Airliner World — September 2017

72 AIRLINER WORLD SEPTEMBER 2017

importantly I discovered a career in
aviation was not an impossible dream
but an attainable goal (although
admittedly somewhat convoluted).
At the time, I was just beginning a
three-year degree course and my
secondary education lacked the
appropriate grades to become a pilot –
I had some way to go before the hard
work was to really begin.
All manner of data was gathered over
the next few years. My shelves rapidly
filled with books and magazines, my
diary with names and numbers. I also
returned to school as a mature student,
retaking a GCSE in mathematics and
adding another in science to meet the
minimum qualifications required for
any prospective course.
With the exams approaching, I
started contacting airline training
organisations (ATOs) and discussing
experiences with pilot contacts (often
at the cost of dinner or drinks!).
Having weighed up my options I set
my sights on CTC Aviation (now L3
Airline Academy). It seemed to be the
most suitable ATO for me and I’d built
a good rapport with the staff who were
positive and encouraging.
My GCSEs passed and my application
accepted, it was time to attend an
assessment event. It was an intensive
day of tests, including maths, aptitude,
interview and a group exercise. I was
unsuccessful. I had failed on maths
and aptitude, but was invited back to
retake these elements at a later date.
On my return I was well aware this

was my last and final attempt to secure

a placement on CTC’s flagship ‘white

tail’ course. This time I passed the

aptitude section, but fell short again

on maths. I was disappointed but

not defeated...

Around a year later I applied again

but for another course, a Multi-Crew

Pilot Licence (MPL) programme oper-

ated in partnership with Virgin Atlantic

(also known as the ‘Future Flyers

Programme’). This was on the under-

standing that if I was successful in the

same assessments but did not achieve a

placement with Virgin, I would instead

be transferred to the original integrated

ATPL course and begin training.

A month before my assessment

day my mother passed away after a

short period of illness. She was my

only immediate relative and we were

incredibly close. I left home and

stayed with my partner Joanne for

some time and, with a great deal of

support and encouragement, I threw

myself into study for the big day. I did

not make it to Virgin, but I passed the

assessment – I was on my way!

Overcoming Doubt

It was at this point I realised just how

huge a change lay ahead. I was to

completely leap from a secure profes-

sion, sell my property and move my life

in its entirety into a full-time, fully resi-

dential student world. I couldn’t help

but feel apprehensive. I should high-

light my career within the ambulance

service was, for the most part, one I

loved. I almost fell into it by chance

having worked as a hospital porter and

it was a rather lateral way of moving up

the ranks. But as if often the case the

job changed from what I knew in the

The decision to a pursue

a career in aviation is

not without risk and

requires sizeable invest-

ment in time and money.

After successfully

completing ground

school in the UK, the

author is now undertak-

ing the initial phases of

flight training in Arizona.

The author embarked on

his pilot training at the

age of 39. He had spent

the previous 14 years

working for the ambu-

lance service and is a

qualified paramedic.