Should I get my PPL before starting my ATPL?
 

So I have applied to CTC to do the whitetail ATPL course, passed the group test and pilapt but failed the interview. I don't mind, it gave me a very good insight into what to expect next time.
However I have been thinking about doing my PPL before applying again. Is this advisable?
Also does anyone know if CTC slightly reduce the cost of the course if you have a PPL because it would be a waste of money if they don't...

Cheers

As far as I know the whitetail programme is a zero-to-hero programme. So if you're going to re-apply for this course, your money would be thrown away. But the experience you get from getting a PPL is very good!

Maybe you can do a glider-course or something like that? Also a very nice experience without spending too much money.

But if you want to spend your money wisely, you can go modular after your PPL and finish your training at the half of the costs from the whitetail programme.

You would need your PPL if you end going modular, but even if you don't, if you have a PPL and some free hours come up you can take advantage of them, whereas you won't be able to if you don't get a licence until the end of the course.

phil

Sorry to hear about CTC. It's good to see you have taken a positive attitude from the experience. I strongly recommend you contact CTC to obtain some feedback about your performance in order to ascertain areas in which you need to improve.

As for the PPL, the flying side of the course is a very steep learning curve for those with minimal experience and looking back on it I feel it may have made my life a bit easier, at least in the earlier stages anyway.

Best of luck :ok:

Thanks for all of the replies guys. I rang CTC earlier and they said that if you had a PPL AND night rating, you would get a £2000 discount. So I could be wasting upwards of £10k if I were to do my PPL and then integrated ATPL. Different story if I were to go modular but I'm not sure id want to because of the things people say such as airlines prefer you to have taken the integrated route. I'd rather wait and have a better prospect of getting a job at the end of training of this is true. So there we are, I'll have to wait another few months :(

hie,hope i find you well i was invited for the ctc assessment day late last year after i had just completed my s.p.l passed everything on the assessment day except the interview was told i could be considered after six month, the six months i did not have,I was disheartened after the assessment(age was not on my side) but after a month or so i started applying to various aviation companies including airlines and the long and short of it is I'm a trainee operations duty supervisor,working torwards finishing my p.p.l and never knew how other roles would be exciting as one pursues their flying dream,and every first officer and captain i have met say wish we had broaden our view leading to being a pilot and its wise maximising the time at hand by doing any relevant things towards your flying career and one of the question I was asked in the interview was what have you done to keep the flying dream alive.hope sharing my little story will help,all the best and ctc is a great programme to get into.

Kind Regards.