ASPIRING PILOT

Integrated Pilot Training

Overview

Integrated Pilot training

Integrated Training Overview

Integrated training is a full-time method of commercial flight training allowing students to go from no experience to fully qualified in around 2 years. Many students choose to go integrated as the only thing you need to focus on is the training and the flight school will handle the rest. It’s a great option for those that can afford it however it does come with a large price tag.

Pros:

  • Fastest training route
  • Performance protection if you need to repeat flights
  • Experienced instructors both in the classroom and aircraft
  • Links to airlines/ hold pools
  • Scheduling done for you by the flight school
  • Continuity in training
  • Most schools have fair weather bases to maximise the seasons

Cons:

  • Most expensive form of training
  • No flexibility to work and earn money alongside training
  • Usually required to live in accommodation with other students away from home
  • Can face delays that are out of your control
  • Difficult and expensive to change schools mid-training if you’re unhappy

Integrated Flight Schools UK:                        

Name

Location

Price

Course Length

Extras

Leading Edge Aviation

Oxford, UK

£99,500

18 Months

 

BSc Degree included in the training fee. LEAL also include with this course: iPad, accommodation, uniform and training materials, access to VLE, training guarantee*, graduate services/employment preparation course. *subject to successful skills assessment

CAE

Oxford, UK/ Phoenix, AZ

£90,000

24 Months

M1 Visa & USA (FAA) Medical

Skyborne Airline Academy

Gloucester, UK

£95,000

18 Months

Free first IR revalidation

L3 Airline Academy

Crawley, UK/ Ponte de Sor, Portugal/ Hamilton, NZ

£86,000

24 Months

Access to hold-pool

FTA Global

Sussex, UK

£87,950

< 24 Months

Apple iPad, David Clark Headset

*Note: All course lengths are approximate and subject to change

Click here for a greater In-Depth review of flight schools check out Pilot Network’s review table

How does integrated training work?

Ground school:

ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) ground school consists of 14 theoretical knowledge examinations, usually taken in 2 or 3 modules over a 6 month period. ATPL theory is an integral part of commercial pilot training and provides pilots with the basic knowledge required to succeed in their career. The 14 ATPL subjects are:

  • Principles of Flight
  • Aircraft General Knowledge
  • Mass and Balance
  • Human Performance Limitations
  • Aeroplane Performance
  • General Navigation
  • Meteorology
  • Instruments (Basic & Advanced)
  • Radio Navigation
  • Flight Planning
  • Air Law
  • Operations
  • IFR Communications
  • VFR Communications

Basic Flight Training:

Most flight schools require you to complete all theoretical examinations prior to progressing onto the aircraft (with the exception of a few that integrate flying and ground training, eg. Skyborne). The foundation flight-training phase is conducted on single engine aircraft and is aimed at helping you build your hours and learn basic flight skills. Within about 15-20 flights you will conduct your first solo flight and after that you will continue to build your skills with solo navigations. A lot of the foundation phase is centred on circuits and general handling, ensuring you get as much exposure as possible to take offs, landings and unusual situations such as stalling. Basic training usually culminates in the completion of a Qualifying Solo Cross Country (where you are required to fly solo over 300nm cross country, completing full stop landings at 2 different aerodromes) and an in-house assessment similar to that of the PPL test.

CPL:

Upon completing your basic flying you will progress to the advanced phase which can normally be broken down into 3 separate sections: Single Engine Instrument Flying, Multi Engine Familiarisation & CPL training, and Multi Engine Instrument Rating Training. In your flight-training career the first big flight test you will undertake is the Commercial Pilot License Skills Test, which is done with a certified examiner. The CPL is taken in the Multi Engine; it assembles all information learnt thus far and assesses your ability to exhibit this knowledge. The CPL skills test is usually structured in a similar way for everyone, as you are required to demonstrate the ability to:

  • Navigate
  • Complete a diversion
  • Complete General Handling
  • Recover from Unusual Attitudes
  • Fly using your Basic Instruments
  • Complete an Engine Failure drill
  • Fly Circuits with both and one engine(s)

MEIR:

The next step after successfully gaining your Commercial Pilot License is to complete your Multi Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR). Initial training for the MEIR tends to be done in a simulator before eventually moving into the aircraft, where you build on your Multi Engine skills from your CPL and learn the basic instrument scan. You’ll be taught how to fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). In your IR you are required to demonstrate both a precision (eg. ILS, RNP, PAR) and non-precision (eg. NDB, RNAV, SRA) approaches so lots of time will be spend practicing those, as well as holding and instrument navigation. Once completing your instrument training you will sit your Instrument Rating Test (IRT) with an examiner.

AUPRT:

Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (AUPRT) is the final stage of flight training conducted in the aircraft before moving into the simulator and was developed to teach pilots how to prevent and recover from unusual attitudes and upsets in flight. The course is designed to meet the requirements of Part-FCL 745.A and comprises of 5 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction, followed by 3 hours in an aerobatic aircraft completing spiral dives, stalls, spins and more. Upon completion of AUPRT training you will receive a certificate showing you have met the standard required to pass the course.

APS MCC:

The final stage of training before you start looking for a job is the MCC (Multi Crew Cooperation) course. Most schools nowadays offer an APS MCC which is a “Airline Pilot Standard Multi Crew Cooperation” course which is a evolved version of the old MCC course aimed at better preparing newly graduated pilots for operations in multi-crew aircraft. The new APS MCC course has twice as many hours of instruction in the simulator and helps ensure students develop their skills in CRM (Crew Resource Management) and jet aircraft operations.