Example Rosters (Jet2,Tui, WhizzAir, etc)
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They’ll have had seven years of constant holds and being totally mucked about to now perhaps be ready to do a real front line tour. In their 30s, the mess life has worn off, and despite the investment and sacrifices, are making less than a day 1 FO at any of the above discussed carriers.
Drag out military flying for another decade to get 1500 hours and maybe an ATPL on the side and still only half way to a commercial command. One that 20 somethings fly about with having done only five years of flying.
Different worlds, but once it’s set in stone the airline path is for you it just needs to be done, every year remaining in the military is a year spent spent not as a top scale training captain down the line.
Drag out military flying for another decade to get 1500 hours and maybe an ATPL on the side and still only half way to a commercial command. One that 20 somethings fly about with having done only five years of flying.
Different worlds, but once it’s set in stone the airline path is for you it just needs to be done, every year remaining in the military is a year spent spent not as a top scale training captain down the line.
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Unless it’s changed in the last few years, initial pilot Return of Service was 6 years from end of OCU, so I’m doubtful you’ve completed it having served 7 years in total. Most of your time has been in training, so you haven’t really given back. Not being sanctimonious; that’s just how it is. Either way, I wish you all the best.
In terms of money, there are some good opportunities - I'm making around treble what I left a few years ago. A couple of things I found along the way; in terms of 'ephemeral leadership' in the Armed Forces, these are people with months of CLM training at Cranwell / Halton / Shrivenham. In the civilian world you will be working under managers with literally zero days of leadership training, and for some people it clearly shows. In terms of protection under the law and unions, European aviation is a mess and you're not really protected in many organisations despite who or what should be on your side.
Good luck.
Good luck.
In terms of money, there are some good opportunities - I'm making around treble what I left a few years ago. A couple of things I found along the way; in terms of 'ephemeral leadership' in the Armed Forces, these are people with months of CLM training at Cranwell / Halton / Shrivenham. In the civilian world you will be working under managers with literally zero days of leadership training, and for some people it clearly shows. In terms of protection under the law and unions, European aviation is a mess and you're not really protected in many organisations despite who or what should be on your side.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Don’t quite follow your view that the military has better leaders (I think that’s what you’re implying). The gene pool for service leaders is disgustingly small. Anyone properly good would be working for Accenture on multiples more than an air rank would be on. Heck, there are low cost captains in their 20s making similar to what an Air Vice-Marshal makes, to eat snacks in a straight line to Lanzarote and back. You end up with the backwash of the military establishment running the show.
Ironic that on Remembrance Day, you’ve missed the point that those who serve in the Armed Forces have foregone much higher salaries elsewhere to serve the nation.
Was giving my personal experience of leadership in and out of the Armed Forces as the OP states that as a reason for leaving. Of course we will all have differing experiences, and your mileage may vary as they say.
Was giving my personal experience of leadership in and out of the Armed Forces as the OP states that as a reason for leaving. Of course we will all have differing experiences, and your mileage may vary as they say.
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Was never the plan, thought I'd be in for life for the first few years. Read previous posts on this thread for context. Anyway I'm done with justifying my choices to strangers on the internet now, hopefully this can get back on track with example rosters/useful information to people thinking of making the transition.
