Thanks LAX.
Let's assume that commercial pilot training costs £60000. I'm worried that people do not realise just how much money this really is. Please let me explain how hard it is to save this much money:-
I had a part time job at University and graduated 14 years ago with no debts. I started work in sales for a Blue Chip company and have worked hard ever since. I am very fortunate in that I have always had a job with a fully expensed company car, pension, free shares etc and earned a decent living. I have been careful with money and have always saved/invested a certain percentage of my earnings. Along the way I have had the usual financial hurdles to overcome that most people have/will have i.e, buying my own home, getting married, having holidays, buying gadgets for my home, beer etc.
Just recently I realised I had enough in savings to fund pilot training. But, it has taken me 14 years of working hard, being frugal and saving to do it and in my line of work people don't pay for their training. Please do not underestimate how hard this has been.
The really scary thing is that someone can sign away £60000 + interest of their not even guaranteed future earnings in about 5 minutes by signing a piece of paper.
As I am not a pilot I know nothing about actually being one. However if real life professional pilots like WWW & G-SXTY are willing to invest their time and tell others how it is and that there are no jobs for the foreseeable I will listen. If and when the pros say the market is improving I might well go for it - with my own cash fully prepared that there is a risk I might lose it.
The only viable options I can see for wannabees at the moment is either:-
1. Pay as you go for your training and heed the advice of the pros when pacing yourself - always keep your account in credit.
2. Save now for your future training.