ATPL exams

[M.Ali]

Hiya

I applied for the British Airways Speedbird Pilot academy 2026. Unfortunately, just got an update today, havent been successful. I can only imagine how competitive it is; approx 25K applicants with only 160 spaces available. For the tests, you probably have around 30+ seconds to read the questions then figure out the answers. If you read the question twice, that's it, your already behind on time.

I was looking around online about taking alternative routes towards getting a ATPL or even just a CPL. I had a few questions in mind:

1) Are the 14 ATPL theoretical exams mostly multiple choice style questions
2) If I were to aquire a CPL, would this be appealing to airline companies to take you on board and train you up for the ATPL

Anyone who has experience in the above, I would greatly appreciate advice.

[JamesBG]

Not sure if you are wanting to do EASA or UKCAA? you have posted in the Spanish forum and youre from the UK?

Im doing the UKCAA ATPL exams at the moment, its multiple choice, doesnt mean its easy though :-) UKCAA and EASA exams are very similar but UKCAA is going towards more type-ins for maths questions.

Im doing the modular route, done PPL, Night rating, got about 170 hours, doing theories then MEIR and CPL hopefully end of the year. I dont know if it would be more appealing to have all your quals less your type rating then applying to BA, probably, there would be far less competition than 25000 to 160!

[M.Ali]

Thank you for the updates, very informative. I couldn't find the UK forum on PPRUNE. I therefore chose the next closest country; Spain. As I know some ATO's are based in Jerez, Spain. Which is also used by BA. Cheers

[rudestuff]

Originally Posted by M.Ali

I was looking around online about taking alternative routes towards getting a ATPL or even just a CPL. I had a few questions in mind:

1) Are the 14 ATPL theoretical exams mostly multiple choice style questions
2) If I were to aquire a CPL, would this be appealing to airline companies to take you on board and train you up for the ATPL

1) Yes, but I believe there are now some where you have to write the answer.

2) Yes, but I suspect from your question you don't fully understand the licences. You need a CPL to join an airline as a pilot - or you need them to sponsor you for one. You cannot go to a flight school and graduate with an ATPL, in UK/EASA you can only get one AFTER you have got a job as an FO in an airline and reached a minimum of 1400 hours: An ATPL is a licence to be a captain in a multi crew aircraft. CPL>Job>ATPL.

When you see flight schools talking about 'ATPL' what they actually mean is frozen ATPL which is a CPL with ATPL theory credits.

Apply for a many sponsored schemes as you can, but understand there is a 99% likelihood that you will have to beg, borrow and steal to pay for everything yourself.

[M.Ali]

Thank you for the info. Greatly appreciated.