Training route comparison

[Okavango]

With hindsight from those that have been through the process, what do you consider is the favoured training route (both technically and financially):

PPL - CPL - IR/ME

or

PPL - IR/ME - CPL

[welliewanger]

Sounds like a troll question to me. This is a question which has no "right" answer. I did PPL CPL (ME) IR (ME). The IR is without doubt the hardest test you'll do... save it to the end when you've got the most experience of flying.

Now I'm sure someone else will tell you something entirely different!

[Mikehotel152]

Sounds like a troll question to me

How so? Isn't a 'troll question' one which is designed to annoy?

Okavango, I suggest you do a few searches on Pprune to find the previous advice on the subject. My own advice would be a bit dated!

[Okavango]

Why on earth would it be a 'troll' question?? Perfectly legitimate and couldn't be more relevant to a pilot training forum. Have had a search but difficult to pull info together. Just looking for a balanced opinion of how people progressed and with hindsight (and having met others during/since training), would they do it the same way.

[wheelbrace]

If I was to do it over again, I would go down the following route:

PPL - ATPL theory while hour build to mins. and night qual. concurrently - IMC - *PAUSE*

At this point really evaluate motives, abilities. If truly happy with IMC, then:

MEIR - CPL.

All hour building would be done in the UK - there are cheap options here. Every hour building operation would involve a Navex followed by circuit work, minimum of two hours per flight. Get the flight school to suggest useful routes which challenge abilities. Fly alone or with unqualified person - then you can, with all conscience, sign off as PIC. From bitter experience, I now know there is no such thing as a 'safety pilot' (unless practice IMC) despite what gits in the US say to get you hiring their aircraft.

When all done, MCC with a company that has a sim. signed off by the UK CAA for IR revalidation and immediately revalidate MEIR within the time constraints.

[Okavango]

Thanks WB - thats exactly the kind of thing I was after. Is there any reason why you'd do the MEIR prior to the CPL? I have about 25hrs of hour building left having followed a similar pattern to whats suggested here. So far I've just used the monthly magazine vouchers for target land away destinations and have been all over the country including taking the opportunity through derestricted Class A while the ash cloud prevailed. I'm not aware of any specific routes to challenge abilities - just conditions really. Does anyone have any advice here?

[wheelbrace]

MEIR prior to CPL

I would do the MEIR first because it is a complete course which doesn't rely on previous training (apart from an ability to fly, of course!). All the limited panel stuff in the CPL is covered, hence the ten hour credit on the CPL. The IR is a more taxing course, but the ability to attend to attitude, navigation and communication made my CPL refresher time more productive.