Hi All,
55K is a lot of money whichever way you look at it but a course like that does have one big advantage. Consistency. It's an intensive course ( which may not suit all) that will allow you to complete the training in the shortest time possible. Shorter time means sooner in the job market which means sooner you pick up the salary to pay it off. Better still, look into an Airline sponsorship if you can, regardless of the 60k or whatever bond. If you land a jet job with 200 hours, You wont be leaving for the first 4-5 years anyway, so the bond is somewhat immaterial.
As an aside, I started out my flying career with Ravenair back in '86,when they had a hangar on Manchester Airport southside. Yes, where rwy 24L is now! Geff was there then along with a guy called Chris Entwhistle who was a First Officer for Britannia and I found Ravenair very professional. Flying out of a major Airport like that was also a confidence booster although it did equate to extra expense. After approx 40+ hours of PPL training, I managed to get a sponsorship with Britannia which involved a very considerable at that time 8K non refundable deposit and another 8K paid from my salary over 5 years upon joining the B737 fleet as a wide eyed Second Officer. Twenty years later,and the ripe 'old' age of forty, as a Captain on the B777 I am fortunate enough to earn that amount per month.
Yes, it was worth all the hard work and expense. I don't envy what you guys ( and girls!) have to go through but if you want it as much as I wanted it back then, it will be worth it. Would I do it all again? You bet I would!
Good luck to you and best wishes in you future careers
BYMONEK