The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

Growler!!! wrote: »

Was that the EI flight where they levelled off quickly and caused negative g in the aft galley?

http://avherald.com/h?article=455911f9&opt=0

Its hard to imagine that enough negative G could be generated in a descending level off to break an ankle. From +1.7 to +0.8, not sure where the G meters are on that aircraft but I would assume the forces were amplified near the rear bulkhead.

Interesting read all the same.

Growler!!! wrote: »

Was that the EI flight where they levelled off quickly and caused negative g in the aft galley?

http://avherald.com/h?article=455911f9&opt=0

Don't believe Locker10a is in EI, but the scenario above is used quite a bit I can confirm.

Locker10a wrote: »

The incident we studied in recurrent is this one
http://avherald.com/h?article=479b8497

What it doesn't mention in the article is that when the crew member with the broken hip was being rushed to hospital after landing in Rome, the ambulance in which she was travelling in was involved in a road accident! I know! Its like a lost script from father ted!! :P Luckily she has made a full recovery!

Having spent some time in that neck of the woods over the years, nothing would surprised me on the roads around Rome...:rolleyes:

Growler!!! wrote: »

Either am I, it was an example from our SEP course that's why I remember it;)

Major focus well last Summer anyway was the JetBlue incident at Long Beach. Engine failure after takeoff, smoke in cabin, oxy deployed as a result of smoke in the cabin (although not a SOP), improper communication (Capt using a code-word over the PA to CC) all leading to an un-commanded evac and of course injuries.

Seems to have eclipsed the improper control input a few years back!

I laughed when i read this.....

It looks like the 1,500 hours of flying planes doesn't just get you a pilot licence, it also gets you more right-swipes on Tinder.
Tinder just released the 15 most right-swiped jobs in the US and found male pilots and female physical therapists were at the top of the list.

America here I come

What is the best way to pay for flight training? Save over 10-15 years or get a loan?if you get a loan and are looking for a job after the training how do you pay it back? Thanks protog777

azure wrote: »

Yes... But I was looking for specific info eg; which bank and if these loans are hard to get.

No bank will give you 100k unless you're willing to secure it with a mortgage against a property. I would strongly advise against taking any loans whatsoever and keep your costs down. Aviation requires a bucket full of patience and hard work. Get a degree, get a reasonably well paid job and combine training with work.

People look at the costs and assume that this is a once off payment that you have to pay today and you get your licence in the post the tomorrow.. that's not how it works - you start off with a PPL, it will take you some 6 months (depending on your work flexibility and million other factors) and will cost you some 10k.. so roughly you will need some 1700 eur a month to cover this. Don't have the money? No problem, just stretch your training to a level at which you can afford it. Once you have the PPL, you need to do 3 things - ATPL theory (3k), Night Rating (1k) and hour building (after PPL you will need about 100h).

How you do your hour building is up to you - some people go to Florida, others rent in their local clubs.. It looks like very few people are considering this but - you can buy a Piper Colt or similar for around 10k, get those 100h out of it and sell it for the very same 10k. So realistically your hour building can cost you anywhere between 5k if you're smart to 25k if you have rich parents.. all 3 things will take you about 1.5 to 2 years to complete. Surely you don't need a loan to cover some 500 eur a month expenses on training?

Now once you have all the bits done, it's some 2 to 2.5 years since you started, hopefully at this point your day job is doing well and you have gotten a raise and I hope you have been saving too, because the remaining bit is to get your CPL/ME/IR done which typically costs around 30k + extra few k for your MMC/JOC.. again multiple options are available - obviously it's best to take time off work and do it in 2 months or so, but you can stretch it to a certain extent.. This is the bit where you can take a SMALL loan if you feel it will help you get things done quicker and help you save on commute costs or other expenses.

so all and all you don't need a 100k mortgage with ridiculous monthly repayments and APRs, you can get a it done for just around 45-50k. The simple fact is many guys who spend 100k+ on their training often simply cant afford to kick off their careers - their only option is to hope that a big shiny jet legacy airline will offer them a position - they can't afford to work for a smaller/regional operator simply because the salary won't cover the monthly repayment. Don't make the same mistake and don't join the army of unemployables

Carnacalla wrote: »

Is there many vacancies for pilots? I assume the bigger airlines such as BA and EI are sought after jobs, but for the likes of FR and STK, is it hard to get a job if your trained?

FR announced they will need 600ish pilots in next 2 years - look at plane orders and it will tell you how the recruitment drive is going. FR/STK/BA - pretty good. EI - not so much

Easy Jet is another sought after company with orders in well over hundred.. those seats need filling.. however - and this is important - only FR and to some extent STK will offer a job to a 200h pilot with 0 hours on type unless you're coming from their cadet scheme. For everyone else you typically need about 1500h + some 500h on type before they will even look at you. To fulfill these requirements you will need to work a couple of years in airlines/places that will probably not be on your bucket list for a salary that will barely keep you alive. This is why it is so important not to get into debts

pepe the prawn wrote: »

With regard to salaries that will barely keep you alive, I don't think that's a fair comment. This isn't 2011 and the industry (or at least the bulk of it) is beginning to recognise and address the demand vs supply anomaly by offering preferred bases, better salaries and better conditions.

good news if true, yet looking at offers that are out there for a 0 hour pilots it looks like one can be considered lucky to get on a position with some 20k-ish starting salary which is then subject to your 30k type-rating bond

Does it make any difference to your job opportunities if you do integrated or modular training to be a pilot? If not why doesn't everybody do modular because it's cheaper and you can complete it at your own pace?

protog777 wrote: »

Does it make any difference to your job opportunities if you do integrated or modular training to be a pilot? If not why doesn't everybody do modular because it's cheaper and you can complete it at your own pace?

Have a look on YouTube at Mentour Pilot's channel, he's a training captain with Ryanair and offers great insight into the industry and what is expected of pilots, both new and seasoned. Some great info to be gained from watching his videos.

pepe the prawn wrote: »

It's my understanding that most airlines operate a system whereby one pilot will fly for example ORK to LHR and the other pilot fly the return journey. My question is, if the FO is flying a leg and the weather at the destination airport is tricky, is there a point where the captain takes over or is it a case that once the FO is pilot flying then the ship is his/hers to land?

The Captain is the senior pilot and is in command of the aircraft at all times.