CPL theory, scholarships etc.

[tmmorris]

Giving some thought to becoming an instructor - no intention of a change of career, so I don’t need or want a CPL as far as I can see - it’s just so I can do some instruction at our club. I have EASA PPL(A), IR(R) and night, and around 600hrs TT (including more than one flight over 300nm etc etc).

As the club does quite a bit of LAPL instructing, I know I could in theory do a FI course without the CPL theory, but pretty much every ATO I’ve seen lists CPL theory as a prerequisite. Also, I’m not sure how I can fund this and was thinking of applying for (e.g.) the HCAP scholarships, but again they want CPL theory. The cheapest I can find the latter is CATS (£1.5k) which is a lot of money to spend when I don’t actually need it.

This is probably a common question - sorry - but does anyone have any advice NOT aimed at those instructing as hours building towards a commercial career?

[Genghis the Engineer]

I did a CPL over several years (well the TK, about 6 months for the flying) with no intention of being an airline pilot (and it worked!, I'm still not an airline pilot!).

I used CATS distance learning, studying a few evenings a week. It did require a lot of self discipline and by and large it was quite enjoyable - CATS material is comprehensive and readable, and I learned a lot which I've used in my day job as a boffin. As it happens however, CPL+CRI gets me 30ish hours of instructing a year, and some occasional ferry trips, so it was well worth the effort.

When it comes to the flying side, I regret spacing it out more than I do the TK - this ended up costing me a lot more money than it needed to, and if I did it again, I'd do the flying course intensively, to get it done in minimum (very expensive) hours.

It's not difficult any of it - but there is a hell of a lot of material, and it is a bit of a strain learning after years of PPLing to fly to CPL levels of accuracy.

G

[S-Works]

I seem to recall that the CATS CPL only Theory with online materials is around £600. I have said it many times, an FI without CPL is a waste of space. I won't employ you because you will be limited to a course that is rarely taught and doing stuff like checkouts and you will die of boredom not being able to progress to CPL etc.

[tmmorris]

Thanks both. I’m not looking for a job... so the fact Bose-x (or anyone else) won’t employ me isn’t an issue. And for odd reasons, we have a lot of LAPL students.

GTE thanks for advice, I had considered CPL+CRI. I need to work out if the club has enough work for a CRI to be worth it. We don’t currently have any CRIs.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I think your location and the rest of your flying profile have a lot to do with how useful the CRI is.

I do okay - frankly I couldn't find the time to do more than 50hrs.pa, and 30 is fine. Much of that flying is through a couple of syndicates who like having me in-house, and having a lot of time in some relatively obscure types - 3-axis microlights, vintage taildraggers, that sort of thing. So I am in sufficient demand to make my life interesting.

I'm happy to be proved wrong, but my suspicion is that a CRI whose hours are almost entirely in standard CessPits is going to struggle to get much instructing, as they're a lot less useful than an FI with the same types. As most of my instructing is on types where the pilots are usually already qualified before they come to them, it matters a lot less to me.

G

[S-Works]

Originally Posted by tmmorris

Thanks both. I’m not looking for a job... so the fact Bose-x (or anyone else) won’t employ me isn’t an issue. And for odd reasons, we have a lot of LAPL students.

GTE thanks for advice, I had considered CPL+CRI. I need to work out if the club has enough work for a CRI to be worth it. We don’t currently have any CRIs.

So you want to gamble a seven grand FI course against doing a six hundred quid theory course based on current LAPL stuendents!?

Good luck.

[Whopity]

so I don’t need or want a CPL as far as I can see

I had considered CPL+CRI.

Why? The CRI does not need a CPL or CPL level knowledge. The CRI suits a niche market, where you have a specific purpose for doing it; teaching aerobatics, tailwheel conversions, differences training rental checkouts etc. If you intend to invest the time and effort doing an FI course, you don't need a CPL, but its severely limits what you can do if you don't invest in CPL level knowledge.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Fair point there from Whopity.

Whilst I had my own reasons for doing the CPL (and at that time you couldn't instruct paid without a CPL, that changed just after I got the duo), I have no regrets about having the CPL - in my day job, which is basically aviation related research, I use the CPL knowledge (if not the licence itself) most days. But I doubt in retrospect that the CPL component has ever strictly paid for itself in terms of the flying I've subsequently been paid to do, other than instructing, which I no longer need it for.

G

[tmmorris]

Bose-x where is it £600?

CATS say £1500

https://www.catsaviation.com/retail/...ses/c/22537114

same price as the ATPL, in fact.

[Gordon Bennet]

The CPL at CAPT (capt.gs) is £800

G

[S-Works]

Originally Posted by tmmorris

Bose-x where is it £600?

CATS say £1500

https://www.catsaviation.com/retail/...ses/c/22537114

same price as the ATPL, in fact.

You need to call them and explain its just the CPL theory you want not the ATPL.