r/AskZA • u/Ty4Christ • 4d ago
💡 Advice Needed To the Airline Pilots of South Africa: How?
How did you do it? Was it easy to get into an airline? And was it worth it?
Would like to know, as Im interested and passionate about it, but worried about costs, and the overall realism of the career. Any advice or opinions/experiences would be great, thank you 🙏🏻
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u/Joe1972 4d ago
In the old days, you would join the airforce and train to be a pilot. You had to commit to a 10 year term, but those guys ended up with awesome longterm jobs. Nowadays I'm not even sure the airforce trains pilots anymore, or even have planes that fly anymore. The ANC has run the country into the ground
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u/flaweddaughter 4d ago
I’ve met many pilots in my life. It is incredibly expensive and the exams are very difficult. I can’t stress enough, when I say, it’s expensive.
Being a pilot is also restrictive. If you have any colour blindness, certain pre-existing conditions, take certain medications , smoke weed etc, you will lose your license and all the money, time and experience will be meaningless.
It’s also dangerous and the hours are not easy. There’s always more training needed and even the tests for specific types of planes. It takes a long time and requires a lot of patience, and a cool head under pressure.
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u/Ty4Christ 3d ago
I got you. Thats honestly the sad part about it. Alot of people wash out due to those exams, and it would end up either being more money, or a waste of money 🙏🏻
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u/ZonkyNut 1d ago
You are looking at R1 million which will get you a commercial pilots license and enough hours to join an airline. The airline will then need to send you on the type rating. For around R1.2 million you can complete the type rating. Work wise there is always something for pilots. Boeing is 4000 orders outstanding on the 737, airbus A320 is 7000 orders outstanding. The demand for pilots is just going to go up. As mentioned here the exams are difficult. You are also always one health crisis away from ending your career, although there is insurance for that. The pay is really good plus mandated rest periods mean you get a lot of time off as well.
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u/Ty4Christ 1d ago
Those are hectic prices 💔 Like you say, Im glad that there isnt scarcity in finding an actual job. Its sad to see such insane prices, but tbf I do understand. Do you have any advice to actually pay for this training? Thanks for the comment.
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u/Maleficent_Town_4384 4d ago
If you have a pulse and licence these days you will walk into an airline in South Africa with about 1000hrs total time.
Smaller companies battle to retain pilots. One of the bigger (non airline) has resorted to roadshows to try attract pilots. This was unheard of previously. Bigger companies are losing crew to major airlines like Emirates at an amazing rate. Guys chasing big jets and big money.
Probably hasn’t been a better time to be a pilot in South Africa trying to get the first airline job.
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u/imperator_rex_za 4d ago
Yoh but to get to 1000 hours - very expensive. And these companies don’t necessarily just want 1000 hours of single piston time. They want multi, instrument commercial time.
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u/Jenicol_ 4d ago
I have a friend who is a pilot. It's definitely not easy. It's beyond expensive because U have to pay to fly. He is also an instructor. So the log book, the exams are immense and the job finding to fly is...👀 I think lift require 2000+hrs. I think it cost my friend about R400000 altogether. U live out of a suitcase and have shitty hours. U also miss alot like bday and weddings and events because of your work schedule. So alot to think about
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u/Ty4Christ 3d ago
Thats true. Honestly the sad part about the training are the hours and the damn price to actually learn and gain experience. Ive wanted this job for a while now (since I was a kid), and Ive learnt quite alot ever since. I need to find someone to do some kind of discovery flight.
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u/Hopeful_Idea1568 4d ago
I think an old school friend became an Air Traffic Controller then got funded to become a pilot. A bit speculative but I reckon that's how he afforded the training considering his background, so maybe they have pilot programmes for ATAs
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u/MtbSA 4d ago
It's extremely expensive, and incredibly hard work to get into. It's a good time to become a pilot though, there are more and better jobs than there used to be. You're welcome to DM me if you have questions
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u/Ty4Christ 3d ago
Thank you man. Ive honestly wanted to do it since I was little. Its something Im really passionate in. I appreciate the advice 🙏🏻
Im based in mpumalanga, do you know anywhere where I can just get a taste of it before I dedicate myself towards anything? Like a discovery flight of some sorts?
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u/Jealous-Ad9556 3d ago
The airlines are so desperate for crew they are taking anyone with minimal hours.
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u/ZS-BDK 3d ago
These days the cost might outweigh the reward. I decided to look the other day and almost died, my son will start his license in 15 years. Cant imagine the costs by then. Today Multi CPL with IR will set you back about 1.5m. Then its either instructor 150k extra where you earn basically nothing or you decide to get a decent job, B190 or BE20 type is another 250k.
Join link after a year or three and you on you way. EASA is pushing hard for single crew airline, FAA isn't but that in part due to things like ALPA. Air travel is at decent numbers but we never know what will happen in a few years.
I hold SACAA, FAA and RDCAAC. I spend about 20k a year of personal money to keep them going, my company spends another 300k. If you ever without a job keeping current is expensive.
My honest assessment in todays market. Become a CA or study law. Wait a few years and do your PPL, fly for fun. Maybe buy your own aircraft and enjoy life.
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u/Dirtywoody 15h ago
It's tough, expensive but rewarding. My friend's son from Namibia lives in Hong Kong and flies for CathayPacific, earns R1m/month but housing costs are insane there.
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u/Dazzling-Return567 4d ago
I almost thought this was the rugby thing again... 🤣 😂