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Multi-Crew Pilots License
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"The whole idea of MPL is to have a modern training concept tailored to meet today's requirements, because the role of pilot has changed from a stick-and-rudder-pusher to a manager of highly technologically advanced systems," said Captain Chris Schroeder of the International Air Transport Association, a grouping of the world's airlines. |
MPL... er... is that " :hmm:Makeshift Pilots Licence " ??
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Yes, they will or might be able to manage the flight without too much difficulties as long as the autopilot is on and nothing serious happens. They will be able to follow a STAR or a SID as long as it is programmed and flown as per the FMS...but cut the STAR with a direct to then real flying skills have to kick in to bring the aircraft on final stabilized. Will these MPL be able to do it? Because the push button phase will be over by then....
I forgot, the CAPTAIN will be there to correct, recover and fly the aircraft safely to the runway. With these MPLs the Captain will have a little bit more work to do and in an emergency (where button pushing is of no use) he might be alone.... |
the operative word being "economic" , they should rather just improve the current MCC, or make it into some kind of "multi crew rating"
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I also wonder what happens in 4 or 5 years when a normal FO would be ready to go into the Captain's seat, but all these MPL guys don't have the licenses to do so. Where will the future Captains come from?
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As I've said before, current thought amongst many Captains is that the MPL co-piglet will not be allowed to touch the controls on any flight they command - so will be nothing more than flap-snatching wireless operators.
Most will then fail their first LPC/OPC. Without a shadow of a doubt. |
Generally the F/Os I fly with are excellent and a pleasure to fly with, though once in a while when I get paired up with a guy who has only recently checked out I notice an increase in workload, not overly demanding but an increase nonetheless. And this is with guys who have at least a couple of thousand hours.
I wonder what the load will be like when flying with the recipient of a brand new MPL when in a busy terminal area with a bit of weather around and maybe a tech problem or two. Years ago, when I was an F/O, I had to take over from a Captain who became ill and complete the sector with the second officer in the LHS. This was into an airport the S/O had never been to, in marginal weather and a very busy terminal area. I spent as much time supervising the S/O as I did managing the flight. Thinking back on it later, it probably would've been easier to do it all single pilot rather than explain everything twice. So how would an MPL holder stand up to the challenge? Even further back in in my previous life I had to fly with an inexperienced F/O, across north America, and I gave the sector to him, he was horrified. I said that actually flying the aeroplane was the easy bit, handling the ATC, weather and traffic etc in an unfamiliar environment was the hard bit. At the end of the sector he agreed and thanked me, he learned rapidly and as his experience level grew he had no trouble dealing with similar situations. The secret is experience and as has already been mentioned, you can't replace it or artificially generate it. A thorough and intensive simulator training programme is fine though generally you are the only one in your bit of simulated sky and you pretty much get the clearance you want and there is no continual background chatter or other people having problems which you have to make allowance for. So an MPL holder my be able to fly well and deal with tech problems proficiently but the missing bit is the invaluable real world experience. Time will tell how it all works out. Regards, BH. |
This is sounding even more worrying than the '1500hrs for jet command' thread. :E
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This is not so much answer to the alligator wrestling question, but an observation along the lines of what is relevant in assessing a pilot these days. United is not doing sim checks on new hire candidates any more. Nor are they requiring a medical other than the FAA certiicate in hand, plus of course pre-employment drug screening.
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And we don't need a Flight Engineer....Right!!!
What a really silly decision that was.....and look where we are now! Cheers....if that's the right word! (more like 'gulp') |
MPL
Good article though.
Well written and informative, in contrast to much of the stuff out there in the non-aviation press. I'd quibble with a couple of points, but guess that depends on your point of view. |
They've arrived
The first bunch are airborne...:suspect:
Center Air Pilot Academy Roskilde, September 3rd, 2007 Graduation of first ever MPL trained Pilots in Europe Today marks a historic event in European aviation as the first group of MPL trained pilots graduate from Center Air Pilot Academy in Roskilde, Denmark. What began as a strategic partnership three years ago between Center Air Pilot Academy and the Scandinavian low cost carrier Sterling Airlines, culminates today with the graduation of the first group of pilots trained after the new MPL (Multi-crew Pilot License) training curriculum. “We are obviously highly exited about having achieved this milestone in our work to modernize the way commercial pilot training is being executed” says Chief Ground Instructor from Center Air Pilot Academy, Anna Kjær, and she continues “The dramatically increasing demand for commercial pilots all over the world pushes both the airlines and the training organizations to innovate and develop the training procedures inside a framework of airline safety to sustain the constant growth in the airline sector.” Also, from the side of the airlines there is enthusiasm on the evolution of the MPL training system. Center Air Pilot Academy’s partner in the project, Sterling Airlines, will hire the newly graduated MPL pilots, and Flight Operations Director Claus Gammelgaard says “We sat down three years ago to discuss how to mitigate the potential shortfall in pilot availability. Already back then we were seeing the signs, and he continues “The MPL training is a revolution in the airlines and together with the Training Organization can work to secure a steady flow of highly qualified pilots to enter the growth of airlines in Europe. Moreover, as we have a very serious focus on flight safety it is utmost important that we as an airline cooperate with Center Air Pilot Academy on the development of the MPL training in order to secure that our safety standards are met. It is, therefore, with great confidence that we see the graduation of this first group of excellent pilots” Center Air Pilot Academy has already more than 30 MPL pilots in training and is seeing a very high level of interest from future potential students for the MPL programme. Our goal is to establish quality pilot provisioning to the airline industry says CEO at Center Air Pilot Academy Jens Kristian Frost |
Me thinks you do need solo pre CPL and post CPL hours to built up confidence and command potential. Too early a start with multi crew operation can hurt later as psychologically under stress, one regresses back to the first few early years of training for command decision making. Just an oldie's opinion.
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Pilot Shortage? What pilot shortage? We still have loads of young guys sans jobs.
I have just turned down a CX DEFO interview because there is NO way I could live in europe on the 'tip' they are offering. If there were a real pilot shortage the loot that we earn every month would go up and the shortage would go away. Its called 'the law of supply and demand' |
I think the Multi-crew licence is just a quick fix to put pilots in the right hand seat F/O without thinking of how they will cope with being a captain one day. How can doing pretty much all your training in a simulator train you to fly the aeroplane in command when it comes time to go for your command training or cope with an emergancy situation if the captain is unable to do his duties. Sure they say they will be trained but It will be interesting to watch a newbie with a few hundred hours handle an emergancy on their own if they have never experienced single pilot flying in the real world!
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Has the JAA endorsed the MPL already? If not, where will Sterling operate with them? If so, is that not a slap in the face to all those who have struggled to get their CPL and ATPL via the "proper" route? Also, it would appear that all those JAA tests and courses are not really needed in the first place...
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Islandjumper: I concur, Slobo is a good egg generally. He is also a pilot, I think because of that, imparts complex stuff well, I suspect in short order he will become a leading light in AP's aviation coverage...
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2 questions...
1) does that mean that a MPL holder will only be able to be a FO and never a captain? 2) can a MPL holder fly other kinds of aircraft other than an A320 and B737? cheers.. |
The MPL 'pilot' (Microsoft pilot licence) will be able to fly in the type on which training was conducted.
No-one in their right would let such an inexperienced, unqualified person actually fly an aeroplane. They're just wireless operators and flap snatchers. They aren't even qualified to fly Cessna 152s on their own....:eek: 'Sterling' - that's sounds like an airline to avoid at all costs, now that they can't afford 2 pilots.......... |
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