Multiflight Modular Training System

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The modular route to a commercial licence is the most cost-effective and practical method for most people. It entails taking the series of modules listed below:

  1. The Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) and Night Rating.
  2. Ground School for the Theoretical Knowledge written Examinations.
  3. The Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) Modular course.
  4. The Instrument Rating (IR) Modular course.
  5. The Multi Crew Co-0operation (MCC) Course.

We recommend that the modules be taken in the order that they are listed above. For those students seeking a commercial licence as quickly as possible we offer a structured 15-month course where all the modules are taken consecutively. Students choosing this option will complete the PPL, Night and hour building with our training partner, the London Aviation at Naples. For more details of this option please click here to visit our JAA ab-initio ATPL section. Students wishing to spread their training over a greater time period can take the modules subject to certain time constraints at their own pace. Details of these time constraints are included in the five modules listed below.

The Private Pilot's Licence and Night Rating

The PPL requires a minimum of 45 hours flight training consisting of 35 hours dual construction and 10 hours of solo flying. The flying training can be carried out in the Cessna C152, C172, Piper PA28 or Robin 200. There is also approximately 120 hours of self-study to pass written exams in Air Law, Meteorology, Navigation, and the Aircraft Technical. Depending on how often you are able to fly, the course can take from three months on a full-time basis up to two years when only flying once per week. When the course is spread over a longer period lack of continuity usually results in the student requiring a larger number of hours to complete the course. An average figure for a student flying twice per week would be 50-60 hours. Next is the Night Rating, which comprises a further five hours flying training. Having gained your PPL and Night Rating it is then necessary to build hours to obtain the 150 hours required before you can start the CPL module. The hour building is not part of the module. During this hour building it is necessary to carry out specific tasks that will be required for the issue of the commercial licence later on. Assuming you obtained your PPL and Night Rating in minimum hours it will be necessary to build a further 100 hours that can take a significant amount of time. Taking into account the British Weather it should be possible to build 10 hours per week. Many people go to the USA as the weather there is usually good and the flying is cheap. Next you will need to pass the Theoretical Knowledge Examinations.

Ground School for the Theoretical Knowledge Examinations

The Theoretical Knowledge Examinations as they are rather grandly known can be taken at CPL or ATPL level. If you plan to fly multi-crew aircraft as used by airlines take the exams at ATPL level. There are 14 examinations covering subjects from Aviation Law to Meteorology. Multiflight itself does not provide the ground school for these examinations, however we work in conjunction with our training partner Bristol Ground School who are widely known for offering the highest quality distance learning course available. The course is taken in two modules each incorporating a distance learning phase of three to six months with two weeks of classroom study just before the exams. The distance learning phase is supported by a computer based training system with telephone, fax and e-mail access to tutors.

The CPL Modular Course

The aim of the CPL modular course is to train PPL(A) holders to a standard that will enable them to pass the skill test for the Commercial Pilot's Licence. The module consists of flying training in general handling, instrument flying and navigation. The majority of the training is carried out in a single engine aircraft, but at least five hours plus the skill test must be carried out in a complex aircraft having a variable pitch propeller, certified for at least four people, and retractable landing gear. At Multiflight we utilise the twin engine Beech Duchess BE76 to fulfil this requirement. The Beech Duchess is a very stable training aircraft. It is not too fast for visual navigation, has normally aspirated engines that are easy to manage, is cost effective and has the advantage of slaving HIS/RMI. The remainder of the flying training required on the module is carried out in the Piper PA28.

The precise number and breakdown of flying hours required to take the CPL module at Multiflight is dependent on the student's pre-course experience:

  1. PPL(A) holders without a Multi-engine Piston (MEP) Rating or Instrument Rating (IR) will be given a minimum of 28 flying training consisting of 20 hours in single engine aircraft C152, C172 or PA28 and eight hours in the BE76. This module effectively combines the CPL and MEP courses.
  2. PPL(A) holders who already have a MEP Rating but no IR will be given a minimum of 25 hours flying training consisting of 20 hours single engine aircraft C152, C172 of PA28 and 5 hours BE76.
  3. PPL(A) holders with an IR are exempt from the instrument flying instruction portion of the module and hence the single engine figures quoted in 1 and 2 above can be reduced by 10 hours.

From our experience it is most practical to complete the CPL module prior to the IR module. Once the CPL is issued this will allow a five-hour reduction on the IR module. It is also more cost effective to complete the combined CPL and MEP module than to do the MEP course separately. The duration of the course is expected to average six weeks but this is obviously weather dependant. The CPL module and skill test must be completed within 36 months from the date of the first gaining a pass or partial pass in the Theoretical Knowledge Examinations. The skill test is additional to the hours quoted for each module. The current CAA skill test fee is £785. Being based at Leeds Bradford International Airport with a CAA test centre on site we do not suffer from the additional expense incurred from positioning aircraft for test.

Before starting the CPL module at Multiflight the student should:

  1. Hold an ICAO PPL (A).
  2. Have a Class One Medical for licence issue.
  3. Have at least 150 hours flight time as pilot.
  4. Be fluent in the English language as set out in Appendix 1 to JAR FLC 1.200.
  5. Have passed the Theoretical Knowledge Examinations and have a course completion certificate.
  6. Be the holder of a MEP class rating in order to undertake the CPL 25 hour module or alternatively have 70 hours pilot in command to undertake the combined CPL and MEP module.

The Instrument Rating (IR) Modular Course

The aim of the Instrument Rating (IR) modular course is to train PPL(A) or CPL(A) holders to a standard that will allow them to pass IR skill test and operate aeroplanes under instrument flight rules and in instrument meteorological conditions. The IR module consists of flying training in the Beech Duchess BE76 for the multi-engine IR and the FNPTII for the synthetic portion of the training. The FNPTII is an extremely realistic synthetic training device (STD) with full visuals, which the Civil Aviation Authority have authorised Multiflight to use for up to 40 hours training towards the IR module. This is significantly more than is allowed for other less capable synthetic training devices and has many advantages:

  1. The hourly rate of the FNPTII is much cheaper than the aircraft. Being able to complete up to 40 hours of the module in the FNPTII keeps the course cost as low as possible.
  2. During the synthetic training the FNPTII can be frozen at any time. For example if the student is struggling with the holding pattern his/her map trace can be printed out to demonstrate exactly what has gone wrong.
  3. The simulated aircraft can be repositioned at any time. If approach has gone wrong we can just ‘rewind' and put the aircraft back onto an intercept heading to fly the approach again and again.
  4. There are no Air Traffic Control delays and no training or beacon slots required in the FNPTII.
  5. The FNPTII is not a victim of the British weather. We can create turbulence, wind shear and icing if required in the safety of a simulated environment.

The Beech Duchess that is used for the multi-engine IR training is a very stable training aircraft. It is not too fast, is approved for flight in icing conditions, is equipped with HIS/RMI, has normally aspirated engines that are easy to manage and is very cost effective. The precise breakdown of flying and synthetic training required to take the IR module at Multiflight is detailed below:

  1. PPL(A) holders requiring a Multi-engine IR will be given a minimum of 55 hours instruction consisting of 40 hours FNPTII and 15 hours Beech Duchess.
  2. CPL(A) holders requiring a multi IR may have the synthetic training in the FNPTII reduced by five hours. The figures quoted above are for minimum course prices (see separate LINK price list). If the student prefers, more of the training can be done in the aircraft, reducing the synthetic training required. However this will increase the total course price. The duration of the course is expected to average six weeks but this is weather dependant. The IR module and skill test must be completed within 36 months from the date of first gaining a pass of partial pass in the Theoretical Knowledge Examinations. The skill test is additional to the hours quoted for the IR module. The current CAA skill test fee is £785. Being based at Leeds Bradford International Airport with a CAA test centre on site we do not suffer from the additional expense incurred from positioning aircraft for test.

Before starting the IR module at Multiflight the student should:

  1. Have an ICAO PPL(A) or CPL(A) with current night qualification.
  2. Be fluent in English language as set out in Appendix 1 to JAR FCL 1.200.
  3. Have passed the theoretical knowledge examinations and have a course completion certificate.
  4. Have completed at least 50 hours cross-country flight time as pilot in command.
  5. Have a current Multi-engine Piston Rating if undertaking the Multi-engine IR.

The Multi-Crew Cooperation Course (The MCC Course)

The Multi-Crew Cooperation Course is designed to introduce pilots to the different techniques required when flying multi crew aircraft and is a mandatory CAA requirement. The course runs over eight days from Monday to Monday and includes weekend scheduling. The course starts with three days ground school followed by five days of synthetic training amounting to 20 hours. This is carried out in an FNPTII configured as a Beech 200 King Air. The FNPTII is an extremely realistic synthetic training device with full visuals. We can also offer Instrument Rating renewals as optional extras to the course for those students whose IR has expired.