting your time signing up. Two mates of mine spent the money in Jerez and found out a couple of years later that airline work was unbelievably mind-numbingly regimented and boring. Airline pilots these days are treated like little more than operators and are at the absolute mercy of their employer. I'd recommend you spend at least a week reading as many threads as you can on pprune - you might find it a real eye opener.

However, the good news is that outside of airlines there are satisfying careers in the flying game, but you've got to love the flying. If you don't then don't even consider becoming a pilot. If you only think you do then don't consider becoming a pilot. If you don't have a backup career (not just a random degree) then don't consider becoming a pilot. It ain't the 60s anymore.

TempestSabre · 11-12-2006 02:25AM

I don't really go with the "..its not worth doing unless you love it..." or the "..you're only a drone..."

You could say that about majority of the jobs people have. They don't get paid pilots wages though. Yes its tough starting out, but most jobs are. The main difference is that since direct entry cadet ships have all but gone, its very expensive to get qualified. I know quite a few pilots and the rewards are definitely there.

Sam_irl · 11-12-2006 02:28AM

You should try and get apprenticeship with an airline for pilot. Most small airlines like private jets with hiring options of cessenas and learjets are best to start with. Call private companies in Shannon, Dublin and smaller airports around Ireland too.

ArphaRima · 11-12-2006 07:13AM

Oxford and Jerez are good places to start. I think if you seriously want to work for an airline(where you will make good money), then avoid unknowns. Train where airlines send their cadets(Aer Lingus, British Airways, British Midland, SAS, Finnair, etc.). It helps to train the way they train too, ie ab-initio, not distant learning or modular. It is a job involving a lot of snobbery to begin with, especially for the flag carriers.

Also, stay away from small jobs like crop-spraying, parachute jumping etc, even if you are broke. It will work against you if you apply to any of the non-low fares or national airlines. They see it as experience in what not to do in an airliner.

Above all train in a recognised school, pass your exams, and do it in a timely fashion. Rich kids who pass on their 10th attempt get no decent jobs.

The other guy trained with Aer Lingus, but after September 11, they told the trainees that, although they felt obliged to complete their training, that no jobs would be available on qualification. He ended up flying short haul BA 146's and the like around the far east, with a Vietnamese airline.

I have a feeling that you have quite a few different people and stories badly mixed up there. I know people who fly in Vietnam, fly/flew BAE 146's and were let go from Aer Lingus temporarily (they are being re-hired right now), but nobody who had it all happen.

If you've any questions you can PM me.

hunnymonster · 11-12-2006 08:27AM

OP, why do waterford send you to Florida for ground school? Surely it would be more important to be there when you are actually flying and need dependable weather?

I assume the 5k in Italy was for a private license?

Be careful if you choose the Africa or USA route. To fly in europe you'll need a JAA license.

A couple of posters have promoted the modular route. If you choose this, you hould be aware that all other things being equal, the airlines will not choose you.

damo · 11-12-2006 09:46AM

hunnymonster: PTC send you to Florida where you receive your JAA PPL & 150 structured flying hours + lots of groundschool.

cianr · 11-12-2006 01:53PM

Congrats on the job Cian, I hope i find one that quick after training!

Thanks Damo! Send me a pm when you finish training and Ill let you know if I know of anything going - half these jobs dont seem to be widely advertised!

Plug · 11-12-2006 02:28PM

damo wrote:

I'm training with PTC waterford starting from January and i gotta say a couple of things about the 75k price tag:

1/ It includes flights and accommodation to Florida where for the first 10 weeks of the course you spend training at the Flight Safety Academy (FSA) in Vero Beach. FSA is considered the finest FTO in America.

2/ It includes your accommodation for your entire time spent (over a year) in Waterford.

3/ It includes your headset(expensive) and training manuals

Taking all these into consideration plus PTCs reputation for a high standard of flight instruction it is a competitive price.

How many hours will I have to fly before I actually become a fully quailified commerical pilot? Is that included in the 13 months in Waterford, thats were I was thinking of doing it. Also what are these lot? PPL & 150 structured flying hours.
Thanks in advance;)

goldwing · 11-12-2006 09:25PM

sdonn_1 wrote:

Just be aware that a Class One medical is rather...invasive

why do u say dat?

pclancy · 11-12-2006 10:40PM

I dont know personally how many hours you'll need but the way they say structured house building probably means during the course you complete the required number of hours needed for each licence. PPL is private pilots licence and I do know you need 40+ for that, CPL and ATPL must be way more but it looks like thats part of the course according to their site.

Why not just give em a buz if you're serious about it and need to know more.

CyberGhost · 12-12-2006 02:10AM

Hey what about the Army? if you join the army to become an army pilot, do you still have to pay that insane amount of money?

Plus flying military jets/helis beats the hell out of flying passenger crap.

TempestSabre · 12-12-2006 02:34AM

The army doesn't have multi engined aircraft does it?

il gatto · 12-12-2006 05:41AM

The Air Corps have Kingair which are twin engined turboprops, as well as the goverment jets.
fluffer, I may be mistaken on the aircraft in question, but I was using it as an example of the class he started flying, as opposed to the other guy, who flew ATR 42's and Fokker F50's. The friend who works in Vietnam told me the story as I recounted it, when he was home last summer. I have no reason to doubt him as I've known him for fifteen years, but he may not have gone into all the details, and he may still be in contact with Aer Lingus. Having said that, he qualified five years ago, and never spent a single hour in the cockpit of an Aer Lingus aircraft. As Meatloaf said, two outta three ain't bad.

TempestSabre · 13-12-2006 01:50AM

The Air Corps Support the Army. The Army doesn't have aircraft of its own does it? I don't know I'm only asking.

il gatto · 13-12-2006 04:41AM

The Air Corps are the army. They are just a Corps, like other armies have armoured corps or medical corps etc.

pclancy · 13-12-2006 10:22AM

From their website....

THE AIR CORPS MISSION

To contribute to the security of the State by providing for the Military Air Defence of its territorial integrity and to fulfill all roles assigned by Government through the deployment of a well motivated and effective Air Corps.

INTRODUCTION

The Air Corps is the Air Component of the Defence Forces and it has its legal basis in Para 18 of the Defence acts 1954 to 1987. Since its was formed in 1922 is has undergone many changes structurally and technologically. It is partly due to the requirement to stay abreast of the new technologies in aircraft, but also due to the increasing range and diversity of missions which the Air Corps is tasked.

PRIMARY ROLES OF THE AIR CORPS

In Support of the Army

In Support of the Naval Service

In Aid to the Civil Power

SECONDARY ROLES OF THE AIR CORPS

Aid to the Civil Community

To sum up- they support and they aid

Not really much of a threat to anyone when we dont have any combat jets or properly armed aircraft but then again why bother with that seeing as we dont exactly have anyone threatening us and have defence agreements with NATO and the RAF

Let them waste billions on warplanes...

cianr · 13-12-2006 12:02PM

If you are thinking of going down the military route (it used to be 9 years full time, followed by 3 part time) then you should check out this forum.

Plug · 13-12-2006 02:12PM

cianr wrote:

If you are thinking of going down the military route (it used to be 9 years full time, followed by 3 part time) then you should check out this forum.

No I was hoping to do the PTC, much shorter. Any info on that?

TempestSabre · 13-12-2006 06:33PM

il gatto wrote:

The Air Corps are the army. They are just a Corps, like other armies have armoured corps or medical corps etc.

I don't think so. Is it not a defence force, not an army.

The Irish Defence Forces
The Defence Forces consist of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF).

The PDF includes the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps.

The Reserve Defence Force comprises the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve....

http://www.military.ie/introduction/index.html

il gatto · 14-12-2006 07:27AM

Consider me corrected. I'd forgotten the level of separation.

TempestSabre · 14-12-2006 09:58AM

I wasn't sure did some of it come under the army directly.

ajaibm · 25-07-2012 03:53AM

hi,did u get pilot licence ?

B.A._Baracus · 25-07-2012 04:44AM

How come a pilots license is so expensive?

I have never heard about what a pilot takes home each week. So knowing the cost of training, these guys must be on mental money.

fortwilliam · 25-07-2012 04:50AM

About 28-35k believe it or not !

More of a vocation than a career.

B.A._Baracus · 25-07-2012 04:53AM

fortwilliam wrote: »

About 28-35k believe it or not !

More of a vocation than a career.

Thats insane!
Knowing the costs of gaining that skill.

ajaibm · 27-07-2012 03:29AM

i passed pilot aptitude assessment and they give me scholarship £10,000 but where i can get other £49,000?:)

Oat23 · 27-07-2012 04:06AM

AH was very different in 2006. Everyone on page 1 was helpful and kind.

There were no witty jokes either.

pclancy · 27-07-2012 04:12AM

We do have a forum for this, full of pilots and aviation nerds....

Clicky linky in sticky...

Pilot training in Ireland.

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