Length of Full Commercial Pilot Training?
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Length of Full Commercial Pilot Training?
So how long would a full-on program that gets you from holding no licenses to obtaining a CPL and an ATPL along with the IR take? Pretty much from point 0 till ready to apply to an airline.
How long would that take? 1,2,3,4 years?
P.S. Im an average to above-average paced learner, and I know some minor things about planes already.
How long would that take? 1,2,3,4 years?
P.S. Im an average to above-average paced learner, and I know some minor things about planes already.
Prior knowledge, utterly irrelevant for ATPL training I’m afraid. I’ve got a degree in it and it was next to useless!
Start to finish it could be done in 18 months if you don’t have any issues and keep the pressure on. Realistically most people allow about two years to be in a jet. This ignores the COVID effects obviously
Start to finish it could be done in 18 months if you don’t have any issues and keep the pressure on. Realistically most people allow about two years to be in a jet. This ignores the COVID effects obviously
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Now is not the best time to race towards the finish line as it will take at least 2-3 years for the industry to recover from the COVID-19 standstill to the point where jobs for zero-experience pilots start coming up in significant numbers. But, that remark aside, I would say that full-time the whole thing is doable within 18-24 months. Of course, with this time frame I assume the lack of any major hiccups, like extended periods of bad weather, poor availability of aircraft/instructors/exam slots, lockdowns and all the other weird and wonderful things that life might throw your way.
Easily doable in a year. That will only get you to CPL/IR of course, which is enough to get you into an airline job. The only way to get an ATPL is to have 1400 hours and an airline job unfortunately... The hardest part is the ATPL exams which takes anywhere from 6 months to 18. I took 4 but I'm probably an exception...
de minimus non curat lex
Go to University before your aviation studies; aviation won’t even start to recover before 2022/23.
Then decide whether Modular or Integrated route.
Choose a school (ATO) approved to conduct EASA training or the FAA route.
A national school might result in a National Licence which will not be recognised for a EASA licence without completely undertaking all their training requirements from scratch.
Then decide whether Modular or Integrated route.
Choose a school (ATO) approved to conduct EASA training or the FAA route.
A national school might result in a National Licence which will not be recognised for a EASA licence without completely undertaking all their training requirements from scratch.
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But I'm still in high school , I still have 2 years to finish before starting University, by then, airlines may start hiring again.
Wouldn't I be missing a lot of employment opportunities in the 4 years of Uni?
Wouldn't I be missing a lot of employment opportunities in the 4 years of Uni?
Where are you living? You're talking about high school and a 4 year degree, which hints that you might be in the US? EASA and FAA are very different systems.
de minimus non curat lex
Unless you are very well connected, the chances of someone aged 19/20 being hired is not great as you will be up against older more mature junior birdmen.
You do get 19 year olds who are mature enough but this is quite rare. Often those who have been head boy or girl at school, although there is not certainty even if this occurs. They are often destined for far more prestigious professions.
Maturity is an important component and most young people are unlikely to develop sufficient of it until at least 21+. University should provide sufficient ‘rounding’, and improve anyone’s chances.
You do get 19 year olds who are mature enough but this is quite rare. Often those who have been head boy or girl at school, although there is not certainty even if this occurs. They are often destined for far more prestigious professions.
Maturity is an important component and most young people are unlikely to develop sufficient of it until at least 21+. University should provide sufficient ‘rounding’, and improve anyone’s chances.
Easily doable in a year. That will only get you to CPL/IR of course, which is enough to get you into an airline job. The only way to get an ATPL is to have 1400 hours and an airline job unfortunately... The hardest part is the ATPL exams which takes anywhere from 6 months to 18. I took 4 but I'm probably an exception...
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EASA:
Ground Theory is already around 1400 hours of Classroom in any professional Academy.
So count that at least 1.5 years of intensive classes without vacation.
Expect a minimum of 2 years to get your basic frozen ATPL in any good school that values knowledge above monkey questionbank teaching.
To get into a Transport Aircraft, count another 6 To 9 months minimum, from MCC to being line-checked.
Ground Theory is already around 1400 hours of Classroom in any professional Academy.
So count that at least 1.5 years of intensive classes without vacation.
Expect a minimum of 2 years to get your basic frozen ATPL in any good school that values knowledge above monkey questionbank teaching.
To get into a Transport Aircraft, count another 6 To 9 months minimum, from MCC to being line-checked.
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rudestuff
How about reading his/her location under his/her screen name ?
.. incidentally, how's your SA .. in general ?
How about reading his/her location under his/her screen name ?
.. incidentally, how's your SA .. in general ?
Last edited by SID PLATE; 14th Aug 2020 at 16:42. Reason: PC awareness
Icelanta
6 months for ground school. Can’t think of a single school where it takes any longer than that if it’s full time. The requirements are for 650 hours of learning time, of which 10% must be contact (BGS have the details and they know what they’re talking about). Certainly not a year and a half of solid learning without a week off, that’d be a ridiculous waste of time effort and money. To OP, if you need 1400 hours just for groundschool then this probably isn’t the job for you I’m afraid.
6 months for ground school. Can’t think of a single school where it takes any longer than that if it’s full time. The requirements are for 650 hours of learning time, of which 10% must be contact (BGS have the details and they know what they’re talking about). Certainly not a year and a half of solid learning without a week off, that’d be a ridiculous waste of time effort and money. To OP, if you need 1400 hours just for groundschool then this probably isn’t the job for you I’m afraid.
As others have said it's 18 months for exams, hour building and CPL, MEIR and MCC/jet conversion courses but the big question is:
Do you have a spare 120 grand? And by spare can you afford to lose that money? If you have rich parents then crack on you'll fit right in with all the very privileged few that go straight from school to CTC to a jet job.
If the answers no then you might want to sort out a plan B to protect yourself against the next downturn...
Do you have a spare 120 grand? And by spare can you afford to lose that money? If you have rich parents then crack on you'll fit right in with all the very privileged few that go straight from school to CTC to a jet job.
If the answers no then you might want to sort out a plan B to protect yourself against the next downturn...
SID PLATE
Pretty good mate.
SA is about knowing as much as possible about a situation, and thing change. So when something doesn't add up you ask questions. Or you could be a smart-ass 😂
Pretty good mate.
SA is about knowing as much as possible about a situation, and thing change. So when something doesn't add up you ask questions. Or you could be a smart-ass 😂
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VariablePitchP
with respect, but any academy where you only have 10 % of classroom training is not worth your money nor time.
1400 hours of classroom training is a minimum to teach you the ATPL theory, and NO bloody CBT. That should be ONLY for reviewing.
I suggest you find a better training facility. Unfortunately, lots of newbees are completely unprepared to be a Flight Officer
with respect, but any academy where you only have 10 % of classroom training is not worth your money nor time.
1400 hours of classroom training is a minimum to teach you the ATPL theory, and NO bloody CBT. That should be ONLY for reviewing.
I suggest you find a better training facility. Unfortunately, lots of newbees are completely unprepared to be a Flight Officer
BGS is one of the UK’s most highly regarded schools with a strong track record of training students and used by both UK and overseas students. There’s a reason all of the big 3 integrated school students pay for BGS software over and abuse their issues books. The 650 hours with 10% is fine for modular, you still have to pass the exam! I did integrated and it was the other way round, 90% classroom.
I’m afraid the school you went to were selling you snake oil, 1400 hours is a ludicrous amount of time to spend in the classroom doing what are at best GCSE level exams, you could get most of the way through a degree in that time. Are you actually a pilot and have you actually done the exams? If so you’ll know full well that 75% of the ATPL syllabus is utter guff with no relevance at all to flying a commercial airliner. It’s box ticking and to weed out those who can’t be bothered. Type rating is when it finally starts to get difficult and relevant.
Why so specific with 1400 hours, have you made that up because it’s 100 per module or have you seen it written down somewhere?
I’m afraid the school you went to were selling you snake oil, 1400 hours is a ludicrous amount of time to spend in the classroom doing what are at best GCSE level exams, you could get most of the way through a degree in that time. Are you actually a pilot and have you actually done the exams? If so you’ll know full well that 75% of the ATPL syllabus is utter guff with no relevance at all to flying a commercial airliner. It’s box ticking and to weed out those who can’t be bothered. Type rating is when it finally starts to get difficult and relevant.
Why so specific with 1400 hours, have you made that up because it’s 100 per module or have you seen it written down somewhere?
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Let's make it 2100 hours, shall we?
ATPL theory is not rocket science and is nowhere near the level of a degree. Only 30% of it is actually relevant.
I am not a FAA fan, but EASA could learn a thing or two from the FAA concerning written and oral examinations.
ATPL theory is not rocket science and is nowhere near the level of a degree. Only 30% of it is actually relevant.
I am not a FAA fan, but EASA could learn a thing or two from the FAA concerning written and oral examinations.
Last edited by Banana Joe; 14th Aug 2020 at 21:57.