Hi,not really PMDG related, but still I think it's best to ask this here as I know here are a few real life airlinepilots reading.Well here's my current situation:I really want to become a real life airlinepilot, but I'm not sure if I'm really qualified for it.Here's just a little information from what you could give me advices weather I'm good enough or not.Currently I'm going to the 11th class on a german highschool. My last grade point average was 2.3 (here in germany 1 is best and 6 worst).Also I'm about to get my real PPL-C (glider pilot license). My intensive courses are physics and history, my other 2 abi courses are english and maths.Could anyone of you real life pilots out there tell me weather this is good enough to have a serious chance to become an airline pilot, or if I need to get better?I would be very glad to get your opinions. If you need more information just ask and I'll do my best to provide you everything necessary for a good judgement.

Hi,not really PMDG related, but still I think it's best to ask this here as I know here are a few real life airlinepilots reading.Well here's my current situation:I really want to become a real life airlinepilot, but I'm not sure if I'm really qualified for it.Here's just a little information from what you could give me advices weather I'm good enough or not.Currently I'm going to the 11th class on a german highschool. My last grade point average was 2.3 (here in germany 1 is best and 6 worst).Also I'm about to get my real PPL-C (glider pilot license). My intensive courses are physics and history, my other 2 abi courses are english and maths.Could anyone of you real life pilots out there tell me weather this is good enough to have a serious chance to become an airline pilot, or if I need to get better?I would be very glad to get your opinions. If you need more information just ask and I'll do my best to provide you everything necessary for a good judgement.

-Here in the US, just about any Bachelor's degree and the right ratings/time will land you an airline job. That is, just focus on the GPA and being accepted into a four year college.-Affording the flight training ($50-$60,000 PSEL to ATPMEL) is usually the issue folks around here run into. Student loans, family loans, working your butt off can get you through that obstacle.-After that, you need time in your logbook. I decided flight instructing and pipeline patrol was the most enjoyable route for me. Others hate instructing, I believe it's a right of passage.-So just about any B.A./B.S. and money for the flight training. Will you be training in Germany or are the States an option?

I found having a decent foundation in english, math and physics helped during ground school; however, as Zach mentions, it doesn't really matter what degree you take as it's more about your experience and whether you're a suitable candidate for a job. However, of all the people in my flight school class, I found the person with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering did best and understood most concepts immediately, whereas the rest of us had to knuckle down and learn the hard way. It also might be beneficial because your employment is already within the industry, so you might open some doors others can't see.;) Of course, in recent times it is also quite hard to break through if you're a low-hours pilot, because there were/are a lot of furloughed pilots waiting to come back to the game. Although I hear from friends that it is picking up again and they're being hired back on in the last year or so. As far as instructing, I know that most people see it as a right of passage as Zach mentions, however having had a couple == I am an idiot! == instructors who were there just to hours build and not help me out, I feel that the best instructors were the ones who had dedicated themselves to instructing after spending a career flying. Just my two cents on that, neither Zach or myself are right or wrong, they're merely opinions. As a mil pilot, I didn't get to do the hours building in the civilian way, which is a shame in some ways. But if I had done it that way, pipeline patrol would be my first choice followed by traffic patrol as you get to learn some good skills in both those areas, that regular flying doesn't produce, but will somewhat help you once you graduate to the big iron. Route and time management flying pipeline inspection and dense airspace while manning multiple radios while flying traffic. Good luck with your endeavors!

you are lucky to be in Germany. apply at Lufthansa and Air Berlin. they both have their own training program. all you need is the abitur in order to apply (grades or leistungskurse don't matter - at least not when i applied in the 90's). at least at LH not sure about AB. these are two of the best starts into a pilot career that you can find on this planet. i mean, who else has a job pretty much lined up before doing the first training flight?!back in the day when i started AB wasn't around and LH didn't want me because i didn't fit their personality profile. today i teach students to fly myself and guess where: at the same airport that LH does their initial training in Arizona. but for a different school. life is funny sometimes.viel glueck.

mate, good luck with this. just remember that it costs a lot of money and not everyone gets to the LHS of a shiny A380. The risk of losing your license due to failing a medical is always there (or even a checkride multiple times).If you are really serious, I suggest you go check out the PPRune forum (Professional Pilots Rumour Network) and do a search for 'wannabe pilots', grab a coffee or popcorn and start reading. There's a thread there about 10 years old and filled with thousands upon thousands of young wannabe pilots like yourself.me? I decided at 34 to change careers to become a commercial pilot after a very successful career in accounting (yeah not the greatest). however, baby #3 came along which made me change from going full time to just going for my PPLs and to fly for myself when I can. The $180k salary I get at (now) 35 is a bit hard to justify giving up esp when you realise it really is a looooooooong hard slog to get there. I did get accepted into the Jetstar cadet program here in Aust but having to cough up $150k then be stuck in the RHS of an A320 for 5 years at $45k whilst I pay off my A320 rating whilst living in Melb just doesn't appeal.Anyway, good luck. May you find what you're looking for. But I do recommend the PPRuNe forums. Just ignore the b/s and whining.

mate, good luck with this. just remember that it costs a lot of money and not everyone gets to the LHS of a shiny A380. The risk of losing your license due to failing a medical is always there (or even a checkride multiple times).If you are really serious, I suggest you go check out the PPRune forum (Professional Pilots Rumour Network) and do a search for 'wannabe pilots', grab a coffee or popcorn and start reading. There's a thread there about 10 years old and filled with thousands upon thousands of young wannabe pilots like yourself.me? I decided at 34 to change careers to become a commercial pilot after a very successful career in accounting (yeah not the greatest). however, baby #3 came along which made me change from going full time to just going for my PPLs and to fly for myself when I can. The $180k salary I get at (now) 35 is a bit hard to justify giving up esp when you realise it really is a looooooooong hard slog to get there. I did get accepted into the Jetstar cadet program here in Aust but having to cough up $150k then be stuck in the RHS of an A320 for 5 years at $45k whilst I pay off my A320 rating whilst living in Melb just doesn't appeal.Anyway, good luck. May you find what you're looking for. But I do recommend the PPRuNe forums. Just ignore the b/s and whining.

Not to change topics, but I gotta for a second. $180k a year and you would contemplate switching careers (rather late I might add) to one of the most cyclical industries there is? My friend, you should have the money to get your PPL, Instrument, and buy your own aircraft... A nice one.

yeah mate...at 34, I had a bit of a 'mid life crisis' ie. deciding what I wanted to do. Always wanted to fly and so decided to pack it in (I'll always be an accountant...something you can't unlearn! lol) and give that a go...family were supportive. However baby #3 changed that as per above.Again, I did it because I wanted to know I gave it a try...not 40 years time regretting that I didn't do it. I guess its the old 'regret something you did, or something you didn't do' scenario and I'm happier for it.I still have the option - have a class 1 medical and passed a few exams prior to GFPT but thats it for now....I no longer have the 'itch', if you know what I mean. However, I have quite a few mates who are current pilots and, whilst they love it, there are aspects of it that they don't like. But thats the same for any job I guess. Shame whats happening to Qantas at the moment - puts things in perspective.Anyway, good luck with the flying. LIke they say, you gotta be in it to win it! Just make sure you have some sort of backup plan in case things fall through (youth is a good backup plan!).

Most schools have their own tests you shall pass before they will let you in. And I Can tell you that Lufthansas test is one of the hardest in the world. Along side of Cathy Pacific. (but this should not scare you off, anything is possible if you set your mind to it) :-) And as mentioned above, it costs alot of money and you have to pass the medical class one. And finally you really have to love reading and learning stuff on a short periode of time. There are alot of things, but first check with your Flight Medical in Germany, to see if your fit for Flight. Then talk to different schools. ;-) Just a question how old would you be in 11grade? :-)Best regardsJakob

Thank you guys for all your answers. I see, I shouldn't be too afraid of not making it. Seems my chances aren't to bad.

Most schools have their own tests you shall pass before they will let you in. And I Can tell you that Lufthansas test is one of the hardest in the world. Along side of Cathy Pacific. (but this should not scare you off, anything is possible if you set your mind to it) :-) And as mentioned above, it costs alot of money and you have to pass the medical class one.And finally you really have to love reading and learning stuff on a short periode of time.There are alot of things, but first check with your Flight Medical in Germany, to see if your fit for Flight. Then talk to different schools. ;-)Just a question how old would you be in 11grade? :-)Best regardsJakob

Passing medical class one should be possible for me as I've already asked my doctor when don't the class two for gliding.And by the way, I'm 16. But there are someones being 18. I even know a girls being 14 who's in the same grade than me.

Not to change topics, but I gotta for a second. $180k a year and you would contemplate switching careers (rather late I might add) to one of the most cyclical industries there is? My friend, you should have the money to get your PPL, Instrument, and buy your own aircraft... A nice one.

Or just build a homemade flight simulator, nice and decked out with all the goodies...

Just a question on the medical first class: which exams are the "hardest" or "worst" to pass? I'm too interested in this because, after the actual degree, i would like to take ATPL. I've searched around but i didn't found exactly the answer i was really searching for. Thank you in advance for help. It's a long way to the top (like somebody said it right)...but we like it! Cheers,Paolo

Thank you guys for all your answers. I see, I shouldn't be too afraid of not making it. Seems my chances aren't to bad.Passing medical class one should be possible for me as I've already asked my doctor when don't the class two for gliding.And by the way, I'm 16. But there are someones being 18. I even know a girls being 14 who's in the same grade than me.

Well okay, It's just you have to be 18 to take CPL. :-)

Just a question on the medical first class: which exams are the "hardest" or "worst" to pass? I'm too interested in this because, after the actual degree, i would like to take ATPL. I've searched around but i didn't found exactly the answer i was really searching for. Thank you in advance for help. It's a long way to the top (like somebody said it right)...but we like it! Cheers,Paolo

Paolo, the medical class one is not exams you have to take, it different doctors looking at you, right from blood pressure, eyes, hearing and see if your heart is in good condition and so on. There is a long list they will go through. :-) Regarding ATPL, you'll have to take during flight school. :-) There are some different exams, - Air Law- Aircraft Knowledge - Instrumentation- Performance- Flight Planning & Monitoring- Meteorology- General Navigation- Operational Procedures - Principles of flight - Radio Navigation- Electrics & Electronics- Powerplant - Airframes & Systems- Human Performance & LimitationsThere are a few ;-)

Another wannabe pilot here, although I think I've got it all sorted out.I'm gonna try and apply for the KLM Flight Acadamy; it gets me right where I wanna be!Just hoping to get in

Another wannabe pilot here, although I think I've got it all sorted out.I'm gonna try and apply for the KLM Flight Acadamy; it gets me right where I wanna be!Just hoping to get in

if that doesn't work there is also EPST. but you probably know that already.

The Lufthansa personality MBTI test was brought up in my Crew Resource Management class in 2005, just after taking our Myers-Briggs test ourselves. They discussed the issues that came about after putting only INTJ (I think) in Pilot positions with Lufthansa and they've apparently since come round to understanding the need for a varied personality in their workforce. That's what I was told in that CRM class nearly 7 years ago, so my memory being foggy and it being second-hand information means it might not be the exact truth, but if it, is it's a shame for the people who missed out, like yourself.Back on topic, you might look at the following links too:http://www.lufthansa-pilot.de/http://www.be-lufthansa.com/en/round-about-your-application/online-test-training/information/#/en/entry-for/pupils-school-graduates/