A flying job at last!
Posted by: Jonathan Gorse on 28 January 2007
Well, a few of you on here have no doubt wondered what became of my attempt at career change from IT project manager to airline pilot via Hi-fi reviewer which started back in 2003 and I'm pleased to say I have recently been offered a First Officer job with Flybe.
It has been an incredibly long and (and expensive) road but I'm chuffed to have been offered the chance to do what I wanted to do since the age of 4. I can't quite believe it but getting the uniform will I think make it feel real!! Induction starts 26th March.
There are of course yet more courses to pass - but all being well there's a chance I could be taking some of you on your holidays from the Summer onwards (so another airline to avoid then!!)
Someday I plan to write down what it was like being a mid life career changer and all the various trials and tribulations we went through but I won't bore everyone with that just yet!!
Clear skies to all of you,
Jonathan
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Dave996
Congratulations. Piloting a civil jet has always been one of my dreams.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Paul Stephenson
congratulations J When you are at a loose end end in Southampton you know where we are!
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by manicatel
Well done!
It certainly takes dedication & effort. I very much doubt you will ever regret it.
Maybe I'll enjoy working with you at BA one day.
matt.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Chris Kelly
Matt
The guy wants to fly!
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Chris Kelly
Sorry Matt. Couldn't resist. Hope the current negotiations sort out all the issues. I am a big BA support ( hung on to my shares until a couple of weeks ago and made a bit of profit!). Always choose to use BA unless economically not viable.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Mick P
Jonathan
Congratulations and well done.
You took a big gamble and it has paid off thanks to hard work and determination.
A good example to us all.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by manicatel
Chris
No worries mate, I guess I had that one coming.
Cheers,
matt.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by JamieWednesday
I was going to say 'Lucky Pup' but I guess there's more than luck. Jammy.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by Willy
Congrats Jonathan
Best of luck with actually getting to fly with Flybe. Their performance is such is that they are affectionately known as "Flymaybe". (Thought to fair the problems do seem to centre around the Bombardier Dash8-400 aircraft's poor reliability).
Regards,
Willy.
Posted on: 28 January 2007 by JohanR
THE job if you want to be a chick magnet.
Congrats!
JohanR
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by JonR
Belated but many many congratulations, Jonathan - maybe there's hope for a few more of us yet!
Seriously best of luck and I hope it all goes like a dream - onwards and upwards! Having emailed off-forum in the past I have some idea how much this means to you.
Bravo!
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by Don Atkinson
Jonathan,
Congratulations and best wishes for the future.
All that determination and hard work is worth it in the long run.
Enjoy this new career.
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by Rockingdoc
Congratulations, I'm genuinely pleased for you.
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by JWM
quote:
Originally posted by Willy:
Congrats Jonathan
Best of luck with actually getting to fly with Flybe. Their performance is such is that they are affectionately known as "Flymaybe". (Thought to fair the problems do seem to centre around the Bombardier Dash8-400 aircraft's poor reliability).
Regards,
Willy.
Well, Flybe got us from Norwich to Dublin and back without a hitch. Mind you, on that particular aircraft we did have extra help - "The Force Was With Us"...
Mrs JWM and Obi WanAll the best to you for your new career, JG.
James
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by Derek Wright
It is very cheering to hear that your long term plan is working out.
Good luck and may your new career prosper.
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by Jay
congratulations Johnathan!
great to hear it's all worked out for you. look forward to reading the book!
Posted on: 29 January 2007 by Jonathan Gorse
Guys,
It's hard to know what to say but I am genuinely really touched by your comments and support - I wanted to check back in to let you know how things had panned out as I posted a fair bit on here about jobs/mid-life career change all those years ago - I will certainly be printing this thread off to keep so many thanks.
It's interesting I think people younger than my generation are so much more accepting of having several careers in a lifetime. While I was out in Arizona my flying partner was a chap some ten years younger than me who had actually been a resident organist for the Queen at Windsor Castle. I recall saying to him one night over some extremely cheap American wine (Franzia - 12 bucks for 4-5 litres!!!!) that I wished I had started training in my mid twenties like him rather than my mid thirties because I wanted to spend my whole career flying aeroplanes. He looked rather surprised and said - but John I don't think I will want to do this for more than say 10-15 years and then I will proably go and become a producer or work in music for the BBC. It certainly made me see things from a different perspective because I always thought the right answer was to find a job you loved and do it for life. His theory is that it's never too late to make a change which I think is quite liberating.
Paul - I'm hoping they give me Southampton or Norwich as a base so if it's the former I will take you up on your kind invitation.
JohnR - how are you getting on?
Jonathan
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by Rico
Hey, Jonathan that's fabulous news. 'follow your bliss' is the expression - good to see that you've stuck it out and are happy with what is (despite the distance already travelled) the start of a great journey. congratulations, and best regards.
Posted on: 31 January 2007 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Jonathan Gorse:
I'm chuffed to have been offered the chance to do what I wanted to do since the age of 4
Congratulations Jonathan. That was my aim at the age of 4 as well! I'm not sure I'm going to achieve that myself, now. I wasn't on the forum when you originally discussed your change of career plans, but it's always great to see someone realise a lifelong ambition.
The very best of luck to you.
Regards
Mark
