The term “unprecedented” has recently become one of the most frequently used in aviation. And no wonder why. We all know that aviation has almost stopped for a while.

No aviation expert will tell you that it is easy to be in the industry today. But each will nod in agreement that this crisis, as all the preceding ones, will end.

Dozens of aircraft will be crossing the sky above our heads again. And who will operate these planes if not pilots?

Pilot Training: Vulnerable Questions

Pilots’ question is among the most vulnerable now. Over 90% of global fleet is either parked or stored, more than 290,000 active pilots worldwide are stuck at home with not much certainty as to when they will fly again.

But what to do for a young aviation enthusiast living the idea of becoming a pilot? For the one with a deep desire to someday proudly wear a crisp navy-blue suit and take a First Officer’s seat to depart for a safe flight.

Is now the time to give up the dream and put all the actions on hold? Is now the time to look for another career and put aviation things aside until the better times?

Considering all the queries that Aviation Voice team, responsible for Ranking of Aviation Training Centres, is currently receiving, these are the most common questions arriving from all over the world.

There is no unanimous answer. There is no ‘yes’, there is no ‘no’. It is a difficult time with many ifs and not too much security. Everyone sees and knows it. However, we all also know that this industry is very dynamic and will return to the growing phase again.

Depending on recent estimations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), aviation will, most likely, deal with a U-shaped recovery, meaning that after the industry falls it will take potentially up to two years to climb back to normal.

Strategy that Could Pay off

For those considering pilot training in the near future there is only one clear advice: turn on long-term thinking, explore every opportunity that training centres could offer you and very carefully assess timing of training.

What do we mean by saying assess your timing? The scheme is not that very difficult to understand – everything depends on the training program you choose.

For example, if you want to become an airline pilot and decide to pick the Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) training path, it will take approximately two years to complete entire training.

Two years prior to entering the aviation world as a professional pilot open for job opportunities at airlines. According to experts, two years it is quite enough for the crisis to fully end and turn into a blip on a graph. According to aviation professionals, it is enough for the industry to be more than halfway into pre-crisis levels.

Thus, if you decide to kick off with your pilot training shortly, we suggest taking a blank page and writing down the whole training process step by step with as precise deadlines as possible. Make it your ‘training business plan’ considering all the risks and potential winning points. Do not rush.

Nevertheless, seizing the opportunity to train in a near future and graduating in time when the job market is reviving might be a decision that will pay off.

And do not forget the value of commitment. If you choose aviation in the face of the crisis and remain committed to your choice, this will definitely demonstrate your attitude towards aviation.

To sum up, none will provide you with a definite answer. There are many pros and cons, however, do your homework, assess the situation and then make a decision.

In case you want to know about pilot training more, you can take a chance and participate in a webinar dedicated to this topic.