Commercial pilot qualifications. Help!

[TSR 2 1]

My son is 14 and wants to be a commercial pilot, he is currently choosing his Options at school and apart from the Maths, English and Science is thinking about doing, Geography, Spanish, Computing and possible History.

Are these good choices?

Also they have asked them to think about University courses, what would be best for him to take and how can he acheive to be a pilot.

He is also with the Air Cadets.

Any help would be great its a minefield out there and I am baffled. I also want him to make the right choice for his career.

Thanks.

[allardjd 1,853]

I'm not too familiar with what's offered there, but suspect anything in the pre-engineering line would be valuable - anything in the "hard" sciences (physics, chemistry, etc) and ALL the math he can find to take. Geography is certainly useful. English is vital, particularly any writing courses. Those with great ideas who cannot communicate them effectively in writing are doomed to suffer obscurity and frustration. Ditto speech courses. "Computing" may be useful, depending upon what the course content really is. Some of that is fluff - if solid, it's worth having. On the technical side, anything in the electrical and electronics field is likely to be useful and viewed as a plus by potential employers. Keep in mind that flying is a technical endeavor and preparing for it should lean in that direction.

A smattering of accounting is always a plus. In entry level jobs it's not important, but is a plus toward promotability later in one's career, when being responsible for money and budgets is often part and parcel of it.

For what it's worth, there are worse places to learn to fly and build some hours than the military. I believe you are a military family already, so hopefully have a leg up on that. Researching what is required for entry into a military flying career and punching those tickets is not a bad way to go, even if he doesn't actually join. Getting the kind of education necessary to meet their entry requirements is probably a good plan.

John

[rob16584 42]

Check the EasyJet and Thomson cadet schemes (if they still run). When I was looking a few years back it had all the info on there as to what you needed etc.. From memory I think that they wanted 3 A Levels A-C and the usual GCSE passes. The courses are very hard to get onto, but the site should have all the info you need. I did email them a few times with questions and always received a prompt and useful response

[mutley 4,495]

Hi Julia, I am not sure how old you have to be to get in here http://www.oaa.com/ but it is a very well respected place.

You can download their skills directory here http://www.oaa.com/pages/training_courses/ab_initio/order_skills_directory/index.php

Hope this helps, you can never start too soon!

Cheers

[TSR 2 1]

Thanks for all the help, at least now he knows what he is up against.

[mutley 4,495]

Thanks for all the help, at least now he knows what he is up against.

Yep, A lot of hard work and studying but look at the rewards.

Go for it Eddie!

[The red barron 41]

Had parents evening on Thursday and not to bad but TSR 2 may dissagree

I am looking into drama for the confidence as that is what a few of them said and putting history as a reserve.

[allardjd 1,853]

Drama vs. History -> choose History.

John