Need Advice on Starting Pilot Training During Aerospace Engineering Degree
 

Hi everyone,

I’m currently 17 (turning 18 in two months) and certain that I want to become a pilot. I hold a Polish passport and have settled status in the UK, so I can live and work in both the UK and the EU. I’m also in my first year of a four-year aerospace engineering degree at a top-rated university in Scotland, and since education here is free, I don’t have to pay tuition fees. Plus, I’m living at home, so no accommodation costs either.

I’ve been thinking a lot about when and how to start my pilot training, and I could use some advice. There’s a local flight school near me, ACS Flight School, which offers both integrated and modular training. They do both EASA and CAA licenses. The integrated course costs £80,000, but if you get your PPL somewhere else and then join, they knock off £12,500 from the price.

I’m a bit unsure about a few things, and I’d appreciate your insights:

• License choice: From what I’ve read, an EASA license seems to offer more job opportunities compared to a CAA one. Is that true? Which one should I focus on getting?
  
• Integrated vs. Modular: Should I go down the integrated route (but take out a loan to cover the cost) or the modular route where I could try to find cheaper places across Europe or the UK to do my PPL and hour building? ACS allows installments of £5,000 per month for the integrated course, but modular seems like a “pay as you go” option, which might be easier for me to manage financially.
  
• Timing: Should I start my training while still in uni, or would it be better to wait until I graduate? I would need to work to fund my training either way, and while my parents said they could support me a little financially, I don’t want to put too much strain on them.
  
• Work experience: Would it be better to gain work experience in aerospace engineering before diving into full-time pilot training, or should I try to combine both?
  

I’d love to hear your advice, especially if you’ve gone through a similar situation. Thanks so much in advance!

As you have easy access to companies in the EU, I'd go that way. However, there's merit in getting both licences.
While the degree is "free" - there are costs and it also costs time. However, you are young and so you have time.
The Integrated v Modular - I'll leave for others. My personal thoughts are that if you're not on a tagged scheme (That is, a conditional offer from an employer), then Integrated can be extremely expensive for what is effectively the same licence. Also, if there's a downturn etc (and that can happen) then you'll be "dumped" onto the market with a rapidly "fading" instrument rating. However, that is my opinion only.
Do you want to do the degree? What employment prospects do you have after graduation? Can you work post study and earn a good amount of money to fund your training and thus, minimise your exposure to debt?
Does the degree offer work placement? If not, then a PPL while on holidays is feasible. ATPL subjects + engineering degree = massive workload!
Work experience will offer insights. More the merrier.
Good luck.

I do want to do the degree, I am enjoying it and my thinking is that it gives me something to fall back on if there's a medical issue or something else and i can't fly for a while or ever? I think getting an engineering job after study is something I would be open to help fund my training. My thinking currently is to do my PPL one summer and then my IR next and so on, hoping to do my ATPL subjects after I graduate so I don't have a massive workload.

Ahh the IR. You'll need to pass a bunch of exams for that, the vast majority of pilots do the ATPL subjects which give you IR theory credits. UK CAA IR
If you're studying full time, a PPL is do-able but I would urge caution about the IR. If you were doing a degree in vegan basket weaving, I'd say you've got the capacity, but you're doing a pretty intensive academic course.
Things to consider. A PPL won't offer you much "credit" for a full time course. So be aware of those costs.
ATPL subjects have a "time limit" before they expire (3 years). You'll need an IR to keep them valid for a few more years. (There's more to it but you'll get the gist). 3 years sound like a lot but a few friends have been caught out and literally ran out of money and time.

Focus on getting that degree, get a job ideally in the industry, make sure you don't jeopardise your medical (You can pass the Class 1?)