It's been a bit of a struggle!

[nehp2]

I was wondering just for a bit of fun who has faced the most arduous circumstances in their quest to become a professional pilot?

I started to fly helicopters 7 years ago aged 34 (having wanted to be a pilot from the age of 10),since then I have gained my ppl (h) accrued around 190 hours and passed my cpl (h) theory around 2 years ago.

I have not flown regularly for the past 4 years as since gaining my ppl I have had 5 jobs in 7 years with periods of unemployment scattered in for good measure (having had 4 jobs only in the preceeding 18 years!) my wife left me pretty soon after I started learning to fly,I was made bankrupt and re-married....now separated!!:ugh:

I have 12 months or so left to do my cpl course and test....I will get there,it's just taken a tad longer than I thought.....can anyone better that?? :ouch:

[206Fan]

Nopee can't top that, ive only started out aswel and won't have women getting in my way until i am in the industry.

[KNIEVEL77]

nehp2,

Don't tell me you support Newcastle United too to top things off???

Seriously though, sorry to hear about your bad luck, did you do your training at Northumbria Helicopters?

K77.

[nehp2]

yes 2 supporting Newcastle United....so destined for a life of bad luck:(

yes I learned at Northumbria :D

[KNIEVEL77]

Did you accrue you flying hours after your PPL(H) with our friends at Northunbria Helicopters or elsewhere and what is your final aim once gaining your CPL?

The reason I ask is that i'm just starting out on my PPL(H) at NH!

[Whirlygig]

I don’t think anyone really has an easy time of it (except those who learned in the Military of course :} :p).

Gained PPL in Sept 2003, separated from husband, moved house, made redundant, new job, moved again. Relocated to far away (it’s a long way to Norfolk from anywhere!), new job, new house, started studying for commercial exams Sept 2005. Father diagnosed terminally ill, 180 round mile trip 2/3 times a week to care for him. Wanted part-time work so lost job, new job, bought house, father died Feb 2007, sat first exams two months after, wade through father’s finances and attic, and finished all exams March 2008. Started CPL course June 2008, sat skill test Sept 2008 and STILL waiting to finish the night flying.

When people suggest allowing twice as much time and money, they’re not far off!

Cheers

Whirls



…and I’m older’n you!

[R44-pilot]

Nehp2,
I hope you get out of as much as you've put in mate,

In a simliar "flying" position as you... soon to be looking at cpl(h) flight taining i.e not had the heartache you've suffered to get underway. (maybe it will come to me...)

Wish you all the luck in the world mate, sounds like you need it!:ok:

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Hi Gents and Ladies,

If it helps at all I learned to fly curtosy of the Queen in exchange for a few years of my life. I now help new people to learn the trade on the NS and it never fails to impress me the amount of dedication and hard work self improvers put into their chosen career.

I have posted a few jokes on this forum about civvies versus mil but the truth is the modern civvy helio pilot generally brings a wealth of life experience to the job and just reading your tales of woe you all seem to be good graduates from the university of hard knocks.

Its very dissapointing that in our industry, apart from Bond, nobody seems willing to offer sponsered training any more.

I often sit next to a new start who on paper earns a damn good starting salary, but when you listent of extent of finance they have taken to get started out they all seem to just about survive month to month paying their loans and the usually massive accomodation rents just to live and work near to the oil industry.

For Miss Whirlygig, my hat is off to you. Sorry to here about your dad, that's a tough break.

Keep pressing on as the good news up here is that age never seems to be a barrier (young or mature) to breaking through to that first steady job on the NS.

Good luck to you all!!!!

[500e]

Whyrls.
I thought everyone knew it all costs twice as much both the training and owning, scrub the second 3\4 times as much.:{
Could not afford to fly and a new wife, it was her who suggested I learnt to fly & did not leave when the 500 appeared, better to be born lucky than rich, I was told :E





Fly the dream fly 500

[ADRidge]

I once got stuck in traffic on the way to the heliport. How's that?:p

[heliski22]

Whirls, my dear, you do yourself a disservice - you left out the part that you're great company for dinner and I haven't yet heard the banjo-picking so that's another treat in store!!!!

[Whirlygig]

Aw Heliski, I don't know about a disservice but it's mostly true (leaving out the more salacious details of course). Banjo concerts are regularly held in Norwich :}

Cheers

Whirls

[CGWRA]

I've been lucky so far. Dads a pilot so I grew up in helicopters. I saw many 100hr pilots struggling to find their way over the years. I was prepared for the worst leaving flight school, but I managed to find a job right away and ended up flying 400 hours in jetrangers the last couple years. I worked hard but I was also very fortunate. As a 500 hr pilot I'm a long way from the experience I need and the economy is making the heli industry in Canada a pretty tight ship but I'm still optimistic.

[spinwing]

nehp2

You do realise of course that with 2 divorces (effectively) under your belt you have one of the qualification boxes ticked for your ATPLH.


Well done that man!


:E

Keep at it Geordie .....

[pilonrock]

Well Gents

I am 40 hold a IFR, have a ATPL and 18 years in the indusrty. 2 x wives 3 kids and am just as broke as the day I started. Has it been fun , sure some times. Has it been worth it given the sacrrafice and stress. NO! Would do it agin No! Its a difficult life and the industy both in Canada and abroad has the largest perportion of assholes of probably any industry you can choose. Do your self a favour and think really hard if the priveledge of flying is really what you want because people will say and do anytjing to achieve artificial weightlessness.

[griffothefog]

Pilonrock,

Wow, only 40 and menopause already..... :{

[Freewheel]

Geez, you soft c*cks.


When I started out, I had to beg for a week at the boss's shoes to be allowed to carry the broom to the hangar sweeper, desperately hoping for a boot up the date on my way to do so, just so I could lick my own blood as I couldn't afford to buy water and it never rained.

I remembered the days when I could pay for the privelige of having a cranky old pr!ck bark in my ears for an hour, followed by sitting me down and waving a stick under my nose threatening to smack me with it if I ever did anything so bold as attempt to transition without a missive from on high and thought about how great it would be to go home with money in my pocket.

After that, I was sent to crawl across the glass strewn apron to retrieve the wallets of passengers from burning wreckage so that the weekly bowl of rice could be purchased. I of course I had to harness the energy from the remorseless sun to cook it dry, as AVGAS evaporated too quickly and the birds refused to crap in the bowl.

Later I was granted the honour of being chosen to collect the empty beer bottles from the boss' office after he and the secretary had been "writing correspondence" for a couple of hours. Occasionally one of these bottles would contain a few drops of a fluid that I vaguely remembered as being "beer". I was thrilled when I was permitted to slash my own wrists to drink from.

Months later I was allowed to sit in an aircraft. It was a stationary beast, which had no engine, blades or tail and on fire, but I was on my way!

Unfortunately, somebody then came along who offered to let the boss drink the blood he drew from him during these tasks, and I found myself cast aside in favour of the new guy.

All the boss would say as he chucked me from the open door of his car onto the dirt road outside the airport was, "keep chipping away son".

[Tarman]

This is beginning to sound like a Monty Python sketch ! There were 6 of us living in a cardboard box . . . . . . . . . .. but we were lucky !
I'm only a 150 hour ppl(h) but so far Wife/Kids/House intact.
Where am I going wrong ? :hmm:

[nehp2]

Well thanks Guys its nice to know I'm not alone :ok:

K77 I did my hour building at Northumbria,taking aircraft for servicing etc helps as positioning rates a little cheaper,aiming do do pleasure flying initially then my Instructors Course (probably next Millennium)

Whirls,forgot to add I lost my Dad to cancer 3 years ago :( and promised him I would complete my training so driven to not let him down.

Feeling inspired again :)

[Whirlygig]

neph2, I made the same promise to my father; his words were, "Don't do anything sensible with my money, like pay off your mortgage!"

And many heartfelt thanks to all those who've given me the moral support! :ok:

Cheers

Whirls

[500e]

I was always led to believe the Banjo was the hight of decadence :E











Fly the dream fly 500

[Bertie Thruster]

'Blimey! I take my hat off to all you 'self improvers'!

I'm glad I took the easy military option!:)

[RINKER]

Have been obsessed with helicopters all my life , programs like Skippy and The Whirlybirds stirring my original interest .Started using parts from model planes to cobble together semi successful flyings model helicopters at about age 12. Went on to afford proper Rc helicopters , great fun. About 1996 after saving for a couple of years working overtime etc went to Sloanes and got my ppl h in about six months thanks CH staying at The Aviator what bliss ( I had to commute from Scotland ).
About four years ago after a bit of a struggle ie lots of extra tests and money for same I got my class 1 medical and started a correspondence course with Bristol but with the pressure of running my own buisness It was slow slow progress, then came along the kids which are great along with supportive wife but no nearer CPL H .Having fun in the meantime though lots of flying experience approx 500 hr mark inc turbine time.
Then June 2008 got medical suspended with I have to say a surprisingly compassionate letter from CAA. Lots more tests and money and at least initially the specialist assured me I wasn't going to drop dead but still no medical.
The week before Christmas my wife asked what I would like for Christmas and I replied my medical.That night at our staff night out got a call from the specialist said CAA had advised him they would be prepared to allow class 2 medical with annual test. Happy Christmas to me ! .
Got class 2 renewed that week and on 23/12/08 got renewed licence so back beloved flying again .
NO chance of ever getting a class 1 so no CPL but ho hum I can still fly .
Story so far
R.

[nehp2]

Rinker..good on you!

Following the thread keeps reminding me of all the little set backs along the way,2 weeks after passing all my exams the CAA informed me that I had "right bundle branch block with left axis deviation" oh no :\ 18 months of study and heartache down the pan :ugh:.Luckily got checked out and all was ok apart from being trousered for £750.00 from a heart specialist who confirmed I was in good working order!

Like I said at the start, setbacks have been numerous!!

Enjoy your flying

[topendtorque]

Yeah I remember very easily failing a class 1 before it all got started. but perserverance , paid, even if it was a breathtaking bit of brinkmanship that pulled it off, and an allegiance to the USA doc that cleared me, that I will never forget.

WRT to the quote below;

programs like Skippy

I have to comment, and to quote a recent quote, - I don't want to burst your bubble - , but knowing one of the said SKIPPY pilots very well, that your command of the English language and memory recall would have to put him well in the shade.

Fable has it that he had two words to remember, one each of which was taped in big letters to the toes of each of his shoes.
standing by for the mortars.

[KNIEVEL77]

Anyone fancy a Lotus Exige........then I could afford an intensive course of training!

[Jarvy]

Started PPL(H) in 1998, obtained in 1999. Then onto CPL which I obtained in 2004. No work but told if I do ground crew and some running about work in 2005. Did base check in March 2005 then medical withdrawn due to heart problem. Class 1 (OML) issued in 2007 then that was withdrawn early 2008.
Lots of work done on my heart and both my consultants have written to CAA to say that I fit to fly or anything I want.
Now living in the US and I will never give up, I will fly again!!!
I must say that all this time my wife Dawn has been my no.1 supporter and financial backer.
Also thanks to all who have helped me so far.
I am now 48 so getting on abit.
Happy new year
Jarvy

[outhouse]

Hi whirlygig, guess the old military pilots had a really easy time getting into the flying game in the dim distant past around the late 60’s and into the 70’s. An invitation from Uncle Sam to join a rather exclusive club. Free flying lesions and beer money and then off to play in Nam. The clock it seems has repeated itself with the young lads presently involved in the military and enjoying the opportunity to fly free.


Outhouse.
:ok:

[inmate]

My road started in England after I failed the 11+ and was told that I could only be a blue collar worker. No GCE then for secondary school students, so not many options.
Joined the RAF as Boy Entrant Airframe and after service worked at BAC on Concorde. BAC was affiliated with Bristol and West Flying club and for 9 pounds an hour I got my PPL. (Before you think 9 pounds cheap I was only gettin 21 pounds as an Inspector and that included 30% night shift allowance)
Sold all I had and headed to US with 300 pounds.
Arrived in NY in December 70 and had a Greyhound bus ride to California. ( The only good part of the bus ride was carnal knowledge of my first US female somewhere between Ohio and ? ) " I just love your accent" , anyway I digress.
Gained CPL (A) at Sierra Academy in Oakland and ran out of money.
Took a job as a mechanic in a local hanger ($2.50 per hour), managed 50 apartments and painted apartments in my spare time.
1973 and forward saw a downturn in pilots and the fuel shortage was looming.
Along came a guy from Bristows who had arrived in Oakland to hire helicopter pilots ( Jack Brannan ) get your helicopter licence he says, we will hire you as soon as you arrive back on the old sod.
Well worked at the local school (Astrocopters) for pennies but one weeks work would get me one hour of flight time. Following my CPL(H) I worked and scrounged a hundred hours and went back home cap in hand.
Bristow then proceeded to tell me that I needed a UK CPL. Well I had hitch hiked to Redhill so I can assure you their was noooooo money.

With my last 3 pounds 10 shillings I place an add in the sponsership section of Flight International. 7 days later I was waiting for a validation on my FAA licence so I could fly for a company in Northhampton.

Well the rest is history and here we are 40 years later, 14,000+ and still loving it.

For you young guys coming up, never loose track of your goals, they are achievable if you want them bad enough. Times can be tough, but you can make it happen.
Like I said this is the short version, a lot happened along the way to get me here today, but that maybe is for a later date.

[Whirlygig]

Hi Outhouse, I hope you're not being as serious as I wasn't? :}

Cheers

Whirls

[Rudiger]

Hi guys, new member here. I was just wondering that with a few of you you have gone through the PPL only to fail the Class 1 medical (or have it revoked due to unforeseen circumstances) is it a possibility to do the Class 1 medical at the outset of training? How long is it applicable for before another one must be done?
I can't find any details for this on the CAA website and I think it might save me some potential heartache to see to this aspect of training as early as possible.
Thanks.

[nehp2]

My understanding is you can try to obtain a class 1 at any time, it is valid for 5 years ,however if you are flying class 1 it has to be revalidated every 12 months but if you are not flying commercially you can downgrade to class 2 as long as you keep that current. If you revalidate the class 1 within 5 years with your local caa approved doc you don,t need to go back to Gatwick.

hope that helps:ok:

[Rudiger]

Nehp2 thanks!
By my reckoning then I should be able to have a Class 1 medical (to make sure that I will be able to pass) then take up to five years to qualify before having to do it again. If I pass CPL before then and start work then I would have to renew it annually. Suits me.

[outhouse]

Hi Whirls,
Never serious just poking the ants nest, have fun.

outhouse
:sad:

[R44-pilot]

I went and got my class 1 before undertaking ppl(h), got that, went and got ppl(h) and have just let it lapse while doing cpl(h) groundschool, I believe you need it to undertake cpl(h) flight training, if not certainly for cpl skills test.

An itial Class 1 is done at Gatwick, thats valid for 12 months, you can exercise class 2 privilages for 60 months, you only need it revalidating by an approved body. I know a doctor around the corner who will do mine when I need it, far less involved in revalidation than the initial, i.e no ecg's etc on reval, but it all depends on your age.

How old are you Rudiger?

[Pandalet]

Expanding slightly on the post above, you can exercise class 2 priviledges for 60 months (5 years) IF you are under 30. Over 30, it drops to 2 years, then 1 year when you hit 50.

[R44-pilot]

"Expanding slightly on the post above, you can exercise class 2 priviledges for 60 months (5 years) IF you are under 30. Over 30, it drops to 2 years, then 1 year when you hit 50."

Exactly as I stated: but it all depends on your age.

How old are you Rudiger?

[206Fan]

R44

Id be concerned about your eye sight if you can't see it clearly says hes 27 under his name :p

Dave

[R44-pilot]

:ugh::ugh:LOL, dont tend to look at the info bit.... but i'll get them tested again......:8

[Rudiger]

Hi guys, thanks for the useful advice (and sorry for somewhat highjacking the thread). I'm 27 so think I'll be heading down to Gatwick sooner rather than later.

[KNIEVEL77]

Chaps,

Reading the posts above it seems like you have to go to Gatwick for the Medical??????

Is that right?

Is that the only place Medicals are carried out?

That makes it a bloody expensive Medical for us Northern boys!!!!

[206Fan]

Yea gatwick knievel, i think they do them at oxford aswel but not sure!

I take it you haven't done any class ones yet to check yourself out?

[R44-pilot]

I's the only place class 1's class 2's can be done all over the place.

But CPL(H) yup, a road trip to Gatwick is what it takes.

[KNIEVEL77]

Sorry guys,

So a PPL(H) medical can be done local to my Flight Training School?

But a CPL(H) medical has to be done at Gatwick?

[R44-pilot]

Yeah INTIAL Class 1 medical; to operate the licence privilages of a CPL has to obtained at Gatwick, eye tests, ECG's, Audiograms etc.. (quite a bit)

Class 2 medicals can be obtained from an approved body (by the CAA) i.e a local Doctor. They can do Intial class 2 and usually reneval Class 1,

Ask the pilots at your local field who they use, people don't usually have to travel far to find one.

But if I was you and you intend to see it through to CPL(H) level (ppl(h) is a expensive hobby!) you should go get a Class 1 before undertaking any flight training.

Dont wanna spend £14k on a ppl to find you fail class 1 med on something.

When I went there was a chap from Germany who had spent all his money and as far as I know had done all but his cpl(a) skills test (he was going for atpl(a)) He flew from Germany to Gatwick just for a medical because there was a massive waiting list in Germany for one... Poor sod failed on eye exam, turned out he was slightly colour blind. A very distraught German flew home that night..... not nice

[206Fan]

When I went there was a chap from Germany who had spent all his money and as far as I know had done all but his cpl(a) skills test (he was going for atpl(a)) He flew from Germany to Gatwick just for a medical because there was a massive waiting list in Germany for one... Poor sod failed on eye exam, turned out he was slightly colour blind. A very distraught German flew home that night..... not nice

Yea thou its his own fault for not doing it before hand.

Knievel if you have your heart set on the CPL route like me and R44 and everyone else on here then get your ass down to gatwick, worth the hassel. IF you do have any problems it will sure as hell lie with your eyesight or hearing. My hearing wasn't 20/20 at the time but that was due to one ear needing a clean out:O!

Dave

[KNIEVEL77]

Davy,

Being a Sound Engineer I would hope my hearing to be decent......but having said that a lot of older sound engineers have terrible hearing due to wearing headphones day in day out.

Now sight is another thing........presumably if you fail on sight all you do is get down to the opticians and get a pair of specs?

Just out of interest, what is the re-test fee, if any?

[R44-pilot]

Dunno about a re-test fee, but another guy I met there was one his second class 1, he had one 12 months before but was doing quite an intense atpl(a) course, ME IR etc... only about my age, early 20's.
Well he went in with a class 1, and came out with a class 1 however he went in not wearing glasses but came out needing them after his second test.

I went in for my eye test and had 20/20 vision, i.e perfect, a year into it all I found I couldnt read teletex etc on tv with out squiting big time, I now have glasses for flying and driving, I don't need them legally as I can squint a little to read enough of the letters the class1 requires, but it just shows things do change, i'm only 1 prescription above minimum, but they said if i'm still studying from screens and books close up i.e (frigging cpl(h) groundschool) I may have to keep an eye on them until I stop all the reading crap as I could go up another prescription.....

Get your class 1 done before spending a penny K. Also, not to do with flying, my friend tried for the army to find he had the slightest heart murmer, he was 18, never had a problem with it, and doc's say more than likely never will..... just saying that for instance would stop you obtaining a medical and perhaps never cause a problem your whole life, and he had no idea it was there.....

[choppertop]

My hearing wasn't 20/20 at the time but that was due to one ear needing a clean out!

Ewwww! Thanks for grossing us out. Any other details about the functionality and cleanliness of the rest of your anatomy you wish to share? lol

[206Fan]

Ewwww! Thanks for grossing us out. Any other details about the functionality and cleanliness of the rest of your anatomy you wish to share? lol

LOL.:}

Sorry choppertop, did you have your dinner yet? :E

[Whirlybird]

Now sight is another thing........presumably if you fail on sight all you do is get down to the opticians and get a pair of specs?


Not necessarily; it depends what's wrong. There's a maximum amount of shortsightedness allowed, a max difference between each eye, and a whole host of other things. When I did my initial Class 1, young guys who thought they were perfectly fit were failing on eyesight grounds...maybe for ever. If you're serious about getting a CPL, get your ass down to Gatwick before you do any training!!! And for the Northern lads/lasses, check out cheap flights or use your air miles - the CAA building is very close to the airport.

[photex]

To be honest, it's worth going to your optician BEFORE heading off to Gatwick.

It's only ~£20, and if you take along the CAA requirements (can be downloaded from CAA website) they can check you're okay before commiting to the expense of the Class 1.

[Whirlygig]

Eyesight stuff (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=68&gid=1250)

Find an AME (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=65&appid=21)

The important thing to remember is that in initial class 1 requirements are more stringent than renewal so it's best to get a Class 1 early; you can always let it lapse into a Class 2 and the renewal upgrade to a class 1 need only be done by a local AME.

Other than vision and hearing, if someone as old, fat and unfit as me can pass a Class 1, so should a youngster :}

Cheers

Whirls

[206Fan]

Other than vision and hearing, if someone as old, fat and unfit as me can pass a Class 1, so should a youngster

Theres me busting myself in the gym for nothing :E

[nehp2]

These threads do tend to wander from the initial post!

I remember the eyesight test at Gatwick,having a torch shone in my eyes by a very serious caa optician/doc he was about 6mm from my nose and taking bloody ages,I could feel his breath he was so close,I ended up bursting out laughing and having to have it done again....I defy anyone not to do the same:eek:

I also remember the lovely dressing gowns...and the finger...look no hands I heard the doc cry out!!:=

[Whirlygig]

The "lovely" dressing gowns are fine for someone built like a loosehead prop. One size does not fit all :}

At least you didn't fall off the stool backwards during the glaucoma test :ouch:

In general, the medical is fine and nothing to worry about. The CAA medical department are pleasant and helpful; they try to be accommodating if you do have any medical issues.

Cheers

Whirls

[ShyTorque]

At least you didn't fall off the stool backwards during the glaucoma test


Dutch courage, eh? :E

[timex]

K77, try this guy, he's excellent.


Northumbria Aviation Medical Services (http://www.colinbrown.net/)

[KNIEVEL77]

Great link, thanks Timex.

[Phil77]

R44: No, the distraught german that flew home from Gatwick wasn't me, but I had a similar trip back home from Stuttgart, Germany (one of FOUR Aeromedical Centers in Germany able to issue initial 1st class medicals).
It was expected, since my (slight) issues with color vision where known since my medical for the military years before.

Anyhow: the (highly recommended) Dr. Quast suggested I try the Lantern-Test at the german space agency (DASA) in Cologne... long story short: I passed with flying colors (literally :p) having not been able to read half of those Ishihara pictures before!!!
Needles to say I almost shed some tears being able to pursue my dream after all - here I am, although not in europe anymore, but flying helicopters AND jets in the USA, knowing I would be (medically) able to do the same in my home country (not that I have intentions to do so, in the near future).

P.S.: With passing the Lantern Test you get a waiver for future color vision tests, since a man's color vision (no, not female; color deficiency is mostly a male problem) will not change for good or bad through his life. :O
Quite interesting article on that topic:
Color Vision Tests for Aviation: Comparison of the Anomaloscope and Three Lantern Types:
http://www.city.ac.uk/avrc/members/j.l.barbur/JAR_colour_study.pdf

[heliski22]

"Old, fat and unfit"? Were you in disguise then, dahling?

[KNIEVEL77]

Well having spent hours reading the PPL(H) training books, watching the Robinson training DVDs and listening to Radio Telephony training cds........it is really concerning me spending £15k on my PPL(H) when really I should be leaving the funds for a rainy day.......new car, loss of work etc.

[Heliringer]

Unless you are really wealthy a PPLH is a waste of your money. You need to keep flying after you have it or you will become dangerous and that costs lots of cash. I bet most people who have got the PPL don't fly anymore for this reason, so why bother in the first place.

[EN48]

a PPLH is a waste of your money


Probably right if one has no intent of continuing after the PPL. If what you mainly want to do is fly a helicopter now and then, forget the PPL and fly with an instructor when to spirit moves you. Could be weekly, or perhaps just a few times per year. Yes, some tradeoffs involved, but if economy is paramount, this might be the answer.

[KNIEVEL77]

Just out of interest then what sort of price/hours training/length of time to pass would it be if one was to train in sunnier climes such as Florida?

And on ones return to the UK what extra money would need to be spent?

[brett s]

I got my PPL(H) in under a month, flying a couple of hours a day weather permitting - had just gotten out of the military & wanted a break before starting another job, had enough money saved up to take my time (being single & in my 20's).

Price won't be relevant anymore, was in 1989...

[photex]

Just out of interest then what sort of price/hours training/length of time to pass would it be if one was to train in sunnier climes such as Florida?

And on ones return to the UK what extra money would need to be spent?

I've spent the last year weighing up the pros and cons of this method and in the end decided it best to stay in the UK to train, despite having a place booked for Bristows and the visa read to go. I pulled out mainly because of the crappy dollar rate, but there's other reasons too.

I won't go into the details here but please PM me if you would like more info.