Is it even worth going modular right now?

[WingsofRoffa]

Lets say I started a modular journey in March next year, it would take 18 months, so I'd be finished by mid to late 2022.

Even that seems early given the black swan that is still lingering.

Is anybody else even bothering starting out now?

[TryingToAvoidCBs]

It doesn't need to take 18 months, you'd be lucky to get an integrated course done that fast. That's the beauty of a modular course, you can make it last as long as you need it to.
Don't underestimate how long your hours building will take, especially if you plan on doing it all in the UK. There's no reason you can't take your time for your PPL and drag it out over 12-18 months, enjoy the journey. As you've already mentioned, there isn't any rush to finish, so don't rush to finish.

[Sorath]

Exactly what TryingToAvoidCBs says. I plan on starting on Feb2021 and I plan to extend my training minimum over 3 years... taking it easy, no pressure to finish fast.

I've talked to some pilots and all say that their GA time was much more enjoyful than their current airline job... so what's the rush... it's like going to University and taking way more time to complete... way less stressful … and knowledge and muscle memory for flying would be acquired better IMHO.

[parkfell]

Start the modular journey once the vaccine is approved for use in the general public.

[Daddy Fantastic]

To the OP......Short answer NO!!!

[B2N2]

Well, you’re wrong.
You should start modular training now.
Reason being you have the luxury of no time pressure. The chance to do this without getting into crazy amounts of debt because the market is so stressed.
Modular you’re looking at 2-3 years, maybe 4 if you take it easy.
Then you’ll start your time building phase flying all sorts of odd jobs gaining flight time while you still hold a really world job to pay the bills.
Your time for zero to competitive in the job market is a realistic 5-7 years.
All of this COVID-19/20/21/22 is going to be long forgotten.
Starting training when the market is at its peak is asking for drama as you likely miss the boat as you won’t be ready and competitive for 2-3 years even if you accelerate through everything with a giant loan.

[WingsofRoffa]

Cheers guys,

I will slow time it and get it done over a few years.

[truckflyer]

I agree with B2N2, not an issue to start modular training, do it slowly, step by step. The only time pressure you will have is when you have completed your ATPL exams, I can't recall exact rules on this now, I believe you have 18 months from completing your final ATPL exam to complete your IR.

Now there are ways to manipulate this time scale, by delaying 1 final ATPL exam with the number of takes allowed. (I would delay one of the easy one, the RT one. Check all the time limits and the time allowed between the different phases. Have a job, train part time, so you finish up with no debts when finish training. Save money for a TR, and in 5 - 7 years you will be fine.

Also enjoy the hour building period, no rush. If you time it good you can be lucky and get a FI job just around the upturn when it comes again.

[Smooth Airperator]

Do it in such a way that you're going slow enough not to jeapordise your current career. If you're the sort that doesn't give a damn about another career, then more fool you.

[Banana Joe]

Get at least your PPL now and have fun with it. The hours count.

[pilot freak]

I fully agree with Banana Joe, get your PPL and fly for fun, get some experience/hours and keep an eye on the market.

[Archer4]

Most imortant is that you do it because you like it. The journey is as important as the end result.

Commercial flying has large ups and downs in the past. It is likely to be similar in the future. My advice, make sure you are able to sustain yourself and keep active after you finish the training. Even if that means no flying job for months/years.

And a correction to the timelines:
18 months is the maximum time between the first and the last theoretical exam.
You have 36 months after the last theoretical exam to get the practical check for IR(or CPL).

[PilotLZ]

It is definitely worth it if flying is what you want to do for a living long-term. The general rule of training during an industry downturn to be licensed by the time an upturn comes has one tremendous benefit: it takes any financial pressure off you and hence stimulates you to do everything off your own back and finish debt-free rather than take the gamble of getting a loan to finish quicker while training in an upturn in hopes of getting a job before the next downturn.

This is exactly what you should do, I think. As there's no hurry, don't borrow a single penny for any part of it. Save up and pay as you go. Ideally, don't go for a purely commercial school for the PPL and hour building. Join a flying club. Or maybe a gliding one. This way, there will be a nice social side to your flying, it won't be just another vocational training course. Remember that no job at the airfield is beneath you, even if it is something like driving a tractor or manning a reception desk. This may eventually give you an opportunity for some extra flying, maybe doing things like towing gliders, dropping parachutists or instructing other club members. Spending your weekends doing something like that (or at least polishing the aircraft and chatting with like-minded people if the weather is bad) will help you stay motivated and meet many good people. And eventually you'll get the chance for the next step.

[G SXTY]

7 years from trial flying lesson to CPL/IR/MCC:

https://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/333092-zero-hours-airline-pilot-my-story.html

First airline job within a few months and still at it 12 years later, so I must have done something right. :)

[Sorath]

Great story! Thanks for that, even if it was written 12 years ago!
Worth a read.

[Daddy Fantastic]

Forget flying, get a law and business degree which opens you up to literally any industry and have something useful. Once earning good money if you still wish to get a licence then go for it but my advice is this...DO NOT waste your time on an airline career...it is literally that...a waste of time. If you must fly then do medevacs or ACMI flying. Airlines are not where you want to be.

I am now with a well known Cargo Brand and will NEVER EVER go back to airlines. I had 12 years in airlines flying various jets, all I can say is the novelty wore off very quickly!

[Luray]

If you have a back up job then CPL is a good investment. You can fly when times are good and work on the ground when times are bad. Or you risk being like me - have nothing but a CPL and live the life of 'Jack Dawson'. Some days you'll be on the top of the world and the rest of days you'll be living in grandpas garage.

[rudestuff]

To answer the question: Yes.

I assume you want to be a pilot? If so then you'll need a licence. So the only two pertinent questions are:

Modular or integrated?..... Modular obviously, if you willingly course to pay 3x the cost for the same licence then you might want to consider if you're smart enough for the job!)

Now or later?..... Well there's no time like the present. If you get everything right you're looking at a minimum of a year, realistically two to go from nothing to fATPL. A lot can change in that time, and the ONLY way to be adequately prepared is to start now. The very fact that you're asking the question means that you aren't sure: that means others are probably asking themselves the same question and a lot of people will not train because of that uncertainty. That is exactly why you SHOULD start now: do what everyone else isn't. The worst that can happen is that you end up with the licence you were always going to get anyway. My only caveat would be don't go all the way. Get a CPL/IR but do everything single engine. Only get the MEIR and MCC when the job market is suitable.

[WingsofRoffa]

I already have a well paying career and have more than enough disposable income to pay for all my training debt free, but thank you for the advice. You are clearly pretty bitter, which given the circumstances is perhaps understandable. However, you need to chill out.

[Banana Joe]

I stand by my previous comment, start your PPL now. You have plenty of time for the ATPL exams and then for the CPL and ME-IR modules. In the meanwhile you can fly on your PPL, log hours flying in Europe or in the US with family and friends while keeping your job.
It sure takes some dedication and organization to make everything fit in your work schedule, but I do believe that you can start your PPL this week as well. And enjoy it.

[rudestuff]

WingsofRoffa
Was that for me? 😂

[WingsofRoffa]

No haha. Directed entirely at ‘daddy’.

[Daddy Fantastic]

Well you asked, I told you what I think. You seem upset because you did not get the unicorns and rainbows answer you were looking for. You asked the advice of us who have or had a professional airline career and you got answers, mine obviously not living up to your Pan Am glory days idea of airline flying.

Im telling you now, having been there and done extensive flying not just in airlines it is a waste of time and there are a lot of better careers out there. Even within aviation I would do something else besides airline flying if I could go back and start again knowing what I know now.

For pure aviation satisfaction and to feel like you are achieving something worthwhile I suggest something like the RFDS or Life Flight Australia.

Believe it or not Im actually trying to save you a lot of pain and heartache. However at the end of the day the decision is yours and if you go for the airlines I wish you all the best in your future endeavors....