Originally Posted by
powerflight
I have a conditional job offer from BA before I start training. The catch is I have to study at one of their four approved ATOs (of which Leading Edge would be mine).
I wouldn’t at all consider integrated if I wasn’t tagged, but now I have a job offer waiting, it makes it worth considering. So, modular untagged or integrated tagged?
My big reservation with LE isn’t the price - frankly I can deal with the extra £40k compared to modular if it’s essentially ‘insurance’ that I can get a job (in this case with BA). My concern is their financial position. I mean, they want £50k+ before even touching an aircraft when the theory portion would cost no more than £10k for them to run. Meanwhile I could get to start my MEIR going modular after £50k… it gives the impression that my money is used to pay for the class ahead of me (sounds a lot like a Ponzi scheme). They don’t take credit card payments that would give me protection from their bankruptcy.
The risk of modular is not landing a job, the risk of integrated is LE collapsing on me during training.
Congrats on landing that job offer, I'm guessing you applied through the BA SSP scheme?
The payment schedules of all the Integrated schools seem to be like that. Even those offering "payment plans". £10k to secure a place, £23k, 1 month before course. So £33k before I've even step foot there, not even cracked open a book, let alone even seen a plane. Be £86k deep before you'd even finished ground school, then another £23k. Mess up those exams and might as well have blown that cash on strippers and blow.
My other concerns with integrated schools right now is what seems to be the massive delays being reported at all the big name integrated schools CAE, L3, LEA once you reach the flying phases. And with them already holding all your money you're really hostage to them. Some of the start dates are well into 2025/2026
I know its a tough choice with that offer in hand... but with BA now announcing 200 spots for the next SPA scheme they're clearly forecasting some demand, you considered going modular and re-applying for the Post-IR scheme?