- booking in advance depends upon demand for the course at the time. You'll need a good couple of months for the visa paperwork but with the job market as it is the 18 month waiting lists for the JAA course itself (being quoted in 2007) have evaporated as far as I understand. Best bet is to give Anisha Hopkinson a call at BA (contact details on their website)
- pre-course admin is very good, in general. They are helpful and want to get you sorted so you can concentrate on the course. However, don't expect them to do everything for you - they'll make suggestions, give you contacts and show you around but you've obviously got to get these things done for yourself. They're pretty slick with the visa side of things
- course costs are on the Bristow Academy website (they'll have changed from when I went). Living costs I'd agree with Plain Torque, perhaps just adding that you'll need to budget on buying a car at the start and that it is very easy to spend a lot more than you originally budget because there's an active social life etc to up that spend! Cost of flights etc too - would you want to come home for xmas, do you want to see some of the US while you're there etc? That'd all add plenty more etc
- As P T has stated above; there are really 2 times when you're looking for that break. 1stly trying to get a job at Bristow Academy as an instructor (if that's your plan) and then again on return to your country. BA don't take everyone on and their own demand from students will dictate how many people they need. Getting a break back home ... well at the moment the market is dead & it's very, very difficult because there really isnt much to go for. When will the market pick up? That's been discussed on many other threads
. The truth is things change fast and when you'd graduate would be completely different to when we did.
One extra thing to think of, if you hadnt already, is that getting a job with just a CPL isnt likely to happen in the UK. You'll need either an IR(H) or Instructor qual, which will both set you back lots more £. At the moment neither will guarantee you a job though - just a lot more expense!!
HTH. BM