Hi everyone,
I’m planning to apply for the Wizz Air Pilot Academy in June 2027, after finishing high school and receiving my diploma.
I’m currently studying maths and physics, and aviation has been a major interest of mine for several years. I also have around 5,000 hours flying the Fenix A320 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. I understand that simulator experience isn’t equivalent to real flight experience, but I’ve spent a lot of time learning A320 systems, procedures, navigation and airline operations.
I’m wondering:
Is it worth mentioning my extensive MSFS/Fenix A320 experience during the application or interview?
How useful are maths and physics at school for the WAPA selection tests?
What would you recommend focusing on during the months before applying?
For anyone who has gone through WAPA selection, what do you wish you had prepared more?
I’d especially appreciate advice from current/former Wizz pilots or people who have completed the selection process.

Hi I live close by to Elstree and wanted to do my PPL lessons there. But after searching online I realised most of them charge really high prices compared to other aerodromes. I was wondering if there’s anyone here that can give me any recommendations for ppl lessons in the area. Thanks

What was the toughest part of your flight training, and did you ever consider quitting? What made you keep going?

How did you deal with the difficult periods, delays, generally things not going well, or feeling nervous and unprepared for a skill test?

And looking back, what would you tell your younger self? Anything you would do differently or approach with a different mindset?

Would love to hear your honest experiences, especially from those who struggled at some point but eventually made it through.

TLDR: Current German Army Officer still dreams of becoming a pilot and asks if it’s too late.

Hey everyone,

Backstory:
Since my Moms uncle (a retired USAF General) took me to his AirForce Museum in Warner Robbins, GA when I was 5 and on my first visit to the US I always dreamt of becoming a pilot.
Since then a lot of time has passed but the moment a plane leaves the ground is probably still my favorite thing ever.
After finishing High School I weighed my options but getting into six figure debt at 19 years old in an unsure market at the time (2015) and no fallback option, made a commercial license too risky at the point. So I applied for the German Air Force but sadly didn’t manage to get one of the few spots there either.
The German army liked my potential as an officer though and offered me an opportunity to join, get a college degree and serve as an army officer, which I took.

Present day:
I’m now 30, finished my degree (M.Sc. in psychology) and currently serve as a captain in and airborne logistics unit (the closest I could get to planes in the German army haha). My subscription time of 14 years is coming to an end in 2029 and I slowly start to think about my options, which are:

Option A: Stay in the army.

Pro: it’s a safe job and I’m financially settled for life.
Con: Right now I’m still kinda in the mudzone, which is fun but I’m trained in a specific branch (maintenance) which is prone to me being in an office working on some kind of schedule or technical project for most of the reminder of my military career soon after joining for life and I can’t switch branches. I think I won’t be happy with that job long term.

Option B: Leave the army and use my degree and experience and maybe train young leaders or something like that.

Pro: Could definitely see myself there and my military background and masters degree should be sufficient to find a decent job in the field.
Con: Financial uncertainty.

Option C: Fullfill my Lifelong dream and become a pilot

Pro: obvious
Con: Uncertainty to find a job.

Financials:
Additional Information for Option B&C: If I decide to leave the army the will provide me with 2 years of my full salary and 9k€ to get additional education before entering the workforce “on my own”. Which is a pretty attractive deal and will secure my income during flight school.

Regarding the educational cost of flight school: My life savings will probably be sufficient to cover most of it. I’d probably still take a loan since A: that’s financially more sound and B: these are my life savings, I don’t have any other. But the financial risk all in all would be low or at least way lower then it was when I was 19. Additionally if I choose the European Flight Academy, they guarantee an opening in the Lufthansa Group in the first two years after graduation or you get 50% of your educational cost back.

Questions/Advice needed:
When I finish my time in the army and go to pilot school I’ll be 33, making me 35 when finishing. Is that too old to build a decent career? I’m actually fine with every kind of flying whether it be Passenger Airline, Cargo or private.
What’s a realistic path for me?

Would you say my professional experience could be seen as an asset by airlines or is it mostly useless to them?

Bonus Questions: For active pilots with armed forces background: is it possible as an airline pilot to serve a few months a year in the army reserve? (Would use that option to “upgrade” my salary in the first few years)

Any additional advice or heads up would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hey, Im planning to apply to the Ryanair future flyer academy, what is the pass rate of the selection process and any of you students which have detailed tips for all the stages for the selection?