Having completed my training in the US up to CPL ME/IR, I have been interested to see the amount of scepticism with which this thread is being viewed.
I completed my FAA training on a budget of £13000.
That included all fees, living and travel expenses....Oh yeah, and a Suzuki TL1000R to play on for the time I was there.
After I completed my training, and a not too lengthy search, I landed myself a job in a C182. (Unpaid of course
)
I returned to England a little over £10000 poorer, but with 750 hours under my belt. I sold the bike for a little more than I bought it for.
Since my return at the end of last year, I have been looking into conversion. (although not very actively), This is what Ive been quoted for the entire conversion:
JAA ATPL Theoretical Training. 25 weeks £ 4,245.00
CAA Examinations 14 £55.00 each £ 770.00
Training as required to pass CPL skills test Approx 5 hours £234.00 / hr £ 1,170.00
CPL Skills Test Direct to CAA £ 637.00
Aircraft hire for test Approx 2 hours £177.00 / hr £ 354.00
MEPL skills test In house examiner £ 125.00
Aircraft hire for test Approx 1.2 hours £260.00 / hr £ 312.00
Minimum of 15 hours IR training 5 hrs BE76 £343.00 / hr £ 1,715.00
10 hrs FNPT 2 £145.00 / hr £ 1,450.00
IR Flight test Direct to CAA £ 637.00
Aircraft hire for test Approx 2 hours £260.00 / hr £ 520.00
TOTAL £11,935.00
I know I could save a lot by doing a distance course, but this is just the way the quote came.
Now, before anyone starts repeating themselves about how no one ever passes in the minimum time, let me just point a couple of things out.
I chose to take the FAA Instrument rating in a Seneca and had absolutely no trouble whatsoever. If you can pass the FAA ME/IR, why not the JAA?
Forget about the minimum training, I could pass the test Today. Unless of course Im overlooking a fundamental reason why Flying on instruments is harder in the UK.
The key is not to waste youre hour building time in the states. Use it to practice approaches instead of just pounding it out on monotonous cross country flights.
So, I'm not going to assume that anyone will go out of their way to find a job in the states after their training and just add up the costs.
Go to the states and return 6 months later with FAA CPL ME/IR and 250hours....£11000
Convert to JAA without needing extra training (And why the hell would you?).......£11935
So, we're looking at £23000 without the discount for a distance learning course.
Ive known that I wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. Ive known that I wouldnt be learning to do that in the UK since I first saw the price of training here.
It is disgustingly over priced and is a barrier between those of us with shallow pockets and our dreams of a life in aviation. It almost seems as if its set up to keep the riff raff out of the skies or something.
In America, If you want to fly you can. A person of average means can even fly for PLEASURE!!! For Pleasure for gods sake. Imagine being able to hire an aircraft and fly over to france for the weekend without spending 2 weeks salary. In the US you can do it for 2 days salary! (not france of course, but a similar journey.)
The sooner people realise that their goals can be accomplished without having to pay these amounts the better.
Who knows, maybe we'll see a drop in the cost of flight training in the UK.
www.universalairacademy.com has aircraft for $50 wet.
whats that, just under £30?
I just thought your post
This is the cheapest way to get a JAA ATPL
would give false hope to some of these people who might set off down this road and perhaps get half way through the IR and run out of money as it has cost alot more than they thought.
This thread is as far as I know, very appropriately titled.
This
IS the cheapest way to do it.
Im sorry to hear that its cost you so much, If only this thread had come about sooner.