Funding
Airline pilot training is a significant investment, comparable to a long higher-education course. So the question is not only the amount, but how it is spread over time and the guarantees that come with it.
At Astonfly, funding is built with each candidate ahead of the intake, during the admission phase.
The schemes available
A first payment of 10% is made on enrolment. The balance is spread over SEPA instalments of up to 18 months, which avoids committing the full amount up front.
A BNP Paribas student loan, whose repayment can be deferred for up to 36 months, often completes the setup: the first monthly payments then fall after the training.
Depending on your situation, OPCO and Transitions Pro may also contribute. Airline pilot training, however, is not eligible for the CPF.
What protects your investment
Two mechanisms frame the risk. The theory part can be refunded under conditions (a 9-month period and attendance of at least 75%), and unused flight hours are returned.
These rules appear in the training agreement. They are worth reading carefully, as are the terms for postponement or interruption.
Planning beyond the tuition cost
On top of the training budget come extra items: the Class 1 medical certificate and its renewals, exam fees, housing near the campus, and the APS MCC held in Dublin or Berlin depending on the programme.
Factoring them in from the start avoids nasty surprises during the course.
