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    Integrated vs Modular Flight Training

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    • Integrated vs Modular Flight Training

      The differences in integrated and modualr flight training explained

    Integrated vs Modular Flight Training

    A Comparison of Airline Pilot Flight Training Options

    Integrated vs Modular Flight Training – Which is Better?

    There are distinct differences between integrated and modular flight training routes but neither flight training footprint is necessarily better than the other. Deciding on which method of training to complete very much depends on your own personal circumstances.

    As a general overview, integrated flight training is more expensive but takes a shorter amount of time to complete, which makes it more intensive and this appeals to the airlines. On the other hand, modular flight training is normally substantially cheaper, may take more time to complete and offers much greater flexibility as to how and when you complete your training.

    Integrated Flight Training Overview

    Integrated training is defined as carrying out all of your commercial pilot training on a full-time course at an approved flight training school. It takes you from having zero hours flying time to holding a frozen ATPL in around 14-18 months. The training is intensive, requiring complete commitment from start to finish.

    Although the course is designed for zero-hour flight time students, it does not preclude those with previous flying experience from applying. In fact, a few hours of previous instruction may be beneficial. Many students enrol on an integrated flight training course having already obtained their Private Pilots Licence (PPL).

    In the UK integrated training is specifically approved and regulated by the CAA and in Europe by EASA. There used to be the three “big” flight schools that offer this type of flight training; CAE (formerly Oxford Aviation Academy), Flight Training Europe Jerez (FTEJerez), and L3 Aviation Academy, however in recent years, this list has grown into a more comprehensive list of training providers.

    All the integrated schools require that you pass a selection process involving typically comprising of aptitude testing, Maths and English tests, group exercises and a competency interview.

               What Airlines Want…

    Many airlines have historically stated that say they prefer graduates from integrated flight schools, the logic being that if you can keep up with the fast-paced training and very steep learning curve associated with integrated training, then the airline can be fairly confident that you will pass the subsequent type rating and line training.

    Some airlines have typically only recruited low hour cadets from the four CAA approved integrated flight schools, however it is now becoming increasingly common for the larger airlines to seek low hour pilots from more diverse modular training backgrounds. Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, TUI, Emirates and Qatar Airways all run airline mentored schemes through integrated flight schools.

    Integrated commercial flight training is designed to prepare you for a job as a commercial airline pilot from day one. You are required to wear uniform, and taught to operate the aircraft with an ethos similar (as far as practicable) to that of a commercial airliner. This involves becoming familiar with SOPs and being receiving training on your ‘non-technical skills’, something which airlines place a significant emphasis on.

    Because these are regulated courses, integrated flight training is well structured and the standard is regarded as very high. The structure of the courses varies from school to school but all consist of taught ground school theory subjects, single engine elementary flight training before moving onto the more advanced instrument flight rules training on the multi-engine. You then go onto complete the Multi Crew Cooperation course in a simulator (typically of a Boeing 737 or

                What Flight Training School is Right for You?

    The best way to choose which school is right for you is to go and visit them. Each offers a different training environment and facilities, and the layout of the syllabus tend to have some differences.

    For example, at Flight Training Europe (FTEJerez) the students have their accommodation and catering on campus. This can be very useful in terms of practicality and convenience. Not having to worry about cooking dinner after a long day of ground school, or not hanging around flight operations all day having to wait for the weather to clear up can be very handy! You also have benefits of an onsite swimming pool and bar making relaxing on your days off pretty easy. Others may find this to be a bit claustrophobic as during the fourteen months of training you get very little time off and so much time living and working in one place, especially abroad, can be daunting.

    Integrated Flight Training Advantages

    • Some airlines recruit directly from integrated flight training organisations. For example, easyJet recruit directly from CAE Oxford and L3 Aviation Academy.
    • After completing training, you are often placed in a holding pool until an airline recruits you.
    • It’s an intensive course which the airlines like as it demonstrates you can cope with a steep learning curve.
    • All of the training is done with one flight training organisation. This means an accurate record can be kept of your flight training performance, something which the airlines value.
    • Integrated flight training organisations must be approved by the state regulator. This pretty much guarantees a high standard of pilot training.
    • The quality and consistency of the flight training is often better.
    • You will probably get your frozen ATPL licence quicker.
    • It takes from you zero flying experience to having the licences needed to pilot a commercial aircraft as a First Officer.
    • There are potentially additional accreditations that might be available through an integrated flight training course, such as bolt on aviation degrees allowing you to obtain a BSc at the same time.
    • Flight schools often provide support to their graduates until they secure a job with an airline. Some schools will offer assessment preparation sessions and practice simulator assessments.
    • Some flight schools have performance guarantee schemes due to the faith in their selection process. This means if you didn’t reach the required standard to gain various licences, you could get your money back.

    Integrated Flight Training Disadvantages

    • It’s typically much more expensive than the modular pilot training route.
    • You complete the flight training to a strict timetable i.e. less flexibility.
    • In reality, you are unable to work in any other role whilst on the course so you would need the money or loan to finance the course upfront.
    • There is more risk in the sense of if there was a significant global event that affected airline recruitment (like the Covid-19 pandemic), you will be committed to continue with your training even if the immediate job prospects looked bleak. You may then find that you graduate from flight schools without being able to find a flying job and with significant debt, having paid over £100,000 for your flight training,
    • You can’t pay as you go in the traditional sense. Rather you pay an amount upfront and then in further instalments throughout the flight training.
    • The finances required to pay for the pilot training can be difficult or impossible for some people to secure.

    If you are interested in Integrated Flight Training, you can check out our specific Integrated Flight Training Organisation List. This will help you decide which pilot training school is right for you.

    Modular Flight Training Overview

    Modular flight training is traditionally significantly cheaper than an integrated flight training course. You can choose where and when you complete your training which gives you the benefit of being able to budget appropriately, paying for you training as you go, rather than spending a large upfront sum that is required for integrated courses. You can complete the various grounds school and flight training elements as quickly or slowly as you like, which gives you the opportunity to work and earn an income whilst working towards the various licences.

    Additionally, the flight time hour building required to obtain a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) can be completed in other countries, with many people choosing to do this in the United States because of the cheaper cost of flying.

    The typical route for modular flight training is as follows:

    • Private Pilots Licence (PPL)
    • Hour Building
    • Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) Theoretical Examinations (Ground School)
    • Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL)
    • Multi Engine Instrument Rating (IR)
    • Multi Crew Cooperation Course (MCC)
    • Upset Recovery Training (UPRT)

    So why doesn’t everyone go through the modular route if it’s cheaper?

    • Historically, many airlines have preferred integrated students because of the quality and intensity of the training on such a course. This can’t be guaranteed through the modular flight training route.
    • No links with airlines. Most integrated schools have links with airlines, allowing the schools to recommend students to a specific airline if they perform to a high standard.

    Modular Flight Training Advantages

    • It can be much cheaper than an integrated course.
    • You can complete it in your own time alongside full or part time employment.
    • You can train at your own pace.
    • Less risk in that if there is a substantial downturn which affects airline recruitment, you can pause the training and continue it at a later date.
    • You aren’t committed to work for a particular company from the commencement of your training (which you would be if you enrolled on a cadet pilot program on an integrated course), and this might be useful if lots of airlines are recruiting when you complete your training – you can be a bit fussier about who you apply to.

    Modular Flight Training Disadvantages

    • It takes longer to complete.
    • It can be difficult to maintain training consistency as you may have different instructors and/or different flight schools.
    • You often dip in and out of flight training, which again reduces consistency, resulting in the requirement for more flight training hours than an integrated flight training course.
    • You will typically have less support when compared to integrated flight schools.
    • The training emphasis isn’t always on becoming an airline pilot and therefore the training can be less focussed on the end result.
    • Modular flight training schools tend not to have employment ties with commercial airlines.
    • Arguably, it requires more discipline as there is more emphasis on self study.
    • Many integrated schools recognise they are treating airline pilots from day one, this might not be the case at modular flight schools.
    • Historically, modular students tend to have less initial employment options due to some airlines only recruiting directly from integrated flight schools.

    Mentored Airline Cadetship

    FlightDeckFriend.com recommends a mentored airline cadetship as the best way to secure a job with an airline as a pilot.

    A mentored cadetship is where an airline pre-selects a number of cadets to complete their flight training at an integrated flight training school. The competition for such schemes is incredibly fierce and often attracts thousands of applicants for a small number of places.

    Assuming the selected cadets pass the flight training to the standard required, they will then join the airline as a Second or First Officer. In some cases (such as the British Airways Future Pilots Program), the airline will pay for the cadets training. More commonly, the cadet will be required to fund their flight training but will have a high degree of security that, assuming their performance throughout the training meets the standards required by the airline, they will walk into a flying job after completing the course.

    Whilst it’s obviously highly desirable to have the airline pay for your pilot training in full, you will normally start on a significantly reduced salary and your salary will remain comparatively low (compared to those who paid for their own training) for a number of years. Cadets who paid for their own training typically start on a higher salary to reflect their significant financial outlay. You would typically start being paid once you have started with the airline after your training,

    On such courses, the performance of the cadet is closely monitored throughout their flight training. Cadets must reach the high performance required by the airline and flight training school to remain on the program.

    The Risks Associated with Flight Training

    Up until the global economic downturn in 2008, if like most people, you didn’t have a spare eighty thousand pounds sitting in your bank account, the finances to fund your commercial flight training could typically be acquired though an unsecured loan from several different banks.

    Unfortunately, banks now require security for such a loan in the form of an asset(s) such as property. In such cases, younger people tend to turn to their parents in order to use the family home as the security. However, for many people who are looking to commence their flight training, such assets are not easily, if at all accessible.

    This has made the industry somewhat elitist, as it precludes those from a less privileged background from obtaining the resources to commence the training. Some people are fortunate enough to have parents that may be willing to provide security for the loan in terms of the family home, but this in itself is a hugely risky commitment. Following the covid pandemic, this situation is starting to improve, with a number of airlines, such as British Airways and TUI offering fully funded pilot cadetships.

                Finance

    If you have taken out a loan or mortgage to pay for your flight training, the loan repayments will typically be between £700 – £1500 a month. You should keep in mind that assuming you have taken a payment holiday for the duration of your training, the repayment requirements mays start immediately after flight training. If you walk straight into a well paid flying job, the repayments are unlikely to be a problem. However, if it takes you some time to secure a job, you will still need to commence repayments in order to avoid defaulting on the loan or having the property repossessed. In the worst cases, some people are never successful in breaking into the industry, despite completing their training. It’s therefore important to have a backup plan incase the worst happens.

    There have been many events throughout history which have severely impacted the demand of airline pilots and resulted in many years where there are far more fresh frozen ATPL holders than there are airline jobs. Examples include the Iraq war, the terrorist attacks of September the 11th 2001, the global recession in 2008, and the Covid outbreak. All of these events had a very significant impact on the airline industry and pilot recruitment for many years. Unfortunately, history tells us the next significant event is never far away – you just have to be lucky with your timing.

    Before committing to your commercial flight training, we strongly recommend you have a read of our “Employment Prospects After Flight Training” article.

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