Spreading out ATPL exams
 

Hello

In January of this year I started an ATPL distance learning course (3 modules), sitting the exams for the first module at the CAA in April 2014. At the time I started, due to personal circumstances, I was in a rush to complete the course and had 7 months to pass all exams.

However, since then, my circumstances have changed and in fact I have a whole additional year in which to complete the exams, if I wanted to take that long. It would seem wise to spend the maximum amount of time studying for the exams, and maybe sit the last exam(s) during the August 2015 sittings (giving myself September and October as backups for resits). This would at least give myself the maximum amount of time to complete the CPL/IR (to be done within 3 years of the final pass IIRC) if nothing else.

On the other hand, could taking this long to complete the exams be looked at negatively by an employer? There would be around 14 months between the first and last exams. I've heard about the importance attributed by a minority of airlines to achieving certain scores and also getting first time passes, but never anything about the length of the period taken to complete the exams.

Any ideas?

It will make no difference what so ever...a pass is a pass

you have 18 months from the first attempt to complete all exams...

Though you do have 18 months, my advice would be to get them out of the way ASAP as they can become very time & effort draining.

Also and more importantly I loose count of the conversations I have with students about to run out of time and or sittings - it does happen FREQUENTLY, some students taking 2 or 3 cycles. This is usually caused by underestimating the work/time required, too many external distractions, unexpected change of personal circumstances and sometimes lack of ability.

Distance learning is not an easy option and requires dedication to succeed, can be done in 7 months but 12 months would be a good target. Taking 12-18 months with good results is not going to put off a potential employer but taking 2 or 3 cycles the odds are not in your favour.

Re sits
 

Hi

I have my last two ATPL exams in Feb. They SHOULD be very good scores but I have a couple of 75% ish exams. Would you ever advise students to re sit these to boost the scores or just take it onthe chin and carry on?
I should have paid more attention:ugh:

These are not GCSEs and you are not permitted to re=sit a current pass to gain a higher mark.

"Also and more importantly I loose count of the conversations I have with students about to run out of time and or sittings - it does happen FREQUENTLY, some students taking 2 or 3 cycles. This is usually caused by underestimating the work/time required, too many external distractions, unexpected change of personal circumstances and sometimes lack of ability."


Quite right. I have recently started ATPLs again after my previous exams expired. Some personal issues got in the way and as a result my previous passes (9 of 14) now have to be resit which smarts a bit at £69 per subject.

It could be worse - and this story really highlights the importance of remembering the deadlines. A good friend of mine recently had his ATPL exams "time out" when he had virtually completed his IR practical training. Realising the deadline was near he rushed to take his skills test before he was ready - against his instructor's advice. Predictably enough he failed the test and his exams expired a couple of days later.

All 14 exams now need to be resit and the £15k he spent on his IR first time round will need to be spent again to get back to test standard. Ouch!

Date technicality - finishing CPL ME IR
 

Anyone happen to know what exactly must be completed before the ATPLs get invalid?

Suppose your last sitting dates back into say Aug 2012, so your exams are valid until 31.8.2015. For instance, is it enough to pass your CPL ME IR skill test(s) before that date or even more strict, must also the CPL/ME IR licence/rating(s) be issued inside that ATPLs validity period?