funding an atpl

many thanks guys, its a very hard decision as i feel i will never be happy unles ive fulfilled this dream which is the only big dream ive had ever since i was little, all the points above have been good ones and i need to try and think things though and make a plan, visit flying schools and talk to pilots.
Keep the thoughts comming and happy flying!

Be careful doing your ATPL exams straight away and quickly. The reason is simple, you have 3 years after completion to do your Instrument Rating. If you haven’t got the money, or a definitive plan to have the money to finish your training within those 3 years then you really are asking for trouble. Personally I would slightly disagree with Steve about flying during your ATPLs. The reason is when it comes to doing your CPL you will need to be as current as possible. The best way to be current is to do all your hour building leading up to the start of your CPL. If you are going modular then make sure this hour building is structured.
You are in a bit of a difficult position because you will have student debts to pay off on top of any flight training. EGTC has it about right. The best way is to save up the money. If you are young enough then you will have alot of time on your side. If you want it badly enough then you will (have to) make sacrafices along the way to obtain the money. Of course you don’t have to have all the money to start your training. Just ensure you know how you are going to get the money to finish it should you start.
Another bit of advice I can give too is use your Uni Degree wisely. Obtain a job you would like out of flying and start building yourself a successful career, the reasons are twofold (& obvious). If you don’t make it with the flying (and 10’s of hundreds don’t) then you have a career to fall back on, also if you are building a career and stepping up the ladder you will be financially better off to be able to afford flight training.
Something else you can do if you are living with your parents is talk it over with them about your plans and what a long road you have ahead of you (it is a very long road) and explain the sacrafices you are willing to make, and how dedicated you are etc. They may agree to waver your rent or house keep whilst you are saving up to do it.

As for the ol’ integrated vs modular debate, yes there is a fair few posts on PPRuNe about it. But if you are going to go modular then I would avise this. Be smart, be very smart with your training. Target an airline or 3 that you want to work for (forget BA/Thomas Cook, Monarch etc if you’re modular), and then target your training accordingly. I did this and it worked perfectly. If you want details then send me a PM and you can have my phone number for a chat.
It does seem however, that the only way into this industry at the moment is to be a 150hr CTC SkyGod who is willing to pay inflated prices for his type rating. This will have to change as the industry picks up.

Good luck.

My training, which I finished in September, was funded with my own savings, some inheritance and some help from my parents. There is no way I would have gone through the training if a bank loan would have been the only option, for reasons already mentioned. But I understand that for many others wanting their ATPL, this isn’t an option. With few – if any – sponsorship schemes around and banks not as willing to lend as they once were, saving up and paying for your training as you go might be the only option.

With regards to the actual ATPL examinations and preparing for them, I attended a full time ground school (6 months) and found it to be ideal. It meant sitting in a classroom from 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, but it worked. There were lots of things that I couldn’t get to grips with in some of the fourteen modules, but I knew that I could turn to the other students in the classroom and the instructors and get instant help.

Unfortunately flying training costs alot

Tell me about! Paying my bill at the end of the week was always a bit depressing. Single flights were costing upwards of £600 (£375/hr in a Piper Seneca). The flying was great but paying for it wasn’t such fun.

By the time someone saved that amount of cash, they will be close to retirement age! Unless they are working jobs like bank robber, pimp or private security in Iraq or something like that!

Not necessarily. Assuming hes young and still lives at home it might be abit easier to save that up. Unfortunately flying training costs alot – Believe me, I know this as im going through it myself.
Its better to save the money up in one go rather than getting stuck half way through because you have no money or lost your job. Taking a loan for it is a bad idea because theres no gurantee of a job. So the best way is to work else where for a few years instead. 2 of my flying instructors did it that way and joined airlines at the age of 33 which isnt so bad.

Some scolarships are available such as those from GAPAN. Have a search in goole for them. Dont be tempted to go down the modular route with a finance package offered by a flying school. You could wind up with no job and a huge debt to repay. Have a look at the PPRUNE forums for the pitfalls of integrated training. You are doing the right thing by working your way through your training in a ‘modular’ fashion. Consider going straight into your ATPL theory once you have passed your PPL, with distance learning. Your head will still be in ‘learning mode’ after taking the PPL theory exams. Try to fly a little every now and then as you do your ATPL theory. Once you have your PPL approach a gliding school. You may not get paid for your work but its an excellent way to build hours.

The best way to do it is to get a job, work until you’ve saved up around £50,000 and then do all the training.

By the time someone saved that amount of cash, they will be close to retirement age! Unless they are working jobs like bank robber, pimp or private security in Iraq or something like that!

The best way to do it is to get a job, work until you’ve saved up around £50,000 and then do all the training.

Get the theory as fast as you can as that always helps with hour building.
(I mean take the CPL exams already)