Major life advice needed from wise people
Jul 8th 2019, 2:26 am
#31
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,648
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
I can't afford to become an airline pilot though, that's the problem.. many airlines offer 1.5-year courses which take you from 0 flying hours to First Officer, but they cost a great deal of money.
I don't think moving to Canada on an IEC will help me get any closer to becoming a pilot?
I don't have a particular question.. I just want some advice on the move to Canada. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
Edit: basically if I end up having to commute to downtown Toronto to work in an office in a job I won't enjoy, whilst paying a lot for rent and being unable to travel freely, it would be a worse situation than I'm currently in and I would like to avoid it.. However I'm hoping people are friendlier over there, the housing situation is better than London's, etc... perhaps I need a shrink, not immigration advice :-)
I don't think moving to Canada on an IEC will help me get any closer to becoming a pilot?
I don't have a particular question.. I just want some advice on the move to Canada. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
Edit: basically if I end up having to commute to downtown Toronto to work in an office in a job I won't enjoy, whilst paying a lot for rent and being unable to travel freely, it would be a worse situation than I'm currently in and I would like to avoid it.. However I'm hoping people are friendlier over there, the housing situation is better than London's, etc... perhaps I need a shrink, not immigration advice :-)
You should do it though- you are young and it will be a great experience even if it is only shorter term.
It is possible to live and work in Downtown Toronto with next to no commute as well.
Jul 17th 2019, 10:48 am
#32
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 51
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
Jul 18th 2019, 2:03 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Near the Northern Lights
Posts: 1,466
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Your assessment of it being extremely expensive is also correct.
Last edited by Edo; Jul 18th 2019 at 2:58 pm.
Jul 18th 2019, 4:11 pm
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 345
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
Jul 18th 2019, 4:46 pm
#35
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Jul 22nd 2019, 3:07 pm
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 46
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
If I was your age again I wouldn't limit myself to North America, theres plenty I wish I should have done in and around Europe.
Nov 26th 2019, 2:12 pm
#37
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 51
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
Thanks a lot for your advice. I've decided to focus on my dream: becoming a pilot. I'm still in the Canada Express Entry pool with 438 points, but I've requested the withdrawal of my IEC, as a move to Canada now means I'll be financially unable to start my piloting career.
With that, I applied to AerLingus' fully sponsored cadet programme 3 years after my first attempt, and on Saturday completed all of my online assessment tests and a video interview. I'm now waiting to see if I made it to the main set of assessments in Dublin. Should that fail (and it likely will, due to huge competition and only 12 places on the program), I have a detailed plan of how I'm going to get into an airliner cockpit on my own, starting with getting my private pilot's license over a short period of time here in the UK.
Once again thank you all for your advice, and should I get an invite for PR (likely to be the end of the year/sometime next year), I may still go for it depending on my situation then.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
Nov 26th 2019, 4:05 pm
#38
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,786
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Nov 26th 2019, 4:15 pm
#39
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,029
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!! It's always nice to come back here, read back over my threads and their nice responses and let everyone know how I'm getting on.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
Nov 26th 2019, 6:42 pm
#40
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Great update.
Nov 27th 2019, 1:58 am
#41
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!! It's always nice to come back here, read back over my threads and their nice responses and let everyone know how I'm getting on.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
Brilliant!!! Very pleased to hear that life is turning out just how you hoped - long may it continue! Do update us from time to time, it's lovely to hear how you are getting on - thanks for popping back to let us know.
Good luck with the next stage!
Nov 27th 2019, 5:20 am
#43
`
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 38,611
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!! It's always nice to come back here, read back over my threads and their nice responses and let everyone know how I'm getting on.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
Thanks for coming back to update everyone.
Congrats.
Dec 3rd 2019, 4:09 pm
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2017
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 345
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!! It's always nice to come back here, read back over my threads and their nice responses and let everyone know how I'm getting on.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
Dec 5th 2019, 12:23 pm
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Orton, Ontario
Posts: 2,032
Re: Major life advice needed from wise people
Hi all!! It's always nice to come back here, read back over my threads and their nice responses and let everyone know how I'm getting on.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.
I started flying in the middle of August (to get my Private Pilot's License) here in London and have so far flown 16 hours (need around 50 to get the license) and completed 3 of the 9 exams. It has made me so happy, so much so that even my hair - which gradually became thin and scarce over the last year since I started my job due to stress and unhappiness - is returning to its original youthful state. :-)
Back in July I was so lost, trying to figure out what my secondary dream is, what I could do to make me happy until I retire but nothing would cut it. I knew that what I needed to do was fly. It's been my dream since I was a tiny toddler, and my parents moved my siblings and me to the UK so that we could do whatever makes us happy. It would be a huge injustice, after everything I've been through here, if I don't end up in an airliner cockpit.
The plan is to finish my PPL in May, quit my job around that time, spend the summer building my hours while studying for my ATPLs (commercial level exams), then go to Sweden for 2 months to do a bit more flying and attain my commercial license. I'll then apply for First Officer roles. I hope to be ready and employable by Summer 2021. None of this is cheap, but my parents will help me as much as humanly possible next year when I need it. At the end of the day I will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if it involves sending letters to random philanthropists to ask for their support.
I'm still in the Canada Express Entry queue with 438 points. I'd love to be a pilot in the US or Canada, but one dream at a time. :-) My priority now is becoming qualified to have a full time career in aviation.
Thank you all so much for your wise words. It was seriously helpful and made me take a serious look at the UK-Canada move. It made me realise what's really important: my lifetime dream. I'll come back here in a few months for another update on my progress. Hopefully by then I'll be close to getting my license.