JAFO wrote:I was never sure that commercial flying would have been right for me but then I saw a post by someone who'd just landed their first job with Trans Maldivian Airways. Maybe I was wrong.
On my honeymoon in the Maldives a number of years ago the thought did cross my mind! Half an hour prior my wife fancied the view from the control tower at Malé Airport, would have been a win-win situation. Then we had the worst week of sand flies and even the locals said it was the worst they had experienced in a fair while. Needless to say we gave up on the idea of looking at the conversion of my FAA CPL/IR and her ATCO licence.
Sea-planes seem to catch my imagination, more so than I had thought, really enjoyed flying as a passenger on Twin Otters in British Columbia. Amazing time. I really should get around to going to Jack Brown's one day...
@Elfida: Although you are a youngster at only fifteen, I would suggest obtaining a Class 1 medical and at least you will know if you can pursue your dream of flying commercially later in life, be it for the airlines, corporate jets, aircraft ferrying, commercial instructing, whatever takes your fancy.
At your age the Class 1 medical will be valid for a year but after the year will downgrade to a Class 2 medical for a further four years. You would need to renew the Class 1 when you're 20 or if you start commercial training before then (to make sure you're still fit enough before spending an awful lot of money). A Class 2 medical is good for learning to fly (PPL) and private flying thereafter.
An initial Class 1 medical is involved and is quite expensive but at least you'll know if you are able to hold a Class 1 medical. Thereafter you will find your renewals will be cheaper and can be done with an AME who is able to examine for Class 1 medicals.
The initial has to be taken at an Aeromedical Centre of which there are three in the UK, a list of which can be found at the link below:
https://www.caa.co.uk/Commercial-industry/Pilot-licences/Medical/Apply-for-a-Class-1-medical-certificate/#aemcsIf you decide to just get a Class 2 for the time being you can go to any Aeromedical Examiner, a list can be found at the link below:
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=21With regards to A Levels, I didn't take any. Instead I did a City & Guilds in Programming (C++ and COBOL back then) and went onto University to study Software Engineering. I did struggle a little with Principles of Flight but really enjoyed Flight Planning, Meteorology and General Navigation during my CPL exams. My day job isn't flying but I do have a USA FAA CPL/IR and a UK CAA PPL and am about to do my Flight Instructor course to instruct part-time (mainly on weekends).