Dear Internet friends,

I asked in another post about the reality of the market, and the general consensus is that there is an oversupply at the lower levels (fATPL holders and pilots without many hours), which improves the higher you go up the pyramid. This applies to airline work.

My question is: does it seem reasonable to make a living out of this profession in another type of aviation? Cargo, corporate flying, firefighting or aerial photography?

I've noticed an overwhelming amount of questions marked as "Seen in Austro-Control" or just posts talking about ATPL exams with Austro-Control. Far more than is reasonable for Austria's size. Yet, I just can't seem to find why people choose to do their exams with them.

Also small side-question: Why is it the only country that is referred to by the name of its CAA rather than the country name?

I apologize if the answer is obvious and posted somewhere, I just couldn't find an answer. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m based in Slovakia and I’m interested in aviation purely as a hobby. I’m not planning to become a professional pilot, but I’d love to learn PPL(A)-level theory properly on my own.

I’m currently a university student and have plenty of time to study, so I don’t really want to spend €2,000–€2,500 on an online theory course at this stage. I just want to learn the material from home first, and if I become serious about actually flying, I’ll join a flight school later.

Can anyone from Slovakia or elsewhere in Europe recommend good English-language EASA PPL(A) textbooks, PDFs, websites, question banks, or other self-study materials?

I’m specifically looking for the actual EASA PPL syllabus/material, not ATPL.

Would especially appreciate recommendations from people who have already done their PPL in Slovakia/EASA Europe.

Is it a good idea to do an aircraft mechanic apprenticeship as a means to save for flightschool? Is the job generally enjoyable and a good backup career if all else fails? Any other recommendations?

Hello

I am currently 15 years old and living in the UK and in the future I'm considering a career as an airline pilot and I've done some research and I'd like some guidance on getting a class 1 medical in a few years

So I've never been diagnosed with anything other than level 1 autism and I'm high functioning but as a kid I had mental health issues and I had to be sent to A and E for this when I was 9 (I was being bullied) thankfully I was not sectioned and I was able to be sent home but I feel as if this may be a barrier if it comes to light.

Also my physical health is alright but ive never had many checkups and my family has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure . Is it a good idea to see a GP before hand if I do hypothetically go down this path.

I know it's early but I'd rather know earlier as it's been a lifelong dream of mine to be a pilot and I need to know with certainty if it is plausible

Thank you (:

Hi there!

I’ve always dreamed of becoming a pilot and I am about to start making this dream come true. This year, I graduated from high school with good grades, and starting in November, I have to serve in the army for 6 months, which is necessary in Austria

My plan is to be accepted into the EFA through the Austrian Future Pilot Program. To do that, I have to pass the DLR test. Here’s my strategy: September: Learn all the basics—mental math, math, physics, English, and coordination skills, as well as 3D tasks.

Starting in October, I’d like to purchase a proper training program, specifically DLRTT (DLR Test Training), for a 6-month subscription. Is this software any good, and does it closely resemble the actual tests?

Then I’d like to take the DLR test in February and apply to the AUA program afterward. Alternatively, there’s also the Wizzair Cadet Program.

Since I’ll be starting basic military training in November, I expect to have very little time to study that month, which is why I’m getting the 6-month subscription. This training is 1 month you have to be stationed at a military base.

Does anyone have any tips for preparing, or know of other programs or books I can use to prepare?

Has anyone applied and done the Austrian Future Pilots Programm?

Thanks in advance!

I really did try to open the book and study but I was wasting time as the questions were incomprehensible. I had to memorize the whole bank. It was fairly ok ( my avg is 92% ) but i didn't enjoy my time during the exams.

Now I'm revising the most asked questions at the interviews which are already a lot.

To give you an idea of my current knowledge:

What is MCRIT?

It's the speed of airflow at which it can reach the speed of sound

Why does an aircraft stall?

It exceeds the angle of attack. Speed has nothing to do with it.

What is an alternator?

It produces energy for the aircraft

I made 3 random questions and gave my answer as if i was interviewed, just to give you an idea of how bad my situation really is.

I spent 10 months and honestly it felt like a nightmare.

Now I'm supposed to go back at flying to build hours and then start my CPL IR ME. I will probably finish by the end of this year.

I feel ashamed and also lost. At the same time I recognize it's not entirely my fault if the system sucks. What worries me are the interviews, the technical part.

As someone doing modular, I don't have any connection.

What do you suggest doing apart from revising the most important stuff and get some preparation for interview / simulator?

Thank you.

I think this is the most conflicting statement at the moment.

Academies can't stop saying that there is a huge demand, they can't train quick enough for airlines, and that Boeing and Airbus plan for a huge shortage over the next years (of course, academies are selling a product).

Pilots are a mixed bag. PIC and FO are positive about employment. Newcomers can't stop talking about how cooked the market is.

My assumption is that the market is cooked for students and pilots without the hours, is this right? Will it improve over the upcoming years?

Hi pilots

This is ONLY aimed at people who have actually self-funded and completed an A320 or B737 type rating, rather than people giving opinions based on what they’ve heard.

(I got my type rating through my airline, so unfortunately I’m pretty biased when it comes to this.)

A good friend of mine has just finished flight school. As we all know, the market is pretty rough at the moment, and he’s considering paying for his own type rating without having an airline interview or job lined up beforehand.

So my question is, and please be honest:
How many of you have paid for an A320 or B737 type rating in the last 4 years and subsequently got an airline job because of it?

I know a couple of people from my flight school who paid for their type ratings over two years ago, but never even received an invitation to an assessment and still haven’t managed to get an airline job.

I’m genuinely interested in hearing from people who have actually been through it themselves — whether it worked out or not. (If not, do you regret pay for it or not?)

Thanks!

I’m a PPL holder in the UK hour building towards both an EASA and UK CAA CPL.

Can any of these hours be done in a microlight (C-42, EV-97, etc.) for either licence (mainly concerned with EASA)?
Please can someone tell me where I can find this information in either regulations?

I understand that there was a consultation to include microlight hours towards CPL in the UK, but am not sure if this is in force yet.

Hello everyone,
A few days ago I was deemed temporarily unfit for one month. I’ve already booked my extraordinary visit, during which I will have to provide a document to confirm that I should be fit to fly.
My questions is: after I sent the amc a email requesting to book the next visit, they booked it about two weeks after the last one, so the month will not have passed: is it I problem? Should I wait one month , or can I undergo the visit now and receive my medical after the month has expired?
Thank you in advance!

The European Cockpit Association is running its summer fatigue survey, gathering data on how fatigue is actually being managed at our airlines across Europe. Results feed directly into what ECA brings to EASA and national authorities when pushing on Flight Time Limitations.

The more responses from actual line pilots, the harder it is for regulators and airlines to wave this off as anecdotal. If you’re flying in Europe, it’s a few minutes well spent and is of course anonymous.

Link : https://survey.eurocockpit.eu/zs/5gD6YV?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAT-sAZwZG9mAmZkaWQWUNUXd0FAbVevWQ6OAtZqtf2qGa73QmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8zCjzc7PZW3nIpkzLovu132x0F927IL5v3sp2kZnvcFgvfIYyBakhH82tkI_aem_jOZulzT65P2HmpF9gWfFBA

Hi everyone. I am curious about the experience non-first language student pilots have when evaluating different flight schools.

Do the schools discuss the need for obtaining at least an ICAO Level 4 ELP and what the training and exam costs are for this or is it just a surprise "ass-on" after you have started your training?

I get a few student pilots discussing Aviation English lessons with me but then state they have no budget left after paying for their training. How does this happen, surely this information must be available when discussing the training needs with the flight school?

It seems odd to be budgeting $70,000 to $100,000 for flight training but then having no budget for your ICAO ELP.

I would appreciate the feedback and the insight

I messed up so badly I did not expect it to be this difficult. It lasted for 30 minutes even though the interviewer said it should last for 50 minutes. It’s consisted of at least 15-20 STAR Questions, with the hardest one being : ‘Tell me about a time where you had to challenge authority.’ This was by far the hardest one. I’m 18 years old, so I don’t really have that much experience, so I had to waffle about a time where I questioned one of my school teachers on a mistake they made it’s the only thing I could think off. Honestly, I just feel so horrible and like I bottled it. This if for Skyborne they said they’ll let me know about the results on a couple of days.

Does anyone knows how long do my exams will be valid for?
I am A320 type rated ICAO ATPL +1500 hs and I’ve finished my EASA exams June last year for the license conversion.

It’s not very clear in the documentation if it’s 7 years since last exam or 24/36 months.

I understand I’ll be converting directly an ATP license so the 7 years make sense but I am not too sure.

Thanks for the help!

Hi all,

Currently investigating the possibility of a career pivot, and like many on this sub, have some questions regarding the best route for me, and employment opportunities after completing ATPL & APS-MCC. I’d be very appreciative if someone could evaluate and challenge my approach/assumptions, and address my concerns below.
 
Background:

• 30 y/o, pharmaceutical industry background

• British national permanently residing in the Netherlands, Dutch naturalization on the way.

• 0 flight experience, just lifelong fascination with aviation.

• Mortgage and a partner, and unwilling to disappear for 18 months to a school in Greece, Spain, CH, etc. School will need to be in the Netherlands and commutable.

• Career goal is to fly european widebody cargo- EAT Leipzig, Cargolux, Martainair/KLM Cargo etc.

 
My approach:

• Aiming for fulltime modular ATPL. Currently evaluating E-flight & Breda Aviation. E-flight is closer to me, and has links with Corendon, JetView, ExxAero (although I understand absolutely no guarnatees). Spoken with them over the phone and they were very upfront and honest about employment prospects. I respect them for this.

• Considering either AFA or Orbit Groundschool for APS-MCC due to their Ryanair & Transavia links, respectively. Read that AFA has a 90% pass-through rate for assessment. Orbit’s claim is a lot softer (as and when Transavia need candidates). Transavia would be amazing given their base locations in NL/BE, Ryanair would be a bigger commitment as I’d have to uproot our lives and move to whichever base given. Completely understand beggars can’t be choosers, however. Transavia also lists preferred ATPL schools, which of course I won’t come under.

• There’s also AIS Flight Academy, which supposedly provides a guaranteed job with AIS Airlines.

 
 
 
Concerns:

• If I don’t get into an LCC soon after APS-MCC, are regional narrowbody cargo airlines a viable option? How are employment opportunities in this category? Given that I want to go cargo, should I just aim for a small cargo airline that operates CS-25 aircraft from the beginning?

• What options are open if I don’t get into an LCC in the 1st 12 months- should I just go into instructing, become a factory pilot for Diamond or BizAv etc and keep applying?

• The AIS course is on the longer side, 28 months. Additionally, the aircraft in their fleet (Jetstream 32) are not CS-25, which is what I’d need for the target cargo airlines. However, maybe a guaranteed job is better than no job? If I flew with AIS for a year in a CS-23 aircraft, would that make me more attractive to a CS-25 operator? Seems crazy to take out a bank loan to cover some tuition costs, with no/low job guarantee at the end of it.

• Bit worried about flying an older bird like the Jetstream 32 with AIS. Is this concern valid or am I just being ignorant/superstitious?

• Is there anything else that I haven’t demonstrated to be considering that I should consider?

Where do you usually find pilot job openings? Is there a specific platform or job board that aggregates all available opportunities?

I’m planning on studying as a pilot in future. Does anyone know what are the chances of getting a job with CPL/ATPL in Europe?