Introduction
It can seem like an impossible task on knowing the first steps to take towards achieving your goal. Part One was an overview of the whole process and what to expect.
This post will cover the most important options and considerations for taking the first steps towards becoming an airline pilot. This post is targeting towards the modular route, but much of the information applies to the integrated route too.
Please note, the information in this blog is directed for European EASA and UK CAA licences. The process for FAA and other licences around the world are different.
Prerequisites
Many would be surprised to know that you don't need any formal education to become a pilot. However, while not technically required, many airlines do as for qualifications such as Maths and English, with some even asking for a university degree. Having a university degree is certainly an advantage for your initial application to an airline, but it can also be a backup in case becoming an airline pilot doesn't work out.
In my opinion, I would highly recommend having some kind of backup career in mind. That doesn't mean you need a university degree, but you should have some kind of training or experience that you can fall back on. This can be for a number of reasons including health, financial concerns or even, as we have recently seen, the condition of the aviation market.
Your training will involve maths, physics and mechanics, so making sure you have a solid educational foundation will help you along the way.
You should also have a stable financial situation. The training won't be cheap, so planning your expenses beforehand is a good idea.
Another consideration is health. An airline pilot must be able to hold a Class one medical certificate which has requirements for eyesight, hearing and general health. Glasses are in most cases OK! This is a concern a lot of people have, but we will cover more on this later.
Trial Flight
All flight schools offer a kind of trial flight. This is more of an experience than a flying lesson. Trial flights are a great way to experience flight from the pilot's perspective and can give you an idea of what to expect which is a cramped space, smell of fuel and depending on the school, sometimes 40-year-old planes. But you can also experience the sensation of flight and the controls of the plane and amazing views of the area.
Trial flights are not mandatory for starting your training and cost around £150 for a flight of 30 to 60 minutes. However, they are well worth doing as it can help you see if flying is right for you or not without having to pay for a club membership, equipment or paying for a course upfront.
Choosing a Flight School
You need to choose where you are going to do your private pilot licence training (PPL). This is not the same school you have to do the rest of your training at. You will be doing a minimum of 45 hours to achieve the PPL, although for most people it can take 50 or 60 hours or even more depending on when your instructor recommends you for the final flight exam.
There are a lot of factors to consider. First would be location. If you are fortunate to live near to an airfield with a flying school, then you will be able to save a lot on travel expenses and time going to and from the airport. As well as financially, learning near to your home has the practical benefit of being able to fly on short notice if there is a free slot or be able to cancel because of weather at short notice. Living further away is not a huge problem.
I myself started flying at a school around 1h 15m away from my home. This meant at times, if I had a morning flight I would drive down to the school, but by the time I got there the weather had deteriorated and my lesson had to be cancelled without me being able to call ahead before I set off.
Living closer means you can call, say half an hour before your flight, to confirm if everything is good to go. Also, a lesson doesn't take up a larger portion of your day.
You should also consider not only the cost, but what you are getting for that cost. You might find a school that has a very cheap price, but maybe they are heavily booked or have only a few planes. That can leave you waiting sometimes weeks or even months to book in a lesson, especially if your flights end up being cancelled due to weather. The best way to gauge a flight school is not their website or promotional material, but getting in touch with current or former students and see what they have to say.
Getting a Medical
As discussed earlier, a Class One medical is required for a commercial pilot licence. But for your PPL, you only need a Class Two, which has less strict requirements and is much cheaper.
The cost of the Class One should be considered carefully. The initial exam can cost more than £500 in many countries. However, it can also be done for much less depending on where you do it. The Class One will need to be revalidated once a year for it to be valid (under 60 years old in most cases). This is much cheaper and you have a wider range of aviation medical examiners that can perform the revalidation, where as only a few can perform the initial exam.
The requirements for the issue of the medical can be found in the EASA Easy Access Rules, which are not so easy to access. It might be worth using the word search function in your web browser to look for any condition that you know you already have to see if that will limit you going forward.
The Class Two medical remains valid for five years. What you may want to do is get the Class One initial exam out of the way so that you know you are able to hold it before you spend all the money on your PPL. Then after a year, if you don't revalidate it, you will still have the benefits of a Class Two medical, meaning you can complete your PPL. You can then do a renewal of your Class One before you get your Commercial Pilot Licence.
Conclusion
In summary, there is much to do before you start your course. Don't just pick the cheapest or nicest looking flight school, go for a trial flight to get an idea of what flight in a light aircraft is like, check you will meet the medical requirements and consider getting either a class two medical or even a class one to be absolutely sure you can continue onto commercial flight training and most importantly, make sure you have a backup plan!
Next time we will cover the PPL and what to expect throughout your training. From start to finish.
About The Author
Humzah Sharif - "I am a qualified commercial pilot that finished my training just as the Covid-19 Pandemic hit Europe. I started my training at 18 alongside my university studies and have done my training around Europe, mostly in the UK and Poland, while navigating the issue of Brexit. Since then I have been working on maintaining my ratings and skills while I try to find an opportunity to achieve my goal of finding employment as a pilot.
Currently I am working at Flightpath Training as a Marketing and Communications Assistant, which has given me a chance to stay connected to the industry while it recovers."
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