I live in the UK. To achieve my ATPL I’ll need 1,500 hours, when I actually qualify I’ll have a CPL, but this is referred to as a ‘Frozen’ ATPL. It is unfrozen when you reach 1,500.

In many respects I’m coming into the UK industry at the right time. However much they are detested Ryanair and to some extent EasyJet are both hiring very young pilots straight out of flight school. I’m most probably going to either Oxford Air Training (one of Europe’s best!!! :)) or Cabair, both have connections with the locos, although of course this doesn’t guarentee a job. Whatever I end up flying whether it be a 747-400 or a Jetstream 41 I’ll be happy!

The reason that Loco’s over here are taking on such young pilots (I’ll only be 19 and 8 months when I qualify) is that they are very felxible to the airlines needs. As I will have very few commitments I’ll be able to move around a lot and be relocated without too many problems.

However much people don’t like them, airlines like Ryanair are an excellent opportunity for young pilots like myself, with them I have the chance of being in the Left Hand seat by the age of 24! To me I see this as a stepping stone on to better things, and that will probably mean moving back into the right hand seat, but it seems worth it.

The pay’s not bad either 😀

I’m starting my ATPL training in August this year. Most likely end up with one of the loco’s.

Everytime I seem to fly out of T4 at LHR a plane seems to be crossing. Everyone else is always grumbling, but I always sit happily watching them cross the road at their plodding pace! 🙂

The landing gear on the 717 is nearer the front of the aircraft. Generally 717s look like shrunk down versions of the MD series…at that’s because they are! 🙂

The flightplans and aircraft are uploaded at http://www.projectai.com and are now available for download!