Flybe MPL
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Rumour has it that Flybe/FTE are about to advertise for the first UK MPL soon. Watch this space
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hampshire
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An ATPL is not a CPL/IR! Current modular and intergrated schemes train you to CPL flying standards with IR and ATPL ground subjects (frozen ATPL). In the old days you would complete a CPL flying course, an IR flying course and then sit the CPL ground subjects. When you reached the minimum flying hours/experience requirements for the ATPL you would sit the ATPL ground exams. Later the CAA decided that you could sit the ATPL ground subjects before having the required hours for the ATPL and the FROZEN ATPL was born.
The MPL will be the equivalent of a CPL/IR with ATPL ground subjects i.e. a Frozen ATPL. Once you reach the minimum Flying experience standards you will be able to apply for the full ATPL in just the same way that you would have done if you were unfreezing your frozen ATPL on the old schemes.The only difference being that once you complete an MPL course you will only be allowed to fly the type of commercial aircraft you were trained on but as you will complete this kind of course with a reasonable chance of a job with the company that 'sponsors' you. Once you are issued with your ATPL the world is your oyster!
PS The requirements for unfreezing are approz 1500 hours experience, so no outside training would help, that said it is an experience requirement mostly so some single piston flying etc would help, check the Lasors/CAA website for full requirements.
The MPL will be the equivalent of a CPL/IR with ATPL ground subjects i.e. a Frozen ATPL. Once you reach the minimum Flying experience standards you will be able to apply for the full ATPL in just the same way that you would have done if you were unfreezing your frozen ATPL on the old schemes.The only difference being that once you complete an MPL course you will only be allowed to fly the type of commercial aircraft you were trained on but as you will complete this kind of course with a reasonable chance of a job with the company that 'sponsors' you. Once you are issued with your ATPL the world is your oyster!
PS The requirements for unfreezing are approz 1500 hours experience, so no outside training would help, that said it is an experience requirement mostly so some single piston flying etc would help, check the Lasors/CAA website for full requirements.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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What is the lead time for training on these MPL's? In the current climate, you might be waiting around for a while before you get on the line once qualified. Am I right in understanding that FTE have guys currently waiting to go? No new hiring from Flybe at the moment apparently.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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The final half of the training is done with the airline or its trainer in the simulator, so once completed you are ready to fly the aircraft, there will more than likely be no leadtime. Jerex do have dacets ready trained and Flybe take them as they need them. Whilst Flybe are not actively recruiting publicaly there are still the odd few Jerez cadets on the courses running now and in the future.
If I was looking to be a Pilot and hadn't yet started my training I would try and get on an MPL scheme or failing that, wait a good 6 months and save like mad before starting any commercial pilot course. Pretty soon the only 'airline' (and I use that term very loosely!) recruiting will be Ryanair and lets face it, they are soon going to be relying on their type rating courses and selection costs for their profits. So unless you fancy working for that kind of outfit, wait and save!
If I was looking to be a Pilot and hadn't yet started my training I would try and get on an MPL scheme or failing that, wait a good 6 months and save like mad before starting any commercial pilot course. Pretty soon the only 'airline' (and I use that term very loosely!) recruiting will be Ryanair and lets face it, they are soon going to be relying on their type rating courses and selection costs for their profits. So unless you fancy working for that kind of outfit, wait and save!
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I'll send some hate mail to Brussels if it's gonna be easy-cheesie to convert a MPL to a JAA CPL ME IR (aka fATPL), considering you have to go through hell to convert a FAA CPL ME IR to oh-so-high JAA standards
Good luck though to whoever gets this working, seems like the back-up may be a wee bit better than those Sterling guys had.
Good luck though to whoever gets this working, seems like the back-up may be a wee bit better than those Sterling guys had.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Thankyou, this has cleared alot up.
One question; you say you cannot fly any other type of aircraft other than that which you were trained on (in the flybe case the q400)- is this not the same as with a fATPL or ATPL where type rating is required?
Also presumably you can still fly a whole host of GA planes?
Are FTE and Flybe running this scheme simply to save money?
One question; you say you cannot fly any other type of aircraft other than that which you were trained on (in the flybe case the q400)- is this not the same as with a fATPL or ATPL where type rating is required?
Also presumably you can still fly a whole host of GA planes?
Are FTE and Flybe running this scheme simply to save money?
Join Date: Nov 2005
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As far as I know, holders of the MPL (Multi-Pilot Licence) are only allowed to fly in a Multi-Crew Environment (hence the name). Therefore they will not be licenced to fly any single pilot aircraft (including most of the GA fleet), without the necessary conversions to the standard CPL.
I'll send some hate mail to Brussels if it's gonna be easy-cheesie to convert a MPL to a JAA CPL ME IR (aka fATPL), considering you have to go through hell to convert a FAA CPL ME IR to oh-so-high JAA standards
Join Date: Sep 2008
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cant really see the MPL catching on...
There arent many airlines showing much interest at the moment apart from Flybe...
But then again, as HVE stated once you have the APTL the world is your oyster... all remains to be seen how it goes....
There arent many airlines showing much interest at the moment apart from Flybe...
But then again, as HVE stated once you have the APTL the world is your oyster... all remains to be seen how it goes....
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Malta Flyer,
An MPL holder could get a JAA PPL quite easily. They'd probably just need to do a few hours training and take a check ride. They could then take a standard 25 hour JAA CPL course and test flight, to obtain a CPL. They could hire GA aircraft for solo flying with the PPL. They could get paid to fly GA aircraft as a single pilot with the CPL. They could add an ME with a standard 6 hour course.
MPL is not hugely different than fATPL. It spends little time focusing on building competence for single pilot GA aircraft and instead focuses earlier on building competency in multi-pilot ops on turbine engine types. The main concern is therefore, the smaller number of hours an MPL student gets in the air and as PIC, since the multi-pilot training is done in sims where two students can sit front seat. The second concern is the amount of sim time will result in less air sense and air experience. I would think that by 1500 hours, MPL pilots will have all of this, but they will be leaps and bounds ahead of fATPL holders on a Type Rating course.
If they ever do find themselves seeking a second job before they get to 1500 hours, they will have to take more training, probably to get the PPL and then CPL (they'll have an IR and probably a turbine ME already). This would give them an fATPL, but due to their high multi-crew sim time and type rating, they will be extremely competent in an airline sim assessment.
An MPL holder could get a JAA PPL quite easily. They'd probably just need to do a few hours training and take a check ride. They could then take a standard 25 hour JAA CPL course and test flight, to obtain a CPL. They could hire GA aircraft for solo flying with the PPL. They could get paid to fly GA aircraft as a single pilot with the CPL. They could add an ME with a standard 6 hour course.
MPL is not hugely different than fATPL. It spends little time focusing on building competence for single pilot GA aircraft and instead focuses earlier on building competency in multi-pilot ops on turbine engine types. The main concern is therefore, the smaller number of hours an MPL student gets in the air and as PIC, since the multi-pilot training is done in sims where two students can sit front seat. The second concern is the amount of sim time will result in less air sense and air experience. I would think that by 1500 hours, MPL pilots will have all of this, but they will be leaps and bounds ahead of fATPL holders on a Type Rating course.
If they ever do find themselves seeking a second job before they get to 1500 hours, they will have to take more training, probably to get the PPL and then CPL (they'll have an IR and probably a turbine ME already). This would give them an fATPL, but due to their high multi-crew sim time and type rating, they will be extremely competent in an airline sim assessment.