Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
Before commencing a CPL course, you must have completed:
The course consists of 25 hours flight training of which up to five hours may be completed in a synthetic Flight Training Device (FTD), and completed with a flight test. Most CPL courses are on SEP aircraft to save costs, although a MEP aircraft may be used.
The flight test must be flown on a complex aircraft which means one with more than four seats, retractable landing gear and a variable pitch propeller. A minimum of eight hours flying must be on the complex type.
Multi-Engine Piston (MEP)
Many people complete the MEP course, before the IR. Usually it makes sense to do this training on the same aircraft type that you intend to fly during your IR training, and with the same flight school.
The MEP course requirements are a minimum of 7 hours theoretical instruction and 6 hours flight training plus 1 hour for the flight test, culminating in a multiple choice theoretical knowledge examination and a flight test.
Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (ME-IR)
A multi-engine IR course consists of 55 hours training (upto 40 hours may be completed in a suitable simulator).
During the training you will learn to fly Multi-Engine aircraft in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. This includes holding patterns, precision and non precision approaches in both normal and in single-engine conditions.
It is possible to complete a Single-Engine IR Course, however the rating would then be restricted to single-engine aircraft. Before flying multi-crew aircraft you would need to convert to a ME-IR at an additional cost.
Where can I complete this training?
Diamond Flight Academy (Scandianvia)
Next Steps
Now you have gained your CPL licence, with a MEP class rating and an ME-IR (often referred to as a frozen ATPL (fATPL)).
A ‘Frozen’ ATPL is the term often given to the qualification of a Instrument Rated Commercial Pilot, who has also passed the ATPL theoretical exams.
It is likely that you will have done the ATPL theory exams rather than just the CPL exams, so you will be able to fly as co-pilot on a Multi-Crew aircraft.
But before you apply to the airlines, it is recommended that you complete both:
- Multi-Crew Cooperation/Jet Orientation Course (MCC/JOC)
- Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Course (UPRT)
Check out our Advanced Courses page for more info.
