ATPL only valid if ground school taken?
 

I am finishing my JAA PPL now (in a CAA school in Spain) and am considering going 'all the way' and doing your ATPL distance learning course to prepare for my ATPL exams. However, a week ago I was on the jumpseat in the cockpit of an Air France A330 and the copilot told me it is no longer allowed to get your ATPL via distance learning and ground school is a must. IS this true? And if so, could it be just a French rule? Would this mean I would never be able to apply with a French airline in the future?

He's wrong. In your case you'll need to do an approved course but this can be either entirely classroom based or distance learning. The distance learning courses are not entirely distance learning, they require a minimum of 65 hours to be completed in the classroom.

My understanding is;
ATPL theory requires 650 hours of 'ground-school'. This is done in either a classroom or at home (DL).

if done residential this is not a problem.

if done via Distance Learning a percentage (10%/65hrs?) of that training must be done at a suitably licenced school. This is covered by the 2x2 week 'refresher' immediately before each batch of exams. The service provider will sign to confirm that the remaining hours have been met by the candidate 'off site'.

Just my take, could be complete :mad: though!

Listen to Alex, I've got a feeling he knows what he's talking about.

I think we're saying the same thing

thanks all for your replies

"This is covered by the 2x2 week 'refresher' immediately before each batch of exams."

How it is done is decided by the school - ours are done before studying starts.

Phil