ATPL(H) vs CPL(H)
 

Hi there!

I have my PPL(H) and am going to do my CPL(H) but after much searching I am still undecided on which route to take, the full ATPL(H) exams or just the CPL(H) exams (doing it somewhere like atlantic).
As i understand it...

I do the CPL(H) then i can do my cpl flight training, then if i want to get my IR i need to the IR exams and the IR flight training. After which i have the equivalent of an ATPL(H) but would of taken more exams.

Or...

I do the ATPL(H) and this covers me for both my CPL(H) and IR, but if i dont do the IR within 3 years, i have to do them all again!

What i'm not sure on is when applying for an on-shore job which doesn't require an IR, is there any benifit (or does it make you look better) if you have all the ATPL(H) exams opposed to 'just' the CPL(H) exams.

Any help would be greatly appriciated!

If you are already done the decission to do ATPL (theory) now or later, why playing time? After the all, you can focus on to found a place to work.:rolleyes:

Good luck:ok:

Hostile.

The thing is i'm not sure whether i'll definately do my ATPL/IR, within 3 years, or at all!
Sorry if i was unclear!

Hi

In my (fairly recent) experience, you are unlikely to get any extra credit for having the IR exams without the rating. So whether you do just the CPL exams initially or CPL/IR together depends on whether you realistically stand any chance of completing the IR within 3 years (from date of your last exam sitting). The big factor in that will be your financial situation......so back to you.


W

I believe the exams expirey date thing may be changing. I think I remember Fred Cross mentioning something about it a few months ago, a VFR ATPL(H)??

TiP:ok:

I thought if you dont achieve your IR within 3 years with your atpl exams passed and a CPL (H) passed your licence remains a CPL(H)?
You only have to do the exams again if you then want to upgrade to a ATPL(H) after that period?

MADY

Tipweight,

That is (unfortunately) an unfounded rumour that never actually happened. The most recent amendment to JAR-FCL2 was supposedly going to extend the 3 year limit from last exam to IR issue to 7 years. This never happened. The 3 year limit still stands.

What did change was the time frame within which you can apply for an ATPL(H). IIRC, that limit is now indefinite.


As far as I understand it, the VFR ATPL is going to come in but it won't have any effect on IRs and theory credits. Paco seems to have more info on VFR ATPL situation, if you need it.



And FYI tintinminos, 'CPL theory' + 'IR theory' no longer equals 'ATPL theory'. This was also changed under the latest amendment.


HTH

When was this latest amendment?

After I enrolled for CPL(H) Ground School, that's when! :ugh:

Cheers

Whirls

It came into force a couple of months ago. Any JAA FTO should have current details.

GTS Bournemouth
 

I have no axe to grind -- genuinely, cross my heart -- but I can't speak highly enough of the CPL(H) course at Bournemouth. The study material, the course structure and most of all the instructors, Roger and Pete, are simply superb. Oh, and it's absurdly cheap!

I heard today that I had passed the last of the nine exams, exactly six months after starting the course. I worked hard but I could have worked harder; I failed my maths and physics 'O' levels repeatedly at school yet I averaged 89% across the CPL exams. [So ... la la la, poke that up your calculus, Mr Churchman, and all at my rubbish secondary school.]

Take it from me, when we GTS students were waiting at Aviation House to sit our exams with students of other colleges, we were the only ones who had nothing but praise for our course. Grumble, snipe and claim I'm Roger Henshaw's catamite if you wish, but I speak the truth.

When something's good, it's worth shouting about. I thank you.

Well done choppertop and given I also got my results today (passed), we must have sat the same sitting at Gatwick!

However, in all fairness, I don't think you were the only one with praise for your school as I certainly have no complaints about AFT especially after the marks I got!!! And I think my two comrades are happy with them as well.

However, some of the fixed wing guys were a tad disgruntled!

Cheers

Whirls

Congrats, Whirls (and choppertop, of course!) :D:D:D

Thanks Mon Brav!

I'd just like to point out, that when I said the fixed wing chaps weren't too happy with their tuition etc, they weren't AFT students; I don't know which groundschool they went to.

Cheers

Whirls

Well done to those who passed the (H) exams.

Whirls, you sure you're doing the right thing? :E

ATPL(H) - Blew my brains!!!!
 

I have been reading all the comments, does anyone agree with me....... what a load of crap 50% of the Bristol course is.

There will be such a shortage of pilots soon, because all this mind blowing garb and the ever increasing cost of obtaining all the hour minimums and ratings required to get, at best, "an average 'professional' salary" is a joke.

Couldn't agree more. :D

Not entirely. The Bristol course, as with those run by other training organisations, is based on the Learning Objectives set by the JAA. Helicopters were a bit of an afterthought. I think you'll find that every course is 50% crap; even the fixed wing guys ackowledge they'll never use half of it.

Helimutt, nope but I'm going for it anyway! Flying bit in May/June hopefully!

Cheers

Whirls

Helicopters bit of an afterthought.....
 

Couldn't agree more whirlygig bout the ATPL content.

I really really struggled with it all, I wonder if a "learning to fly a 747 for the blind and deaf pilot" course would be any easier??? Hahaha!

Got there in the end though.........

No point blaming the Bristol guys, they're just teaching you what you'll need to pass the exams. Irrelevant or not.

I'm told they'll have a helicopter specific course later this year. Won't be of any use to me as I take my Mod 2 ATPL(H) exams in April.

Also not sure I'd want to be the first on a new course, with new exam objectives and no history / question bank. :eek: Sadly, it seems to me better to learn stuff that's irrelevant knowing Bristol can get you through the exams, rather than relevant material and no idea as to whether you'll pass.

It's all just a game anyway, almost none of it will make you a better pilot. That's in your hands. :}