ATPL only valid if ground school taken?
I am finishing my JAA PPL now (in a CAA school in Spain) and am considering going 'all the way' and doing your ATPL distance learning course to prepare for my ATPL exams. However, a week ago I was on the jumpseat in the cockpit of an Air France A330 and the copilot told me it is no longer allowed to get your ATPL via distance learning and ground school is a must. IS this true? And if so, could it be just a French rule? Would this mean I would never be able to apply with a French airline in the future?