Originally Posted by
Aviator172s
Why is it financially wrong to keep building flying time, whilst I study ATPL theory? Sorry but I think I don't see your point. My aim is to keep learning and progressing flying, and finish everything alltogether between the range of 200-250h.
From what I have been told in some ATOs, most sensible/common way of completing the modular path would be:
PPL (done)
ATPL theory (ongoing)
time building (150 total hours, c100 PIC) (ongoing)
Next steps:
IRSEP
NR
IRMEP
CPL
JOC/MCC
Actually that's a pretty good plan. Unfortunately a lot of people do PPL+Night, 100 hours PIC, ATPLs then CPL at 200 hours THEN a full IR course of 30sim+15multi. The last part is where the money gets wasted. Forget 250, aim to finish everything at 200 hours! Every hour over 200 is an hour you didn't need to spend 😜
By the sound of it your ATO is giving you some good advice (considering it's in their interest for you to fly/spend more rather than less)
Considering how long the ATPL exams can take when working and studying part time, the danger is that you fly too many hours too soon. Its important to leave some towards the end so that you can get back into flight training with a decent amount if recency.
Getting an SEIR as your first IR is a good idea for a few reasons. (a) It's cheaper whilst still saving the ATPL exams, (b) it reduces you MEP time by at least 10 hours, (c) it'll only cost you a few thousand because you can avoid the SIM and write most of it off against hour building (but only if you plan very carefully 😉
and (d) when you eventually write your CV, the only dates that actually matter are MEIR and MCC. That means if no-ones hiring cadets for the next few years you can sit on your SECPL/IR for a long a you like and hold of getting the MEIR/MCC until the time is right, then graduate with a fresh one. Nothing to keep current.