What To Do?

[Bombs Away]

Have a bit of a dilemma and need some advice. At the moment I'm in a extremely well paid job and a few weeks ago applied for some time off to do the ATPL fulltime (before anyone asks, part-time study is not an option as I do not have the fortitude or conviction for such a task).

Anyway the leave was refused and now I have the option of sticking with the job or quitting and risking it all on a career which may or may not happen. It's quite a big leap and I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience.

At the end of the day I know I can get the licence but there is no guarantee of a job and this is what scares me. If I had more balls I would just say **** it and dive in at the deep end but I wan't to way up all the risks.

Its basically a junction in the road, if I go left I stay in the safety and security of a job that I don't enjoy doing. Or I could turn right and risk it all.

Any opinions or words of advice :confused:

[Hour Builder]

You only live once fella!

I dont live to work...what do you do?

HB

[ramwilliams]

Hey Bombs,
I am in a similar situation but going for it one way or the other. Simply seems harder to figure out how to do your training than actually learning to fly. But staying in your current job will only make you regret sooner or later not to have taken the leap forward.

[clunk1001]

There is another road...

Work 3 days a week in your regular job, study/fly in the other 4. Although it may take a little longer it gives you the best of both worlds.

Assuming you don’t have £70,000 burning a hole in your pocket to pay for the integrated route you'll need some reasonable cash flow. Also, when you've finished the MCC you may have to wait a long time for your first flying job (you only have to read the posts on pprune to see that 12-24 months is not unusual). So if you need to go back to regular (well paid) employment to pay the rent (and that loan for the IR :bored:) while you wait for your first flying job you'll no doubt be asked "So Mr Bombs Away, are you just going to leave our company when someone offers you a flying job?".

The trick with this option is getting part time. Under UK employment law, an employer has to demonstrate that there is no way your role can be part time if you officially request flexible working (this law applies to everyone now - not just mothers returning from MAT leave, which is where it all originated from). It worked for me: I now work 3 days , 3-4 days study/flying, on track to finish next year, and with the regular cash coming in I’ll have little debt at the end, and a stable job to keep me going while I wait for the first flying job. (I would however love to jack it all in and train full time but I'm too chicken :O).

Good luck either way.

btw if you do have 70k you shouldn’t even be reading this! - you should be writing your resignation letter with a golden pen and then applying to OAT with aforementioned golden pen (or getting your butler to do it ;)).

[wbryce]

I would recommend obtaining a class one medical before you consider jacking your job in to ensure your medically fit for license issue for all the obvious reasons.

[SlingsbyT67M]

I am in exactly the same position as you. Although I do have one disadvantage - I am 38 years old. After much deliberation and loads of hey keep your eyes open and know what you are getting into I have decided to go for it and figure you only live once, so what the hell. If I get a job at the end then - whooo hoooo. If not I will just have to go back to my mundane life in IT. You only live once. Oh and I am going the modular route.

Good luck!
:)

[pamelasuresh]

Hi,

I just need some lead to a nice flight training school in Texas. I would need some advice on how to decide on the right flying school please.....

thank you