FW advice please
Guest
Posts: n/a
FW advice please
Presently flying RW overseas but would like to return home. UK RW employment situation sounds bleak. Could anyone who has made the transition to airlines please advise on which companies to approach, age limits and FW hours required? Thank you.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Don't forget that to be of use/interest to the airlines you will NEED to have a minimum of ATPL exam passes in order to gain a multi crew type on your licence, as well as an IR. If you don't have multi-pilot time on a type acceptable to the CAA (76,332,61) as well, you will need to do an MCC (Multi Crew Cooperation) course at a cost of about £3500.
We've just seen a chap come straight out of the army into the RHS of a 737 with easyjet, on a TV documentary, so there may be hope. He looked a similar age to you.
PS. I gave your address to IJB, he said he'd be in touch.
------------------
Another day in paradise
We've just seen a chap come straight out of the army into the RHS of a 737 with easyjet, on a TV documentary, so there may be hope. He looked a similar age to you.
PS. I gave your address to IJB, he said he'd be in touch.
------------------
Another day in paradise
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks 212. I can sit the ATPL Nav papers over here, but will need to return to UK for IR, PerfA etc. With the exchange rate as it is, the expense, time and loss of income at my age is a concern, especially if there is little chance of employment. Just needed some advice from UK based readers who may have made the transition.
Guest
Posts: n/a
OOB, I think you may be better placed than you might think. Certainly no one will look at you without frozen ATPL IR and possibly a MCC, but some of the more sensible airlines will recognise your rotary experience for what it is, thousands of hours of top airmanship and consider your low FW hours accordingly.
Dont lose hope, youre certainly not too old. I know of others older and far less experienced than you who have made it into airlines.
Ex which Mil? Do you have contacts you can work because that is the surest way, otherwise be prepared for a long haul writing, phoning and networking.
And dont worry when blinkers-on Nigels dismiss you with the "helicopter hours dont count", you know they dont know what theyre talking about and you dont want to work for idiots like that anyway. If the form asks for flying hours tell them! If it asks for FW hours find a way of telling them about the rest!
Go for it, and good luck.
Nix Illigitime Carborundum.
Dont lose hope, youre certainly not too old. I know of others older and far less experienced than you who have made it into airlines.
Ex which Mil? Do you have contacts you can work because that is the surest way, otherwise be prepared for a long haul writing, phoning and networking.
And dont worry when blinkers-on Nigels dismiss you with the "helicopter hours dont count", you know they dont know what theyre talking about and you dont want to work for idiots like that anyway. If the form asks for flying hours tell them! If it asks for FW hours find a way of telling them about the rest!
Go for it, and good luck.
Nix Illigitime Carborundum.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mate don't knock it...
I am a currently serving mil rotary pilot. I have a whole load of mates who have left in the last 2/3 years and all of the ex-officers (No, I'm not predjudiced, and no I don't know why - better contacts?) have gone straight to jet jobs. One of my mates had 120 hrs FW and 10, I say again 10, hrs multi when he got a 737 job at GB who were the first company he applied to. Lots of ex Rotes at JMC too. I think the Jet charter/short haul mobs are very approachable in this respect. Even the recruiting dept of Virgin told me the other day that they occasionally take ex mil rotary types in their first outside job. Must get that ATPL pass though and the IR. It might be worth trying to speak to Alex Whittingham (Bristol Groundschool and he posts on here under his real name so you can probably look him up and get a number) - not only is he the guru of teaching you how to pass the exams (Navs, Techs and Perf A well worth every penny he charges) but you may be eligible for entry to the current (ie national and easier to pass...) scheme on the grounds that you are ex-mil - but time is very definately running out. Certainly worth a try. Oh and before you shell out £3K on an MCC course speak to the CAA. They are currently pontificating opver the possibility of rotary Hrs qualifying for MCC exemption. Ask for Tim Smith, I think, when you call FCL he knows the score and may be able to help.
Good luck. There are jobs out there somewhere...
I am a currently serving mil rotary pilot. I have a whole load of mates who have left in the last 2/3 years and all of the ex-officers (No, I'm not predjudiced, and no I don't know why - better contacts?) have gone straight to jet jobs. One of my mates had 120 hrs FW and 10, I say again 10, hrs multi when he got a 737 job at GB who were the first company he applied to. Lots of ex Rotes at JMC too. I think the Jet charter/short haul mobs are very approachable in this respect. Even the recruiting dept of Virgin told me the other day that they occasionally take ex mil rotary types in their first outside job. Must get that ATPL pass though and the IR. It might be worth trying to speak to Alex Whittingham (Bristol Groundschool and he posts on here under his real name so you can probably look him up and get a number) - not only is he the guru of teaching you how to pass the exams (Navs, Techs and Perf A well worth every penny he charges) but you may be eligible for entry to the current (ie national and easier to pass...) scheme on the grounds that you are ex-mil - but time is very definately running out. Certainly worth a try. Oh and before you shell out £3K on an MCC course speak to the CAA. They are currently pontificating opver the possibility of rotary Hrs qualifying for MCC exemption. Ask for Tim Smith, I think, when you call FCL he knows the score and may be able to help.
Good luck. There are jobs out there somewhere...
