Expert: Hus Naji - 9/14/2009

Question
Hello, i'm 15 years old and in grade 10 .. i live in Qatar and im from Egypt .. i am getting very good grades and i know 2 languages .. i was wondering if there are any aviation school/university/course that will take me when im 16 years old and done with grade 10 .. i want to work in a good place like Qatar Airways or British Airways .. please i need your help, i only want to know if there is somewhere that takes 16 year old tenth graders .. and if there is a place, please tell me ??

Answer
Hi,

I'm just about to move to Qatar actually!

There is a commercial training school in Jordan and think they are starting up a flying school in Qatar or the Emirates; can't remember which one.

You have to be aware that airlines will not pay for any of the training these days and will cost from scratch to fully qualified about will cost about $120,000. Banks do offer special loans for pilot training or you will have to pay fro it yourself.

First thing to do though is do a Class 1 Medical Test cause the last thing you want to do is pay for all the training but fail your medical...it has happened before!

You also want to get a European JAR license and not the American FAA one as airlines prefer the European license.

Best school is Oxford Aviation in the UK: http://www.oaa.com/ If you send them an email for age requirements & pricing. Do the Integrated route (its a full time course & airlines prefer this).

RE age, to hold a PPL you have to be 16yrs or over. Not sure about the commercial but it takes 18 months or more to get qualified.

More info about becoming a pilot: www.justplanecrazy.co.uk , click on the 'Pilot' tab on the left hand side.

Hope that helps. Best of luck

Hussein

www.JustPlaneCrazy.co.uk