Firstly, like most of people, I got infected with the disease at an early age, and one of the primary symptoms was the inability to think rationally.
However, I knew at the time that I certainly hadn't the money and I wasn't going betting my parents savings on a career that may never happen. So, I went for an apprenticeship as an aircraft mechanic(probably told them about my love for airplanes
). Anyway, I worked fairly hard at it, made an effort to be good at my job and it's paid off in the long run.
While I was doing my apprenticeship I joined the local flying club and completed my PPL over a 3 year period and I must say I enjoyed every minute of it. I also kept a note of cost as I completed it and for those who are interested €7950.60 was the exact cost of my PPL
. That's everything from club memberships, medical, flight hours, IAA fees, even pilotlog basically everything I spent money on flying up until the day I paid for the license issue.
Now that I have a good career behind me I'm able to afford to speed up my training being able to pay more as I go, I've started my night rating and I'm about to start the ATPL DL theory, meanwhile enjoying my hourbuilding getting to see places I wanted to see.
I'm given myself the guts of a year to get through the ATPL, and in the mean time I'm paying into a savings account to get some cash together for ME/IR/CPL.
So, basically I'm trying to pay as I go, with the benefit of a career, maybe in the wrong industry though(banking seem to be where the $$$ are
). I've come across to many wandering lost souls that have massive debt and no fancy hat to show for it
and that's not a position I want to find myself in. On the other hand there is probably those who've risked it, made it and made their investment pay off.