Historically, airlines paid for an individual’s training, but now the expectation is that the aspiring pilot must bear the burden of cost, while being rewarded with ever-diminishing salaries in real terms, once inflation has been taken into consideration, yet with the same enormous responsibility. We have seen a string of personal bankruptcies amongst new graduate cadets, some of whom we believe have been treated badly by employers eager to cut costs and even to make training a revenue stream in its own right.
There are many publications outlining the training path and qualifications required to become a pilot; what we felt was missing was the inside story – what does it really take, what are the problems and challenges, and what are the pitfalls to avoid along the way? We have solicited assistance from a large number of graduates who have shared their experiences with us, and we hope this video and booklet will provide every aspiring pilot and their families with additional guidance and a more complete understanding of what they are embarking on before they commit huge amounts of time, energy and money.