Integrated or modular course?

PPL Training

Integrated or modular course?

Hamer 16/01/2010, 12:32 PM
Hi All,
I know that probably better would be to join a flight school like Oxford Aviation Academy or CTC Wings if I am considering a career as a pilot. But unfortunately I’m not able to afford a course offered by these schools and due to expecting a baby I couldn’t just completely disappear from home for the duration of the course . I was just wondering what are my chances to become an airline pilot if I start my way towards pilots career doing modular course, so first just finance my PPL a then step by step other stages towards frozen ATPL (I know it’s going to take much more time this way but…)??? How do you experienced pilots think? Maybe you could write how you financed your training or what other choices I’m left with???

Thanks for your answers.

Hamer

Re: Flight school course or modular learning?

PilotMo 18/01/2010, 10:19 PM
Hamer

Firstly in your position it does seem like modular is the best way to go. May I suggest you complete your PPL and night rating then perhaps do some distance learning for your ATPL's (usually cost a couple of grand) and sit the 12 exams gradually OR all at once to get them out of the way leaving just flying to go (may I recommend Bristol Groundschool).

Then research schools that offer the modular route and find yourself some affordable courses. As for finding the finance most modular people just save up from their present job, but if your job doesnt pay well enough to complete the course in the time frame you are hoping for then the only option would be to borrow the money. If you have property then finding a loan is easy and there are plenty of flexible options out there to suite you. Unfortunatly there are no sponsorship schemes (or very very very few ones) around at the minute.

The only choice other than modular is to get yourself in heaps of debt and go integrated or perhaps take a different route and go into the RAF, both of which will involve time away from home though.

Modular students do get jobs when the economy is right as do integrated, so the only words of advice I have for you is if you are determined to do it- I mean fully determined then you will do it. Its hard work but fun all the same, so if you want it, make a decision and just go for it and dont look back!

Morbz

Re: Flight school course or modular learning?

Hamer 19/01/2010, 5:11 PM
Thanks for your advice Morbz. I really appreciate it…. Could you help me with one more thing. Is it a good idea to take the 1st class medical now just to check if I am fit enough to be a pilot and not to be disappointed later or do you think it is enough if I just do the Second Class??

Re: Flight school course or modular learning?

Aviator|Chris 19/01/2010, 8:18 PM

Hamer wrote:
Thanks for your advice Morbz. I really appreciate it…. Could you help me with one more thing. Is it a good idea to take the 1st class medical now just to check if I am fit enough to be a pilot and not to be disappointed later or do you think it is enough if I just do the Second Class??

I'd do the Class 1 now if I was in your position - better to find out any little bits and pieces now rather than half way through the course!

You need a Class 2 to gain a PPL anyway!

Re: Flight school course or modular learning?

PilotMo 20/01/2010, 7:54 AM
Grab a class one now! From my understanding anyway even if you cannot do your commercial training for a while you can use the class 1 for the PPL, and even when it expires after a year it is still valid as a class 2 certificate so should last you another 4 should you just have a PPL

Morbz

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Paul 20/01/2010, 10:43 PM
Hi Hamer
I am currently having an ebook written on various ways to get a frozen ATPL. It will be available free from the website and should hopefully be ready at the end of March. So far the topics are: Licences and ratings, integrated vs modular, cheapest ways to build hours and conversion of foreign licences to CAA/JAA. As someone who is in the situation of which way to go are there any topics I have missed out/questions you want answers to?

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Hamer 21/01/2010, 7:38 PM
Great Paul, this book will be very useful for people like me. I will definitely read it. You could also raise a problem of choosing the right flight school (what to watch out for, any hints, questions to ask CFI before signing for a course). Appreciate your help.

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Paul 28/01/2010, 5:34 AM
Hamer
I have passed your suggestions on to the author. Hopefully it will be useful to you!
Cheers
Paul

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Hamer 30/01/2010, 2:30 PM
Hi All,

Does anyone know how long are passed written exams for PPL valid? Do you think it is worthwhile learning and going through the exams and in the meanwhile just putting aside money to go through the whole flying course? Or better just learn to the exams and whenever I have enough cash for a flying lesson just to take it?

Thanks for help.
Hamer

Re: Integrated or modular course?

TheBrumNavy 14/02/2010, 9:30 PM

Hamer

sorry to bring you down to earth with a bump, but I was in your position years ago and looked at every way of becoming a commercial pilot. In the end I discovered that I could do it, but as you are finding out it costs a lot, and it is also a protracted route doing it the modular way.

However set the training to one side for a moment, the bottom line is do you REALLY want to do the job of a pilot.

You say you have a young child, if you do long haul you will be away from your child for maybe 3/4 of the year. ( nice for a single man ). If you fly short haul it is as boring as hell, ( bus driving is more interesting, at least you get to meet the passengers ) and you are out of bed at 04.30 in the morning to take the average business man from London to Dusseldorf for a 9:00 meeting ( work the times back for yourself ). At the other end of the day you will not get into bed before 12:30. p.m.

Every pilot I met used to want to fly cargo, no hassle from passengers, but that means a heck of a lot of night flying, people who do it continously earn the respect of bats.

What finally brought me to my senses was when I spoke at length to several pilots and said I was trying to cross from the computer industry into flying, to my suprise many of them wanted to cross in the opposite direction. That made me realise the grass was no greener over that side of the fence. So I have reserved flying for fun pure fun, that was a good decision for me.

So before you spend ONE PENNY look at the job carefully and ask yourself is this for me ? does it fit ? If the answer is yes it does, then take cold hard look into the state of the pilot job market at the moment.

Sorry to be so negative but it is important that you do not waste a lot of money, to find out it was not what you thought it was. Eyes wide open !!!!!

Good Luck in your quest.

Les C

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Glenn Thompson 16/04/2011, 4:45 PM
Great advice and very well put. I am going to complete my PPL in Ormond Beach, Florida in the summer.

I have struggled for years to get the money together to complete my PPL and have always wondered whether I want a career out of flying or just for pure fun as you put it.

I run my own sales business and have decided to focus on this career and see how I get on with flying and then decide after that.

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Johannes "James"Froehlich 06/06/2011, 12:14 AM
Glenn, do insist on a briefing, and debriefing. It can really be handshake instruction in the USA, remember the CFI's are mostly just doing the job to build hours, so insist on what you want (you are PIC), and time before and after the flight are important (you will pay of course), it is all about learning...Wish you some not that convective Florida summer weather...have fun.

Re: Integrated or modular course?

Pilots Page 16/06/2011, 12:52 AM
Hi fellow pilots, I've created a Facebook page for Pilots (both qualified and student) Join in to pass on experience or ask questions. Just Search for 'Pilots Page' on Facebook and add as a friend. See you there! Happy Flying!!