Thoughts on TUI Fly programme in Belgium
 

Course details here:
https://careers.tuigroup.com/benelux/en/mpl/

Thoughts? Is it worth it? A good financial decision?

before anything, i take it you meet the requirements of being an EU citizen?

i'm really thinking about this MPL too. generally MPLs seem so sketchy. if anything goes wrong, you've spent all your money on a qualification that doesn't mean anything to anyone besides TUI. However, if everything goes well, you've got cheap 'flight training' and a contract with TUI at the end. i think it's worth reading the small print and reading through the posts about Easy's MPL to see how that was handled. i'm also assuming the MPL is relatively competitive considering the price, albeit nowhere near as competitive as the full-funded MPL?

edit: i just read the job post properly. it says that after successful completion of the training, you're offered an 8-month contract with TUI with a possibility of extension. what does this mean!? if they decide not to extend the contract, am I still left with an MPL or will that have been converted into a fATPL to go elsewhere? there's no way they're profitting by letting their type-rated MPL pilots go to another airline after just 8 months. now im quite confused.

Yeah I'm Irish. I have the exact same thoughts as you. Will need to find this all out on the initial call. I think they are still profiting though. Or not profiting, but it's getting them the necessary pilots they need to at least cover their busy summer period I suspect. Because the actual flying hours are low, the cost you pay for the course and the cost that they take from you from your salary in those 8 months cover it. I suspect there will not be too much competition as not many have the money. I'm 29 and been saving for years and can just about scrape it

Hi, I have applied too. If someone already got info about the next phase after the online assessment I would appreciate as I received an email recently that I passed the first phase.

To be clear. TUI MPL Belgium not UK
Good luck!

im also Irish and 29! I was very interested in this until I seen the 8 month contract! Also the wording suggests that an extension will be more unlikely than likely! I don’t see what benefit an 8 month contract is to TUI? You’re also left a little stranded trying to get an airline job if you’re not kept on, with an MPL with less than 1500 hours!

Does anyone know if the MPL is operator restricted and after the 8 month contract (if they do not renew you) you will be the same as any pedestrian (except for TUI)?

Precisely. I'll share any info I get here from the HR call if that happens anyone

Great, thank you. I have been told that we will arrange a date for the face to face interview in the coming weeks. Have you not yet received it?

Even if it isn’t operator restricted. I can’t think of too many other company’s who are going to employ someone with an MPL and less than 1500 hours. you will learn TUI SOP’s and be type rated on the 737 which really limits your opportunities
Unless as you said they have a process in place to allow you to convert to fATPL

What makes you guys think that an extension after the 8 month contract is more unlikely than likely? I mean 50k including TR must be heavily subsidized by TUI. What interest would they have in letting you go afterwards? And even if so, having a 737 TR plus some experience - at least more than anyone coming from a private flight school - would put you in a better position than private students, don't you think?

I recieved that mail too for the face to face interview, weird because the selection proces originally consisted of a digital interview, and they aren't answering to my mails.

I think they want pilots for their summer season. I can only see one other thread where this type of TUI programme was ever discussed in that past and that seemed to be the situation. And I don't think it is subsidised really. It even says on the description that you pay the remaining costs from salary sacrifice. There's so few actual flying hours and mostly just simulator which is a lot less expensive.
I think private school people will have more actual well-rounded overall flying experience from their ATPL if that makes sense. This programme will just give you loads of hours in a 737 and then what other airline are you going to go to after that? Norwegian? That's all I can think of. And Ryanair of course. Those are my concerns anyway 🤷

where does it say you pay the „remaining cost“ from salary sacrifice? The only thing I read in the FAQ section is that they deduct 8k€ during these 8 months. So it must be subsidised. And with the initial 55k it makes the total cost for you 63k. Including the TR. Which I still find reasonable.

You might be right with your other concerns, of course I don’t know better. I’ll try to find out as much about this as possible in the interview.

even at that I’m not sure the likes of Ryanair would take you, given that you have trained towards a different companies SOP’s. Ryanair have a strong line of cadets coming out of AFTA and Bartolini etc.

have they called you back?

I have not received any newsabout the face to face interview yet, what about you two? Two weeks have now passed since the last email that said I passed to the next phase (no-reply-email)

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still no answer too, I see that they have changed the recruitment proces on the vacancy so this is a good sign for us and means that there's no problem

I share the concerns you guys have. I did the tests today and got an invitation to HQ too.

My main question there will indeed be the job description and what they expect after these 8 months. Without any real view on a permanent contract or a way to convert this to a fATPL, I’m not sure if it’s worth the 50k.

Hi, I have received a call now. March 1st for me. What about all of you?

Absolutely, that's something one needs to know about before starting the training. I cannot imagine TUI designing a programme where the student, if TUI themselves don't want to renew your contract, will be stranded. Also it is interesting to know that the first 10 months will be online... Therefore you will only study from home and won't receive (live) lessons. That would be quite a struggle for some, as one might not be able to make real social Interactions in the programme and feel overwhelmed (if you are not prepared). Which dates are you going to the HQ?
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