In times gone by absolutely, modular pilots have had to work doing non airline work until getting jobs on the jets but times have definitely changed. I think with aviation it’s best not to have any expectations when starting out no matter what route you take.

I dont think many people train to become a pilot purely from a return on investment point of view. For a lot of us it is all we've dreamed of doing and risking a lot of time and money to potentially achieve that goal is a no brainer.

If you want guaranteed bang for you buck then of course look elsewhere, but if you're willing to take the risk then go for it.

I agree its good to shed light on how things may not go to plan but discouraging others from going ahead with modular training is taking it too far. Tell your story and allow others to perceive it as they wish.

The biggest hurdle with modular is getting down and dirty with the ATPL written stuff. That needs complete self-discipline so not to blow the limited sittings you get to complete them. (So find a school that are recognized as an ATO that can send you to do the writtens!!)
Ultimately you could start with a Medical.. then study your butt off and do all the writtens.. the ATPL level theory covers all intermediate levels, thus PPL, IR and CPL are covered (FCL.035.b.1)
Then get stuck in with the fun stuff and fly.

If anything I have written is successful at persuading someone not to pursue it then it probably wasn’t the right path for them. For those that take it and think I’ll prove you wrong then is that not a good thing? If anyone thinks I am ok instructing or GA or just PPL because as long as I am flying then thats what matters then is that not also a good thing?

I would never encourage anyone to start it unless they are happy making 0 money, have 0 jobs and would be content to fly for fun, because like you say, return on investment shouldn’t be the main goal.

Its aviation… its a hundred grand gamble either way.

What other industry have people rocking up and saying they will work for free? Passion drives us so if you want an “investment return”, then aviation is the most stupid choice one can gamble on 😂

Bottom line is to not accept the marketing gumpf sayng intergrated is the ONLY way. If you find the optimal school, you can build time and crank thru the licenses at twice the speed of an intergrated student and get ahead. Also, you build time on your own.. getting true PIC time where you likely scare yourself a bit too thus gaining real experience as opposed to being a hand-held integrated student.

It shouldn’t be a gamble. The only bet you should make is that you get to fly. You only need a PPL for that.

I get the sentiment, but a lot of companies have many people queuing for unpaid internships. I am not sure if passion is enough, it doesn’t put food on the table.

absolutely 100% on not listening to the marketing nonsense. However from my experience, and it is anecdotal; most 0-hero FOs I have met come from integrated or MPL background. Yes I have also met modular as well, and they had done lots of other things prior to RHS at an airline. Which is why, I hope any person looking to get into it does not expect to be at an airline within 2-3 years. If that is what they are planning their life and “investment” around they should consider it very carefully. For me I would not do it, but that’s me.

It always has risk associated with it, and therefore arguably a ‘gamble’

Go integrated, get 95% ATPL exams, walk everything but then get a second series IR pass. That could be enough to end a career.

If you pop out now with a strong Modular CV, you’re getting a job. Same as integrated. If you have a really weak track record, you might not. Same as integrated.

Everything in further education is a gamble.. not everybody who pops out with a law degree will get the high paid job and live a life of coke and hookers, some have to make do sorting out parking tickets in public court.

As long as the airlines just stand and bleat about the lack of pilots instead of actually doing all training in-house, from zero to CPL, covering ALL the costs, then I consider it all a gamble… being invited to an interview isnt a way in… its just an interview like anybody else gets (just pay RyanAir the couple hundred quid to have a chat with them.)

You are completely correct.. the only way these days to stay sane, is to have a normal job and fly for fun with a PPL.

definitely agree, a degree is a gamble in a similar way. I think the public awareness is getting there or at least for a lot of professions is reasonably well understood. For aviation though it’s so wrapped up in marketing, but I confess I don’t actually know it lawyers/law firms etc are actively trying to get young people interested or involved in the same way.

I think you have the nail on the head. If the industry needed people, really needed people there would be more done. The truth is the industry has way more pilots and people willing to be pilots than is needed. I think that’s what the lay person needs to know and for those curious to get into it.

OP have you started your journey in the end? If so, how did you find it? I’m coming from a very similar background and have a place secured for the easyJet MPL programme. But I’m considering not taking it, and going modular instead (to avoid having to quit my job and have no income for two years, which would mean giving up all my savings and my flat).

I can’t decide if I’m making a mistake by not taking the MPL but I’d leave with nothing left which is terrifying in your 30s.

I'm well known for supporting the modular side of the argument, but if you're talking about an MPL with a job at the other end then you should go for it. You're ONLY in your 30s. Assuming you're not planning to quit as a CEO to become a pilot, this should be a step up in income. Don't worry about starting again from nothing. You have 3 or 4 divorces ahead of you anyway.

By working alongside your modular course will this not add an awfully long time to your training? Not a bad thing per se but if you have the option to skip that, why not? For all you know you’d finish training and have to give easyJet 30k for a type rating anywhere and you’re back where you would have been, several years late.

MPLs are fantastic, and a lot more versatile than they were at the beginning in terms of being able to chop and change airline as you see fit. And once it becomes an ATPL it’s all the same anyway.

Thanks, having read every thread I can on PPRuNe I was expecting more support for modular, so this is helpful in thinking more positively about the MPL again. I really like the course and easyJet in general. What put me off is 10 months of ground school for the ATPL theory. I know plenty of people who have done the ATPL theory over 10 months while in full time work, so having to give up my job for a year to sit in a classroom felt wasteful financially (especially given I may have to get a loan and pay interest for that period). FO pay will be a pay cut initially but I'm not switching for financial reasons of course. I just wish you could do the ATPL theory while still working.

Thanks. My modular plan is to finish my PPL by summer next year, and then use my generous AL allowance to hour build over the summer in Europe while studying for ATPL theory. And then take a 3 month career in Spring 2027 to do FTE Jerez's Flight Deck Plus course (and APS MCC). This would mean I can go back to my full time job once flight training is over, so limited financial risk if I can't get a job immediately after. I'd also have enough money to finance it without selling my flat or having to take any loans given I'd continue to be paid over this period. But I know that easyJet would be unlikely as an option after modular (and it depends on the market what I find - a quick search today suggests that starting SO/FO positions are starting to run a little dry?).

In general, I'm a little worried that with all these airlines now starting to run their own integrated cadet programmes (BA, Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Wizz, Ryanair) there'll be less demand in the future for modular.

I haven't started yet (likely starting next year) but I've mostly ditched the easyjet MPL as an option because of all the reviews about long delays in training. Delays mean having to pay living costs for longer, and since I can't be certain about how long any delay will be, it's impossible to budget for ahead of time, aka more risk. I'm going to go for the RyanAir Future Flyer Academy as my first option instead as it doesn't seem to have the same problems with delays, is cheaper, and is an ATPL rather than MPL.

The biggest cost you'll ever face in aviation is opportunity cost. In your last month before retirement as a senior airline captain/TRI/TRE you'll make £20,000. That means every month you delay starting this career you lose £20k in career earnings. Yet people wait years to save up for flight training then do their PPL over 9 months instead of 2, not realising that they've saved a few thousand but lost a hundred thousand.

Thanks, I've been concerned about it too, but I spoke with some cadets currently on the course and their delays don't seem to go beyond 2 months at the moment. CAE have also said that they are reopening Malaga at the moment (in a proper way) which should reduce the delays from Phoenix. I know a lot of this might mean nothing, but a few month delay I can live with.

The Ryanair academy comes out as £131,400 in the UK, which seems to be significantly more? Or are you considering doing it abroad?

Good to hear about easyJet - if you're able to budget for delays I think it's still a good choice. As others have mentioned, getting your training done faster will make you more money in the long run.

Yes the UK school is very pricey, so I'll go for one of the European options. The one in Poland (Bartolini) is £58k for UK citizens, £69k for non-UK.