In a bit of a pickle - Any advice or recommendations appreciated

[SamPope5]

Hello,

I am a modular student at a well-known ATO in the UK doing all elements from ground school to graduate services. I am facing issues in the hour-building phase. For the past three months, I have been at a fair weather base in a sunny country to build as many flying hours as possible. Things have gone the complete opposite of what I anticipated. Due to only having a UK PPL I am only able to fly this flight school G reg aircraft which they have replaced with EU-registered ac which I had not been told about before coming here. Accompanied by technical issues that need to be overseen by engineers in the UK and the increasing schedule of students needing to share the said aircraft I have only logged 34 hours of total flying time/20 hours PIC whereas I paid for 100 PIC hours and 10 hours dual. The issue I am having is my school does not provide hour building back in the UK and my visa expires in two weeks so will be returning back unable to start the CPL and facing the UK winter. The two options I have are to outsource the hour building to a flying club (I paid for hours on a DA40 and I will receive C152/Techanm flight time) and then come back to them or transfer to an integrated course and pick up halfway to PT1 to swiftly then transition to SE IFR flying and then onto the CPL, but this has been quoted at 9k extra fees which was a bit of a shock considering how much time and money I have lost with the last three months. I like my current ATO, but I am finding it hard to stay motivated I saved up and left my job to make this a reality, but I am finding myself stuck with two weeks left and returning to the UK without being able to start the CPL and my time and money has not got me to where I hoped when I started 10 months ago. I did not want to rush the hour-building phase as I had not flown in years and wanted to become proficient in the elements required for the CPL, but now I feel this is a race against the clock and hour-bashing rather than learning. I am considering transferring to integrated as this seems to be running more smoothly at my ATO and I can continue to shape my skills prior to the CPL course, but if I do I will have to use the money I set aside for a type rating if required in the future.

I am looking for any advice from those in the know. I only see those two options with said ATO being viable. If I were to hour build elsewhere I would probably lose a substantial amount from the contracted course fees along with the poor UK winter weather. Lastly, I like the idea of airlines communicating with my school graduates and would also like to have this opportunity so the pros and cons of each currently weigh equally.

Thanks

[rudestuff]

You're a modular student? Why didn't you go to the US where you could log a comfortable 25hrs per week?
Where in earth are you that you would need a visa?

[SamPope5]

I thought it would be best to do all modules in-house for continuity and efficiency and I only heard a few issues of delays and had a good groundschool experience so didn't seem like an issue doing so. The US was an option with another provider, but they did not sell hour building as a stand-alone service and not advanced training had no option for EASA licensing. I am in a European country so I can only stay a maximum of 90 days.

[AlwaysWondering]

There are places in Florida where can you easily fly 30+ hours a week if needed.
Winter is actually the ideal time to fly there given it's the driest time of year and just plain hot rather than sweltering.
You should be able to get it under 100 USD (£82) per hour including fuel and insurance if you really search on a C152. Though you will need to get your UK license validated which will take time and costs money.

I also know of a few companies in Spain which have G-reg aircraft available which you may be able to rent full-time (you'd have to speak to them). It'll be pricier per hour than Florida, but may end up not too far off given the cost of flights/ hotels/ verification etc.. You also don't need verification which is a major benefit.

How you deal with your school and the contract is a touch different though.
Do they have a US base you could go to?/ Could you apply for a European student visa and extend your time wherever you are?

[VariablePitchP]

Hello,

I am a modular student at a well-known ATO in the UK doing all elements from ground school to graduate services. I am facing issues in the hour-building phase. For the past three months, I have been at a fair weather base in a sunny country to build as many flying hours as possible. Things have gone the complete opposite of what I anticipated. Due to only having a UK PPL I am only able to fly this flight school G reg aircraft which they have replaced with EU-registered ac which I had not been told about before coming here. Accompanied by technical issues that need to be overseen by engineers in the UK and the increasing schedule of students needing to share the said aircraft I have only logged 34 hours of total flying time/20 hours PIC whereas I paid for 100 PIC hours and 10 hours dual. The issue I am having is my school does not provide hour building back in the UK and my visa expires in two weeks so will be returning back unable to start the CPL and facing the UK winter. The two options I have are to outsource the hour building to a flying club (I paid for hours on a DA40 and I will receive C152/Techanm flight time) and then come back to them or transfer to an integrated course and pick up halfway to PT1 to swiftly then transition to SE IFR flying and then onto the CPL, but this has been quoted at 9k extra fees which was a bit of a shock considering how much time and money I have lost with the last three months. I like my current ATO, but I am finding it hard to stay motivated I saved up and left my job to make this a reality, but I am finding myself stuck with two weeks left and returning to the UK without being able to start the CPL and my time and money has not got me to where I hoped when I started 10 months ago. I did not want to rush the hour-building phase as I had not flown in years and wanted to become proficient in the elements required for the CPL, but now I feel this is a race against the clock and hour-bashing rather than learning. I am considering transferring to integrated as this seems to be running more smoothly at my ATO and I can continue to shape my skills prior to the CPL course, but if I do I will have to use the money I set aside for a type rating if required in the future.

I am looking for any advice from those in the know. I only see those two options with said ATO being viable. If I were to hour build elsewhere I would probably lose a substantial amount from the contracted course fees along with the poor UK winter weather. Lastly, I like the idea of airlines communicating with my school graduates and would also like to have this opportunity so the pros and cons of each currently weigh equally.

Thanks

Unfortunately you ignored the golden rule and one main benefit of modular training which is to pay as you go.

Sadly this is just a money problem. Throw money at it and it goes away.

[Alex Whittingham]

Is it this place?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/570x384/screenshot_2023_10_28_142251_f83b06306a6a8658047481d3a11fa9e b92bb661f.png
If so I would advise you to lawyer up and get as much of your money back as possible. Then, if you want to train for your PPL overseas you probably need to consider the US as you have used up your 90 day EU time. As other posters have said, avoid paying too much up front. If you get a US PPL you should be able to do some hours building there as well.

[SamPope5]

There are places in Florida where can you easily fly 30+ hours a week if needed.
Winter is actually the ideal time to fly there given it's the driest time of year and just plain hot rather than sweltering.
You should be able to get it under 100 USD (£82) per hour including fuel and insurance if you really search on a C152. Though you will need to get your UK license validated which will take time and costs money.

I also know of a few companies in Spain which have G-reg aircraft available which you may be able to rent full-time (you'd have to speak to them). It'll be pricier per hour than Florida, but may end up not too far off given the cost of flights/ hotels/ verification etc.. You also don't need verification which is a major benefit.

How you deal with your school and the contract is a touch different though.
Do they have a US base you could go to?/ Could you apply for a European student visa and extend your time wherever you are?

Unfortunately, I cannot spend any more time in Europe as I am going to exceed my 90 days allowance so will not be able to do that, but Florida has always been an option which I explored in the past. I am researching a few basis in Florida that may be able to help this weekend to make contact on Monday.

Unfortunately you ignored the golden rule and one main benefit of modular training which is to pay as you go.

Sadly this is just a money problem. Throw money at it and it goes away.

I did go into this knowing there was an element of risk, but I thought the benefits of what I would have received outweighed this risk as my experience in ground school was very positive. I got myself into this and now I am looking at ways to mitigate the impact of what I have created.

[Planner01]

Most guys just fly around burning circles in the sky during their hour building.
Come back to the UK and get your IR(R) then hour build flying IFR.
Spend a chunk of your hour building flying IFR in actual IMC, doing instrument approaches into proper airports and you'll be going into the CPL like a king.
I did this many moons ago and got my full IR via CBIR route. I was going into airline sim assessments with the same hours logged as everyone else but more than twice as many IFR hours logged.
You'll find with the above, aircraft availability in schools and clubs won't be a problem for you because you'll be able to fly when most others don't want to or legally can't.
Don't get hung up on the aircraft type. I flew little geriatric steam gauge C172 and PA28s in conditions that would make some of the pro guys I now fly with lock up in fear.
Single pilot IFR in actual IMC without autopilot, with an analogue panel, is the most challenging flying you can do, especially at night.
Throw in tail wheel and aerobatic ratings while you're at it.

[parkfell]

You need to discuss your predicament with Leading Edge & then take AlexW advice of speaking to a lawyer if not entirely resolved to your satisfaction.
You signed a contract & will more or likely be bound by the T&Cs…

[bobbytables]

Unfortunately, I cannot spend any more time in Europe as I am going to exceed my 90 days allowance so will not be able to do that,

Exceed your 90 days visa-free allowance. If you apply for and are granted a student visa, that allowance no longer applies. Some countries allow you to apply while still in-country and then stay beyond the 90 days while they process it.

[selfin]

"Due to only having a UK PPL I am only able to fly ... G reg aircraft which they have replaced with EU-registered ac..."

Apply for a 28-day validation. Form LIC-VAL-P01-F05 (https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/sites/default/files/LIC-VAL-P01-F05%20Solicitud%20de%20validaci%C3%B3n%20de%20licencias%20de %20piloto%20para%20tareas%20especificas%20no%20comerciales%2 0%28maximo%2028dias%20naturales-a%C3%B1o%29.pdf). Or find it in the list here (https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/es/ambitos/licencias-y-medicina-aeronautica/licencias-al-personal-de-vuelo/licencias-de-vuelo-part-fcl#Titulares%20de%20Licencias%20de%20Tercer%20Pa%C3%ADs%20O ACI) in the section Validación de licencia emitida en Tercer País OACI.