I posted this information in another thread but the whole thing was deleted. I don't know why it disappeared so I will post it again. This is by far the cheapest way to get a JAA ATPL and hopefully it will stop the big schools in the UK stealing from people. £50,000 is an insane price to pay and it should be stopped.
Before I start I will just say that all those idiots who say standards are lower in the US are either trying to get you to enrol in their school or they are trying to justify the sickening amount of money they have spent. I used to instruct in Los Angeles and I have also flown a lot in the UK and can say that the standard of flying is the same. I would even be tempted to say that those who have flown in the US are better all around pilots because they have dealt with and been into very busy airspace on a daily basis. It is also far more interesting in the states, where in the UK would you ever get the chance to squeeze under the wingtip of a Virgin 747 in a PA-28 so you can depart first to avoid having to wait for wake turbulence to dissipate, nowhere is the answer to that.
Here is the cheapest route to get a JAA ATPL in easy steps.
(1) Go and get an FAA PPL US$ 3600
(2) Build time US$ 5000
(3) Get a FAA IR US$ 3700
(4) Get an FAA CPL US$ 1300
(5) Add multi IR to FAA CPL US$ 1800
Total us costs in GBP at current exchange rate: £8325
You will need to do the JAA ATPL writtens at some point so I would suggest converting the FAA PPL to JAA ASAP and then you can enrol in a distance-learning course. The conversion I think consists of some written exams and check ride, I have not looked into it as have not needed to do it but would be very very surprised if it cost more than GBP 500.
(6) Enrol with an ATPL distance-learning course GBP 1100
(7) Convert the FAA IR to JAA GBP 3500
(8) Convert the FAA CPL to JAA GBP 1000
(9) Do an MCC course GBP 1500
That has cost about 15500 pounds. THAT IS CORRECT GBP 15500.
Nowhere near £50,000. Is the name of where you trained worth that much? Going by the number of unemployed ex student of the big schools in the UK the answer is obviously no. If you do not believe this I am happy to give you details of the schools offering these courses at those prices. The only one I am not sure of is the conversion of a FAA PPL as have not had to do it. Paying £50,000 to become a very inexperienced person in a field that is very hard to get into is, as far as I can tell, insane. Just think, the money you save could get you a 737 and A300 type rating. I am against that sort of thing but surely you lot who say the name of the school means a lot can't deny that a holder of a frozen ATPL, with those type ratings, would stand a far better chance than a fresh graduate from one of the rip off UK schools. Just had a look at a leading UK school and their course is £56,500, absolute madness. I will be interested to see if this post also gets deleted like the last one.
