@PILOT995

OLUMIDE why RDV? anyway you're lucky oh 10yrs with 7000hrs

, RDV is shortened form for 'Radar Vector', which is my user name on a professional pilots website. www.pprune.org
Its quite informative, especially the african aviation section. Check it out.

7000 hours in 10 years is actually average in Europe. We do on average 700 hours each year. ( I have friends in Naija who do more!!!! ). The guys in the low cost airlines like easyjet and ryanair also do more, about 900 hours each year. You guys in the NAF are the ones jollofing, , easy life, I am jealous o!!!!

I saw a NAF small jet in Geneva a few months ago, I cant remember the type it was, but it looked nice. Maybe it was you?

RDV i have always wanted to find out during your solo flight on the boeings where u d only guy in there? because it bugs me how 1 guy can take off n land in the boeing

Luckily, there is no requirement to do a solo in the boeing, airbus or any commercial passenger aircraft.

After all the simulator training, the only requirememnt before a license is issued is for a "base check". This is basically flying circuits / patterns at an airport with about 6 'touch and go' landings. The aircraft is empty, and the only pilots on board are the instructor and the candidate. Even aircraft as big as the boeing 747 are used for this, so u can imagine how expensive it is, and how airlines even try to avoid it.

The way around it for some airlines, is to use a "zero flight time" rated simulator. This means that the simulator has been classified as so realistic that there is no requirement for base training afterwards. The first time that the pilot flies the plane for real, is with passengers, but flying with a training captain. Sounds dangerous abi? . Its not. Its quite common actually. My own airline, KLM, still uses base training, but BA for xample, use ZFT for the big jets, on the assumption that before u get to the big jets u have had loads of experience on the smaller ones.

am so happy that u can help IVY4U

Me too. I remember how it was for me when I was starting out, so I would also like to help newcomers myself. If you look on that pprune.org website, you will see that there are actually a number of Naija commercial pilots on there, always willing to give out info to fellow pilots and newcomers. We were talking on there about forming some sort of Guild of Nigerian pilots, not sure how far, but its worth keeping an eye on developments there.

@IVY4U

I am going for a professional commercial pilot course (Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Commercial Single and Multi-Engine Instrument). Though they have an advance course(The course includes Multi-Engine Instrument, Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Certification.  The initial instructor is Multi-Engine Instructor, followed by Certified Flight Instructor Single Engine Airplane and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane). I could change my course if it means doing that

The most important things u need are, Private Pilot, Commercial  Pilot, Multi-engine and Instrument Rating. With all these, you have a professional licence. The private pilot will not appear on your final licence, because it will have been superseded by the commercial pilot licence. So at the end, you should have a commercial pilots licence, with multi-engine and instrument ratings. That is the absolute minimum you will need to get an airline job.

Do not commit yourself to any kind of advanced course at this stage, but keep it in mind. It is very possible to get a job with the cpl/multi/instrumnet, that you will have. The advance course is for people who need to acquire flying hours on top of their licence in order to meet the minimum requirement for airlines. The minimum hours requirement exists in the USA, but for Naija, it is not an absolute necessity. In Naija, a type rating is more valuable than the flying hours. ( I will explain the type rating later)

If they offer you an instructor job after graduating, then you will need to do the 'initial instructor' course you mentioned. But there is no point doing that until you are sure that they are going to offer you a job, otherwise, you end up with instructor ratings, no instructor job, and a visa that will not let you work at another school as an instructor!!! 

They might tell you that it is still useful to do it because you can use it at another school, but check your visa carefully to see whether it does indeed allow you to work as an instructor at any other school apart from the one mentioned on the visa.

They dnt gaurantee employment,they said one's performance would tell if they would employ you or not,but they do assit their graduate get jobs after training. I intend going for just my training. They are to issue an M-1 visa, is it OK? The P/CPL is for six months, while the Advance is 2 months. what do you think?

Yes, they will assist their graduates to get jobs after training,, but this is usually after you have built up a certain number of hours working as an instructor for them, and subject to your being free to work in the USA. They are referring here to airline jobs, but what you should press them for now, is a guarantee that they will employ you as an instructor at their school after you finish training. If they can give you this guarantee, it allows you to commit to one of the advanced courses, and also might affect the duration and type of visa that the US Embassy will issue to you.

I will check out the details of an M-1 visa, and get back to you, but you can already see I guess, that if the visa is only for 6-8 months, it does not cover you for working as an instructor with them after graduating. A 2 year visa would be more appropriate for that, and in that case, they will have to issue you an I-20 that states that your course is for 2 years.

Now, if you are planning to go just for the training, and return to Naija immediately afterwards, there is something very important that you should be doing now,

You need to start networking now, and acquiring contacts. Try and make yourself known to the chief pilots and recruiters of the major airlines in naija. Its very simple to do,, much like you did with the sponsorship, and will give you numerous advantages. You will get to know each and every airlines entry requirements, meet the people that matter, and decide which type rating will be most advantageous for you.

If you can meet for example, the chief pilot of aero contactors, or Virgin Nigeria, or arik, etc, you can tell them your plans for training, how much you would like to work for them after training, and if there is anything you should do whilst training to give you an advantage in joining them when you finish. You get to know their company in the process of this discussion, they get to see if u are the sort of person they want to work for them (which I am sure you are  ), you learn if they need you to have a type rating or not, and they will also refer you to other airlines if they do not have any vacancies.

When you finish the training and return to naija, you contact the same people you saw before you went, who will now remember you and that makes it easier to get a job.

If you can spend a week or so in Lagos, and just go to the airlines offices at the airport. Tell them you are a trainee pilot looking for information, advice and an application form, and that you would like to talk to the chief pilot.

How far with jobs out there, good chances for my likes? I would love to go international,How's that? when/where do i do type rating?

International? , Madam!!!, , one step at a time.

Your job chances are very very good. All airlines in the world realise that women pilots are severly under-represented, and would love to have more women pilots, especially if they are enthusiastic, competent and good natured. You sound like you are all these things, so i guess u will have no problems.

The most important thing in flying, is experience. The more experience you have, the easier it is to switch jobs. The key to it all however, is your first job, that is sometimes the most difficult step, because at that point you have no experience, and the airline is taking a gamble on you. Good training record, good personality and a good first impression help them to decide that the gamble is worth taking ( and going to talk to them like i suggest above is a way of showing these qualities).

Once you get that first job, concentrate on getting about 2 years of good experience. Once you have that, you are very marketable, and can then join an airline that will offer you international. I have friends that spent 2 or 3 years in Bellview and Chachangi, and now fly in UK for various airlines. If your first job happens to be with Virgin Nigeria or Arik or Aero, then you might not even need to leave them to fly internationally. And on top of it all, if your future (?) husband happens to be a citizen of UK, USA, etc, you will even be able to relocate there and join a foreign airline.

TYPE RATING

Your CPL/IR/Multi only licenses you to fly small, 6 seater planes as a professinal pilot. For passenger airline work, you need a rating for the particular type of aircraft that you will be flying. Hence, you will need a 'Type Rating'.

Some airlines sponsor and arrange the type rating themselves. Other airlines prefer you to have a type rating when you apply to them for work.

A type rating can cost anything from 15K Dollars to 50K dollars depending on the aircraft type, and where you do the type rating training. Ordinary flying schools do not do type ratings,, only specialist flying schools do them. For example - http://www.alteontraining.com/training/flight.aspx

Because of the high cost, and the risk that a candidate might not pass the course, u can see that most airlines these days will prefer for you to do it yourself. That way they dont have any risk.

The bigger airlines however prefer you to do it on their own approved course with their own chosen instructors, so that they know the standard you will be trained to achieve. So, they will sponsor you for the course, but they will deduct a percentage of the type rating course from your salary for the first few years, or you will sign an agreement that if you leave the company before lets say 2 or 3 years, you will pay them the cost of the type rating back.

Right now, Virgin Nigeria and Aero are the only ones I know who sponsor you for the type rating.

So, the cheaper option is for you to get a job with one of these 2 after you graduate. They will then sponsor you on the type rating, and you will be employed by them from day 1, so they will actually also be paying you a salary whilst you are on the course.

If you will be joining another airline, then you will probabaly need a type rating for the type of aircraft they fly, so gather information on what the different airlines fly and then choose which one to do your rating on. You cannot do more than 1 rating so you have to choose well, or choose something that is commonly flown by different airlines, e.g Boeing 737.

You will get more of an idea of this when u talk to the airline chief pilots.

The course itself is very straightforward. You study all of the systems on the particular type of plane, eg electrical systems, engines, airconditioning, hydraulics, etc (you will also have studied these in a general way during the CPL), and you will do all the flying training you did for the CPL again, but this time in a simulator of the aircraft type you are training for, then you will practice all sorts of emergencies in the simulator, and finally you will fly that same aircraft for real, doing circuits like i described to Pilot995 in my earlier post.

It is during the type rating that you will start to feel like a reaaaaaaal pilot and start to use big oyinbo grammar that nobody outside flying will understand

So, I think that is enough typing for one day.

will let u know about the books soon. in the meantime, check also http://www.pprune.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37

join that forum too if you can, its got valuable info and insights sometimes

@ Olumide where u a CS(confidential Sec) b4 or u have a typist or may be VAT(voice activation typewriter) soft ware, lol , i give u hand for the long msges(esssss), why is it that pilots get stuck with nicknames during trainin, i had a nickname in NMS/NDA but it was PILOT 955 that got stuck, long story, (during breifing we use GMT n i always got confused then as to 1hr ahead or behind or even on thesame time n my IP was one MALICIOUS ibo guy who had zero tolerance, like i said long story but the name stuck) as to the organsiation u guys r trying to form is it for only transport pilots or we fighters can join too? i really dont think i can help much in contributin cos i dont think we have civilians in 9ja as fighter pilots in the world except maybe there r citizens, but i check it out n see if i can make any contributions, take care, eagle 1 out

@IVY4U, see dis girl na cos i dey net i dey type all this oyibo, i be waffi too na come dey AIR FORCE, na my Oga i wan dey speak english to, 4 here we dey KISS(keep It Short n Simple/Stupid) so my sis i dey SPOKED this gramma like u 4 here, as for my training its going on ok, but beginin to have serious back pains from pulling a lot of G's like i said i cant say anything bout their aircraft here cant even snap photo with their pilots here except in muffty

@Pilot955,

, it took me two whole days to type the reply to you and IVY4U. I even had to type it first in 'word' and then cut & paste it here.

hello my people, can any body tell me how the nigeria pilot make

@RDV,
thank a '000000. i will do just as you said. i have registered with the site but really have got no time to post anytin yet.
I went to VN b4 now but got no 1 to talk 2. But i ve tried talkng with their financial controller who said there is no problem, dat all i need do is to get my basic training to fly, dat she will make sure VN takes up the rest. She also promise to talk to the DFO(directof of flight operation) and the C pilot so i can get to talk to them.

Thankz 1ce agian. I will be looking forward to the books. I really cnt figure out how, but i shall knw we ll sought tins out. Am basd in lagos, if that would help.

luvlly weekend. Chao.

@PILOT955,
I dey hail oo,

@IVY4U,

well done. Keep chasing and hassling them at VN. Dont be shy. Just be polite and persistent. Keep trying to meet the different managers at their flight operations dept, and let them know that all you are looking for at this stage is advice on how to develop your career. You will remember them, and they will remember you when the time comes that you really need them.

I have a couple of very good friends at Aero. I will speak to them too and try and get you a contact there.

Its good that you are in Lagos. That makes it easier to send you the books. I will send them to the KLM Office at MMIA and you will have to pick them up there. Send me an e-mail with your full name, to raydavecta@hotmail.com

take care,

Hi guys,watz up? everybody just left like that. Is been a long while. Am ccol. Just tot to hala my pilots and aspiring pilot friends.

Hey, PILOT955, you still dey this our niger. I long to hear from you.

Am preparing to go for my training.My greencard is taking quite some time. Any way i could facilitate the process? I don tire to wait oh.

Cheers.

For the intending pilots that needs sponsors,

Bristow helicopter has vacancy for helicopter pilot training. Thisday Newspaper,Thursday,June 12,2008.

Qualification and Experience:
Candidates should possess a minimum degree(2.2) from a recognised university with at least one year post NYSC experience. Candidate with or currently undergoing commercial pilot licence( CPL-A or H) course or, already in possession of an ICAO equivalent licence, woul be considered.
In addition, condidates should possess the SSCE or its equivalent with a min of 5 credits in one sitting, including English,maths and Physics.

The Person:
The candidate must be a Nigerian National and must possess the ffg,
1) Between 22-28yrs.
2) Fluency in, and have a proper understanding of english lang.

The canditate will be expected to demonstrate a keen interest and knowledge of aviation related subjects. The selection process will involve written examinations, problem solving, couputer-based aptitude test,medical and a series of interviews.

Method of application.
Interested candidates should send their written applications enclosing detailed copy of CV,photocopies of all credentials, NYSC discharge certificate, birth certificate and 2 passport photos. The final date for submission of application is 3 weeks from date of publication.

Details sent to
The General Manager
Human Resources
Bristow Helicopters(Nigeria)Limited,
Old Domestic Wing,M.M.Airport,P.O.Box 11,Ikeja,Lagos.

Only short-listed candidates from applications recieved not later than 3wks after this publicatiions will be acknowledge and subsequely invited for interview.

Previous applicants need not reapply.

@IVY4U,

the books and CD ROM should be waiting for you at the airport office now. I sent them on Monday.

Good luck with all your preparations, and keep in touch

it is very hard and very easy the thing is you have to go personally to kaduna to obtain the form then you start hunting for a sponsor most likely your state gorvernment your state would have sponsored countless students before the hard part is getting someone at the top to push your case simple call me on 07025197200 if you live in lagos i can always help you get the form if not them you would have to do so yourself but i can give you directions temidayodgreatest@yahoo.com

@PILOT955
Were you dey? I dey find you with touch light ooooooooo. I hope you still dey with us o.

WOW, i love this thread! it's using idea to rekindle my dream of becoming a pilot, theres nothing i've wanted to be as much as a pilot, it's not about the pay, it's just the whole being in control thing, gave up on it because well, i'm terrified of physics (should i be??!) and people keep telling me that i'm not being practical, so i just squashed it,

But with IVY4U here giving me hope, and making it seem not so impossible, i think i could actually do it!

@IVY4U and PILOT955 who seems to have dissapeared, i'm noticing some kind of pattern here o! what is it with Isoko people and flying naw? haba, my dad is Isoko!!!! and thus so am i ;d

@RDV, whoa, you are an amazing human being! lol, you have been so informative and helpful!, if i go on with the whole thing, i'll definitely be hunting you down or advice!!

last question to all of you, how important is physics in the whole thing?

@m.i

Interesting to see females like me who wants to fly.
An advice for you, if that's ur dream, keep it alive i would say and be proud to do that too.

As for the physics aspect, it is there, i doubt if you can excape it. Everthing has to do with determination and i trust if you really are, you would fly.

We are sisters tribally, and i wish you luck. Would be glad if you will join me fly.

Go girl, make us proud.

Info,
vigin is recruiting for cadet pilot. If you are intrested, hurry to apply. Application ends mon 20th oct.
check jobs and vacancy(4/5) on this forum for details.

@Ivy, true word, you guys have inspired me here, you especially, not many girls are interested in being pilots at all, so it's really helpful to me to see a girl that not only wants to be one, but is actually doing something about it.

So physics is there huh? it's all good, i can face it if i need to

lol, yep, we are indeed sisters tribally, you're already making us proud, gimme a year and i'll join you!

now, for me, being that i'm all green and a novice, can you explain the whole cadet thingy in detail? what exactly is it being a cadet pilot

@m.i

Its good and challenging to have more female aspiring pilots here.

Meet the rest of the crew on "Pilot Career"
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51066.64.html

@m.i

As a cadet pilot, the airline will train you to be one of their pilots.

Did you send your application?
All da best girly.

Chao.

@Wham, abi? i realy think it's a good thing,

@Ivy, nah, i saw your post the night before naw, not to mention that i've never submitted any such application forms, and have no idea how to go about it, when you say train you to be one of their pilots, do you mean without even prior experience?? anywho, be kind enough to update those of us who have no clue about these things whenever you hear about them!

@ ohiochard,
I have seen nothing like this before.I must say am very happy particularly on this forum of FORUM.This is my first post on nairaland.Nothing has ever inspired me to writing until now.I appreciate everyone on this.I have been living with this dream from my childhood till now. As one of you rightly said,it's rekindling my love once again for this noble profession.This is to let y'all know that people are watching!
Thanks

@RDV & Pilot993 my brother i still day on top of am, somebody even took my application to the Governor of Lagos State but it takes time and man don dey old my mama don tire self. What i want to know is what approach is better the modular program or the one off ATPL training that most schools offer thanks and wherre is Ivy self.

any student on NCAT zaria should IM me on sley4life2004@yahoo.com

huh i have read and read all the posts on this forum and am happy i could still get some encouragments from ppl,

well i would like to say a big thank you to the highly informative ppl on this forum thanks so much for been

there for ppl to give ideas,advice,and info on becoming a pilot and God bless y'all

but i am verty worried and i would say i still didn't get much more details as i am new in this topic

i have a dream and a vision to become a pilot. i mean a commercial pilot not just because of their pay but because

i tend to have a keen interest in this field ever since i was a little kid. it is my dream but financial standard has

been my chalenge ever since i am a very young boy with an O'LEVEL cert., i was told that its better to be in

this field early enough and time/age is no more on my side but yet am still young.

i needed some info on how i can get sponsorship to go for my dreams,i will say information is the fastest

tool to success and without this you will just be kind of stagnant,pls @ all i needed someone to help me out of

this how can i do about achieving my dreams i know y'all have been of good help to so many ppl please i

needed to benefit from this too,what are the things i will need to do and what are the steps i will need to

know,what am i suppose to know b4 going for this dream of mine please i need someone to help me out, here

is my phone number :08032484887 and this is my email address : love_caleb2002@yahoo.com,

please who know the body that issues licenses to pilots in Naija, is it NCAA?

NCAA is d only body dat issues pilot licence in nigeria(for more info u could make enquiry at NCAA annex close to the international airport)

phoenix east aviation is awesome too. check out www.pea.com. they dont disappoint.I am attending phoenix in October. See you there guys.

Thanks RDV. Piloting is my main dream in life. I am about 30 years but I do not think its too late for me. KLM is one of my favorite airlines the hostesses were very kind while on their flights as a child.

Well I spoke to the chief flying instructor at my school and the seem to want more nigerian students it's in Zambia very decent facility close to south africa and you can fly in during your cross country training. The fees are PPL $10,000 and CPL with multi-engine and instrument rating $33,000 accomodation included holla at me at v.a.munis@gmail.com and you pay on arrival and the visa is a breeze.

AT LEAST YOU ALL SHOULD CONSIDER THOSE OF US THAT CAN NOT AFFORD THAT HUGE SUM OF MONEY BUT WHO HAS A KEEN INTEREST AND A VISION TO BECOME A PILOT SO HELP US POST THINGS THAT WILL HELP US, I MEAN PROVIDE USEFUL LINKS LIKE YOU ALL KNOW ALL FINGERS ARE NOT EQUAL,I ONLY NEEDED INFO THAT WILL HELP SOMEONE LIKE ME STUDY AVIATION, @ ALL

Hello,

There is a new aviation opening in Nigeria - Illorin in October, they also offer sponsorship, here is the facebook link


http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/International-Aviation-College/100685606648320?ref=ts

or email info@internationalaviationcollege.com


let me know if you need help, I have a friend there.

@coriola, i have a question for u.
Is dis school going to train rotorcraft pilots or is just strictly fixed wing?

Yes we will, Fixed wings is first then we will add modules like helicopter, mechanics, stewardesses, air traffic control, simulators for the big aircraft like B737 Embraer.

You can also email

info@internationalaviationcollege.com