Integrated vs First Job

Two questions Alright.. I'm going to attempt to smash together more than two questions, from two different members into one long post since they're quite similar:

Q - 1) “What do you think about an integrated MPL? From what I can see its very sim focused rather than hands on flying. Is that a positive or negative in your opinion? In the current climate I would definitely like to be bonded to an airline. I have a mate who is finished at Stapelford and the job market looks a nightmare, min 1000 hours PIC!”

Q – 2) “I am currently training for my modular PPL and I am really enjoying it. I have been doing research on the industry regarding airline jobs and one thing I have noticed is some of the bigger flight schools appear to have strong relationships with airlines and I just wondered where that leaves modular students looking for their first role?”

First - let's bust some myths!!

1) The mate who just finished training is telling lies. The job market is not a nightmare and you don't need 1000hrs PIC. Since one of our fab members Nick has recently just posted about getting a job and thoroughly enjoying his hands on flying, I thought I'd check out his employer's website:

'xyz...is on the lookout for...Pilot in Command of our F406 aircraft...

Minimum requirements

Valid UK CAA CPL ME/IR
Current UK Class 1 Medical Certificate
200 hours total flight time + AUPR
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Commitment to safety and adherence to standard operating procedures”

Someone telling you modular pilots (with typically around 245 hrs minimum on qualification), cannot get work without having 1000 hours is lazy in their search for work.

2) That is correct. Some flying schools do have particular relationships with particular airlines but it's *not a guaranteed job*. I cannot reiterate enough how many people I know who have not secured their 'guaranteed job with the airline'.

They range from those who couldn't pass the paper exams in under 2 series (I'll do another post on this), those who failed the final sim line check (some airlines won't allow an initial resit), those who couldn't finish line training, and those who finished line training but struggled with consistency afterwards.

So a 'guaranteed job' isn't guaranteed until you are line trained and past probation. Until then, you can loose your job in a meeting regardless if you were integrated or modular. When your finish your CPLIR you will feel done, and again after MCC JOC, then when you finish your Type Rating you'll think you're done and again with line training, and then your 6 month check is due and you realise the instructor and your colleagues expectations of you go up every 6 months making it a career with a continuous learning curve.

Ran out of characters, to be continued in part 2..