Originally Posted by
Romeo__Mike
I heard a rumour on the grape vine from a friend of a friends mate down the pub.... That things might be changing with this dual licensing mess and the CAA are likely to re-enter EASA membership. Could be a load of BS and will likely take years to sort out. But the advice of getting your CAA class 1 and then going for the PPL and ATPL's is very good advice at that!
I have no idea how starting your ATPL's would affect your application with TUI however. I imagine you can't start taking your exams outside of the programme.
The only whisper I've heard has been from AMEs and flight instructors. Unfortunately I think it comes from a place of hope rather than anything concrete. It will require a joint effort between the British Government and the EU before the CAA and EASA have a say, so I wouldn't hold out for anything soon. We'll hear from official sources long before there ever is an agreement.
Another path is to start training for a PPL then get your Class 2 initial once you're ready for your first solo flight. Class 2 initial is £250 and lasts 5 years if you're under 40. Then if you want to continue after PPL, get a Class 1 initial. Even the PPL is a lot of work for the exams and puts many off continuing to ATPLs.
The FAQ on the TUI page states it's okay to have some ATPLs under your belt but you'll have to resit them as part of the course. You can start studying without signing up to a course by buying PadPilot textbooks on iBooks. They're around £30 each and well written with pretty diagrams!