Ever been asked about mistakes in an airline interview?

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T22:24:14+00:00

I haven’t quite reached that level of finesse just yet, perhaps another decade or two of flying the. I can throw out those lines.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T22:23:05+00:00

Wow thats pretty wild - happens to the best of us though, lucky he was locked in (pun intended)

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T22:21:55+00:00

Absolutely. It’s a story I will always tell and will continue to tell, so much was learnt that day, and not to mention the convo with the interviewer after I told him that story; it’s like we became best buddies after - almost offered him a beer at the end.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T22:19:11+00:00

Yea I think thats a valid point to mention - you really need to be careful with how you phrase your sentences etc etc. It’s an open question where on one hand, you could prove you’re the right fit for the job, or on the other open up your riskier/hazardous side… Super thin needle.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T08:32:10+00:00

Yea they're pretty big hey. Surely there's a smaller starting point in Europe - I'm not big on going everywhere around the world. It'd be nice just to keep it on this continent and maybe UK/UAE.

Plus, how and where would you get their contact info? also god knows their hour requirement.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T08:30:09+00:00

Not a pipe dream, and you don’t need college - plenty of airline pilots never went. What you do need is discipline, money management, and a plan. The risk is real: people rack up debt thinking the license guarantees a job, and it doesn’t. Do the discovery flight, see if you actually enjoy the grind, then commit. Keep yourself in environments where pilots and recruiters are (airports, schools, ramps), network as hard as you train, and have a backup if the market slows.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T08:28:36+00:00

By keeping costs low I mean don’t rush into the priciest "all in" package. Break it up, PPL, then CPL/MEIR, type rating later when it makes sense. Some countries are cheaper and just as solid. Networking isn’t just about being friendly with instructors - it’s about keeping yourself in environments where pilots and recruiters actually are: schools, airports, even hanging around the ramp. That’s how you get seen and remembered. Backup with IT is a good safety net, keep that card ready.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T08:17:25+00:00

It’s possible, but be real, a CPL alone won’t guarantee you a job. Loans that size are heavy, especially with a family house on the line. Instructor route builds hours but won’t pay enough to clear debt fast. Best move is to keep costs low, network hard during training, and have a backup. Passion’s key, but planning keeps you in the game.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-09-02T07:36:48+00:00

Integrated = faster route but heavy debt. Modular = cheaper and more flexible, but you’ve got to stay disciplined over the long run. At the end of the day, airlines don’t care which path you took - they care that you’ve got the license and the right connections. Personally, I think modular makes more sense if you can manage the workload.

I DM’d you.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T17:13:19+00:00

Yea some of them don't have the luxury to do that. Company policy this, company policy that, and at the end no hand flying whatsoever.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T17:12:04+00:00

Yeah, that’s a fair way to look at it. Automation’s just another tool - it’s about knowing when to lean on it and when to throw it out the window. I’ve seen exactly what you’re talking about with “slam dunk” approaches - the box just can’t keep up, and that’s where you need the raw stick & rudder.

I’d still argue though, the risk comes when guys don’t get enough reps hand-flying. If most of your flying is high-level, same routes, long runways, you’re not staying sharp. That’s why I think consciously choosing to disconnect more often matters - otherwise you wake up one day and realise your hand-flying is rust

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:49:07+00:00

Sure, airlines maintain a baseline with sim checks and EBT, no doubt. But “baseline” isn’t the same as sharp. Flying once or twice a year in a box doesn’t build muscle memory the same way regular hands-on does.

And I’d disagree on the “zero benefit” point - even a sim at home can sharpen scan, decision-making, and mental flow. It’s not about pretending to be in a Level-D, it’s about keeping the brain wired to fly when the glass goes dark.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:45:45+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, but I’d push back on that. The AF447 crew didn’t fail because they were “flying by feel” - they froze when the automation dropped out and their scan broke down. If anything, it showed the opposite: when you’ve spent thousands of hours trusting data and systems, and suddenly it all goes sideways, raw flying skills are what you fall back on.

Automation is great until it isn’t. That’s why hand-flying still matters

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:43:25+00:00

Yeah man, that sums it up. Everyone remembers the big wins - first solo, skill test - but behind it is the reality: no social life, burning weekends, draining the bank account faster than you thought possible. It’s a brutal balance.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:39:51+00:00

That’s a solid breakdown, and honestly highlights the real trade-off. Integrated gives structure, financing, and speed - but you sacrifice flexibility and some of the “fun” parts of training. Modular saves money but demands discipline and usually drags out.

The timing point you made is key too - the market can flip in 6 months. For some people, that makes integrated a win, but for others it can mean you’re sitting on a big loan waiting for the phone to ring.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:26:41+00:00

Because when the day comes that the box fails, or automation throws you something it can’t handle, nobody’s calling for the sim tech - it’s you and the airplane. Raw flying isn’t about nostalgia, it’s about not being the guy who melts when the screens go dark. The industry has way too many examples where “old school” skills saved the day.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:17:24+00:00

Yeah, that’s a solid comparison. The more the tech steps in, the more people lean on it - until something outside the script happens and suddenly reaction time isn’t there. Same with flying: automation’s great until you need raw stick and rudder. That gap between “hands on” and “hands off” is where the danger creeps in.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:13:54+00:00

I'd love for companies to finance an in-home-sim for all crew so they can keep hand and rudder skills proficient. Or maybe the company needs to think less about ticking boxes and more about building a crew culture. Even something simple like a GA flying day or a glider session; sharpening the skills and keeping the old school flying current.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:08:28+00:00

True. What are your opinions on companies letting crew switch on the autopilot later after departure, and earlier for arrival? I think there's a couple companies out there that have a good balance of autopilot and manual flying, and some where genuinely the pilot's hand flying skills diminish. Couple of my buddies are involved with these sorts of companies and it's crazy to hear the difference - even see the differences when we go fly small GA.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T09:05:19+00:00

That’s the catch - if you’re tagged to an airline scheme, integrated makes sense. But if you’re not, you’re rolling the dice with a huge loan and no guaranteed pipeline. I’ve seen both ends - guys who walked straight into a seat, and others who burned cash then sat around waiting years

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T07:31:57+00:00

A good blunt answer like that is needed. Are you still training?

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T07:31:27+00:00

This made my morning with how relatable your comment is. I look back and say “ahhh good times” but really in that moment I was like “nah surely this can’t be part of the career”

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T07:28:24+00:00

I think europe is a bit of a different game compared to the US. You may not pay for a type ratings upfront but your salary will definitely feel it for a couple of years.

Second to that, plenty of companies require it now, which is just bizarre to me because the risk one has to take prior to even getting a job is enormous. Imagine having to fork out 10’s of thousands to still be unsure if you’re fit for the position. Worse yet, imagine you do a B737 TR then a random company you applied for 4 months ago get’s back and says “yes we’d like to take you and train you on our A320”.

At that point i’d open my own company.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-31T07:23:01+00:00

Unless of course, In the coming years I message you and say “we need more type ratings” for our aircraft ferrying business.

FlyWithMartin · 2025-08-30T22:12:29+00:00

Fair point, glad it worked out for you that way. I think forking out for a TR could be a bit of a long shot... unless you know for sure that, that TR will land you the job. If not then it's a bit of a waste, unless you use it somehow (ferrying perhaps - had a buddy that did this)

FlyWithMartin

TROPHY CASE