CPL ME/IR Part time
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: UK
CPL ME/IR Part time
Could anyone offer advice on the feasability of completing the CPL and IR part time whilst in full time employment?
I have a year left until my ATPL exams expire and would ideally like to maintain my job with an income. I understand the recommendation is to complete the courses full time for maintaining continuity but I'd rather maintain my income and not burn any bridges with my employer. I also work shifts which gives me some flexibility and a generous amount of days off.
TIA
I have a year left until my ATPL exams expire and would ideally like to maintain my job with an income. I understand the recommendation is to complete the courses full time for maintaining continuity but I'd rather maintain my income and not burn any bridges with my employer. I also work shifts which gives me some flexibility and a generous amount of days off.
TIA
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 169
Likes: 3
From: United Kingdom
I completed my CPL and IR training in 5 months on a full time basis. Whilst technically it could be done in less, weather, aircraft going tech and general stuff like that always puts a bit of a spanner in the works. So with that in mind, depending on the time you can commit, you might find it cutting it a bit fine.
Would your employer consider a sabbatical or could you work flexi-time for a while?
Would your employer consider a sabbatical or could you work flexi-time for a while?
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: London
I did my CPL/IR while also doing shift work (I do 5 on 5 off with days/nights). I took unpaid leave for my ATPL's and was booked on average 3 times a week. I managed to get CPL/IR done in about 9 months. Weather and DA-42 issues at my school got in the way otherwise maybe take off 2 months but my advice would be to allow yourself plenty of time and use up leave for the final parts of IR and APS MCC. It is doable by the sounds of your work. However expect having to do shift swaps and have to fudge your life to make it work.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: UK
Were you working full time or were able to commit to the course full time? I think my biggest issue now is actually finding a school that will even fit me in on a full time basis nevermind part time.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: UK
I did my CPL/IR while also doing shift work (I do 5 on 5 off with days/nights). I took unpaid leave for my ATPL's and was booked on average 3 times a week. I managed to get CPL/IR done in about 9 months. Weather and DA-42 issues at my school got in the way otherwise maybe take off 2 months but my advice would be to allow yourself plenty of time and use up leave for the final parts of IR and APS MCC. It is doable by the sounds of your work. However expect having to do shift swaps and have to fudge your life to make it work.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
I did my ATPL exams while working full time however my employer allowed me to do a condensed 4 day week. I then dropped down to a 3 day week and did CPLMEIR training on my days off. It wasn't ideal but I made it work, I imagine it's definitely doable alongside a 5 day working week but much less practical and could cost more since lessons risk being very spread out.
Are you in Scotland btw? There is only really 1 option up here in ACS at the moment.
Are you in Scotland btw? There is only really 1 option up here in ACS at the moment.
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Hertfordshire
I did my ATPL exams while working full time however my employer allowed me to do a condensed 4 day week. I then dropped down to a 3 day week and did CPLMEIR training on my days off. It wasn't ideal but I made it work, I imagine it's definitely doable alongside a 5 day working week but much less practical and could cost more since lessons risk being very spread out.
Are you in Scotland btw? There is only really 1 option up here in ACS at the moment.
Are you in Scotland btw? There is only really 1 option up here in ACS at the moment.
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Rome
Studying atpl and flying (with ppl ) just 3 hours month in order to not completely loose my very basic proficiency. I’m planning to begin IR SE this summer and, later, integrate it with Mep and then finish by taking cpl.
i’m working full time.
Most of the flying ir time is proposed to be with simulator by most of ATOs so I guess there is less risk to not fly for weather issues and I wonder how many instructional simulator hours one can resist taking per day.
i’m working full time.
Most of the flying ir time is proposed to be with simulator by most of ATOs so I guess there is less risk to not fly for weather issues and I wonder how many instructional simulator hours one can resist taking per day.
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 82
Likes: 2
From: United Kingdom
I am also working full time. Still doing my PPL at the moment but I only work 3.5 days a week.
At the moment it is very easy for me to book flying and am doing 2-3 lessons a week when the weather is good. Hoping to get my PPL by around April/May Next year
Is it possible to do ATPL theory 3.5 days a week but doing it full on? I also have maybe 2 hours a day at work when I can be doing theory too. I reckon without going crazy I could do 35 hours of theory a week easily.
Then when it comes time to do my IR and CPL I can do it full time Mon-Friday and work weekends.
At the moment it is very easy for me to book flying and am doing 2-3 lessons a week when the weather is good. Hoping to get my PPL by around April/May Next year
Is it possible to do ATPL theory 3.5 days a week but doing it full on? I also have maybe 2 hours a day at work when I can be doing theory too. I reckon without going crazy I could do 35 hours of theory a week easily.
Then when it comes time to do my IR and CPL I can do it full time Mon-Friday and work weekends.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 178
From: UK
Not recently, but I did.
I worked full time, had an understanding boss and wife. I did the TK evenings and weekends initially, then studied for the CPL mostly in the mornings when the weather was good, as I learned I could learn better in the mornings, then work fine in the afternoon. For the CPL I took more hours than I'd have liked, for the IR I learned from that and took some time off work to finish it off intensively, and that got me much closer to minimum hours. Realistically took me around 2½ years, but that's a little hard to reckon accurately because of some stop-starts when work pressures were up.
But it's definitely doable.
G
I worked full time, had an understanding boss and wife. I did the TK evenings and weekends initially, then studied for the CPL mostly in the mornings when the weather was good, as I learned I could learn better in the mornings, then work fine in the afternoon. For the CPL I took more hours than I'd have liked, for the IR I learned from that and took some time off work to finish it off intensively, and that got me much closer to minimum hours. Realistically took me around 2½ years, but that's a little hard to reckon accurately because of some stop-starts when work pressures were up.
But it's definitely doable.
G
