Hi all,
Interested in becoming a pilot, like many before me. I have spoken to a couple of schools and they made integrated sound very attractive, however having done my own research I think I could probably do modular full-time and save serious money. The problem being of course the different views about the job market I'm seeing. I would be putting my entire life savings on this plus some help and a loan, so I want to make the right decision. In my head I have it as PPL + night rating in a club, ATPL theory from an ATO with the best value (I've found for 60% the cost of the nearest school's theory programme), IR with a school, potential hour building in the US for condensed time benefit, then either:
A) SE rating on to CPL with an eye to becoming a flight instructor (modest salary but at least it's a career in flying), and once in position financially go for ATPL
B) Full steam ahead on ME class rating/MEIR and on to ATPL with an eye to working in airlines
Obviously the latter is more risky. That's a sticking point. I've read that Boeing are predicting a serious pilot shortage and that many pilots will be retiring over the next 10 years, combined with hiring 200-hour pilots it's a good time to learn. However I have also read that this is not true, many pilots still waiting to get back and that there aren't actually that many jobs. Both schools I have spoken with claim to have a great track record of pilots getting jobs with airlines pretty much out the door, mentored programmes and that.
Although the idea of paying an airline 30k for a TR for the potential of a job isn't enamouring. Frankly, I find it despicable that they do that, which is part of the concern: conditions for pilots getting worse over time to the point it's not worth the investment, no matter how much I want to be a pilot.
I would appreciate a candid, honest and up-to-date assessment - the more cynical posts I've seen had come from 2021. Coming towards summer 22, Covid for most is forgotten and now we're onto the next hamster-wheel that is UKR/RUS (interested to see how people think that will impact the market as well).
Thanks for reading.