Another training blog (MPL *cough*)

[benji59]

Hello everybody!

Been a while since I have been on here, but I have been busy getting my commercial flying sorted. I applied to CTC to join their cadet program, and after their tough selection I was accepted! A few weeks ago, I was contacted regarding the fact Monarch airlines have joined up with CTC to start an MPL course, started the same time as I was due to start.

Having expressed my desire to be considered, I attended an interview at Luton with Monarch, along with many other people due to start with my course later this month. I can happily report that the next day, I got the email stating that I had been selected to be one of the 6 students to conduct CTC's first ever MPL program.

So I have started a blog to keep a story of my training, to keep family/friends and fellow avgeeks informed of what I am doing, and I guess so I can reflect on my training once I have finished. I also hope it can give some inspiration to future pilots, as I was (and still am regarding commercial flying) only a few years ago.


http://bensflying.blogspot.com/


Now, I know there are a lot of naysayers on here regarding the MPL (lack of flying skills etc etc), but please refrain from slating the course. I want to fly, I have been given a very good option with a very good airline, and it's the way I am going. I love GA and hope to stay involved in it, but this is the route I am going to get commercial. If it was up to me I would be doing 500 hours during my course, but that is not going to happen, no course will offer that. I am happy that I will get very focussed tuition and I feel I am aware as I can be regarding the potential shortfalls of the MPL, and therefore prepared to put effort in to ensure I do not fall into any potential traps.


Feel free to read, comment and pass on this blog, and constructive criticism of my writing will be gratefully received (I did engineering at university, so forgive my spelling and lack of eloquence at times)


Thanks for you input!

[AndyR]

.


First of all , well done benji59

Now, I know there are a lot of naysayers on here regarding the MPL (lack of flying skills etc etc), but please refrain from slating the course. I want to fly, I have been given a very good option with a very good airline, and it's the way I am going. I love GA and hope to stay involved in it, but this is the route I am going to get commercial.

I am from the traditionalist camp (not that it has done me any good in finding full time employment ), but despite this I will be most interested to follow your progress. If you can display the open mindedness that you have in your post above, it will make good reading and we can all change our minds at the end of the day.

How are you going to go about maintaining your GA flying or are you going to worry about that after the course and the initial headrush of the job with Monarch? Do you have a PPL already that you will be keeping current?

Too little is really known about the MPL to slate it in my opinion and despite the fact I prefer steam gauges and aeroplanes that are a little older I think one has to move with the times if at all possible. If the airlines really think this is the future then you are right to jump on board and further your career. Go for it and enjoy!

[benji59]

Thanks Andy,

In all honesty, I will have to put GA aside for a couple of years, but certainly not forever. I want to get some experience with aerobatics/gliding/tailwheel etc. ie all the stuff I certainly will not be doing for a day job (I hope not in an airbus anyway!)

I do think that the course has been well thought out and is better than many people would think, but each route to training has it's pros and cons.


Another point to add, I will be doing 5-6 months of ground school to begin with so I may not have an awful lot to say. but after that is approx 6 months in NZ where the flying begins

[bookworm]

Excellent. Nice to have a bit of variety, and I'd be interested to read about what goes through an MPL student's mind. Do you do the ATPL theoretical knowledge first? Or is that done in parallel as you progress?

[benji59]

The ground school is done in the first 5-6 months, before any flying. once that is out of the way, not an awful lot more theory (until type rating I guess), but still plenty of effort required!

Hope the blog doesn't get too boring since I'll only be doing theoretical knowledge for months first, but I will try my hardest to keep it interesting!

[avsvalet]

Congratulations for being accepted onto the Monarch MPL! I'm hoping to go to CTC myself next year, looking forward to reading your blog and best of luck with the course

[benji59]

Another post now,

http://bensflying.blogspot.com/


Had my first few days, getting into the swing of studying and studying and studying. Pleasantly surprised so far, nice to get some insight into how the theory works and all that.

Please feel free to comment on what is boring and especially what else you may like to know about. Just remember, I'm a novice, too!!


Happy New Year (soon)

[Intercepted]

Are your learning geared toward a specific aircraft type at this early stage, such as the 737, or is it more generic?

[benji59]

For the ATPL theory, it is just generic (though I notice a lot of the examples use the B737), I'll start learning specific a320 stuff after flying a 172 for a while

[Johnno]

I'll keep my opinions of where CTC has gone over the last couple of years to myself and say congratulations.

I was in NZ almost 5 years ago with them and it's great fun so just enjoy it. It is very goal orientated so sometimes easy to forget to enjoy the course but the flying out there is top notch. Instructors on the whole are extremely good and you'll notice the real quality when you get to Bournemouth. I may not be the biggest fan of CTC at the moment but there is no doubt that the training they deliver sets you up well for the airlines and I can only assume that will be the case with the MPL. You'll have a blast and will love Monarch I'm sure. I have a few mates there and by all accounts it's a very nice airline to work for.

Best of luck.

[benji59]

Hi Johnno,


CTC May well have 'gone' somewhere from where they were a fair few years ago, but I still think they'll give me some pretty good training, and it's the end goal I am focussed on.

First few weeks ground school done now, not enough time in the day! But NZ is firmly in my sights. I'll only be there for 6months or less though. But I don't go back to Bournemouth at all which seems a shame. Going straight back into the sims

What's your position now, if you don't mind me asking?

[Johnno]

There's no doubt that the training sets you up well for the airline environment. The simulator instructors on the whole are top notch. It is a shame that you miss the Bournemouth phase as the flying there was very interesting. Just enjoy the freedom of flying in NZ, it's beautiful with hardly any controlled airspace. Fly as far south and north as you can from Hamilton. And to answer your question I'm an FO with the orange loco - been here two years or so.

[Flyin'Dutch']

Well done!

Just displaying my ignorance here!

Can there be 2 mpl holders on the flight deck?

[avsvalet]

Well done!

Just displaying my ignorance here!

Can there be 2 mpl holders on the flight deck?

No, as the commander must hold an ATPL (but could have previously been an MPL)

[benji59]

Couple new posts now up on the blog.

All done now with AGK, PoF and instruments. Managed to get a bit of time in a 737-700 fixed base sim to have a look at how the instruments are used etc, all good fun.

Have a read

http://bensflying.blogspot.com