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Old 23rd Oct 2008, 08:21
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G SXTY

Supercharged PPRuNer
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
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Believe it or not, money isn't the most important thing in this game - determination and timing are much more important.

Get a job, preferably one with flexible hours or shifts. Use the job to fund a part time PPL. (£6,000 ish)

Carry on working, study for the ATPL theory exams in your spare time. (£3,000 ish)

Carry on working, buy a share in something cheap, go abroad or buy some block hours from your local club. Build to 150 hours total time. (£7,000 ish)

You are now two or three years down the road. Have a very good look at the job market. If it's still bad, keep the day job & keep shovelling money in the bank. There is no point in qualifying as a commercial pilot if there are no jobs at the time. If the market is improving (and in three years time I certainly hope it will) then look at jacking in the job and going full time training for the CPL / IR & MCC. You can do these part time, but I wouldn't recommend it. (£30,000 ish)

You are now a qualified commercial pilot and have spent approximately £46,000 in the process, spread over as many years as your budget and the job market dictate. Best of all, you won't have a loan of £75k to repay.

I followed exactly that route - it took around 6 years (although I could have done it quicker - thank 9/11 and a divorce) and I only had to borrow money for the last stage. Total debt around £25,000. Got an airline job within 3 months of qualifying becuase I qualified at the peak of the job market and made sure I was lucky with my timing.

The quoted costs are pretty accurate, and the £30k for the CPL/IR/MCC includes living costs when away from home, as well as budgeting for a restest and extra training.

If you use a day job to fund as much of the training as possible, and accept it will take a little longer than flashing your chequebook at Oxford or FTE, commercial training is more affordable than you think.

Just remember - timing is everything.
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