Is starting an EZY MPL a sane idea in 2023?
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Is starting an EZY MPL a sane idea in 2023?
I appreciate there may be an element of looking into a crystal ball to answer this question, but some people here who know the industry far better than me probably have better crystal balls than me!
I was looking at the EZY MPL as I know a couple of people near the end of it and one person who is now in the RHS from it. I'd probably look to start this summer, but this year also marks what is in theory the start of a 2 year recession where I can only assume the international travel market will take a huge hit once again.
I unfortunately also have friends who were shafted by EZY during COVID, a couple who stuck it out and are now hired but a couple who went onto spend a fortune to convert it to an ATPL.
EZY seem to be hiring *incredibly* quickly and despite what CAE would love to tell me when I phone them surely this will create a problem if people cut back and they can't afford their current or new cadets on the basis I wouldn't graduate the MPL until the end of 2024.
Admittedly everyone I know has a job now but my question is, with our economy about to implode even more than it already has, is the EZY MPL now an even bigger 100k lottery ticket? Or would you say my prospects of being employed at the end of 2024 and not being dumped before I hit 1500hrs are reasonable enough to justify the 100k and risk over getting an fATPL and seeing what happens?
I guess the sub-question is whether the likelihood of me securing a job saving 40k and going modular (and potentially spending that saved money on a paid for TR courtesy of a certain airline) which is what id do in absentia of the MPL is similar enough as if I gamble on EZY hiring me? Saving money is always good and it does also provide me with a vast amount more flexibility which feels a good thing to me given the turbulent nature of which airlines hire and suddenly collapse - correct me if you disagree.
i'm early 20s so I lack life experience but on the flip side that means they can get more years out of me so I don't consider myself a competitive applicant nor do I consider myself a CV that would be tossed in the first phase!
I see a couple of airlines are hiring low hour people but feels a bit awkward if I get 2-3 rejections after the ~2 years I assume it would take getting everything modular in order.
At that point I'm not sure what I'd do other than work using my degree and spend all my income keeping my licence current to reapply whenever I can - which I suppose isn't a terrible idea on the basis my degree has a very good earning potential anyway, just isn't my dream. I know there is the TUI MPL which is much more appealing as free so if that collapses so what, but I dare say that will be orders of magnitude more competitive than a course that has a "do you have six figures in the bank" sieve before the first round of testing, so I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket.
In summary; with where things are, are EZY or other (self sponsored) MPLs actually likely to be still taking on board their MPL grads in 2 years time and keeping them for 1500hrs, or is the market turbulent to the point where I'd either be more likely to get a job or just not lose 100k on an MPL I can't do anything with by going modular and just seeing who is hiring (hoping there are some airlines hiring low hour fATPLs) by the time I finish.
I expect there to be a fairly diverse range of opinions on this(?) so any and all comments are welcome - as is any advice you'd give for someone hoping to enter the industry via an MPL or fATPL in about 2 years.
I was looking at the EZY MPL as I know a couple of people near the end of it and one person who is now in the RHS from it. I'd probably look to start this summer, but this year also marks what is in theory the start of a 2 year recession where I can only assume the international travel market will take a huge hit once again.
I unfortunately also have friends who were shafted by EZY during COVID, a couple who stuck it out and are now hired but a couple who went onto spend a fortune to convert it to an ATPL.
EZY seem to be hiring *incredibly* quickly and despite what CAE would love to tell me when I phone them surely this will create a problem if people cut back and they can't afford their current or new cadets on the basis I wouldn't graduate the MPL until the end of 2024.
Admittedly everyone I know has a job now but my question is, with our economy about to implode even more than it already has, is the EZY MPL now an even bigger 100k lottery ticket? Or would you say my prospects of being employed at the end of 2024 and not being dumped before I hit 1500hrs are reasonable enough to justify the 100k and risk over getting an fATPL and seeing what happens?
I guess the sub-question is whether the likelihood of me securing a job saving 40k and going modular (and potentially spending that saved money on a paid for TR courtesy of a certain airline) which is what id do in absentia of the MPL is similar enough as if I gamble on EZY hiring me? Saving money is always good and it does also provide me with a vast amount more flexibility which feels a good thing to me given the turbulent nature of which airlines hire and suddenly collapse - correct me if you disagree.
i'm early 20s so I lack life experience but on the flip side that means they can get more years out of me so I don't consider myself a competitive applicant nor do I consider myself a CV that would be tossed in the first phase!
I see a couple of airlines are hiring low hour people but feels a bit awkward if I get 2-3 rejections after the ~2 years I assume it would take getting everything modular in order.
At that point I'm not sure what I'd do other than work using my degree and spend all my income keeping my licence current to reapply whenever I can - which I suppose isn't a terrible idea on the basis my degree has a very good earning potential anyway, just isn't my dream. I know there is the TUI MPL which is much more appealing as free so if that collapses so what, but I dare say that will be orders of magnitude more competitive than a course that has a "do you have six figures in the bank" sieve before the first round of testing, so I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket.
In summary; with where things are, are EZY or other (self sponsored) MPLs actually likely to be still taking on board their MPL grads in 2 years time and keeping them for 1500hrs, or is the market turbulent to the point where I'd either be more likely to get a job or just not lose 100k on an MPL I can't do anything with by going modular and just seeing who is hiring (hoping there are some airlines hiring low hour fATPLs) by the time I finish.
I expect there to be a fairly diverse range of opinions on this(?) so any and all comments are welcome - as is any advice you'd give for someone hoping to enter the industry via an MPL or fATPL in about 2 years.
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I appreciate there may be an element of looking into a crystal ball to answer this question, but some people here who know the industry far better than me probably have better crystal balls than me!
I was looking at the EZY MPL as I know a couple of people near the end of it and one person who is now in the RHS from it. I'd probably look to start this summer, but this year also marks what is in theory the start of a 2 year recession where I can only assume the international travel market will take a huge hit once again.
I unfortunately also have friends who were shafted by EZY during COVID, a couple who stuck it out and are now hired but a couple who went onto spend a fortune to convert it to an ATPL.
EZY seem to be hiring *incredibly* quickly and despite what CAE would love to tell me when I phone them surely this will create a problem if people cut back and they can't afford their current or new cadets on the basis I wouldn't graduate the MPL until the end of 2024.
Admittedly everyone I know has a job now but my question is, with our economy about to implode even more than it already has, is the EZY MPL now an even bigger 100k lottery ticket? Or would you say my prospects of being employed at the end of 2024 and not being dumped before I hit 1500hrs are reasonable enough to justify the 100k and risk over getting an fATPL and seeing what happens?
I guess the sub-question is whether the likelihood of me securing a job saving 40k and going modular (and potentially spending that saved money on a paid for TR courtesy of a certain airline) which is what id do in absentia of the MPL is similar enough as if I gamble on EZY hiring me? Saving money is always good and it does also provide me with a vast amount more flexibility which feels a good thing to me given the turbulent nature of which airlines hire and suddenly collapse - correct me if you disagree.
i'm early 20s so I lack life experience but on the flip side that means they can get more years out of me so I don't consider myself a competitive applicant nor do I consider myself a CV that would be tossed in the first phase!
I see a couple of airlines are hiring low hour people but feels a bit awkward if I get 2-3 rejections after the ~2 years I assume it would take getting everything modular in order.
At that point I'm not sure what I'd do other than work using my degree and spend all my income keeping my licence current to reapply whenever I can - which I suppose isn't a terrible idea on the basis my degree has a very good earning potential anyway, just isn't my dream. I know there is the TUI MPL which is much more appealing as free so if that collapses so what, but I dare say that will be orders of magnitude more competitive than a course that has a "do you have six figures in the bank" sieve before the first round of testing, so I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket.
In summary; with where things are, are EZY or other (self sponsored) MPLs actually likely to be still taking on board their MPL grads in 2 years time and keeping them for 1500hrs, or is the market turbulent to the point where I'd either be more likely to get a job or just not lose 100k on an MPL I can't do anything with by going modular and just seeing who is hiring (hoping there are some airlines hiring low hour fATPLs) by the time I finish.
I expect there to be a fairly diverse range of opinions on this(?) so any and all comments are welcome - as is any advice you'd give for someone hoping to enter the industry via an MPL or fATPL in about 2 years.
I was looking at the EZY MPL as I know a couple of people near the end of it and one person who is now in the RHS from it. I'd probably look to start this summer, but this year also marks what is in theory the start of a 2 year recession where I can only assume the international travel market will take a huge hit once again.
I unfortunately also have friends who were shafted by EZY during COVID, a couple who stuck it out and are now hired but a couple who went onto spend a fortune to convert it to an ATPL.
EZY seem to be hiring *incredibly* quickly and despite what CAE would love to tell me when I phone them surely this will create a problem if people cut back and they can't afford their current or new cadets on the basis I wouldn't graduate the MPL until the end of 2024.
Admittedly everyone I know has a job now but my question is, with our economy about to implode even more than it already has, is the EZY MPL now an even bigger 100k lottery ticket? Or would you say my prospects of being employed at the end of 2024 and not being dumped before I hit 1500hrs are reasonable enough to justify the 100k and risk over getting an fATPL and seeing what happens?
I guess the sub-question is whether the likelihood of me securing a job saving 40k and going modular (and potentially spending that saved money on a paid for TR courtesy of a certain airline) which is what id do in absentia of the MPL is similar enough as if I gamble on EZY hiring me? Saving money is always good and it does also provide me with a vast amount more flexibility which feels a good thing to me given the turbulent nature of which airlines hire and suddenly collapse - correct me if you disagree.
i'm early 20s so I lack life experience but on the flip side that means they can get more years out of me so I don't consider myself a competitive applicant nor do I consider myself a CV that would be tossed in the first phase!
I see a couple of airlines are hiring low hour people but feels a bit awkward if I get 2-3 rejections after the ~2 years I assume it would take getting everything modular in order.
At that point I'm not sure what I'd do other than work using my degree and spend all my income keeping my licence current to reapply whenever I can - which I suppose isn't a terrible idea on the basis my degree has a very good earning potential anyway, just isn't my dream. I know there is the TUI MPL which is much more appealing as free so if that collapses so what, but I dare say that will be orders of magnitude more competitive than a course that has a "do you have six figures in the bank" sieve before the first round of testing, so I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket.
In summary; with where things are, are EZY or other (self sponsored) MPLs actually likely to be still taking on board their MPL grads in 2 years time and keeping them for 1500hrs, or is the market turbulent to the point where I'd either be more likely to get a job or just not lose 100k on an MPL I can't do anything with by going modular and just seeing who is hiring (hoping there are some airlines hiring low hour fATPLs) by the time I finish.
I expect there to be a fairly diverse range of opinions on this(?) so any and all comments are welcome - as is any advice you'd give for someone hoping to enter the industry via an MPL or fATPL in about 2 years.
Consider all options carefully (it's actually one of the cornerstones of good decision making).
If you want to get qualified quickly - then modular is the fastest route. If you want to spend maximum money then go for the MPL.
If you want to get qualified quickly - then modular is the fastest route. If you want to spend maximum money then go for the MPL.
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You really want the airline to have some serious financial skin in the game so they have an incentive to complete your training if things change economically, Easyjet don't appear to and neither did Iberia (there's a thread about them as well). If/when the fully-funded TUI Programme re-opens, put an application in for that, also keep an eye out for the Aer Lingus programme which before the pandemic was fully-funded.
If you don't already have a Class 1 medical, think about getting one done. Some programmes have tighter lead times than others, if you already have the medical out of the way then any delays/complications shouldn't cost you a place on a training programme.
If you don't already have a Class 1 medical, think about getting one done. Some programmes have tighter lead times than others, if you already have the medical out of the way then any delays/complications shouldn't cost you a place on a training programme.
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I'm getting the hint that an MPL is a bit of a faux pas at the moment! The 40,000 reasons to not do one and the whole 'not being tied to an airline that might not want me in 2-3 years' is something that makes it quite appealing, it's just a question of crystal ball staring as to whether my fATPL will be wanted by any airlines in 2 years time.
This sounds like a sensible perspective - haven't read about iberia probably because I can't apply to the EU airlines anymore as a Brit; concerning nonetheless with Iberia being part of IAG that owns BA as well, no more holding out for the BA FPP then! I did unfortunately just miss the TUI window as I was buried in studying (silly me). I am quite surprised they are doing it at the moment and wonder if they might delay/cancel due to our economy, but I haven't seen their financial reports of late so maybe the airline/its other divisions are turning a decent enough profit and it is the right time for them to fund MPLs rather than just type rate ATPLs.
After quite some delays as you mention I do now hold a UKCAA and EASA unrestricted class 1 so I have now fortunately ticked those boxes which for a while I thought were going to extinguish the dream as boy oh boy are they picky about minor things from years ago!
A fully funded MPL would be lovely; I'm however a little remiss to keep checking people in at an airport for that many more months and would quite like to 'have a direction' one way or the other soon, so to an extent would like to pick from the options I currently have rather than holding out for a fully funded programme as we're about to enter a 2 year dip so I (perhaps naively?) doubt the inception of them for a while yet, and I wonder if getting the training done during the dip to finish as we (hopefully) reach the light at the end of the tunnel is a sensible idea.
Do you reckon the chances of there being airlines hiring low hour fATPLs when I finish in a couple of years is reasonable enough? Or was that another way of hinting you think that no one will be hiring low hour fATPLs in 2 years and so I should hold out for a funded MPL and continue checking passports at 4am for as many months as it takes for a programme to open
You really want the airline to have some serious financial skin in the game so they have an incentive to complete your training if things change economically, Easyjet don't appear to and neither did Iberia (there's a thread about them as well). If/when the fully-funded TUI Programme re-opens, put an application in for that, also keep an eye out for the Aer Lingus programme which before the pandemic was fully-funded.
If you don't already have a Class 1 medical, think about getting one done. Some programmes have tighter lead times than others, if you already have the medical out of the way then any delays/complications shouldn't cost you a place on a training programme.
If you don't already have a Class 1 medical, think about getting one done. Some programmes have tighter lead times than others, if you already have the medical out of the way then any delays/complications shouldn't cost you a place on a training programme.
After quite some delays as you mention I do now hold a UKCAA and EASA unrestricted class 1 so I have now fortunately ticked those boxes which for a while I thought were going to extinguish the dream as boy oh boy are they picky about minor things from years ago!
A fully funded MPL would be lovely; I'm however a little remiss to keep checking people in at an airport for that many more months and would quite like to 'have a direction' one way or the other soon, so to an extent would like to pick from the options I currently have rather than holding out for a fully funded programme as we're about to enter a 2 year dip so I (perhaps naively?) doubt the inception of them for a while yet, and I wonder if getting the training done during the dip to finish as we (hopefully) reach the light at the end of the tunnel is a sensible idea.
Do you reckon the chances of there being airlines hiring low hour fATPLs when I finish in a couple of years is reasonable enough? Or was that another way of hinting you think that no one will be hiring low hour fATPLs in 2 years and so I should hold out for a funded MPL and continue checking passports at 4am for as many months as it takes for a programme to open
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After quite some delays as you mention I do now hold a UKCAA and EASA unrestricted class 1 so I have now fortunately ticked those boxes which for a while I thought were going to extinguish the dream as boy oh boy are they picky about minor things from years ago!
A fully funded MPL would be lovely; I'm however a little remiss to keep checking people in at an airport for that many more months and would quite like to 'have a direction' one way or the other soon, so to an extent would like to pick from the options I currently have rather than holding out for a fully funded programme as we're about to enter a 2 year dip so I (perhaps naively?) doubt the inception of them for a while yet, and I wonder if getting the training done during the dip to finish as we (hopefully) reach the light at the end of the tunnel is a sensible idea.
A fully funded MPL would be lovely; I'm however a little remiss to keep checking people in at an airport for that many more months and would quite like to 'have a direction' one way or the other soon, so to an extent would like to pick from the options I currently have rather than holding out for a fully funded programme as we're about to enter a 2 year dip so I (perhaps naively?) doubt the inception of them for a while yet, and I wonder if getting the training done during the dip to finish as we (hopefully) reach the light at the end of the tunnel is a sensible idea.
The thing with MPL programmes is that due to the limited nature of the licence in the first 1500 hours, you want the airline to which you're tied to be heavily committed so that they incur a considerable cost if they decide to end the training.
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It's good that you have the medical done. Career-wise, the military option may be available but from what I hear, it's military first, flying second. Regarding your current career at a check-in desk, are there options to work towards airside operations, dispatch/refuelling, tug operations etc? With both TUI cadet programme and Jet2's Pilot Apprentice scheme for fATPLs, there is time spent in other operational roles which gives me the impression that it's experience which they consider adds value to their business.
The thing with MPL programmes is that due to the limited nature of the licence in the first 1500 hours, you want the airline to which you're tied to be heavily committed so that they incur a considerable cost if they decide to end the training.
The thing with MPL programmes is that due to the limited nature of the licence in the first 1500 hours, you want the airline to which you're tied to be heavily committed so that they incur a considerable cost if they decide to end the training.
And I will need money to fund renewals if things go really pear shaped for the industry (or my interview technique), but that is a bridge I'd rather pretend doesn't exist until I have to cross it.Looked at the RAF but as you say I hear that flying is very much on the backburner and there is a huge training bottleneck from someone I know in there who has been waiting >1 year to even start a training programme!
Plus, I don't like not having the freedom to decide what I fly - despite them looking cool in top-gun whilst using flares to trick radar guided missiles, I would want to be flying C-17s, not fast jets.
I think you alongside everyone else have definitely led me to the conclusion that MPL programs are not the way forward at the moment: some may call me a cynic but I don't believe any company is untouchable when it comes to recessions and my many friends who decided to earn money in finance rather than spend it all flying all say it's going to be a long and big one; so I guess we shall see who is about and hiring in a year or two then apply or hopefully use my days whilst waiting to work airside and pad out the old CV a bit for future applications.
Makes you wonder what it's like to be someone who doesn't have such an awkward dream to pursue and would be happy in an office a couple of miles underneath ours
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Looked at the RAF but as you say I hear that flying is very much on the backburner and there is a huge training bottleneck from someone I know in there who has been waiting >1 year to even start a training programme!
Plus, I don't like not having the freedom to decide what I fly - despite them looking cool in top-gun whilst using flares to trick radar guided missiles, I would want to be flying C-17s, not fast jets.
I think you alongside everyone else have definitely led me to the conclusion that MPL programs are not the way forward at the moment: some may call me a cynic but I don't believe any company is untouchable when it comes to recessions and my many friends who decided to earn money in finance rather than spend it all flying all say it's going to be a long and big one; so I guess we shall see who is about and hiring in a year or two then apply or hopefully use my days whilst waiting to work airside and pad out the old CV a bit for future applications.
Makes you wonder what it's like to be someone who doesn't have such an awkward dream to pursue and would be happy in an office a couple of miles underneath ours
Plus, I don't like not having the freedom to decide what I fly - despite them looking cool in top-gun whilst using flares to trick radar guided missiles, I would want to be flying C-17s, not fast jets.
I think you alongside everyone else have definitely led me to the conclusion that MPL programs are not the way forward at the moment: some may call me a cynic but I don't believe any company is untouchable when it comes to recessions and my many friends who decided to earn money in finance rather than spend it all flying all say it's going to be a long and big one; so I guess we shall see who is about and hiring in a year or two then apply or hopefully use my days whilst waiting to work airside and pad out the old CV a bit for future applications.
Makes you wonder what it's like to be someone who doesn't have such an awkward dream to pursue and would be happy in an office a couple of miles underneath ours
When I was looking to fly commercially a in the middle of the last decade, there wasn't much to offer unless you could fund training yourself, which I couldn't. I instead chose a career on rails where my training was fully funded and I was a paid employee from day one of said training. I fly recreationally in my spare time.
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As someone who works in finance/economics I would agree with your sentiment about the economy teetering on a cliff edge. An MPL has a very brash risk/reward profile, but you could get a similar "reward" profile with the modular route for half the price and god knows how much less risk... I would not go for the MPL at the moment personally (or ever, but I'm just saying that now might not be the best time), but just consider that although the modular may take another year longer, you can stop/pull out at any stage with no financial repercussion if you play your cards right.
2 cents!
