Addendum – EASA Part-FCL & Part-MED — Page 553, Lesson 739

Let's pick up with the Multi-crew Pilot Licence — the MPL. This is a genuinely different kind of licence, so I want to give you the full picture. First, the big idea. The MPL is described as a radical and innovative licence. It had a slow start, but it's gaining popularity. The key word here is competency based. Unlike a traditional licence where you just log hours and pass tests, the MPL is built around proving you can actually do the job. And here's the crucial structural point: it's not something the training organisation designs alone. EASA Part-FCL lays down the broad outline of the course, and then it becomes a co-operative, combined effort between three parties — the sponsoring Operator of the airline, the ATO (that's the Approved Training Organisation), and the Authority. All three work together to create a suitable course that satisfies the requirements of all three organisations. Now, the privileges and conditions. The minimum age is 18 years. And the privilege is specific and narrow: the holder is privileged to act as co-pilot in an aeroplane required to be operated with a co-pilot. So this is not a licence that lets you act as pilot-in-command — it's a co-pilot licence, tied to multi-crew operations. Let's look at the theoretical knowledge requirement. The course shall comprise a total of at least 750 hours of instruction. And note the level — it's for the ATPL(A) knowledge level, that's the Airline Transport Pilot Licence for aeroplanes. On top of that, you also need the instructional hours required for the relevant Type Rating. So the theory is at full ATPL standard, plus type rating ground instruction. Now the flying training. It shall comprise at least 240 hours, and here's an important detail — those hours are counted as pilot flying, which we abbreviate PF, or pilot not flying, which is PNF. And they're carried out in actual and simulated flight. So the 240 hours covers both real flying and simulator time, and every hour is logged as either PF or PNF. That training is structured into four phases, and I want to walk you through each one carefully. Phase 1 is called Core flying skills. This is specific basic single-pilot training in an aeroplane. So at the very start, you're learning to fly the aircraft on your own, building fundamental handling skills. Phase 2 is called Basic. This is where we introduce multi-crew operations and instrument flight. So now you start working with another pilot, and you start flying on instruments. Phase 3 is Intermediate. This is the application of multi-crew operations to a multi-engine turbine aeroplane — and it must be certified as a high performance aeroplane. So now you're taking the multi-crew skills and applying them to a bigger, faster, more complex machine. Phase 4 is Advanced. This is Type Rating training within an airline environment. So the final phase is essentially your type rating, but conducted in the context of how an airline actually operates. Now, the completion requirement. On completion of the course, the applicant must pass a skills test. And here's a specific detail — that skills test is taken in the type of aeroplane used on the Advanced phase of the MPL integrated course, or in an FFS representing the same type. FFS is a Full Flight Simulator. So the test is either in the actual aircraft type from Phase 4, or in a full flight simulator that represents that same type. Finally, there's a requirement about flight experience in actual flight. This must include several specific elements: upset recovery training, night flying, flight solely by reference to instruments, the experience requirements for a Type Rating, and those required to achieve the relevant airmanship. And one more point — MCC requirements, that's Multi-Crew Cooperation, are incorporated into the relevant phases above. So MCC isn't a separate add-on; it's built into the phases as you go through them. So to tie it all together: the MPL is a competency-based, co-pilot licence, minimum age 18, at least 750 hours of ATPL-level theory, at least 240 hours of flying counted as PF or PNF, structured into four phases from core single-pilot skills up to airline type rating training, and it ends with a skills test in the Phase 4 aircraft type or its full flight simulator.