I don't agree that TEP will be a cost effective option to the airlines within the immediate future. There have got to be a wealth of self-sponsored individuals out there who fit the 'Nigel' mould. I've met a number of very clever, 'stable extroverts' who tried for BA TEP once maybe twice before gaining their own finance for the ATPL, even though they still had a number of years to run before being outside of BA's TEP age limits. As it was they appear to have made the right decision, given 11/9 and BA's withdrawal of the scheme.
My point being that BA will be looking to bring these sort of people back into the net. Thus saving themselves thousands of pounds (lets not kid ourselves that the actual figures are important!
The saving is still there!)
The right individual (intelligent / dedicated) will always be committed enough to fund for the FATPL himself if there are no sponsorships available. How many sponsorship schemes are (or were) available to US students for US airlines, compared to the number who have to pay and instruct for their ATPL?
Even if BA do re-introduce the TEP, they are not guaranteed to find the right individual. Can you believe that there are people out there who have been sponsored, but binned 2 weeks prior to IRT and can't even be bothered to even try to find the extra funds to complete a couple of flights and obtain a FATPL. That was an extreme, but there are similar stories.
The long and short of it is BA will not lose out by not replacing the TEP scheme. Us wannabes will always find a way of obtaining the funds, and will always want to fly their jets
So why sit around and wait, it could be years before such a scheme is returned in some shape and form.
In my opinion. If you have the funds and stuck for time (i.e 30+), start a full time approved course. If your younger I would definitely look at modular, given the comments in this and other threads.
Sorry I appeared to have rambled on again!
