Tinsparrow,
A couple of your questions are impossible to answer but here goes.....
Different people source the money different ways. Some save up for years on end, others just happen to be wealthy enought to do it but most have to sell everything not nailed down and borrow the rest.
Th easy bit, a career development loan is £300 to £8000 and is paid direct to the training provider, to cover a maximum of 80%of the course costs. They are frequently not given for PPL courses as they are seen as a hobby more than a career development course.
Virtually every other loan is just a form of bank loan. It is very hard to borrow more than £15,000 without security, although some have got up to £25,000 they are very few and far between.
The easiest way to raise the cash is to secure the loan against a house. Increases the risk to you but decreases the risk to the banks. Most will then be willing to offer up to £70,000+.
However, the big question the banks ask is what are you going to do if you fail the course, and how are you going to repay us our money? There used to be a very good thread on borrowing from HSBC so do a search of the forums and it will be very good reading. The whole borrowing process is very risky. If you were borrowing money for a house or car, you always have the option of selling them to repay part or all of the money borrowed. Using vast sums of money for training will not leave you this option. Do not let anyone fool you into thinking there is no risk, if you were to fail to reach your goal, you would be left with a huge debt and nothing physical to show for it.
If it all went "pear shaped" a box would be very luxurious. I have yet to find a safe way to borrow money without the potential of losing everything. That does not mean don't do it, just be very sure and very careful about why you want to do it and what your expectations are, lots have taken the chance and are flying for airlines all over the world.
As for how much it costs, well how long is a piece of string. Modular you are looking at anything between £35000 and £55000, and integrated, £65000 to £80000. Maybe you learn fast maybe you don't. You may be able to complete some of your training in the US, you may not. You may have to take re-tests, maybe not. Maybe you have the eye-hand co-ordination maybe not.
There are 3 steps that will give some guidance if this is the career for you, in increasing level of cost they are:
Trial lesson £100 to £250 depending on length of time and aircraft.
GAPAN apptitude tests. £150 (assesses if you have the required basic skill set and sets out your potential
www.gapan.org )
Class 1 Medical £400 This is all a dream if you are not physically fit to fly.
Hope this helps
Obs cop