Our MPL students typically struggled during the initial period due to the aforementioned lack of manual handling skills, airmanship, and decision making ability. Many reasons for this of course but it was a definite observed trend.
99% had ironed this out by the 1500hr point and achieved parity with their Atpl colleagues.
Don’t forget, the MPL course IS NOT there to benefit the student. It is cheaper to produce, less time consuming, and ties the student to a prospective airline during the ‘danger period’ where they are most likely to seek pastures new!
There is no need for me to repeat the endless horror stories here, but this years events have proved decisively that this course offers nil protection to MPL student, and should not be your first choice when planning a career in aviation.