Pilot training in Australia vs UK with goal to work in the UK

[CptnSelbs]

Hi all! I am a Australian/UK dual citizen currently living in Australia. I am currently trying to work out the best way for me to get me commercial pilot license with the ultimate goal of working as a pilot in the UK.

- Ideal scenario would be to get into a fully funded program such as Speedbird or TUI cadet programs. For obvious reasons either of these to programs would be amazing and I will be putting my hat in the ring as soon as they come up early in 2025. I understand that these are both very competitive with on 200 and 30 places respectively so hence weighing up other options.

- Option 2 would entail completing a CPL in Australia which would entail about 170 hours of flight time including night flying hours. After completing the course I would head over the the UK and convert my CPL license to a UK license after which I believe I would need complete a few additional courses to achieve a fATPL. I believe these would be ATPL theory exams, MEIR and CBIR and should have just over 210 hrs of flight time total at that point. I assume past getting a fATPL airlines want fresh recruits to have done a Multi crew course and some sim hours in some of their jets?
Benefits of doing my CPL in Australia is that I can utilize VET student loan which I don't need to start paying off until I earn over a certain amount. I know that there will be some costs associated with transferring to the UK just not sure what they are. The remaining training in the UK would be modular through a flight school costing about £28257(ATPL theory course=£6400, MEIR=£3192, CBIR=£13670 and APS MCC=£4995 could probably find it cheaper just some estimates I've found online not including sim hours. Any ideas as to if this might be a viable option? Am I better off doing all my training in UK or AUS?

-Skyborne integrated ATPL course. This one comes with the obvious high entry price but has some bonuses such as accommodation whilst training, includes everything I would need to fly for an airline and is a good entry pathway into an airline (not guaranteed) plus some more. I could probably front about half of this course with some hard saving required over the next few months so would probably need to look into a loan for the remainder.

-Modular route in the UK most likely in the greater London area- probably the cheapest option overall at about £50-60k (plus a MCC course and jet sim hours?) with the potential to continue working whilst training, however would likely be the longest time spent training. Also have seen plenty of horror stories of companies going bust, potential hidden fees that might inflate the price or just flat out poor quality companies so any advise in navigating the mine field would be appreciated

Let me know if I'm incorrect in any of my assumptions, if the Aus to UK license transfer is not worth going through or if I have missed any options.
Apologies for the info dump and thanks in advance for any advise

[rudestuff]

There is a third option. Go to the US on an M1 visa and get your FAA private. Convert to an F1 and stay to become a CFI. Build flight hours while you study for the CAA exams. After 1500 hours you'll be eligible (as an Australian) for an E3 visa which can get you into a US airline. A few thousand hours of jet time and you can choose your job in the UK. You're lucky, your parents have done 90% of the work for you!

[CptnSelbs]

Thanks rudestuff, haven't really considered the US as an option, in terms of becoming a pilot at a cursory glance it seems like a good option with a large airline industry. Probably not something that is high on my list as I am married and my wife has quite good job opportunities in the UK but not so much in the US.

[rudestuff]

You're married at the moment. You're going to be a pilot, remember! 😜

On a more serious note - if the wife is going to be the making considerably more than you would as a pilot, it makes perfect sense to prioritise her career over yours. If not then it makes more sense to at least kick-start your career in the biggest arena possible. Once thing you have to consider is that you don't go somewhere and find a job - you go to where the jobs are, and in the first 5 years or so you don't have much choice.

[CptnSelbs]

Hahaha, Hoping she will stick around for the long haul. Looks like she will likely make about as much as I would as a senior first officer in the next 4-5 years in the UK so will prioritize her career for now. With that in mind is it worth studying in Aus, converting my licence on a student loan and finish out the fATPL in the UK or just saving for an integrated course in the UK?

[VariablePitchP]

Originally Posted by CptnSelbs

Hahaha, Hoping she will stick around for the long haul. Looks like she will likely make about as much as I would as a senior first officer in the next 4-5 years in the UK so will prioritize her career for now. With that in mind is it worth studying in Aus, converting my licence on a student loan and finish out the fATPL in the UK or just saving for an integrated course in the UK?

Just have a look at how much an FO at a major makes in the states…

As to the route to take, what is your priority? Do you want to make 500k a year as a major FO in the states? If so you want to get on that seniority list as fast as is humanly possible. Integrated UK course, Wizz/Ezy/RYR/BA, 1500 jet hours, carpet bomb applications to the states, then goodbye Europe 👋

Any other route timing is less critical unless you are dead set on BA or Virgin so either or. Does seem an awful lot of faf getting the Aussie licence to immediately drop all that time and cash converting it. Extra year spent faffing about doing that is a year less spent as a training captain on training captain money.

[rudestuff]

There is rarely any point in converting a PPL from one to another, especially if you're only using it as a stepping stone. Likewise but for different reasons it's rarely worth converting a CPL. The CPL requires the most hours of everything except ATP(L) so it's sensible to do that last. If doesn't make sense flying 200 hours to get one CPL only to then fly additional hours to get the other CPL. However, the IR is a different kettle of fish as it can be done and converted well within the CPL minimums.

My advice to save money: take all the financial assistance you can get and complete your PPL, IR, MEP, MEIR etc in Oz. Whatever you can get in the first 180 hours, but don't bother with the CPL. DO make sure you get 50 hours PIC under IFR: you can use the CBIR route to get a very quick CAA IR (training to proficiency) then finish with a short (15 hour) CPL course.

[Fiskardo]

Originally Posted by VariablePitchP

As to the route to take, what is your priority? Do you want to make 500k a year as a major FO in the states? If so you want to get on that seniority list as fast as is humanly possible. Integrated UK course, Wizz/Ezy/RYR/BA, 1500 jet hours, carpet bomb applications to the states, then goodbye Europe 👋

Do American airlines really sponsor visas for British FOs at 1500 hours? I was always under the impression they had plenty of American pilots to pick from and would only sponsor experienced captains. If the states would actually be an option at 1500 hours as a Brit, that definitely alters my own plans if/when I get there...

[rudestuff]

Originally Posted by Fiskardo

Do American airlines really sponsor visas for British FOs at 1500 hours?

They do not. They might do for an Australian though if you ask nicely.