PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - People's opinions on the integrated route and flight schools...
Old 20th Apr 2011, 14:54
  #8 (permalink)  
Tinstaafl
 
Join Date: Dec 1998
Location: Escapee from Ultima Thule
Posts: 4,273
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I wouldn't recommend integrated *unless* there's a cast iron job at the end of it. You get the same licence, integrated or non-integrated but pay rather more for the integrated route.

Non-int. gives you the opportunity to shop around, choosing a different school for different parts of your training if that school is more appropriate or cost effective. Integrated usually means you're stuck there. Bad luck if you're not happy with them. Usually more cost up front** too so if the school goes tits up you've lost your money.

Do as Reddo says: Get a job, any job for a year or so The more the pay the better of course but whatever you can get. Use the time to study the theory. Don't try to learn to fly part time ie a lesson or two per week. At least, not in the beginning. You'll waste quite a bit of time (=$$$). Newly learned skills deteriorate quickly between lessons. You'll have to spend time at the start of each lesson regaining the skill level you had at the end of the previous week's lesson. Instead use the time to save enough money to start your training full time. Get up to at least 1st solo or starting the navigation phase & then you could continue at something less than full time if you wish.

Non-int also means you can have a break from flying (read 'spending $') to earn an income between stages. Work for a while, do the next phase, work again, do another phase and so on.


**How many times do we say: DON'T PAY UP FRONT! Schools go broke regularly. If it's absolutely unavoidable ie that school is the only one that you wish to train at, then look at some form of escrow account that requires your approval for the school to draw down on. Next worst option is for small payments in advance - but only as much as you're prepared to lose eg enough to cover the next flight or couple of flights, or maybe a grand or two at a time. This is much easier to arrange if you're able to shop around for a school ie non-integrated route.
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