MPL License

Delta Kilo

Anyone ever hear of this before? Its a new initiative in the UK. Got e-mailed today by Oxford about the Flybe mentorship, they are changing it from the old fATPL to this. There is no PPL or CPL either, it is just the IR that remains. It is broken into four cores. From the beginning your training is geared towards flying a multi-crew aircraft. You do more hours on a simulator rather than in a real plane, only doing about 80 hours in a real plane with all the rest in simulators, 240 hours in total.

Phase 1 – Core: Just as in the established APPFO Course, MPL training commences with 750 hours of ATPL theoretical knowledge instruction utilizing conventional classroom instruction plus the latest in Computer Aided Instruction and Computer Based Training.

For the first time in ab-inito training, instruction during this Phase will also include basic Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Threat and Error Management (TEM), both critical skills which need to be acquired and practised by all airline pilots. These techniques will be further developed throughout the course.

Flight training in the TB20, a complex single-engine aircraft, will commence immediately on completion of the theoretical studies. Students will complete 90 hours, including 12 hours solo, together with stall, spin and aerobatics flying in the Zlin before finishing with some exposure to twin-engine operations, in the PA34 Seneca, to gain experience of asymmetric operations.

Phase 2 - Basic: 90 hours in a new CRJ simulator, equipped with full Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS), will be used to develop the student’s skills to a standard comparable with those graduating from a traditional CPL IR course. However, MPL students will have the added benefits of practising CRM and TEM techniques and will acquire proficiency in multi-engine turbine operations, Flight Management Computer (FMC) and Auto-Flight procedures, normal and non-normal operations as Pilot Handling and Pilot Monitoring, airline operations and basic & advanced flight manoeuvres.

Phase 3 - Intermediate: Whereas Phases 1 and 2 will both be completed at Oxford, MPL students will undertake their Phase 3 training in OAA’s Q400 Full Flight Simulator in Stockholm, which is fully compatible with the aircraft they will fly on joining the airline. The 20 hour programme will commence with the Type Rating ground school, and flight training will be based on Flybe’s own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). As well as providing a lead-in to the advanced, or type-rating stage, to follow, Phase 3 will develop the student’s proficiency in fulfilling leadership and crew management roles, including problem solving in a multi-crew environment.

Phase 4 - Advanced: This final, 40 hour phase of the MPL course replaces the traditional, separate type training previously completed only after ab-initio training but effectively performs the same function. Completed in Flybe’s own type training facility at its Exeter headquarters, students will again fly the Q400 FFS and will conclude the phase with a Licence Proficiency Check and the award of the MPL and Instrument Rating (IR).

Summary: During the 65-week MPL course, students will complete 240 hours of flight training, of which 85 will be in aircraft and the rest in increasingly sophisticated simulators. This compares to the 195 hrs training required under conventional, ab-initio course requirements, and is more even than the 225 hours delivered under the demanding APPFO scheme.

Anybody got any opinions on this? I think it is a good idea but I would be a bit concerned about the lack of "real" flying. I know simulators can be very realistic (I've flown one before) but it isnt the same. There is no danger involved...its just a computer.

Also, if you do not get employed by Flybe, (Loads of opt out clauses in it for them) you are kind of screwed. You have to do another course to revert back to the old system if you wanted to build up hours!

They also seem to be a bit ambiguous about the final qualification MPL vs ATPL. They say that after 1500 hours your license offers similar benefits and privileges to that of an ATPL. Should the privileges not be the same??

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

diverdriver

I'm afraid it's the future of pilot training. The worst thing about it is that it will tie you to an airline with the obvious danger that you don't make it through the training or if you are not needed when the course finishes then you are out on a limb. The second bad thing it that probably you will have to fund it, so in effect you are buying a job. People complain about paying for a type rating with Ryanair or Aer Arann but in the case of the MPL you are buying the whole thing. At least if you are paying for a frozen ATPL you're doing it for yourself.

On the face of it, it does seem attractive. But you do have to remember it's for the benefit of the airline and the training school not you. Down the road the skills are transferable when you get your ATPL but for example if you get into Flybe via an MPL and later a chance to join Aer Lingus comes up, you can't even apply because you're not qualified unless you actually have an ATPL because you don't actually have a CPL.

Having said that, I suspect Aer Lingus and everyone else will jump on that particular bandwagon to the point where the only way into many airlines will be via an MPL.

On a positive note, I see there's some aerobatic training, something I feel should be compulsory for all professional pilots, if only to develop stick and rudder skills and to prove to the new generation of kids that aircraft are not like computers that fly.

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Yeah Flybe are supposed to be launching an MPL course down here in Jerez.

It all sounds a bit dodgy in one way. Just look at those Sterling guys who were dropped by their airline and now have a qualification worth nothing really.

While an ATPL may be more expensive I still think its the better option at the moment. In time the MPL may become standard but it's all too new now.

Another downside with the MPL is you cant go down to your local flying club and take up an aircraft.

Delta Kilo

Some more info:
If, for whatever reason, flybe are unable to offer you employment on successful completion of the MPL, Oxford will train you to the normal standard at no extra charge.

You still get the CPL/IR. You have the skills protection up until the completion of Phase Three. Phase four is pretty much the type rating so... maybe it reduces the risk ever so slightly??

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In time the MPL may become standard but it's all too new now.

That is exactly how I feel about it. I'll wait until the weekend until I have a proper chance to read through it and divulge every detail before I apply.

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Also another worrying thing is all the mentored Flybe cadets here at FTE have, since late last summer, have been put into holding pools.

This looks set to continue as the last class to graduate were offered cabin crew jobs in the mean time until type-rating courses come up.

thesweeney

Go and have a read on pprune. A lot of stuff on it there.
In my opinion its too much of a risk.