The best place for flight training is where YOU feel most comfortable. You are going to be spending alot of time and money with a particular training provider, so it is important to be sure that you are going to feel comfortable there, especially when you have those "off days" that will inevitably happen.
Most recognised? Every school produces pilots with the same licence, which has been examined to the same standard. Regardless of whether it is Modular or Integrated. So, depite what some school's marketing people will tell you, it shouldn't make any difference which school you go to, be it modular or integrated. Some schools *may* have connections with airlines. Modular is generally more flexible and often a more cost effective way of training.
Do some background research, narrow down which schools you think offer what you are looking for, do a search on here, then go and visit the schools personally.
Sponsorships are few and far between. Try Atlantic Airlines at Coventry, they have the Fuglie scheme which requires you to have a PPL and a Class 1 medical. If you fit the profile you could try applying to
The Air League for one of their bursaries.
If you havent already done so, take some PPL lessons and make sure you like flying. Also get your Class 1 medical as soon as is practically possible.
For finance, do a search for HSBC on PPRuNe. Expect to budget between £45,000 and £60,000 for a modular course or £65,000 to £80,000 for an Integrated course.
Some Do's and Don'ts
DO- Do make up your own mind. This must be something that you want to do.
- Do buy a copy of Clive Hughes' excellent guide to getting a professional licence.
- Do make sure you like flying. Take a 30/45/60 minute trial flying lesson. Explain to the instructor what you are planning.
- Do get a Class One Medical as soon as practically possible. It costs approx 400 quid, but you arent going to do any flying without it...
- Do talk to current and ex-pupils from the schools you are interested in. (Make sure the marketing people are not around).
- Do consider Modular over Integrated.
- Do a search on PPRuNe for the schools you are considering
- Do build at least a 20% contingency into any financial plan you come up with.
DON'T- Don't go into this without a back up plan if it all goes wrong.
- Don't base your choice solely on the glossy brochures and glib promises of marketing men/women.
- Don't base your choice solely on the opinions of posters on PPRuNe.
- Don't pay for anything up front. Ever.
- Don't expect things to go exactly according to plan.
- Don't expect a job straight after finishing training. Have that back up plan ready.
- Don't expect to get through the training without at least one episode of major frustration and/or depression.
Best of luck.