pilot

[plop1389]

Do I have to have perfect vision to be a pilot and is it a competitive industry?

[Buenchico]

You don't have to have absolutely perfect vision to be a commercial airline pilot but you must not suffer from colour blindness.

Getting sponsorship from an airline to pay for your training can be very difficult. Many airlines would expect you to obtain a Private Pilot's Licence before they would consider you for training. (Obtaining a PPL normally costs a minimum of �6000). Some people pay for their own commercial pilot's training but this costs around �60,000.

The educational requirements to get onto airline's sponsorship schemes vary between airlines but most companies would expect you to have good A-level grades in Maths and Physics plus good grades in at least 5 GCSE subjects (BA require a minimum of 7) including English.

The British Airline Pilots Association have an excellent PDF document which should answer most of your questions:
http://www.balpa.org/intranet/How-to-bec/How-t o-become-a-pilot.pdf

Chris

[parkesquay]

I would like to add (I was an Air Traffic Controller) that apart from anything else, being selected for pilot training is partly subject to supply and demand. In other words e.g.one could be the 20th best candidate but if this year only 15 are wanted then one wouldn't get selected.

I have a young friend(22) who has recently been accepted by a local regional airline but he had his PPL and ATPL licences plus all appropriate simulator time. However that has cost his parents some �60,000. He has put in a lot of hours and study time plus (his parents) a lot of money.

So although there are possible scholarships available they really are very competive and one would need more than just stating that one wishes to become a pilot.

Glamour job it is with good satisfaction and financial rewards but it requires a lot of pre training commitment. I hope this helps..