Hi everyone,
I’m currently 17 (turning 18 in two months) and certain that I want to become a pilot. I hold a Polish passport and have settled status in the UK, so I can live and work in both the UK and the EU. I’m also in my first year of a four-year aerospace engineering degree at a top-rated university in Scotland, and since education here is free, I don’t have to pay tuition fees. Plus, I’m living at home, so no accommodation costs either.
I’ve been thinking a lot about when and how to start my pilot training, and I could use some advice. There’s a local flight school near me, ACS Flight School, which offers both integrated and modular training. They do both EASA and CAA licenses. The integrated course costs £80,000, but if you get your PPL somewhere else and then join, they knock off £12,500 from the price.
I’m a bit unsure about a few things, and I’d appreciate your insights:
- License choice: From what I’ve read, an EASA license seems to offer more job opportunities compared to a CAA one. Is that true? Which one should I focus on getting?
- Integrated vs. Modular: Should I go down the integrated route (but take out a loan to cover the cost) or the modular route where I could try to find cheaper places across Europe or the UK to do my PPL and hour building? ACS allows installments of £5,000 per month for the integrated course, but modular seems like a “pay as you go” option, which might be easier for me to manage financially.
- Timing: Should I start my training while still in uni, or would it be better to wait until I graduate? I would need to work to fund my training either way, and while my parents said they could support me a little financially, I don’t want to put too much strain on them.
- Work experience: Would it be better to gain work experience in aerospace engineering before diving into full-time pilot training, or should I try to combine both?
I’d love to hear your advice, especially if you’ve gone through a similar situation. Thanks so much in advance!