Well, of course its a must with a "decent flat" in the middle of Oslo?
No way someone can stay in a bit smaller place, let say in Lillestrøm (which is 15min with train from Oslo) or Jessheim (which is 25 min with train) and save 600£ a month only on that?
Sure, its nice with huge penthouse apt. at Aker Brygge. But if you make 1200£ a month, you dont rent a flat for 10.000£. You go for 300-400£.
Its not about what you want, its about what you can afford.
There is no "must" for no one, to live in Oslo or big apt. Especially if its only for 2-3 or even 5 years.
2 rooms apt, 25min from Oslo, 10min from airport. More then decent enough.
But, even those, if that wage would not be enough. You can always have some minor job on the side, cant you?
Or think in advance and make some extra savings.
I do part-time study now. With 20 hours a week (full time study is 25hrs a week). And I do work in addition to that. Like last 3 days, I worked night-shift, 13 hours a day.
Hard? Yes! Do I like it? No, not at all!! But, once Im done with fATPL and MCC, ill still have around 150.000NOK on my account, just in case I need it. Like if I will not be able to get a job (any kind of job) or Ill have to take low-payment flying job. Ill still be able to pay to the bank for 5 years AND have that little extra to help me out with rent, food, etc.
Its all about planing ahead, work hard, give it your best!
And yes, you can have practice on F1 visa.
Schools that issue F1, have approved program, which include practice time as FI. Thats part of the program!
No, you will not be allowed to work at gas station or Starbucks instead.
But you do work legally as Flight Instructor.
If you look at US gov. site, you will find that info. I did it for about a year ago.
It something that called "optional practice periode" or something like that, and its for around 1.5 year.
You did look at "general rules". But there are own rules for flight training and there are own rules for medical students and so on.
I have friends in 4 or 5 different schools in FL. All of those schools have mainly european students, with almost all european instructors.
You really thing 5 of major schools (all of them in top 10 for sure) have all of their instructor illegally employed? Kind of makes no sense, does it?
The thing is, school does promise 1000+ TT. But guys I know (who is CFI over there) do have (or about to get) that amount of time as well. All but 2 guys, but that was their fault, cause they was going on vacation, did not study too hard, beach, party etc...
Last edited by cefey; 4th April 2011 at 01:20.