I've quit!

[Conure]

Well, I finally did it...I've got some savings as as I'm still young(ish) and living with mummy, I have decided to put my money into flying. Also, I've got a part time job close to my home so I can fund my training. Anyway..My plan is, 4 days a week at a job and 2 days flying, with 80% of my income going toward flying qualifications...I know it seems a bit OTT to have such a sudden change of career but it's something I've been passionate about my whole life.

 

So, now I've justified my impulsive actions (mainly to myself and to be justified to my girlfriend later this evening) I am looking for advice.

 

Basically, it'll take a few years training to start as a paid instructor, and there are numerous ground school exams..to any pilots out there, how hot will my mathematics need to be? Basically, I am useless at maths and as such will need to practise - how much is used in general light aviation?

 

Secondly...Is there any software (i.e fsx etc) that will realistically improve or support my real world flying? even if it just supports my theory and ground school..

 

Any advice appreciated, as long as it doesn't tell me to call my boss and beg for my old office job back...

 

Cheers all,

 

Con

[GhostDog]

Go to school and become "useful" with maths, as you won't get very far in aviation without solid math skills. Or join the UK equivalent of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and become a RAF pilot on graduation. Or learn a trade, move out, and find out how much it will cost you as an independent adult with poor math skills to work 4 days a week while you dedicate all your spare time and money to learning to fly. Take your pick.

[Conure]

Go to school and become "useful" with maths, as you won't get very far in aviation without solid math skills. Or join the UK equivalent of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and become a RAF pilot on graduation. Or learn a trade, move out, and find out how much it will cost you as an independent adult with poor math skills to work 4 days a week while you dedicate all your spare time and money to learning to fly. Take your pick.

 

I can't join the RAF because I don't have the eyesight, I cannot go up in a military aircraft solo. So that's entirely out of the question...Not too sure what the rest of your post meant?? As for maths, I was really just curious about what level I would need to pass exams..

Edited February 28, 2011 by Conure

[Rusty_M]

Kudos, congratulations and a little bit of jealousy from me!

 

It's something I'd love to do, and I'm thinking about putting 25% of my money towards it once I'm married. That should hopefully get me one hour of lessons per week. Although I'd have to do it whilst holding down a full time job. Currently I'm on a front desk banking position, with little to no hope of internal promotion (hence the jealousy).

 

I wish you all the best Conure.

[RogueRunner]

Secondly...Is there any software (i.e fsx etc) that will realistically improve or support my real world flying? even if it just supports my theory and ground school..

 

Any advice appreciated, as long as it doesn't tell me to call my boss and beg for my old office job back...

 

 

FSX will actually teach you some bad habits which you will have to UNLEARN once you get into the real aircraft. It's good as a systems trainer though.

 

Over here, South Africa, if you shake a tree a comm pilot drops out of it so the market here is completely saturated. Donno the situation in your neck of the woods however :thumbup: It's a lovely way to make a living if you have the passion for it and can progress up the foodchain relatively quickly also.

 

Your math is not a big problem but mental arithmetic can help immensely later on when you start doing IF training.

[hassata]

Awesome. Don't worry about the math. There are many like you (err, us lol) around. The instructor's have tricks for the stuff you need to do on the fly, and there are pocket computers and slide rules for the prep work. FSX is decent, but when you transition to VFR flying, you need to remember to keep your head out the window much more and not rely on the instruments. Love of the thing is the most important, and you obviously have that.

 

Good luck!

[dsobbe]

Well, I finally did it...I've got some savings as as I'm still young(ish) and living with mummy, I have decided to put my money into flying. Also, I've got a part time job close to my home so I can fund my training. Anyway..My plan is, 4 days a week at a job and 2 days flying, with 80% of my income going toward flying qualifications...I know it seems a bit OTT to have such a sudden change of career but it's something I've been passionate about my whole life.

 

So, now I've justified my impulsive actions (mainly to myself and to be justified to my girlfriend later this evening) I am looking for advice.

 

Basically, it'll take a few years training to start as a paid instructor, and there are numerous ground school exams..to any pilots out there, how hot will my mathematics need to be? Basically, I am useless at maths and as such will need to practise - how much is used in general light aviation?

 

Secondly...Is there any software (i.e fsx etc) that will realistically improve or support my real world flying? even if it just supports my theory and ground school..

 

Any advice appreciated, as long as it doesn't tell me to call my boss and beg for my old office job back...

 

Cheers all,

 

Con

 

You have the same concerns as myself when I started out 35 years ago. I almost failed high school math, but became an instrument flight instructor with a commercial pilots license (U.S.) and thousands of hours of flight time. All you need are basic math skills to solve the most common time, speed, distance and rate problems. Good training will teach you how to easily solve them and you will most likely have a calculator of some sort to aid in planning. This isn't rocket science.

Concentrating your learning into a continuous effort is a wise choice. That way you will retain acquired knowledge and learned skills much better. Good basic training is critically important to your becoming a safe and competent pilot. Make an effort to find a flight school, or instructor, that uses a training syllabus that meets the minimum standards set by the governing bodies in your country. Find one with a track record for turning out safe pilots.

Keep in mind that any sim is a training aid and can't duplicate all of the characteristics of the real thing.

They are a better class room than the cockpit. For example, they're very useful for learning basic instrument and cockpit procedures and navigation skills prior to getting into an airplane. As far as a specific recommendation on a simulator for basic training, as bad as the airplanes fly in MS Flight Simulator it's presentation of instrumentation and navigation is good and you can pick up the basics. I would strongly recommend that you use it under the guidance of a flight instructor so as not too pick up bad habits that you will have to unlearn at a later date.

Go for it. You will meet people, have experiences and find opportunities that you would never encounter anywhere else in life. And who knows, you may even make a few bucks. Maybe.

[GhostDog]

I can't join the RAF because I don't have the eyesight, I cannot go up in a military aircraft solo. So that's entirely out of the question...Not too sure what the rest of your post meant?? As for maths, I was really just curious about what level I would need to pass exams..

 

It was the father in me coming out. Carry on. :pilotfly:

[yuhan11020]

I spend so much time last to be a aircraft designer

[Pyroflash]

Good luck with it, I started my training a little more than a year ago flying once a week for two hours(took a couple months off for college), and I plan on finishing my flight training this semester and hopping into the Air Force when I graduate. And I am not the best at math either. Actually, your Whiz-Wheel/E6B Flight Computer is a really handy tool that has many time saving functions which pertain to fuel, distance, and time and requires 0 math whatsoever to use. Or if you are like me you could be even lazier and get an electronic flight computer app for your IPhone at around $10.

 

At any rate though, flying is a really awesome thing to do as long as you don't care too much about money, and I hope you have fun in your lessons. The most important thing though is to pay attention to your instructors, and if you have any questions about your plane, flying, weather, or even the map, do not hesitate to ask him/her. A good pilot is a knowledgeable pilot, a knowledgeable pilot is a safe pilot, and a safe pilot isn't a dead pilot.

[pyates2104]

Oh dear....I think you'll find you're still living with your mum in 15 years time.

 

Basically if you manage to get your CPL (or frozen ATPL), and thats going to cost around 50k! you'll still find it very hard to get a descent paid flying job without a lot of hours on type. The good money is with large operators on long hall, and even then you won't be any where near 6 figures until your a Captain. You won't get a look in with the big carriers unless you ether a) ex military or b) you get on one of their apprenticeship schemes. (which usually require a degree and are hotly contested)

Actually you may find that some ATPL's actually pay for the privilege of a type rating and work for free! So you end up paying "Them" 30k for a 737 type rating and flying for them free for a year.

 

If you prepared to live like a student and have no money, just for the love of flying then good luck to you.

[pyates2104]

Oh dear....I think you'll find you're still living with your mum in 15 years time.

 

Basically if you manage to get your CPL (or frozen ATPL), and thats going to cost around 50k! you'll still find it very hard to get a descent paid flying job without a lot of hours on type. The good money is with large operators on long hall, and even then you won't be any where near 6 figures until your a Captain. You won't get a look in with the big carriers unless you ether a) ex military or b) you get on one of their apprenticeship schemes. (which usually require a degree and are hotly contested)

Actually you may find that some ATPL's actually pay for the privilege of a type rating and work for free! So you end up paying "Them" 30k for a 737 type rating and flying for them free for a year.

 

If you prepared to live like a student and have no money, just for the love of flying then good luck to you.

 

 

P.S I'm not bitter at all:smilewink:

[Groove]

Hi, may i ask which airline you flew for?