The MPL includes 70 hours on Single Engine aeroplanes and anyone completing the training should have no trouble flying a C152. That is roughly the same amount of single engine flying as conducted on a traditional Integrated ATPL Course.
The latter phase of the course is conducted on simulators which are more akin to the type of aircraft likely to be flown once qualified. Is this not more relevant than learning on an air taxi type aircraft that one is never likely to fly again after passing the IR skill test?
The MPL is not likely to be a cheaper option; it has been badly conceived in many respects and there are likely to be issues finding instructors. The end product however will have had more training in MPA operations, so should be at least equal to if not better than graduates from an Integrated course.
With the recent launch of the
Future Airspace Strategy we are going to have to see a major overhaul of the IR from a needle based skill to one of systems monitoring.