Distance learning?
Spitfire, Sally and others...
One possibility that you may not have considered is distance learning. This is what I'm doing.
My reasoning is that, as you say, the airline industry is not a good industry to be getting into at the moment. But, although no one knows for sure, it seems like it will improve over the next few years. However, I don't want to put off getting my ATPL(f) - I'm the kind of person who has to feel like he's doing something positive. Besides which, if you put it off once, it's easy to put it off the next time, and the next, and the next...
By doing distance learning, I'm able to take a positive, active step towards my goal. But at the same time, I can keep my current job. I'm planning on keeping this job until I get my first flying job, doing the CPL and IR in my holiday time. I figure this will take around 3 years, by which time the industry will, hopefully, have picked up again.
Let me qualify this by saying that distance learning is not for everyone. It's very hard work, especially if you're trying to keep up a full-time job at the same time, and if you're not the kind of person who's going to be able to motivate yourself to commit every spare hour to stuyding, then don't do it. But, if you've got the distance learning mindset, I think it's the best option for people in the situation you and I are in.
Now, slightly off-topic, sorry. But Spitfire, I can understand your dilema re. the timing of your pay-rise, etc! Several years ago, long before I got bitten by the flying bug, I decided to change job to aid my career progression. I got offered a new job, and was just waiting for written confirmation before handing in my resignation. Two days before I got my new job offer in writing, one of the company directors called me into his office - he was managing a very high-profile project which was having some problems, and wanted me to help out. I had to say no, of course - and told him, off the record, that I was likely to be handing in my notice within a few days. Fortunately, he and I had a good working relationship and I had a lot of respect for him - if it had been someone whom I'd had less respect for, I'm not sure how I'd have handled the situation. Good luck, though, whatever you decide to do!
FFF
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