| Airline experience: |
yes |
| Corporate or fractional experience: |
no |
| Cargo experience: |
yes |
| Military, government, or law enforcement experience: |
no |
| Mentor profile: |
Began flying using MS Flight Simulator 4 and when old enough managed to get a flying scholarship with the Royal Air Force. I paid for the remainder of my private license myself using student loans.
Following University and having gained a good degree in a computer based subject I went to Florida to build hours ready for my commercial course. Unfortunately I failed the written course and missed the old UK system so ended up being one of the first people put through the European licensing system.
I was awarded a partial sponsorship with my current company in June 2000 and persuaded the bank to put up most of the cash with my parents funding the shortfall. I gained my full JAR CPL/IR in August 2001 but unfortunately there were no jobs available.
The events of 9/11 compounded the lack of flying jobs so I spent 14 months working in the operations dept until finally getting a place on a type rating course in April 2002. It would appear the gods had my number and I had a major motorbike accident in March 02 (the day my course was confirmed) which meant I missed my course so I spent yet more time in ops until finally getting a place on the F27 in October 2002.
After a year on the F27 I was moved to Leeds in Yorkshire to fly the B737-300 for the low cost airline arm of the company. This was a superb aircraft and really great fun but I started to get itchy feet after 2 years and when the company bought B757's I had to move so here I am flying the 757 in and out of one of the most challenging airfields in the UK.
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| Favorite thing about flying: |
| The fact that someone pays me to go play with a really big toy and that I can be secure in the knowledge that my office has a far better view than any of my friends |
| Disadvatages of being a pilot: |
The hours can be lousy and the rosters demand a lot of sitting around doing nothing
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| What you would have done different: |
| Nothing, I think I have gained so much experience in my career so far I think I\'d even have the motorbike accident again if it hadn\'t hurt so much! |
| Advice to aspiring pilots: |
| Keep flogging on and get to where you want to be, if you want it bad enough, you\'ll get it! |
| Problems encounterd along the way: |
The financial issue is big but as I have said if you want it bad enough you'll find a way. The hardest thing for me has been the written course which was 12 months of hell and unfortunately you just have to buckle down and do it!!
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