In this blog post, I shall discuss the main accepted ways to become an airline pilot (specifically in the United Kingdom where my flight school is based) – I hope this blog is useful for anyone out there intending to pursue an airline pilot career. Time to dive in.
There are 3 main accepted ways to become a fully qualified, commercial pilot. They are:
1. The Modular Route (the program I am currently on)
2. The Integrated Route
3. MPL (Multi-Crew Pilot License Program)
The modular professional pilot training program is a route into the flight deck where you’ll achieve a frozen Air Transport Pilots License (fATPL) at a pace tailored to your needs. With a fATPL, you can then apply for First Officer positions with airlines and in essence, you become a fully qualified airline pilot. A slower, staggered training route, flight students complete training in various stages at a pace which suits the student so it can be completed as slow as you want or as fast as you want. The modular route allows students to work or get a university degree anytime throughout the duration of the training. Typical degrees include a BSC Hons in Air Transport Management or a BEng/MEng in Aerospace Engineering which can be arranged with the flight school or separately with the university itself. Flight schools like Leading Edge Aviation or CAE enable you to get an Air Transport Management degree at Buckinghamshire New University while Wings Alliance can enable you to get a BEng/MEng Aerospace Engineering degree while you train at a flight school getting your commercial pilot licenses. This is usually done so you have a back-up in case the worst was to occur (such as losing your medical preventing you from being allowed to fly commercial operations or losing a job with an airline). For more information about the degrees alongside your pilot training, feel free to click the links below:
Degree Programme - Wings Alliance Finances and funding for professional pilot training - Leading Edge Aviation
Specifically for my modular flight program, the stages at which flight training has to be done are:
1. You first start off (or must have) a Private Pilots License PPL(A) or Night Rating NR(A)
2. You then must complete the ATPL Groundschool theory side which can take anytime between 6-18 months. During this period, you will have to sit 13 examinations.
3. You can also hour build for your Commercial Pilot’s License CPL before, during or after your Groundschool phase of training
4. Transition to a multi-engine aircraft by doing an MEP and getting your CPL and MEIR
5. UPRT (Upset Prevention and Recovery Training)
6. APS MCC (Airline Pilot Standard Multi-crew Cooperation)
7. You’ve then achieved a fATPL after a total of 250-300 hours in the logbook
The advantages of the modular route are:
Cheaper cost of training ranging from €45,000 to €75,000(incl. accommodation) depending on the flight school – most integrated and MPL courses can cost well over €100,000 so you can save some money on training.
You’ll have more hours in the logbook and airtime is remarkably valuable. By the end of the modular course, you will expect to have 250-300 hours in the air (at least 100 of those Pilot-In-Command) which is much greater than the hours some Integrated or MPL courses will finish on (around 150). Some airlines, not all, may require a certain number of flying hours before joining them so its always good to have some extra time in the air developing your flying skills. However, there is a downside to this which I will explain later.
Another advantage of the modular program is the flexibility of the course. The rate at which you progress is completely up to you and almost everything is customisable to fit your needs and preferences. You can make the training full time or even part time as much as you intend to – the pace is all up to you.
Having mentioned about the flexibility of the course, you can complete a university degree alongside your training (non-aviation related if you like) and gain one extra qualification by the end of your course.
Furthermore, you can work part-time or even full-time alongside your training.
There is room to move around the order of some training elements if you cannot complete certain elements at a particular time interval.
You’ll get the same high standard of professional training that integrated students receive which may be small, supportive classes, the latest learning tools/aids as well as tailored tuition to help build your flying skills remarkably quickly and efficiently. This does, however, depend on the flight school.
By the end of the modular course, you will have achieved all your required licenses and a fATPL making you airline ready! Just like the integrated and MPL students who finish their courses. However, there are certainly disadvantages to the modular route, some of which I and other flight students I know have experienced:
The time to complete your training is significantly longer than the Integrated or MPL programs. Expect to complete your training between 24 months to 4 years max. With all the hour building you do for your CPL, this can take a long time.
Training is conducted by different flight schools (however, this may not always be the case). As a result, you may find you will have to live at different flight training school locations.
As training is done at different flight schools, some elements of the training may not be conducted at generally larger and more well known flight schools however, this shouldn’t really affect employment opportunities.
Having mentioned about training with different organisations, you don’t always train with the same flight students from day 1. You meet new, fantastic people throughout your training but the “campus-like” environment isn’t always there.
In order to start a modular course, you may require previous flying experience (such as a PPL, a night rating or a certain number of flying hours). But, if this is not the case with you, flight schools are always willing to start you off or at least guide you in the right direction so you can begin to progress to commercial (again, this depends on the flight school)
Some parts of the training is definitely challenging such as the ATPL Groundschool phase of training which can lead to some stressful times and sleepless nights.
In the past (not so much nowadays), mixing lots of different suppliers with no coordination and links between them meant gaps in training were hard for a flight school to immediately know and fix so patchwork training was a result. Make sure you choose flight schools with good links with other flight schools and airlines so you’re offered a fully, coordinated program that meets your needs and considers future employment!
On the subject of employment, you still have a very high chance of employment if you decide to go modular and an integrated route doesn’t necessarily mean a higher chance of employability than the modular route (unlike a decade ago). I know for a fact that plenty of modular pilots have been employed by great airlines and airlines such as Jet 2 for example have stated they “particularly like modular students, as they’ve shown great motivation and a high level of non-technical core competencies through the experiences they’ve had outside of theory and flight training.” So, you still have a very high chance of employability with an airline if you chose the modular route just like the integrated and MPL students which is an important note to take. Do not be fooled by common misconceptions. Obviously, employability does depend on how quickly the aviation industry recovers economically from the recent pandemic but only time will tell. One final note, some people see the longer training time with modular as an advantage during pandemics like the Coronavirus slowing down the growth of the industry so when it comes to choosing the right training route for you, always think carefully which route best suits you.
I shall digress massively and now talk about another fantastic route which will enable you to become a pilot.
An intense, (roughly) 18-month program, the integrated route is one of the most common routes to an airline career but is not the only route. A full time course, the Integrated method aims to get you from zero hours to a frozen Air Transport Pilots License (fATPL) in a short amount of time. Happy days! The duration of the course is usually 18-24 months and the training is conducted at a flight school (ATO – Air Training Organisation). You usually start off with your ATPL Groundschool for the first 6 months without requiring any necessary flight experience. This is where you learn the theoretical side to aviation and you have to sit 13 examinations in this period. You then transition immediately to the practical side of your training so you do you CPL (Commercial Pilot License), IR (Instrument Rating), UPRT (Upset Prevention and Recovery Training) and finally, the APS MCC (Airline Pilots Standard Multi Crew Corporation) which enables you to fly in a multi-crew environment with another pilot. Once this is all complete, you achieve a fATPL. The advantages of the Integrated route are:
The continuity of training which airlines like to see
All the training is delivered by one flight training organisation
There’s certainly a “campus-like” environment where you train with the same trainee pilots and you make great friends along the way
The flight school delivering the training are generally larger and therefore, much more well-known
You’ll complete the required training in a much shorter time period by contrast to Modular
By the end of your training, you’ll certainly achieve all your required licenses and you’ll become a fully-qualified, commercial pilot with a fATPL
Some flight schools (not all) will allow you to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Air Transport Management (BSC Hons) however, this depends on the Air Training Organisation
However, the disadvantages of the integrated route are:
The price of the training is expensive and costs between €75,000 to €120,000 depending on the flight school
Normally, you’ll have fewer flying hours as you train in a short period of time
You will have to study full time for 18+ months
You may have to live at the flight school location(s) however, this does apply to modular students also like myself who currently live in the same city as the Air Training Organisation is located in.
It can be stressful and hard work at times. The first 6 months especially are quite hard and stressful as you have a lot of exams to sit with a lot of content to learn in a short period of time. This can certainly feel extremely overwhelming at times and there’ll be some days where the motivation isn’t 100% there. But hard work does pay off indeed and the instructors are there to support you. (On the topic of groundschool, I will be posting a future blog on groundschool revision tips and tricks at a future date so keep an eye out on this website if you’ll like to learn more!)
Another route to becoming a pilot is the MPL (Multi-Crew Pilot License) Training Program. With an increased focus on multi-crew simulator training rather than single pilot operations, the MPL route will enable you to gain all the abilities needed to fly multi-crew airliners in the future. A fast training route, the flying school will have a partnership with a specific or particular airline so flight students who complete an MPL likely end up flying for that particular airline. The advantages of the MPL are:
Students are introduced to airline specific Standard Operating Procedures’s (SOP) consistently throughout simulator training which is great.
There’s direct training delivered for first officer (co-pilot) duties as training starts in a multi-crew environment.
You will be mentored by the partnered airline from the start of the MPL course.
· The route does not require a high number of solo flight hours on small, light aircrafts like current CPL systems/other training routes so enormous, previous flight experience before applying to the flight school isn’t necessarily required.
Training is more relevant for commercial flying as you undergo airline and aircraft-specific training. For example, EasyJet have an MPL program with a partnership with L3 Harris Academy (formerly CTC Aviation) where students often get to fly in the A320 full-flight simulator following EasyJet’s procedures.
The program is a full-time, intensive course (similar to Integrated) so you will complete your training program in a much shorter time period than modular students for instance. (Between 14-18 months after 240 flying hours approximately)
The program is expected to help in the supply and demand gap for pilots (prior Coronavirus times during time of writing and hopefully, after the pandemic)
In terms of job security, it’s said to be fantastic as once you secure a place on the MPL program, the partnered airline has pre-selected you to join before you even start day 1 of the course essentially. You have a fast-track route direct into the airline assessment and soon the flight deck.
You experience a “campus-like” environment and make great friends with other flight students from day 1. In some flight schools, some of the practical flight training is conducted overseas such as Hamilton, New Zealand where weather conditions and air traffic is much more favorable by contrast to the UK. This is really enjoyable and great fun!
However, there are disadvantages with the MPL route. These include:
The cost of the program is expensive – much more expensive then the modular fATPL programs and even some fATPL Integrated programs. Expect to pay around €120,000. Some flight schools may expect you to pay even more.
You cannot shift from one airline to another until you get your ATPL.
You may not be able to work as a flying instructor or other similar operations.
You cannot fly solo until sufficient hours are met on single-engine aircrafts (however, this is enforced in other flight schools with integrated and modular courses)
There are recent accusations you may find on the internet that the MPL was made for economic reasons and some say it’s not worth it to do it now whereas, others say it is.
Some training is conducted on simulators and as you learn an airline’s specific SOP’s, you won’t have a broader knowledge or training of most other airliners out there in the world and there isn’t much variety. You will find it’s not like a normal ATPL course.
There is a long, selection process to go through consisting of computer assessments based on the partnered airline (so some airlines have Cut-e online assessments), an interview and an initial application to send of course. The assessments can test verbal reasoning, memory, reaction times, mental maths as well as problem solving.
As the MPL is a full-time intensive course, there are some stressful times you may experience during some elements of the pilot training.
If the partnered airline (with the flight school) you are destined to work for goes bankrupt, financially struggles or should you lose your job, you may be able to move to another airline thanks to the assistance from the flight school and the airline which may have other relationships with other airlines (as the same aircraft type are in operation), however, some pilots are not so lucky and this rarely happens!
Most airlines (e.g. Virgin and EasyJet) recruit their pilots from a mix of training background but the majority of them are from the group of ATPL holders – both Integrated and Modular rather than MPL.
Overall the MPL is a great training route, but has it’s advantages and disadvantages just like any other training route. For more information on the MPL training routes, see the two links below:
Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE Multi-Pilot License (MPL) Course | Pilot Training | L3Harris
Choose wisely which training route you want to do. For anyone intending to start any of the routes discussed above, I recommend you do the following 10 steps first:
1. Ensure you’ve done a trial flight or have some previous flight experience. If not, find the nearest flight school near you and book a trial flight to see if flying is for you.
2. Get a Class 1 Medical. (more information on this is coming in a future blog)
3. Go with your family to one of the Pilot Careers Live events during the year (I’ve been to one) They have a great source of useful information regarding the pilot training and some flight schools will be present.
4. Visit the flight schools in person. Book open days and visit their bases at airfields. Get a feel for the flight school and choose the flight school you feel comfortable with the most.
5. Speak to current and past flight students as well as instructors.
6. If you cannot make a face-to-face visit to the ATO, you can always ring them or send them an email – visit their website and see how you can contact them to make enquiries.
7. Visit ATO websites and read forums as well as blogs regarding pilot training routes. The Internet is a great source of information!
8. Listen to some podcasts also – there are some out there regarding pilot training!
9. Decide which training route is best for you (based on the advantages, disadvantage and how promising your financial situation is based on flight training costs) and enrol at the flight school by following the process which should be stated on the ATOs website. You now need to go through their selection process.
10. The selection process typically involves sending an initial application. The next stage you have to complete are the online assessments which test verbal and numerical reasoning, mental mathematics, reaction times and situational awareness etc. Finally, you have to do an interview at the flight school. Once all this has been complete, the ATO will then decide if you are a successful candidate or not.
And that’s it! If you’re successful, you progress through the pilot training of any of the routes discussed above and once you complete their required training at the flight school(s), apply to an airline (or you may fast-track to one on completion of their airline assessments). Once successful, you complete a type-rating where you learn to fly the airline’s specific aircraft-type (whether that’s the Airbus A320 family or the Boeing 737-700/800 for example). After completing your type rating of an airliner and you complete the base training, you will soon fly your first flight as a co-pilot/first officer. You’re now officially an airline pilot!
For those intending to make a start on modular commercial pilot training, see my blog post on the first step for modular pilot training where you will learn exactly what steps to take to start.
Note: If you intend to just only be a private pilot or recreational pilot (not a commercial pilot so you do not receive any remuneration for any flying done except towing gliders/dropping parachutists), all you need is PPL(A) or (H) and may have do specific ratings if required or if you intend to. Ratings include:
Night Rating NR – If you intend to fly during the night as well as the day, then it is recommended you get this rating. Cost can vary but the NR’s usually tend to cost an additional £1,000. Valid for 24 months.
Instrument Rating (Restricted) IR(R) – If you intend to learn to fly in challenging weather or instrument meteorological conditions using your instruments, then this rating is perfect. Cost varies depending on the flying school but expect to pay an additional £2,400-£3,000 perhaps even more. Valid for 25 months.
Single Engine Piston Rating SEP – Enabling you to fly single engine (single pilot) class aircraft, this rating is valid for 2 years. Again, cost vary depending on the flight school.
In regards to my commercial pilot training experience, I am currently going through the modular pilot training as you probably know already. An enjoyable, fantastic training route, I highly recommend the modular pilot training program to anyone who is thinking of doing it. The main reasons why I am training through this route is because it enables me to get a university degree alongside my pilot training, I complete my training at my own steady pace that suits me/my needs and I gain more flying hours in the logbook which as a result, helps me further develop/improve my flying skills which is what I personally need and would like along with an extra qualification. I must admit, the recent pandemic has hindered my progress slightly as a couple of months ago, I was supposed to sit some of my groundschool exams and have more hours in the logbook. Due to the national lockdowns, this wasn't possible but online learning continued and I managed to focus on my degree and successfully complete some of my assignments. As of now, I'm managing to build some more hours in a Cessna 152 Aerobat and I'm ready to sit my remaining groundschool exams. Although the training takes slightly longer than the integrated route, by the time the aviation industry recovers economically from the recent pandemic I will certainly have completed the necessary training and I believe I will be timed perfectly to finish when the pilot demand starts to increase again which will certainly and hopefully be soon. I’ve also heard positive things about the Integrated route and MPL but the right training route for you all depends on you and your personal needs and current circumstances.
I wish those who are deciding what to do/how to start pilot training all the best and I hope this blog explained in detail the ways to become a pilot. Each pilot has their different story. Now go make that first step into your pilot journey if you haven’t already and visit flight schools, pilot careers events and get some flight experience. Prepare to fly high my aviators – the enjoyment of flying awaits you.
If you have any questions on how to become a pilot, feel free to send me an email (shalin2013@outlook.com) or send me a Direct Message on Instagram (@PilotShalinOfficial). Wishing you a fantastic day wherever you are, your Pilot Shalin.
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