Tsauna,
Re. your first question - unless you can't afford the time or the money, do a full-time modular course. I'm 3/4 of the way through a distance learning course, and as you know from speaking to your friend, it is very tough. It's certainly possible - and if you need to continue to work full-time, as I do, it's the only way. But why make things any harder than they need to be?
As for doing the flying abroad, lots of people do this, but I've got no personal experience except for hour-building, so I'll let others comment.
FFF
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