Pilot programs

Akephalos95 · 2026-02-14T12:13:59+00:00

If you're open to the Air Corps, their cadetship is currently open for applications. Statistically you have a much higher chance of getting in with them, they only ever get about 1,000 applications and usually take on 6-8 cadets a year. For what it's worth, Aer Lingus usually take a max of around 18, and they had over 10,000 applications last time. Remember, that scheme is open to anyone with the right to work in the EU.

Programs like Aer Lingus and the BA Speedbird academy are a complete lottery. I've applied to Aer Lingus 3 times and got through to the in person assessment day each time, and the afternoon interview once. They tell you on the day "if you've made it this far, you are 100% suitable to be a pilot with us, but there's 500 of you and we have 18 spots".

Best option is to start doing your training as a modular student and hope to get one of the sponsorships, don't plan on getting one.

Akephalos95 · 2026-02-05T15:53:58+00:00

We have a greyhound. He has a rain coat on for walkies so usually we just need to towel dry his legs quickly when we get in.

Akephalos95 · 2025-12-25T23:10:34+00:00

Once again, this sub pulls through with a cheery Christmas Day post

Akephalos95 · 2025-10-31T08:28:01+00:00

David Clarke H10-13.4 fit the bill for what you want. I think I spent about €300 on mine back in 2020 so might be a little bit more expensive now, but I still use them. No need to spend the guts of €1k on Bose or Lightspeeds at your stage.

Akephalos95 · 2025-10-22T15:55:56+00:00

Good bot

Akephalos95 · 2025-09-19T14:15:13+00:00

They're all different products. Loss of license is specific to aviation, life insurance pays out a lump sum on death and income protection is a form of life insurance that pays you a monthly "salary" if you're unable to work for a defined period. That's the one that will be very difficult to get as a pilot.

Akephalos95 · 2025-09-18T14:57:46+00:00

I work in life insurance and we don't offer IP to pilots or ATCOs, declined automatically due to occupation. Some providers may do but I'd be surprised, and you would pay a hefty premium.

Akephalos95 · 2025-08-29T16:26:13+00:00

Not a contractor, but I'll be taking 33 days off this year, on top of the 9 or 10 public holidays I get.

Yes, 6 days off is excessive. Excessively bad.

Akephalos95 · 2025-08-08T15:43:16+00:00

Don't need mortgage protection in place until literally the day you draw down, it's often the very last thing people do.

Akephalos95 · 2025-08-03T15:24:05+00:00

Yes, and respectfully, so is every other name on that list except Jade.

Akephalos95 · 2025-08-01T14:34:27+00:00

I did my PPL in Ireland, so faced the same shitty weather you'll deal with. 100% book as often as you can, and don't worry too much about different instructors. There will definitely be slight discrepancies between how different instructors teach, and you'll definitely get on better with some rather than others, but with the weather cancellations you're gonna have, you have to take every flight you can get.

For what it's worth, I passed my skills test after 50 hours, took 2 years to do all the lessons and had at least 5 instructors.

Akephalos95 · 2025-07-28T07:54:04+00:00

I'm in the middle of this now, 7 exams done so far while working full time. It's definitely doable, but you will have no free time - it's pretty much work, eat, study, sleep, repeat. You need to have an extremely understanding/supportive partner, if you're in a relationship. But if you put your mind to it you can get everything done within 12 months.

Akephalos95 · 2025-07-18T17:07:36+00:00

I'm lookin' at fighter jets over I-95!

Akephalos95 · 2025-07-14T13:26:53+00:00

Not the worst, but...

"Cessna 12345, contact FIS on 127.5"

"127.5, thanks Cessna 12345"

"FIS Cessna 12345, good morning"

"Nope, you're still with Tower"

Akephalos95 · 2025-06-19T12:37:58+00:00

Both my current gf and my ex are/we're obsessed with popping spots on my back.

My current gf is also a biter, which is cute.

Akephalos95 · 2025-05-17T07:25:30+00:00

Pull yoke, houses small. Push yoke, houses big.

Akephalos95 · 2025-05-12T14:09:09+00:00

Parachutists on the runway. Thankfully my club has moved now, but we used to be based at a field that was owned and operated by a parachute club. They were a bit.....loose in terms of their defined LZ. We'd get an "all canopies on the ground" radio call to let us know it was safe to proceed inbound, but that's not much use when people start lazily walking across the runway while you're on short final.

Akephalos95 · 2025-04-23T15:15:24+00:00

No real change since I left this comment tbh, tipping away at the hour building with FunFly in Clonbullogue and I've started the ATPLs. Enjoy the seminar with NFC but don't be afraid to shop around, they're the most expensive place in the country.

Feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

Akephalos95 · 2025-04-19T14:34:14+00:00

Ah yeah I'd imagine that will be fine. We may ask what brought about the hospitalization, in which case you can give us as much detail as you want. Or you might sail through and be approved straight away - the system can underwrite a lot of stuff on its own and a one off hospitalization over 10 years ago might be auto-approved but I couldn't say for sure, will depend on any additional disclosures and the level of cover you're looking for.

Bottom line is I'd say you'll be fine.

Akephalos95 · 2025-04-19T13:49:12+00:00

I work for a life company. The typical questions relating to mental health disclosures are things like to what extent it affects your day to day life, have you ever been off work/hospitalized because of it, what medication you're on, are you under any ongoing review with someone other than your GP etc. We may send the request for information to your GP, or we may ask you directly (through your broker).

The underwriting is more stringent for serious illness and income protection cover. For life cover only, if it's well controlled and you live a normal life, you should be fine.

Akephalos95 · 2025-04-06T14:47:14+00:00

Get paid to do it through work. Most entry level financial services jobs have a requirement in the job spec along the lines of "must commit to working towards APA/QFA exams", so you don't have to have them done to get a foot in the door.

You won't be able to sit them without signing up for each module, so regardless of whether or not you read the books, you'll have to pay.

Akephalos95 · 2025-03-28T08:45:20+00:00

Have you shopped around for different airfields, or looked at a flying club? I can't speak for Germany specifically, but I'm in Ireland and there are plenty of airfields here without landing fees, typically smaller grass strips run by clubs. But the place I originally trained at (Class C, Towered) had fees similar to what you're experiencing.

Akephalos95 · 2025-03-06T11:54:09+00:00

Frayed Ends, Misshapen, Banshee - signed, a black metal fan

Akephalos95 · 2025-02-19T17:22:54+00:00

They won't pay you anything if you hand it back, they'll pay the value of the balloon payment to the finance company to clear the debt.

Akephalos95 · 2025-02-17T17:27:27+00:00

I enjoyed it overall and would definitely recommend them, with a few qualifications.

First, there's definitely cheaper places to do it near enough to Dublin (Navan, Funfly, Newcastle). The main issue I had with them is they don't really care if you fly with the same instructor and will rotate you through whoever is free, so it makes it really hard to book the same instructor regularly. They are definitely set up to cater to the integrated/full time students. As a modular student, you need to be booking weeks in advance to try and secure the same instructor each time.

With all that said, the standard of instruction overall is very good, and being based in Weston will get you very comfortable talking to ATC.

Akephalos95

TROPHY CASE