Course Timeline
Application & Selection
Duration: 1 Day
Location: Home/L3Harris, Gatwick, United Kingdom
Description: This is where you do your research into everything there is about becoming a pilot!
Research all of there requirements you need to to become a pilot and if it is something that you really want to do, because you’re going to be spending a lot of money to get into the flight deck, so it needs to be right for you. Have a trial flight and make sure that you enjoy it – I warn you, you are most likely going to be bitten by the flying bud after this!
Research various flight schools and different courses and decide on the route you want to to take to become a pilot, for me, I knew I wanted to go with L3Harris down the Integrated ATPL route based off peoples recommendations, but you need to do what is right for you.
Before applying to L3Harris, I also went on an assessment day with Airline Prep who prepared me for what to expect through the application and selection process where they worked on my technique in the group exercises as well as my interview technique and possible questions I could have asked.
When I applied to L3Harris, you needed to first apply online by answering questions from 7 different sections. Once successful with this, I was invited to complete an online assessment which included psychiatric assessment as well as looking at my hand-eye coordination through various different exercises. After passing this, I was invited to the assessment day where I first complete group exercises before going in for a one-on-one interview where they asked me questions about anything and everything!
Thankfully, I passed all of these assessments first time and on the 16th October 2020 I was offered a place on the L3Harris Integrated ATPL program!
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/the-main-selection-day/
Phase 1 – Ground School
Duration: 242 days – 14 examinations
Location: L3Harris, Coventry, United Kingdom (CVT/EGBE)
Description: The most ruthless part on the journey to becoming a pilot is the dreaded 14 ATPL ground school exams where outside of the Covid-19 pandemic would be completed in only 29 weeks. They say that each exam is the equivalent of taking an A-level and I can vouch for that!
I know it has changed since I was at ground school, partly due to the new syllabus, but when I was at ground school, I completed aircraft general knowledge (electrics, engines & systems), meteorology and principles of flight in module 1; aeroplane performance, general navigation, human performance, instruments (basic and advanced) and mass & balance in module 2; air law, communications (VFR & IFR), flight planning, operations, and radio navigation in module 3.
I achieved an average of 86% with all first time passes and no deferrals across my 14 ATPL exams with my highest result being in IFR communications where I achieved 100%! Each and every result I am proud of as I know I worked so incredibly hard to achieve these results.
Ground school was made even more difficult for me, having the global pandemic disrupting our exams just a week before sitting our module 1 exams meaning we had to go online to complete the rest and take our exams out of order. Usually, most people won’t have these delays but it is up to us to adapt to the situation and overcome what’s thrown at us.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/lessons-of-ground-school/
Phase 2 – Foundation Flying
Duration: 313 days – 53 flights
Location: Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Cork, Republic of Ireland (ORK/EICK & WAT/EIWF)
Description: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I was unable to go to Hamilton in New Zealand as originally planned, and then as it continued, it meant I wasn’t able to go to Ponte de Sor in Portugal either, so instead was outsourced to Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork, Republic of Ireland.
Foundation flying consists of 53 flights where you’ll obtain a total of 84 hours 30 minutes flying experience, broken into 36:30 dual and 48:00 solo where you really do fly around where it’s just you in the plane! I completed these flights in the Cessna 172s which is a lovely aircraft to fly as it is really stable in the air. This does make it difficult at times, such as when practicing stalls, because the aircraft really doesn’t want to stall!
I loved this phase and I got to see some amazing sights across Ireland where the landscape was terrific, especially when I routed to Sligo and Shannon from Waterford on my solo navigation cross-country flight!
The phase finishes by completing the PT1 test where you take off and begin a navigation route before being diverted. At your diversion location you practice your general handling techniques and then route back to the airfield where you finish on circuits. This is the first time you’re officially tested in the air so it is rather daunting, but once you get flying there is nothing to worry about.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/afta-flying-phase-2-first-solo/
Phase 3 – Advanced Flying
Duration: 71 days – 32 flights
Location: Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Cork, Republic of Ireland (ORK/EICK)
Description: This is the first time I learned to fly using the navigational instruments in the aircraft, such as VOR’s, DME’s, NDB’s and approach aids too.
It starts with 6 flights in the simulator, before moving back into the Cessna 172 for 8 flights. After that I was then introduced to a new aircraft and a whole new beast, the Diamond DA-42! This is a beautiful aircraft to fly and a whole lot quicker than the Cessna too, which does take some getting used to! I did 5 VFR flights in the DA-42 to get used to the aircraft and learn how to fly it, before going back into the simulator for 6 more sims, and then 7 DA-42 flights finishing off my instrument techniques.
This phase requires a lot of mental calculations and to be really switched on all of the time, you come out of one of these flights, even if its only an hour long and you are absolutely shattered and dripping in sweat (blood and tears are optional!)
A really fun phase nonetheless, especially when I moved onto the DA-42 aircraft. It has been a great insight into what I’m going to be doing in my CPL exam in Phase 4 as well as building the techniques I’m going to need to use for the rest of my career.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/afta-flying-phase-2-3-weeks-46-47-48/
Advanced Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (AUPRT)
Duration: 9 days – 3 flights
Location: Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Cork, Republic of Ireland (ORK/EICK)
Description: Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be clothes in the spin cycle of a washing machine? That is exactly what this phase feels like. Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (AUPRT) consists of 3, 1 hour long flights and believe me, that’s enough!
The first flight is all about experiencing g-force properly for the first time, and the difference between g and lift as well as how to get out of various situations. The second is acrobatics and recovering more from different ‘upset’ conditions, including going above and beyond what I thought an aircraft was capable of! The final looks at various autopilot modes and if failing to set it correctly or monitoring it, how it can go wrong very quickly as well as how to recover from these scenarios.
In a strange kind of way, I did enjoy these flights, but I know I’m not cut out for becoming an acrobatics pilot or a fighter pilot anytime soon! I felt rather green after coming down from these and took me a few hours to start feeling well again when safely back on the ground!
When you do these flights, don’t tell your loved ones as it turns out they really do worry when you’re up in the air, more so than normal, with these and your text to say you’re back on the ground again is one of the most welcomed ones they receive!
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/afta-flying-phase-3-4-weeks-49-50-51/
Phase 4 – CPL
Duration: 10 days – 3 flights and 1 examination flight
Location: Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Cork, Republic of Ireland (ORK/EICK)
Description: After completing 6 simulator sessions and 7 flights flying using IFR techniques we now go back to visual flying ready for our CPL skills test examination!
We undertake 3 mock lessons where I had 3 different instructors and asked them to be rather strict with me so I can achieve the highest possible standard when it came to my CPL exam. We practice possible routes it could be, work on our general handing before returning to circuits to finish the mock – this mostly simulates how the exam will be.
If all 3 mocks go well, then we’re put in for our CPL skills test examination where for the first time, I was assessed by an external examiner in an aircraft. At this point there are a lot of nerves, adrenaline and excitement as this stage comes to a close.
I am delighted to say that I passed on my first attempt! I could not be happier with the result as this result sets me up for the rest of my career to come!
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/30-04-2022-cpl-skills-test-examination/
Phase 5 – ME/IR
Duration: 58 days – 19 flights and 1 examination flight
Location: L3Harris Bournemouth (BOH/EGHH) & Cranfield (EGTC), United Kingdom
Description: This stage of training is just about as intense as it has been so far! The standard of my flying has had to increase dramatically and I’ve become a better pilot because of it! I’ve completed 12 simulator flights where the first 4 are getting used to U.K. airspace and flying on instruments again, the next is an introduction to autopilot, followed by 4 line orientation flight training flights simulating a commercial flight with a passenger, finally cumulating in 3 IR routes mocks of what we’re likely to be flying when we move to Cranfield.
In Cranfield I flew 7 IR routes flights to get used to what we can expect to fly on our ME-IR test which included flying as far west as Gloucestershire, as South as Bournemouth, as North & West as Norwich; as well as getting to know some of the local area and U.K. procedures for those who haven’t done their training in the U.K. such as myself.
As with my U.K. CAA CPL examination, I’m delighted to say that I passed my ME/IR examination on my first series, one attempt! It was certainly a difficult exam, made even more difficult by some turbulent conditions so I couldn’t be happier with the result I’ve achieved!
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/31-08-2022-multi-engine-instrument-rating-examination/
Dual IAA EASA Licence
Duration: 8 days – 4 flights and 2 examination flights
Location: Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Cork, Republic of Ireland (ORK/EICK)
Description: A small window of opportunity presented itself to me which allowed me to obtain both my U.K. CAA and my IAA EASA licence at the same time – so this is what I did!
I had to get my ground school results acknowledged and verified by the IAA before I went out to Ireland which took about 3-4 weeks to get sorted. I also had to have a new Class 1 IAA EASA medical booked as my original U.K. CAA isn’t valid.
After sorting all these minor issues out, it was time to get flying! I had to complete 2 hours PIC to ensure I had the 50 required. On top of this, I completed a CPL mock flight, 2 hours in the simulator for my ME/IR, an ME/IR mock and then my 2 exams; CPL and ME/IR.
Flying again in Ireland was amazing and got really fortunate with the weather which is how I was able to be complete so quickly. Not to mention, really nice to see some familiar faces from my foundation and advanced training when I was out there previously.
I’m over the moon to say I passed my IAA EASA CPL and ME/IR exams, both first series one attempt as with my U.K. CAA exams, and I couldn’t be prouder of what I’ve managed to achieve.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/iaa-easa-dual-licence/
Airline Pilot Standard Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC)
Duration: 18 days – 10 flights
Location: L3Harris Gatwick, United Kingdom
Description: This stage concludes my final stage of training with L3Harris, and it allowed me to get behind the controls for the Airbus A320-200 which was truly incredible!
The main focus of this wasn’t how well you flew the aircraft, but more focusing on our competencies as a pilot and working for the first time in a multi-crew environment as up until now everything had been completed as single pilot operations.
It did take a little while to get used to flying with someone and sharing the workload, but as we practiced more frequently and worked together it became easier and the synergy in the flight deck improved significantly.
I passed with an Airline Pilot Standard Multi-Crew Cooperation and 40 hours flying the Airbus A320-200 as both a pilot flying and pilot monitoring, and it was such a brilliant way to round off my flight training.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/l3harris-multi-crew-cooperation-week-3/
Job Hunt
Duration: 94 days
Location: Various locations
Description: Interviews and online assessments conducted at home. In person interviews with TUI at East Midlands and Gatwick. In person interviews and simulator assessment with Ryanair at Dublin. I’m absolutely delighted that on Monday 13th February 2023 at 10:54 I was offered “a position as a cadet on the Airline Flight Academy LTD cadet programme to qualify as a pilot operating for Ryanair.”
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/job-hunt/
Type Rating
Duration: 34 days ground school, followed by 40 days in the simulators
Location: East Midlands Training Centre and Stansted Training Centre
Description: A few months of really intense training but it has been incredible! It began at East Midlands Training Centre (EMT) where we had our induction week. This week included crew resource management, security – exam pass with 100%, dangerous goods – exam passed with 100%, and safety and emergency procedures training – exam passed with 100%. We then completed distance learning before returning to EMT for more exams. I passed my technical exam with 90%, I passed my SOP exam with 88% and I passed my performance exam with 100% – I was delighted with these results!
Next we moved into the simulator at Stansted Training Centre (STC), where we completed 12 simulator sessions in the fixed base simulator (not moving) before moving into the full flight simulator (moving) for 7 sessions and our 8th being our Licence Skills Test, which I am also delighted to announce that I passed first time! Like all the other exams I’ve taken in getting up to this stage, it was the most difficult I had done so far and the longest exam I’ve had in being 5 hours in the sim plus a briefing and de-brieing afterwards.
Blog related to this stage: This blog is yet to be written, please hold on!
Base Training
Duration: 1 simulator session and 1 flight
Location: Stansted Training Centre & East Midlands Airport (EMA/EGNX) & Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK/EGPK)
Description: We complete a total of 8 circuits which are as follows:
- Flap 5 take-off, orbit on downwind leg, flap 30 touch & go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 30 touch & go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 30 go-around between 500ft and 1,000ft AGL, clean up the aircraft to flaps up,
- Flap 30 touch & go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 30 touch and go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 30 touch and go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 30 touch and go,
- Flap 15 take-off, flap 40 full stop landing.
When we completed these in the simulator, we varied the wind between 10kts of headwind and 10kts of crosswind either from the left or right.
For my base training, I flew to Prestwick, Glasgow with 2 other cadets and completed my circuits up in Scotland. The views were exceptional out of the flight deck windows, and it felt amazing to get my hands on The Boeing 737 for the first time. After my circuits, I was fortunate to be able to fly the aircraft back and land at East Midlands!
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/boeing-737-type-rating-base-training/
Line Training
Duration: 8 supernumerary flights, 18 flights with a safety pilot, and 76 flights total.
Location: Home base Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA/EGNM)
Description: Line training is the first experience we get flying passengers across the skies of Europe for Ryanair. With up to 197 passengers behind me as well as crew, I am responsible for getting these passengers where they want to go in a safe and timely manner. Line training means I have to fly alongside a line training captain. It begins with 8 flights in the jump seat watching a regular crew fly, followed by at least 12 flights with a safety pilot – this took me 18 flights. We complete our line training in no less than 66 flights – this took me 76 sectors in total. To get flying and doing things the Ryanair way is superb. I was based out of Leeds Bradford airport (LBA), however was fortunate to be placed out of base for learning opportunities at London Stansted (STN), Dublin (DUB) and Alicante (ALC). Where in Alicante, I was signed off and completed my line training after 4 months on 4th January 2024.
Blog related to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/ryanair-line-training-december-2023-round-up-edit/
Line Flying
Duration: Commenced 4th January 2024 after completion of line training for the remainder of employment
Location: Home base London Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS)
Description: I am currently flying the Boeing 737-800 across the skies of Europe for Ryanair UK based out of London Stansted and I am absolutely loving it!
I work a 5 on/4 off roster alternating between the early and late flights, flying to destinations I never though I’d get to go to, crossing many counties borders in the process, and also crossing continents by flying to Africa and Morocco!
Please check back regularly to see how I’m getting on, flying with Ryanair UK!
Latest blog relating to this stage: https://pilot-powling.co.uk/ryanair-uk-april-may-june-2024-round-up-and-fear-of-flying-discussion-item/
