Expert: Paul Ruderham - 1/3/2005

Question
What education and training do i need to become a pilot?

Answer
Hi Michael,

You will have to get top grades in english, maths, and science for starters. Then there are two routes to go. You will have to get your ppl (privates pilots licence) which will cost you around £5000 in the uk. Then all the ratings such as night flying, instruments, etc. When you have done this you will have to gain a minimum amount of hours to even apply to companies for a job. There are a lot of people out there doing this and its very expensive.

The other way is to apply to the airlines directly, who, if you are lucky will train you from scratch over two years and pay for it all. Then IF... they offer you a job they deduct the cost of your training over a certain amount of time from your salary. British airways do this, so do british midland.
Write to all of the airlines and you will get a reply stating what they require. My son did this and had a reply from all of the ones he wrote to.

Good Luck.
PR