How to become an airline pilot in Europe: the ATPL path

The Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is the highest pilot licence. Most new airline pilots start with a "frozen ATPL": they have passed the ATPL theory exams and hold a commercial licence with an instrument rating, and they unlock the full ATPL once they have enough flight experience.

The main steps

• 1. Medical certificate: get an EASA Class 1 medical early, before investing in training.
• 2. First flying: many students start with a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) on a modular path; integrated courses include this phase.
• 3. ATPL theory: 13 theoretical knowledge subjects under the current EASA syllabus, from air law and meteorology to performance and human performance.
• 4. ATPL exams: taken with your national aviation authority.
• 5. Flight training: Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), instrument rating (IR) and multi-engine class rating.
• 6. Multi-crew training: MCC, often combined with airline pilot standards training (APS MCC).
• 7. First job and type rating: usually sponsored or required by the airline.
• 8. Full ATPL: after 1,500 hours of flight time and the other experience requirements.

Integrated or modular?

An integrated course takes you from zero to a frozen ATPL in one programme with one school. A modular path lets you complete each step separately, often while working, and usually at a lower and more spread-out cost. Online ATPL theory fits naturally into a modular path.