u/North_Necessary2992

Stoked my city canceled bus lines to pay a private company millions to shuttle people around in vans.

I've wanted to fly for as long as I can remember, and I've finally got myself into a position where I can seemingly actually go after it. Before I commit substantial money I'd like a reality check from people with any experience pertinent here.

Background:

• 26, dual US/Irish citizen — so I have unrestricted right to work in both the EU/UK and the US. Not a visa question, to be clear — I'm asking about training and how the flying time gets valued.
• I currently make about €87k fully remote but the job is rough, incredibly unpredictable and most importantly I do not enjoy it also I'm probably at the ceiling already.
• I have no flight hours. Filling in the medical and a discovery flight Is currently what I view as my next step.
• Savings of ~€45k.

My plan:

• EASA integrated cadet via Ryanair Future Flyer Academy (leaning Bartolini in Poland on cost) > Ryanair FO > command > build 737 PIC > convert to an FAA ATP and move to a US major in my mid-30s. Long-term I'd like to end up on a widebody but this is the far future...
• I suppose starting from the US is possible and maybe a bit cheaper but it seems farm more tedious.

Biggest areas I'd appreciate input in:

• FFA school choice: Anyone been through Bartolini or AFTA? Interested in honest takes on instruction quality, delays, and how the holding pool is?
• Is the Ryanair conditional job offer worth what it sounds like? My understanding is it's really a guaranteed final assessment rather than guaranteed employment. What actually happens to cadets who finish training and don't pass it, how often would folks estimate this happens?
• Could I realistically keep some remote work during ATPL theory? Ground school looks like fixed weekday hours and my work is evenings/weekends. I'd drop it entirely for the flying phase and type rating. Is this something people do, or is it a bad idea I'll regret?
• Does the dual-citizenship angle work as well in practice as it looks on paper? Everything I read about "foreign pilots moving to the US" is really about visas, which I'm extremely privileged to not need to deal with.
  • That being said I can't find anyone talking about how US major recruiters actually weight European 737 captain time for a US citizen. Would Ryanair PIC time count for much at the legacies or would I still need US regional time first? I'd really love to hear from anyone who's actually made this move.
• Starting at 26/27 — any real disadvantage?

Happy to be told my plan is naive. I'd rather hear it now than after I've spent €90k… Thanks :)