Leading Edge LEAP+FI, & TUI UK Pilot Cadet Programmes

Join Date: Dec 2022
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Join Date: May 2022
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I appreciate people coming here to look for guidance on the process but do keep in mind we are all competing for one of 30 spaces and there will be thousands of us.
What you can do in the meantime is book an initial class 1 medical if you do not already have one. Regardless of whether or not you get a place on a course or you go the modular path, a class 1 is necessary to be a commercial pilot and TUI will require you to have one as a condition of an offer.
It can take a few months to get a booking and any further investigations needed can take months of back and forth between the CAA and specialists. Do not assume you will be able to pass the class 1 initial on the day, even the smallest of things can require being referred to a specialist.
CAA Medical standards can be found here.
I'd also recommend booking a trial flight at a local flight school or club if you have no flying experience. It will be around £200 for the hour flight and you'll be able to control the aircraft once up in the air. This will give you an idea of whether or not you like being in control and if you can stomach being in a light aircraft. Working towards a PPL in 2023 will make it an exciting and highly rewarding year. Airliners may be the goal, but being up in the air by yourself at 5000ft in a little Cessna is a magical feeling.
A PPL is the first step on the modular path and will also be a great addition to an MPL which does not allow you to fly single engine aircraft by yourself.
Finally - familiarise yourself with what is involved in the ATPL course. 14 exams over 6 months is very intense and there is a huge amount of knowledge to absorb. This stage is typically thought of as the most challenging, even when completed over a longer period as part of modular training. If you have been out of education for a while or pursued a vocational path, the biggest hurdle will be figuring out how to study effectively at what I have been told is degree level. The Pooleys PPL theory books would be a good warmup.
For the sake of sanity, expect to hear nothing back and treat the process so far as valuable practice and learning for applying to future programs or directly entry fATPL jobs.
Have a happy new year everyone!
What you can do in the meantime is book an initial class 1 medical if you do not already have one. Regardless of whether or not you get a place on a course or you go the modular path, a class 1 is necessary to be a commercial pilot and TUI will require you to have one as a condition of an offer.
It can take a few months to get a booking and any further investigations needed can take months of back and forth between the CAA and specialists. Do not assume you will be able to pass the class 1 initial on the day, even the smallest of things can require being referred to a specialist.
CAA Medical standards can be found here.
I'd also recommend booking a trial flight at a local flight school or club if you have no flying experience. It will be around £200 for the hour flight and you'll be able to control the aircraft once up in the air. This will give you an idea of whether or not you like being in control and if you can stomach being in a light aircraft. Working towards a PPL in 2023 will make it an exciting and highly rewarding year. Airliners may be the goal, but being up in the air by yourself at 5000ft in a little Cessna is a magical feeling.
A PPL is the first step on the modular path and will also be a great addition to an MPL which does not allow you to fly single engine aircraft by yourself.
Finally - familiarise yourself with what is involved in the ATPL course. 14 exams over 6 months is very intense and there is a huge amount of knowledge to absorb. This stage is typically thought of as the most challenging, even when completed over a longer period as part of modular training. If you have been out of education for a while or pursued a vocational path, the biggest hurdle will be figuring out how to study effectively at what I have been told is degree level. The Pooleys PPL theory books would be a good warmup.
For the sake of sanity, expect to hear nothing back and treat the process so far as valuable practice and learning for applying to future programs or directly entry fATPL jobs.
Have a happy new year everyone!
Join Date: Aug 2021
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Please enlighten me here, as I thought I've done my research. I assumed that at the end of TUI's cadet program, you will end up with an ATPL license and the PPL is a requirement for that? You can have ATPL without PPL?
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Join Date: Jul 2018
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MPLs do not contain a PPL and even after converting to an ATPL you will be restricted to multi-crew aircraft. You will not have the required license for solo flying/light aircraft flying etc.
Join Date: Aug 2021
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the TUI scheme offers the cadet an MPL not an ATPL, although you can convert to an ATPL after the required number of hours.
MPLs do not contain a PPL and even after converting to an ATPL you will be restricted to multi-crew aircraft. You will not have the required license for solo flying/light aircraft flying etc.
MPLs do not contain a PPL and even after converting to an ATPL you will be restricted to multi-crew aircraft. You will not have the required license for solo flying/light aircraft flying etc.
Join Date: May 2022
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the TUI scheme offers the cadet an MPL not an ATPL, although you can convert to an ATPL after the required number of hours.
MPLs do not contain a PPL and even after converting to an ATPL you will be restricted to multi-crew aircraft. You will not have the required license for solo flying/light aircraft flying etc.
MPLs do not contain a PPL and even after converting to an ATPL you will be restricted to multi-crew aircraft. You will not have the required license for solo flying/light aircraft flying etc.
Worth noting this TUI programme will license you to fly only G reg UK aircraft. I'm not sure what would be required if you wanted to gain an EASA license to fly for the likes on Ryanair on EI or SP reg aircraft. It would at least involve sitting 14 EASA ATPL exams. I have not seen much discussion around this scenario yet. I'd imagine it may be easier once converted to a full ATPL. The traditional CPL route allows you to sit both sets of ATPLs and do skills tests with examiners that are joint EASA and CAA and you finish with two licenses.
Summary: MPL won't allow you to hire a Cessna for a Saturday wine run to Calais nor will it allow you to do the £60k course to fly a Spitfire which requires a PPL. MPL is perfect for what we want to do which is fly big noisy jets.
CAA MPL Info
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Join Date: Jul 2018
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Correct - I also believe 1500/conversion to ATPL is the same point at which your MPL becomes unrestricted, allowing you to work for other airlines (although not 100% on that one, happy to be corrected).
Software Dev's response gives good details, but essentially, if you were hoping to fly for fun, the TUI programme aint it (atleast not on it's own).
If you compare a typical integrated ATPL(f) course with an MPL course, you'd be surprised how little flying you may actually do in the MPL one - it's all about getting you ready to fly the B737/A320 etc, to the specific airline's SOPs.
Software Dev's response gives good details, but essentially, if you were hoping to fly for fun, the TUI programme aint it (atleast not on it's own).
If you compare a typical integrated ATPL(f) course with an MPL course, you'd be surprised how little flying you may actually do in the MPL one - it's all about getting you ready to fly the B737/A320 etc, to the specific airline's SOPs.
Join Date: Aug 2021
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Correct - I also believe 1500/conversion to ATPL is the same point at which your MPL becomes unrestricted, allowing you to work for other airlines (although not 100% on that one, happy to be corrected).
Software Dev's response gives good details, but essentially, if you were hoping to fly for fun, the TUI programme aint it (atleast not on it's own).
If you compare a typical integrated ATPL(f) course with an MPL course, you'd be surprised how little flying you may actually do in the MPL one - it's all about getting you ready to fly the B737/A320 etc, to the specific airline's SOPs.
Software Dev's response gives good details, but essentially, if you were hoping to fly for fun, the TUI programme aint it (atleast not on it's own).
If you compare a typical integrated ATPL(f) course with an MPL course, you'd be surprised how little flying you may actually do in the MPL one - it's all about getting you ready to fly the B737/A320 etc, to the specific airline's SOPs.


Join Date: Oct 2022
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Just a point to note on the TUI application - my candidate portal now has a reports section, which has documents attached with feedback on the online assessments carried out.
Join Date: Mar 2020
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I got one of each result. Below average, average and above average.
Wonder how that compares to the average... Guessing it's quite average

Join Date: Jul 2018
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Evening all,
Curious to know whether anyone else is in the same position as me? Submitted an application the week it opened (showing as application “submitted” on my TUI profile), but am yet to receive an invitation to do assessments etc?
Thanks and good luck all!
Curious to know whether anyone else is in the same position as me? Submitted an application the week it opened (showing as application “submitted” on my TUI profile), but am yet to receive an invitation to do assessments etc?
Thanks and good luck all!
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Kent
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The same for me. One of each. No surprise for me that the logical reasoning was below average, I found that one reasonably challenging. I guess we're average people!
Join Date: Dec 2022
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Evening all,
Curious to know whether anyone else is in the same position as me? Submitted an application the week it opened (showing as application “submitted” on my TUI profile), but am yet to receive an invitation to do assessments etc?
Thanks and good luck all!
Curious to know whether anyone else is in the same position as me? Submitted an application the week it opened (showing as application “submitted” on my TUI profile), but am yet to receive an invitation to do assessments etc?
Thanks and good luck all!
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Join Date: Jul 2018
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well done folks, nice start to the new year!
Join Date: Dec 2022
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Assessment
Hey guys,
just saw the assessment report:
below average
average
average
hoping to get an email this week or next regarding if I’ve passed the digital interview.
good luck all!
just saw the assessment report:
below average
average
average
hoping to get an email this week or next regarding if I’ve passed the digital interview.
good luck all!
Join Date: Jul 2019
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Let's bear in mind though that they seem to also give emphasis on diverse backgrounds/ different ways of thinking and being a good fit as well as the technical and mental capacity to be able to do the job. So to anyone that isn't above average, like myself, don't be too disheartened, it may still be enough, coupled with your interview, to get to the next stage