Part Time Modular Courses
 

Hi guys,

I am currently doing my PPL, the first step as part of the Modular Route. I am wanting to move onto the ATPL’s etc but I also work full time as a dispatcher on a 3 days on 3 days off. As a result I am trying to dedicate as much time as possible to flying while trying to fund the entire process. Is this possible in the long run?

For Modular courses is it possible to continue to learn (and fly) while maintaining a 3 days on, 3 days off pattern? For example for the IR or CPL would I have to take weeks of leave or is it possible to do on days off?

Cheers for any responses.

3 on 3 off sounds like the perfect pattern for someone wanting to follow the modular route.

rudestuff
Hello
There have been a few posts where I have seen you replied to, including mine and you seem really experienced in this field so is it fine if I ask you a few questions?
As you might have guessed, I am taking the modular route to become a pilot and starting my PPL next year. I have made a list for the flight school options which are solely based in Europe, but I have not yet enrolled in one because I am still choosing and researching about the best out of them all.
My main concern is that I have decided to get a bachelor in maybe Computer Science or Finance related in 2026 as a backup in case of medical issues. My PPL will maybe last around 5 months so unfortunately, I would not be able to start uni until 2026.
After the PPL, I will probably do ATPL Theory or/and VFR Course as well before going to uni, if I can afford to.
The issue is that since I will be going to uni, I might not have time to commit to pursuing flight training as much as I would like to. This made me wonder if I should commit fully to my degree and then get a job and then finally continue my training. If I do so, will I not be up to date regarding the flight training or how do I ensure that I can still perform well if you know what i mean? How do i prevent this? According to you, what should I be doing in this case? I have thought about this for a while and I'm not sure what to do hence why I'm contacting you. Thank you in advance.

First step - figure out if you want to be a Computer Scientist, a Financier or a Pilot.

There is nothing wrong with having a plan B. But you shouldn't spend more time and money on your plan B than you do on your plan A. For example, Flight training takes 1-2 years. A degree takes 3-4 years and costs more. Your aim should be to get into a flying job as quickly as possible: every year you delay us costing you $250k in career earnings. You can always get the degree when you need it, which might be never.

I will definitely think about this! thank you for your advice

No problem. There is always an element of risk with medicals and job market etc but if you want something you should go for it. A degree is an excellent idea as a backup, as long as you don't use it as a crutch, and end up taking the 'easy option' in life. A pilot needs a licence, the degree is optional and only if you can afford the time and money to get it. But when people regularly say 'I'm going to become a pilot, but first I'm going to university' - I just see someone who's actually not that interested in becoming a pilot!

Sometimes the best plan B is aggressively enforcing plan A.

Yeah, you're right.
The only reason I want to get a degree is as a backup because of my family's medical history and afraid of losing my medical class 1 eventually.
Also, a degree would probably help me get a job and hence I can finance my pilot training instead of depending on my parents, though they are the one financing my PPL.
But doing this would take time and cost more like you said so I am still unsure.
Plus, in case I lose my medical, I would have to rely on my degree for the rest of my life which makes it clear that if I do end up going to uni, I have to get a degree in something which I'm also interested in since I might be doing it for the rest of my life. But the thing is my only interest is being an Airline Pilot and I can't see myself doing any other job.

A degree costs time and money regardless of whether you do it before or after your pilot training. Pilots have money, and plenty of time. If you're adamant about getting a pilot job, then I would suggest you get the best paying non-degree job - (something you don't have to wait 3 years before you start earning money). Then pay for flight training in 2 years (with 50% financing). Then get a pilot job. Then get a degree part time if you want one. The right order is everything. A pilot career stops at 65, so you're already on a conveyor belt, with every year you delay costing you a final years salary. You're spending £10k a month right now - you just don't know it.

Load up on loss of licence insurance as a backup instead, then your backup plan if you lose your class 1 is to take early retirement and play lots of golf.

Issue with getting a degree as a ‘backup’ is what happens when you lose your medical at 50. A degree from 25 years ago isn’t getting you a job that you couldn’t have otherwise got anyway.

We don't recommend degrees round here, due to the watering down of their credibility over the recent past - instead, do something like electrician, a lot of which is in the pilot studies anyway. With the millions of houses potentially being built* (yeah, right) you might earn more than you would flying :). Also, the training course is not that expensive, and you can pick it up and drop it off a lot easier. Variable's last paragraph is very apt.

Be careful with loss of licence insurance - look for the phrase in the small print that excludes "work within your experience" - that includes sweeping the hangar floor.

*They'd better get a move on - that's around 800 per day

Yeah, you're right about that.
But like i said, my other main issue besides losing my medical is financing my training. Right now, I have my parents completely financing my PPL but I'm definitely not going to depend on them to finance every other course for me which is why I have been thinking about getting a decent job and working for 2-3 years if possible and then continue my training. And I'm not sure if i can get that 'decent job' with having a degree.
I am still deciding on that so any advice would be much appreciated for anyone who faced the same issues.

Thank you so much for your advice! It really helps.

Female electricians in my country are rare lol and anyway I am not really into that stuff and I don't think I will want to do that for a living although Im aware it is a high paying job but thank you for your advice!

Just crunch the numbers.

30K a year job, from day 1. Live on beans and rice at home and you can save £1500/month. Great.

50K a year job. You’d now save an extra £1000/month. But you loaded up with student debt and spent three years of your life getting the degree beforehand. So you’re beginning this better job close to six figures in the red when you add everything up. And besides, what job are you going to go into where three years of experience wouldn’t be enough for you to work up to at least, if not far more, salary than you would be staring on as a graduate.

Short term it just makes no sense. If you want to be a doctor then yes a degree is needed. But you don’t.

if you are actually after uni life and three years of boozing with zero responsibility then that’s also fine, but be wary of trying to justify that on shaky financial pretences.

Uni life wouldn’t get me anywhere if my priority is being an Airline Pilot eventually so spending 3 year doing a degree just for the uni life is ridiculous to me .
I agree with what you said but I simply cannot think of a single job with a decent pay IF i end up not getting a degree .
Without it im not sure how to even finance my training .
Also just for reference , there is no flight school in my country so Europe is my first choice since it’s the cheapest amongst all . However im not an EU Citizen so that is an issue in itself in terms of finding work lol .
That is why I thought maybe being a full time student in Europe would help me get a decent job ..?

Your problems just doubled. I take it you're from Mauritius and that's the only place you can legally work? If so you're in a catch-22. Anyone can work in the middle east but you need 2000+ hours jet time and you can't legally work in the places where you don't need jet hours like USA and EU. That leaves maybe Africa as an option.
Your first problem is figuring out a way to 1) legally get residence in the UK, EU, USA etc. Then you need to find a way to earn enough money to start flight training. It's not impossible but you're looking at a 5-10 year journey.

Everyday is a debate of trying to find the right solution for me to be able to work for the Airlines lol.
I will be getting my PPL next year and I'm still figuring out what the next step is.
I still think uni is the best option for me, but I will try to figure out other ways like you said.
Thank you!

If you can get the money together then the F1 visa for the US is an option - it doesn't guarantee you residency or any jet time but it will get you into the states as a CFI working to build piston flight time for 2 years which can potentially be extended up to 4 years. An FAA ATP with piston time could potentially get you into a job in Africa or Indonesia which could potentially lead somewhere else. You might also be able to get H1 sponsorship if you can gain exceptional qualifications - like as an EASA FI working in the US etc... Failing that... 💍. If you want it badly enough you can make it happen.

Thank you so much for this !!
I might give the US a consideration after all.

Consider doing a degree in the UK, and do modular training over 3 years, after finishing your degree, get the postgraduate working visa (up to 2 years), which will allow you to work for any company for two years, if you are lucky then you can get flying job with that visa, or maybe other job, get sponsorship for another 3+2 years, and apply for ILR. After this you have an unrestricted work permit in the UK which will open doors.