Expert: Ray Wilkinson - 2/4/2009

Question
sir,  iam  doing  my  1st  year  aeronautical  engineering,ater that  i  would  like  to  enter  to  pilot  training  course,how  to  apply for  that?

Answer
Hi Afiz

Assuming you are in the UK - if you are elsewhere then the situation may be slightly different, but the same principles apply. I'm also assuming you haven't got the vast amount of money needed to pay for the training yourself ;-)

There are two main options - military or civil. For the military, you need to apply to the RAF or Navy, for entry as a pilot. If you are accepted, all you need to do is perform well enough to stay on the course. Of course, competition is very high, so you need to have something to lift you above your competitors. Read on...

For civil, you can apply to an airline to train you. Pilot's are in demand, but trainee pilots are expensive and can't do the job yet, so again competition is very fierce, and you need to offer something.

The main point to remember when applying is that the organisation you are expecting to train you wants to know what's in it for them (not you). If you want to succeed ahead of all those other wannabees, you have to offer something more than they can. The organisation wants to hear something like, 'all I've ever wanted to do was to fly. I've worked every hour I can to get the money to fly, and I've spent all the money and more, and managed to get 35 hours in my log book.' What they don't want to hear is that you woke up yesterday morning and thought that a job as a pilot might be a good laugh.

The final point is that a good degree in aerospace is a selling point, but you need more than that to succeed. It will be hard work to find someone to train you, but worthwhile if that's your dream.

Good luck, and I wish you success.