Modular students have trouble finding a job, even in this favourable period ?

Better, it depends on what you consider better.
Could you please tell more : is there a type of carrier that will be more prone to recruit modular students ?
Do modular students have more trouble getting a job on medium jet ?

Modular Vs Integrated Vs money
 

Hello,
First of all i am looking for advice from the people in this forum who have actual experience in this area and have gone through process' similar to the ones i plan on going through.

I am currently finishing an aerospace engineering Beng degree from Sheffield university (finishing modules from home in south wales), initially i had read a lot about the integrated courses that CTC/OAA and FTE offer and i was sure that was the route i wanted to take to get into the left seat as quickly as possible with the most prestigious school. But now i know there is no way i could take a loan out and secure it against a house. I would like to fund it off my own back. Funding it myself there is no way i could afford the £80000 price tag most major integrated UK routes cost.

Im now looking into modular training with various different flying schools and i was hoping to get some advice on the best route to take. I want to learn in the UK, in order to afford the fee's of modular training im going to have to get some sort of job probably in engineering. However the cost of modular training in the UK is still around £40-50k so im guessing its going to take me absolutely ages with say a 20k graduate job. Also ive heard sponsorships are very few and far between so i cant bank on that.

As im currently living in south wales with family i dont have any living costs which i was hoping to use to my advantage and maybe save to get my PPL with Aeros based in Cardiff (if anyone can vouch for them?).

Still i have no idea which FTO i would choose for ATPL theory exams. Or who i would choose for ME CPL/IR/MCC/ JOC. Ive looked into schemes like CTC takeoff and OAA Waypoint but they're way to expensive. Ive also been looking into FTE integreated flight deck programme based in spain however even thats £63k.

Another thing i was worried about is how long the modular route is going to take, given that i will have a full time job, im not sure how much of the training you can actually do part time. Or would it be better to get the PPL (10K) whilst working full time and then save save save untill i could afford the £40-50k for the ATPL theory/ME CPL/IR/MCC/ JOC. Or would it be better to get a loan for the ME CPL/IR/MCC/ JOC part and pay that back later on somehow.

Would appreciate some advice, thanks.

Hi there,

I'm in a very much similar position to you, except living up in Yorkshire with family and about to graduate with a Law degree. So whilst I can't offer any advice, I'm also looking for the exact same advice you are in terms of best training routes, so hopefully we can get some good info :) I'd also intitially thought integrated was the way, but I'm now modular all the way!

Just out of curiosity, would you guys still advise Modular route over an MPL with an Airline, let's say Easyjet MPL for example?

Depends.

I went modular and I don't regret it all. My loan is low comparing it to MPL and integrated students. But the MPL students have a secured job. Which you can't find easily while going modular. If you can entry a MPL programme, go for it. But keep the loan in your mind, which will give you a headache.

But paying off your loan while cruising at FL380 is much better than flipping burgers.

Hey JDB275 - Im in a similar boat to you, I'm from Wales, just graduated from University starting a graduate job near London. Seems like it will take a while to save to get the modular route. I had a trial lesson and Cardiff Aeros and I think they're fairly decent, in terms of value for money: Wolverhampton flight school is pretty cheap for a PPL, if you saved about 7.5k then went to Wolverhampton flight school you could do it in a few weeks.

Success stories
 

Hi all,

I don't think there's a specific thread for this, apologies if there is. I'm a newbie, about to start a PPL on the modular route to the cockpit. I'm mid 30s to time isn't particularly on my side.

I'm just interested in pilots posting here with real success stories on who they fly for and how they got there. Mainly modular students but also integrated too to balance up the argument.

The reason I'm tentative about starting down this path is a) Deciding which is the best route but also b) from reading this forum, is it really worth the investment to do it at all?

Some lead you to believe that the world will be your oyster once you have a fATPL and others seem to suggest it's largely irrelevant because if you don't have an extra £25k to pay an airline for TR then you won't get a job anyway.

I'm wondering how ethically sound the whole industry is when you have to pay someone to give you a job. I have the means through success in my other career to fund training to an extent but my fear is that I'd get priced out of the market by all the rich 18 year olds with bottomless pockets. I think the industry realises that money is no object for many pilots.

I'm passionate about achieving this goal but it cannot be at 'any cost'. Investing life savings into something isn't something I'm going to take lightly so any positive spins on this would be most beneficial.

Also any insights into re-occurring costs would be great. I.e say I have a fATPL and don't get employment, do I have to re-validate every year and pay thousands whilst waiting for that job? I realise the medical needs renewing every year too.

Lots of questions and still no clear path!

There is no magic solution that fits to everyone
 

That being said. what I (50 years old, so the majors are not an option) worked out as an end goal: Freelance pilot (CPL/IFR MEP) with a FI rating. To reach this goal I chose the modular route since I can work and train at the same time. Figured 50K Euros by the time all is said and done, over 4 years. Making a per year investment of 12,500€ (about 1000€ per month) and I hope for a ROI of about 10% on that inverstment when I retire. I have a good paying job, flexible work hours, solid family support, and the drive to get it done. BUT MY SITUATION IS NOT LIKE ANYONE ELSES. My advice, sit down, do the math, work out how many hours you need (145 hours for PPL = 100 Theory + 45 flying, 650 ATPL Theory, 50 hours IFR flying time time, CPL 15 flying hours, MEP + MEP IFR 11 hours, FI 115 hours theory and flying).

When you work out the costs, add at least 10% for any extras (maps, headphones, landing fees, beers with FI) or unexpected issues. There is no magic solution, but if you sit down, analyze, and try to work out plan, you will definitely be further ahead than the folks who just dive in without thinking.http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/thumbs.gif

Modular Training: How many FTOs?
 

It seems that many (although by no means all) on this website recommend that Modular Training be done at 1 to 2 schools. Does this mean that the PPL, ATPL Theory, CPL/ME/IR, and MCC/JOC should all be done at 1 to 2 schools, or simply that only the CPL/ME/IR be done at 1 to 2 schools? Thanks!

I'm wondering the same thing :)

I have my PPL and just about to finish my last theoretical ATPL exam. I have been browsing for a school to finish my multi-engin, IR and maybe some hour-building and have been looking at school all over europe without really knowing if it is a good school or not. Anyone have any solid recommendation?

my story
 

Im stuck in the same situation as many in this thread and need to evaluate my choices wisely.So im 19 ive recently just finished my a levels and realised i didnt want to go to uni so went straight into a job baggage handling.

I realised i then had a massive passion to become a pilot and after a summer i changed jobs and im now a cargo loader/loadmaster at ema.Now 5 hrs into my ppl at sfc egbn and trying to save every month to fund my dream.ive realised the company i work for does have a pilot cadet scheme but i bet its hard to get on. I just need advice on funding and wheres best to do my training as i live in Derby and i can't find much

Does it matter where you do your PPL
 

Hi guys,

People tend to advise that you should do your modular training a 1 or 2 schools. Does this include your PPL or is that not an issue?

Liveforthesky

It is only concerning the CPL, IR and possibly MER (makes sense so that you get used to exactly the same twin you'll use for your ME-IR) where it is advisable to stick with the one single school; on the other hand, the PPL and hour building in particular (including your NR, IR(R) etc. if desired) can be done wherever you wish. If distance learning especially, the ATPL theory course will most likely have to be done with a separate school.

I am led to believe it was only Flybe who have had this as a prerequisite for modular candidates from a while back, though it appears to have evolved into a rule of thumb for modular guys since.

It is probably a good way of going about your training anyway.

That's brilliant advice, thank you :)

Guys, there are two things you need to land a job: 1) a license 2) to get yourself sat in front of the interviewer. If you can manage that, no one is going to care what your average exam score was, or how many schools you went to. At that point they're looking to see if you'll fit in. Getting a license is the easy bit, figuring out 2) is the tricky bit. Other than that, to save a bit of cash don't bother getting an MEP rating.

Yes, good point regarding the MEP rating;

When working towards gaining the 'frozen' ATPL, one only needs to complete the training but not necessarily sit the 1hr skills test, which will save you several hundred £s.

Unless of course, you wish to fly such machines commercially or the thought of spending £450ph to hire a twin for personal use is your cup of tea. .

rudestuff

But what if your CV gets chucked in the bin before you even get a chance to sit in front of that interviewer, due to not meeting some petty requirements stated in the job advert for certain ATPL pass rates or training at a certain (number of) school(s) etc.?

That's why it's the hard part. You need to think outside the box. Often petty requirements are there to whittle thousands down to hundreds, so you have to find a way around the system. I've seen pilots asked by HR if they know anyone looking for a job - even though there is a huge pile of CVs on the desk. Knowing someone on the inside is the key, so get to know people. If they like you, you're in. Network.

Hi all,

I'm currently studying for my PPL locally. However I have my eyes set further down the runway. I've mapped together a loose training plan and it would be wonderful if I could get some feedback?

PPL+NR (local) 6,000.
Hour Build- 6,000.
ATPL Theory- BGS 4,500
CPL/ME/IR- Diamond Flight Academy 25,000
MCC/JOC - ? (budgeting approx 9,000?)

Total training cost touching 50,500 in total including exam fees and maintenance.

Training at the above schools would open doors to the Wings Alliance APC. I was also told that L3 are actively placing their AQC students with airlines such as easyjet and Wizz.

Any thoughts?