Aviation Courses: Integrated Vs Modular. Which one to choose?

Post date: 23 June

Becoming an airline pilot requires extensive training and commitment. There are diverse training methods in order for a prospective pilot to obtain a commercial license. The aviation courses that Flight Academies offer have a lot of differences, such as:

Type of aviation courses
Hours needed for completion
Background of the instructors
Pricing

How can an individual who aspires to follow a successful career as an airline pilot select the right course?

There are many pathways that one can choose from. Depending on the time and dedication an individual can give to the essential training, there are many options of aviation courses.

Of course, every path has its own requirements. For example, when a cadet chooses the Integrated Course, he/she will need to fully dedicate him/herself to 17+ months of extensive training. That means that (s)he will get his/her license faster than someone that will go with the modular path and with more benefits.

The 2 main pathways to select from are:

The Airline Integrated Course
Modular Course

There are also advanced training courses for those who wish to sharpen their aviation skills. By enroling in these, the trainees can fully prepare for the selection process of any airline.

Description of aviation courses

Let’s begin by describing all the courses available.

Have you ever heard of Ab-Initio Packages?

Ab-initio packages offer complete and integrated training from A to commercial Airliner. They aim to prepare the candidate for being a competent pilot, ready to fly for leading airlines. These aviation courses require dedication and commitment by the cadet, as (s)he passes through all stages of intensive pilot training.

The gem of the Ab-Initio Packages is the All-in-One Airline Pilot Integrated Course. Those who decide to enrol on this course get extensive training in a tight schedule of 17 months duration. They acquire the necessary theoretical, technical and non-technical skills (soft skills) to develop the competencies required by the airlines for their future Captains.

Upon the successful completion of the Airline Integrated Course, you will:

Obtain the EASA CPL(A)/IR/ME with ATPL(A) Theory and MCC.
Be fully competent to apply for the selection process of any airline.
Have the skills of a competent airline pilot.
Acquire the required technical and non-technical qualifications that top airlines look for in their pilots.

What does it take to enrol on this course?

There are some specific entry requirements regarding the age, as a cadet needs to be at least 17 years old.

Also, those interested should be able to issue the EASA Class 1 Medical certificate.

Last but not least, to get into this course, there is an Aviation Selection Process that every candidate should pass.

What about the Modular pathway?

Some students do not have the time to dedicate fully for 17 months to get the necessary airline pilot training. The Modular Courses are a more flexible path in comparison to the integrated training. As an alternative, the candidates may choose a compilation of modular courses and obtain all the required licenses and ratings at their own pace and time.

Which are the modular courses?

Private Pilot License course:

During this course, pilots learn to fly safely and efficiently a single-engine aircraft, under visual flight rules, during the day.
It includes 45 hours of flight training with a Diamond DV20 Katana and self-study of theoretical subjects.
To enrol, a candidate needs to hold an EASA Medical Class 2.

ATPL Theoretical Course:

With this course, future pilots acquire the necessary theoretical knowledge to the level required for the ATPL.
Students can attend either in-class or by selecting the distance learning way.
The entry requirements include being an ICAO PPL(A) holder.

Hour Building:

Hour building is necessary for proceeding with CPL training. Hence, the cadet can lease a single-engine aircraft (Diamond DV20 Katana or Diamond DA40 NG) from the academy to log in his logbook the necessary amount of flight hours.

Night Rating:

A pilot should know how to fly at any hour of the day or night. Hence, this course prepares the cadet by utilising the instruments of the single-engine aircraft. Night rating includes 5 hours of flight training with a Diamond DA40 NG and long briefings.

Multi-Engine Piston Rating (MEP):

By enroling in this course, the student gets the necessary experience, theoretical knowledge and the competence required to fly the multi-engine aircraft. It includes 6 hours of flying with a Twin Engine aircraft (DA-42NG).
A necessary requirement to enrol is to be an EASA Class II Medical holder.

Commercial Pilot License Course (CPL):

Proceeding with the higher-level courses, the CPL provides the needed training for the student to get to the level of proficiency necessary for issuing a Commercial Pilot License. This course consists of 15 hours of dual training on DA-40NG and 5 hours of dual training on DA-42NG. Additionally, it includes 5 hours in the FNPT II Simulator (Alsim) and up to 2 hours of aircraft usage for each cadet to conduct his/her final skill test.

As mentioned above, to get into the CPL Course, you need to first:

Get Night Qualification.
Complete the MEP rating.
Have in your logbook 150 flying hours in total.

Instrument Rating (ME/IR):

The IR (A) modular flying training course aims to prepare future pilots to operate an aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules.

And the Advance Courses?

We left them for the end, as the advanced training courses have the advantage of granting the graduate the competitive edge compared to other candidates. These are the following:

Multi-Crew Co-Operation (MCC) prepares the cadet to be proficient in multi-crew co-operation to operate multi-pilot multi-engine aeroplanes safely. Also, the student enhances his/her soft skills and learns to cooperate efficiently with a diverse crew.
The Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) is a training course that aims to advance the ATPL(A)/CPL(A)/IR(A) holders’ knowledge, skills and aptitude at the airline entry-level. The course includes advanced swept-wing jet aeroplane training with operational scenarios.
The Performance-Based Navigation course aims at training pilots to be able to operate aeroplanes in accordance with PBN procedures after acquiring PBN endorsement to their Instrument Rating (IR).
One of the pilots’ most important skills is staying calm in any given situation. The Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training course’s aim is to provide the flight crew with the capabilities to prevent and recover from urgent situations.

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Presentation of pros and cons

Airline Integrated Course

Pros:

One structured and continuous course with no gaps and every training hour instructed, designed to meet the Airlines’ requirements.
Opportunity for Airline pre-entry assessment and selection.
Better preparation for the airline selection and Type Rating (including MCC as a standard).
Number 1 preference by all airlines.
Mainly conducted by experienced instructors and requires a larger set-up.

Cons:

Can be more expensive but includes more.

Modular Courses

Pros:

The training is split into ‘modules’ and delivered as such, allowing for flexibility.
Ability to complete at own time and pace.
Opportunity to divide the overall costs into training periods (per course).

Cons:

No entry requirements except for the age factor.
No Airline pre-entry assessment and selection.
Not structured or continuous training modules.
A lot of non-instructed hours.
It does not meet today’s airline recruitment standards. So, the graduates may not be easily accepted by most major airlines.

Which one is better according to specific needs

Deciding to invest in a career full of amazing moments comes with many challenges and opportunities. Before selecting the training course to become an airline pilot, there are some factors you need to consider.

For instance, can you commit fully to your training for almost two years?

If yes, then choose the Integrated Course. If you need to train with a more flexible schedule, the modular pathway is right for you.

Are you keen on starting your career as an airline pilot the fastest you can?

That’s right. The best choice is the Integrated Course.

If you need to take your time and complete a course before enroling in the next one and time is not an issue for you, then the better fit is the Modular pathway.

And most of all, what type of pilot do you want to be?

Because if you aim to fly for major airlines, then the best choice is the Airline Integrated Course, which airlines prefer.

At Egnatia Aviation, our goal is for all our graduates to have a successful aviation career. To this end, we constantly adapt to the Airline Industry’s challenges and new trends. For that reason we:

Designed a selection process that fulfils the Airlines’ requirements.
Apply the latest Airline procedures and methodology.
Fully implement the Safety Management System connecting to our Airline partners.
Employ highly-experienced professionals to ensure Quality, Compliance, Standardisation and Safety.

See Our Aviation Courses