Conversion advice sought
Hi Folks,
I've moving back to the UK after 13 years overseas and I'm looking for advice on the best route converting my licence and the general lay of the land. Hopefully you'll forgive my basic questions as I have been out of the loop for a good while.
I have a very old UK PPL and shiny new Australian CPL (SE VFR) with an instructors rating plus tailwheel & aeros endorsements. My "simple" aim is to fly for a living - I am an aviation anorak, so I honestly don't mind if it were to be GA or bigger things. I'd be really grateful for any input to the following questions:
1) What route is most likely to lead to employment in the UK at the current time - pursuing a career as an instructor, or one of those airline FO schemes (e.g. Ryanair etc)?
2) Regarding the UK CPL - it looks like most CPL courses include a multi-engine IR. Is this typically expected for those applying for instructor jobs?
3) I am aware I have to take at least the CPL exams, although for the looks of it I would be more "future proof" going straight for the ATPL exams - am I correct in my thinking that you can take the ATPL exams without taking the CPL exam (unlike in Australia)?
4) Does anyone have any practical advice for working through the ATPLs? I have a couple of old Oxford ATPL textbooks - the material looks straightforward, although there is a huge volume! What order is most logical for working through the subjects? Is it correct that attendance at some organised groundschool is required? What sort of timescale would be reasonable for a motivated chap to work through them all?
5) I will be relocating to North Yorkshire (slightly petrifying for a soft southerner from Kent!) and it looks like the closest airfield will be Leeds, with Sherburn a little further away - it looks like one school on each field, but does anyone have any advice on advantages or disadvantages of either?
Many thanks!