Do some PPL flying to gain those skills. What nonsense!, the MPL is directed at flying airliners and airline SOP's, the current Frozen ATPL is aimed at a single pilot, flying a twin, having planned the route themselves, filed the flightplan themselves and generally doing everything else that needs doing to operate that twin legally. Much of the course is sod all use to an airline pilot but very useful for someone wanting to manually plot and fly a great circle over the poles in a non-airliner!
The MPL will be no less safe and much, much more relevant to flying airliners. The general handling skills (relevant to airliners) will be there still. If you want to fly singles or light twins then don't do an AIRLINE transport pilots license, simple.
Last edited by MVE; 4th Jun 2009 at 15:17.