25, at a cross roads and wanting some advice.
 

Hi all,

Been reading these forums over the last couple of months and other places and finally i've got to a cross roads and would like some advice from people that have the experience to tell me the brutal truth
Like I said i'm 25, i've been working in Software Development since I was 18, never went to University just got to work and had a couple of jobs since then - one now where I'm really happy, and earning some pretty good money. However, with this financial freedom and big buffer i've been looking into more and more about starting Modular Training, fully funded by myself. If im brutally honest Integrated doesnt sound like my thing but thats not really the point here.

I do currently still live at home, I probably should of gone a few years ago but I have a very understanding and relaxed living situation and its allowed me to earn good money and keep a lot aside for a rainy day (heres the rain!! :O) I'm single too if that makes a difference so I'm in quite a flexible situation, with nothing tying me down as such. If an airline said "you need to go here", I'd firstly cack myself then secondly pack my bags. The idea of leaving everything behind for this doesnt concern me if thats what it takes. I'm 100% behind continuing to work in my current job while I do this, so still earning is a big deal for me.

Ultimately the cross roads are:
1. Go ahead, do my modular see what I can make of myself. Keep my current job while doing it.
2. Continue off as I am with just a pipe dream and eventually get a mortgage, continue to live on and always wonder "What if"?

I cant lie the idea of getting to the end of my training, and not being able to land a position because I didn't come from a polished integrated school really scares me. It could be a reality but it could not right? The pressure nowadays to save up, get a house and crack on with life is immense but I really dont think this path would be good for someone who needs to be flexible after finishing training.
Hopefully my ramblings make sense, I've probably outlined the concern everyone has had at one point in this line of work.

Cheers all for reading.

Have you done the Class 1 medical? If not, I’d recommend starting with that. Have you had any flying lessons? PPL?

I've got my Class 1 booked for August - obviously this all lies on this. PPL wise my plan is to go out to the US for about 5 weeks. The GA side of things has never really interested me but since researching Modular path thats quite exciting I must say.

Be mindful that airlines are moving back towards tagged schemes, some of these are on a par with the costs of the modular route. It’s worth considering that if it’s affordable to do so as it will give you an in and you won’t have the stress of finding the first job at the end of training. Former colleague was a software engineer before getting his first flying job in his 30’s and is loving it.


Good luck with the class one and the training which ever way you decide to proceed.

A couple of airlines during lean times maybe. For the most part that's propaganda fed by those places so they can continue the con.

Crack on and do it. If you don't, you'll always be wondering "what if".

It sounds like you're in a decent financial position so ideal to get into it. If you're well established in your company, you might be able to negotiate flexible/part-time hours to work around a flying course and/or take a sabbatical if needed. When I was training, my employer in my previous career was fantastic with it and was happy for me to work around my flight training.

Also, you don't have to subscribe to the whole save up and get a house etc. just yet. Once you do that, you'll find it a lot harder to get money together for flight training. On the flip side, if you manage to get yourself a job flying and come out relatively debt free, you'll be in a well-paying profession and in a position to get yourself a decent place to live, especially if you're outside the London area!

Good luck with it and wish you all the best.

Interesting, I had a look on LeadingEdge and it looks like they offer a MAP Scheme where you do "Combined MECPL/MEIR/A-UPRT/APS-MCC package"
The price hike is somewhat but if it allows more opportunity/networking then it could be well worth it, anyone got any thoughts on this? Obviously would need to do my PPL as planned, ATPL Exams etc

All I’ll say is shop around, which ever way you do it it’s going to cost you above and beyond the headline fees. Do not rule out modular at some small FTO as they can be the best places to network, but if your goal is to get straight into an airline job then the tagged schemes are probably the area to explore at the moment whilst things are good. Ryanair are running one these days too which doesn’t seem to cost much more than I ended up paying out for modular.

Unless Im looking at something totally different, Ryanairs new scheme with Skyborne is £131k - very very hefty indeed. Unless you're talking about something else? That would definetly be out of my reach but doing Modular with a mix of a schools commercial package wouldn't - hopefully others have experience with mixing these or something else i've missed.

As has been said, firstly get your Class 1 medical.

You have a few choices, one is to apply for one of the sponsored airline programmes. Not only do these fully fund training, the fact that the airline is paying means that the airline has a vested interest in giving you a job at the end. The downside is that they are extremely competitive. Aer Lingus allows you to apply after having sat ATPL theory exams, which may be useful to note.

There's also the self-funded "mentored" programmes but the airline won't necessarily have the same interest since they're not paying for it.

The modular route around your current job is viable, it's what I'm doing at the moment. You have quite a bit more flexibility around when you qualify, if the market is slow you can drag things out a little bit and at the end of you don't get a job straight away you can stay in your current job without as much pressure. If you're on a 40 hour work week, expect a combined 60 hour work/study week, especially during ATPL theory. There is a blog about modular pilot training written by someone who was working in IT during training which you may find of interest.

Small update but feels like big progress so far in 2026. Completed my PPL in the US in just over 6.5 weeks. Really happy with that progress, was hard work but now means I can start the ATPL's via BGS who seemed to have offered the best approach for distance learning imo. Changed tactic slightly and going to convert license after ATPLs and hour building to make it slightly easier/less exams to redo.

I will say though with recent international events it has put a bit of a shock into the system, with oil prices rising and subsequently jet fuel prices too. You cant foresee the future and I can only do what's in my control and thats do my complete best on the ATPLs, but it is a slight worry for what's ahead...

The thing to remember with the modular route is that you have 18 months from your first exam to complete the ATPLs, then once you have completed them you have 3 years to get the CPL/IR. It gives you a lot of flexibility to speed up and slow down in response to the jobs market. That said, it is very tricky to time the market so you want to be in a financial position where you can remain current fairly easily once you have qualified.

If you get a CPL/IR single engine this isn't a problem.
1) You have nothing to keep current.
2) The ATPLs won't expire
3) You can add an MEIR/MCC in 6 weeks.
4) Your SEIR won't show up on your CV and it'll look like you're freshly qualified.

Good point, though would airlines look for things like ATPL and CPL dates?

It's modular, they expect it to be spread out. Once you have an MEIR at xxx school - you can write that on your CV and forget you had an SEIR.

Thats awesome to hear, Im glad you have come back and updated us!! one thing I would do personally is go back and get an IR rating + 50 hours IFR PIC, trust me it'll help in the long run.

Thank you! I was originally planning to come back to the UK and convert my license straight away, however I've changed tactic slightly and going to start with the ATPLs. I have just under 60 hours total and I plan on returning to Florida to build up hours for the CPL start of next year all going to plan. The added benefit of having over 100 hours plays in my favour too and with the ATPLs out of the way the conversion is a lot easier.

My very original plan was to do the PPL & the IR but I can't get that much time off work unfortunately. Maybe returning to do the IR is a good idea and subsequently build up hours too? Haven't given it too much thought, but going back to the USA to build up hours especially with having a FAA license will be really easy and I havent got to go through all the Visa debacle again.

I start with BGS for ATPLs fully as of tomorrow (gave myself a month off :ok:.. was needed)

yes deffo go back and do the hours!! and get the IR too when you have time!! a good place to build the time is at flight time building out of X50, you wont find cheaper rates!!

+1 for this. It's the difference between having to do a full IR course and 'training as required'. It will save you thousands.