Hmm, but there is no point whatsoever in gaining an IR if there is no real prospect of getting a job within the next 10 months. Otherwise you will be paying for the renewal yourself at a cost of around £1,500.
Complete a PPL, do your hours building, pass the CPL if you must. If you want to get the ATPL exams out of the way then so be it but remember you start the clock ticking on your 500hrs Multi crew the moment you take those exams.
But expensive twin engine and IR ratings that cost a lot to maintain can wait until the market picks up a bit.
I have at least 15 friends or acquaintances that hold CPL/IR's Frzn ATPl and <500hrs that I can think of off the top of my head who are all looking for work.
If you can. Wait awhile until I only have half a dozen such friends. Not for their benefit. For yours.
Its a great career. Enthusiasm and determination count for a lot. But you have to face stark reality in the face. The hiring market fell off a cliff on Sept 11th for low time guys. Its just as bad as the Gulf War if not worse.
The industry will have a better recession than in 1991. Wannabes will have a worse one. JAA means that there are now 3 times as eligible for the jobs which were UK only ten years ago.
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