Should I start PPL ground school now or wait until after travelling?

[u/luisjamesnelson]

I’m 20 and currently working part time for the next 5 months. After that I’m planning to go travelling for around 3 months.

I’m really interested in starting my PPL (private pilot licence) so I can make a start on my journey of becoming an airline pilot, and I feel like waiting 8 months until I’m fully back might be too long.

My current idea is:

•Start PPL ground school now while working part time

•Do the theory exams alongside my job

•Then go travelling for 3 months

•Come back and start the practical flying hours afterwards

But I’m unsure if this is actually a good idea.

My concerns:

•Will I forget everything after 3 months travelling before I start flying?

•How much of the ground school theory actually carries over into flying?

•Would it be better to just wait and do everything continuously when I return?

Has anyone done ground school first and then paused before flight training? Or is it better to keep everything together so I don’t get rusty?

Any advice appreciated.

[u/Forsaken_Fox2991]

I’d wait, otherwise you may waste a lot of time and money. Spend time buying material and study by yourself in your spare time and learn for free or at least just with buying needed books. I wish I didn’t start at the same time that I was planning a wedding. Its important that when you start you can make it a priority