Dear All,

I have written a few messages here in the past regarding self funded ATPL, what schools to go to etc........ However due to the lack of money and not really wanting to have a £50,000 debt over my head with a career dev. loan, I did not take that route.

I graduated two yrs ago with an Aero Eng degree and unfortunately my childhood ambition (to join the RAF as a Pilot) didn't work out, dispite having a PPL and being in the UAS - it does baffle me!!

Anyway all that is in the past and I am working as an engineer for Airbus UK. Although the work I do can be interesting and obviously related to my passion of flying, I still crave to be flying the aircraft and not designing them!

I am therefore looking at undertaking a distant learning course, with the ground studies at Bristol, as I live in Bristol and I have heard extremely good commemts about the school. I am rather worried though as the industry at present not at it's best and I do not wish to undertake the studies if it will not lead to some kind of flying career after completion.

This is where I ask for your advice. Would you recommend doing the distance learning course? What could this lead to? And, is it possible after completing the theory to approach the airlines and only do the flying phase of training (lesss cost for them)?

I appologise for the long post, but I have alot to think about and any advice would be appreicated.

Cheers

JW :rolleyes:

Things are not very good when it comes to the hiring of low time pilots.Before Sept 11 th it was the best it had ever been but was still very hard to land that first job.
Distance learning will probably take about 12 mths to complete.The exam passes are then valid for 36 mths, during which time you must complete a CPL and IR.This will then give you the very basic requirement to enter the job hunting market.
You are in a good position at the moment in that you have a good job to provide income to train and build experience.I would go the Distance learning route,at least you can live as you train.
I would find it highly unlikely that any airline would assist in pilot training at the moment,as there are quite a number of pilots out there at the moment with the relavent licences and experience....However the industry is "supply and demand" and when the industry picks itself up and recruiting starts in numbers again you will be in a position to start applying.
There are no guarentees,it`s very unfair I know but sometimes you have to take a risk.
Good luck in whichever way you choose.:)

JW

Doing the ATPL theory syllabus by distance learning is a relatively small investment and doesn't commit you to anything. Bristol, as you say, has a very good reputation, and the fact that you live nearby means that help and advice is close at hand. I'd do the course and have a look at the market once you've done it before you decide what your next step should be. I'm sure things will be clearer in a year's time.

JW
I endorse the above and would add that living in Bristol you would of course have access to one of the best modular flying schools. What most candidates don't always take into consideration is the real expense of extra accomadation, which after food and other bills soon adds up. Bristol ground and flying school is on your doorstep.... make the most of it.

sp

Can anyone explain what distance learning is??

Easy226,

There are 14 written exams in total for ATPL. You can either study for them full time, i.e. residential course or you can spend time for studies as and when you like and do a long distance course. You can think of long distance course as correspondence course, where you have to do so many modules before the course provider will sign you off to take the written exams.

JW - I think you're onto the right track by thinking about distance learning. Especially with Bristol, as they're superb. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the groundschool (with Bristol). I figure that, doing everything part time while keeping my full-time job, I'll have my ATPL(f) in about 2 or 3 years. The general opinion seems to be that the market will have picked up in that time - and, even if it hasn't, I'll still have my old job to fall back on. So I say go for it!

Good luck!

FFF
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