ATP flight school but Uk citizen

[alexeibutterwick]

Hello everyone,

Very new to the forums here, so please forgive me if something relating to this topic has already been discussed.

I am currently doing my skills assessments at several pilot schools. For example:

I got a partial pass in the Qatar Cadet Scheme at CTC wings and looking to re-do it again in November.

Ive just done my skills assessment at Oxford Aviation Academy and received a small partial because I was a few marks off the maths. Re-doing that in December.

On the 29th September, Im heading out to FTE Jerez to do the skills assessment there.

Ive however come across ATP flight school and it does sound appealing, partly because of the price tag.

Now it is almost 100% certain that I will be taking out a loan to pay for my flight training (probably the full amount) and Im wondering whether such loans can happen if I train out in America?

What does anyone suggest

Thank you

[paco]

Whatever you do, don't pay it all up front.

[morley846]

Hi Alexei,

I finished at ATP in May this year, I am also a Brit. I also applied both to FTE and CTC and had the partial pass as you did. Apparently I was 2 marks off on the maths with CTC.

This was probably the best thing that could have happened to me! Instead of trudging back down to Bournemouth which was where all assessment days occurred a couple of years back and forking out another £200 to improve by 2 marks for the pleasure of forking out £100k I took a job and saved up for flight school in the US.

ATPs International Career Pilot Program was excellent. I finished with my ME/CPL/IR in 7 months zero to 250 hours in that time. The best thing apart from the time and fact that there are no complicated entry exams was the price. $70k (£40k) this includes accommodation, food and going out cash plus a long weekend in New York!


A few things that you should take into account:

1. If you get your FAA licenses and want to work in Europe you will have to convert them and take the ATPL theory exams which will take some time and a lot of money.

2. ATP have no contacts in Europe that I know of. This means that if you are set on Europe then you may want to stick with CTC, OAA or FTE.

3. If you are open to working elsewhere then you could also pay an extra $20k and become a CFI in the US to build up your hours and also earn a bit of cash while you build experience (emphasis on a bit of cash as pay is pretty low for CFI's in the US) this is pending a successful visa application to work in the US. Friend of mine from Singapore has done this and after training in Daytona Beach he now works as a CFI in LA ( not too shabby)

4. Not sure on the loan, if you can and have the time and patience work a little to save as much as you can then see if you can get a loan in the UK to cover the rest.

From what I have gathered so far from the forums it seems like a big risk training in the UK taking out a massive loan and then not getting a flying job which are few and far between. If you are able to think laterally and are flexible then the US could be a cheaper and easier route!

Well if you have any questions PM me!

Hope that helps

[alexeibutterwick]

Thank you so much for your reply. Really appreciate your help.

Ideally I would much rather be based in Europe. BUT i am totally open to the fact that working in the US could be not so bad. Especially as a CFI.

I will see whether I am accepted into FTE Jerez and then I will go from there. After all, it is one of the best schools in Europe, so it could be criminal to let such an opportunity go. I spoke to them recently and they said that you are placed into a waiting pool once you graduate. Apparently (according to the school) a vast majority who are waiting do end up finding jobs, but I suppose they would say that so as not to ruin their reputation.

[mad_jock]

you have to look where you can work.

ie the US have enough pilots of their own and you won't get a greencard and a job as a brit.

The conversion from FAA to EASA is designed to be more expensive than just doing EASA in the first place.


You have choosen the most expensive method of obtaining a EASA license you can do it a lot cheaper.