About the Course
An APS/MCC course is designed to transition you from single pilot operations,to a multi-crew, jet environment. All through your commercial training so far, the onus has been on you to prepare and fly the aircraft, but now you will learn to operate flights with another crew member like you would in airline operations in a multi-crew aircraft. All courses are delivered in an approved flight simulator and will cover jet handling, operational line flights and emergencies, covering all of the core competencies required for multi-crew commercial operations. You train as both ‘Pilot Flying’ (PF) and ‘Pilot Monitoring’ (PM).
The MCC is the standard course, usually delivered over 2 weeks and covers all of the fundamentals of multi-crew operations, allowing you to apply to airlines.
The APS builds on this and incorporates more specific enhanced airline operations and scenarios, lasting around 3 weeks. This covers specifically; advanced swept-wing jet aeroplane training' and 'advanced airline operations scenario training' followed by a final assessment.
The JOC is a basic orientation course which is designed to transition you from piston aircraft to jet aircraft.
Our full list of MCC/JOC providers can be found here
Our full list of APS providers can be found here
Course Requirements
- Hold a valid Multi Engine Piston – MEP/IR rating.
- Hold at least a valid PPL(A) or CPL (A).
- Hold a valid Class 1 Medical.
Course structure and completion
- MCC
- 20-25 hours theoretical training.
- 20 hours simulator training.
- APS
- 35-45 hours of theoretical training.
- 40 hours of simulator training.
- JOC
- 3-4 days theoretical training.
- 12 hours simulator training.
Groundschool will usually be completed at the start, which will cover various topics such as safety, operations, CRM and technical aspects of the aircraft needed to conduct the sim exercises, along with various real life case studies. This phase will then transition you into the practical simulator phase.
Practical Training will take you into the simulator and introduce you to the multi-pilot crew environment and flying a jet aircraft. Working together with your sim partner, you will put into practice and thoroughly build upon what you have learnt during groundschool, over a number of sessions in which you will take turns to operate as Pilot Flying and Pilot Monitoring.. You will be able to conduct flight briefings, operate the systems, undertake general handling exercises, fly sim details such as; taxiing, departures, approaches, landings etc,as well as real life scenarios and tackling emergency situations. It will teach optimal CRM and workload management. The APS will culminate with an assessment flight, where you will usually fly a line flight and manage abnormal events along the way.
What To Look For In A Training Provider
- EASA or CAA Registered.
- Well maintained and serviceable simulator, as well as availability, scheduling and regularity of lessons.
- Qualified instructors available.
- Pass rates of previous students at the training provider.
- Reviews from past students are important, to get a feel of all aspects of the training provider and the course..
- Compare costs between providers to ensure it suits your budget.
- Student support to ensure that your progression throughout the course is as smooth as possible.
- Ask for transparency on prices and packages, i.e Costs if any additional lessons are needed.
- Employment links with airlines/companies.
For a more in-depth guide on what to look for in a training provider, click here.
Our full list of MCC/JOC providers can be found here
Our full list of APS providers can be found here
Equipment
Realistically you don’t need to bring anything apart from stationary to take notes with and your logbook to record your simulator times. If you wish, you can bring your iPad/Tablet if your provider offers digital training aids. Everything else such as profile charts, plates and study material will be provided to you.
Tips and Advice
Theory Section
- Ask your instructor questions and get into discussions with them and your classmates, as this will help boost understanding. Case studies are a great way to achieve this.
- Learn the aircraft limitations, speeds and general figures as these will be tested in your final exam.
- Use a cockpit diagram to help familiarise yourself with the layout of instruments, switches, buttons and dials etc. This will vastly help you when in the simulator during sessions.
- If you can, do some light reading before you start your course just so you can familiarise yourself with the basics of systems and operating parameters etc and lead nicely into the course.
- Don't ‘over study’. It's easy to neglect rest, breaks and good nutrition but these are very important to your well-being and overall performance.
Simulator Sessions
- Strict discipline from the start will put you in good stead for the rest of the course and also for your Type Rating, which shares many similarities with the APS/MCC course.
- Adopt and practice the Core Competencies.
- “Mouth Music” - Practice and recite checklists and responses. Knowing this in and out will help you enormously.
- Practice procedures and profiles with your sim partner during free time in a model cockpit mock-up, or even in a coffee shop. This will also build rapport between you which will help you during sim sessions.
- Know your cockpit diagram like the back of your hand. Know where everything is as this will help preserve time, as you won't be searching for where things are during a session when doing procedures. Practice your ‘scan flows’ so it will be ingrained in your memory for flying.
- Practice a structured departure, approach and emergency briefings. Try to avoid ‘waffling’ on for too long. Brief the main points and keep it “short and sweet”. Also know your decision making models (airline dependant on which one is used).
- Never be afraid to correct your sim partner if you believe they’re deviating from procedure or doing something incorrectly, as this is a big part of CRM (Crew Resource Management) and multi-crew operations. Also, be assertive when needed and show conviction in your requests as Pilot Flying or Pilot Monitoring.
- Memorise your aircraft’s normal operating and limitation speeds - Correct application during procedures and preventing exceedance.
- Be aware of secondary failures/implications during emergencies. A primary failure that flags as an alert may have affected other systems that you’re not aware of.
- Pitch, Power, Set and Trim!
- Seat position and height is crucial to ergonomics and optimal control, especially if flying an Airbus.
- Get adequate rest before simulator sessions and make sure you are well fed and hydrated, because the last thing you want during an intense session doing engine-failure procedures, is to feel low on energy and be hungry! Exercise is important to maintain good mental and physical health, even if it means just going for a walk.
- Ask for feedback from your instructor on the sim sessions so you can enhance your strengths and also fix anything that could have been done better. You will have a debrief after each session. Make a list of these points and use it as a crib sheet for future lessons and for your final check flight.
- Watch online instructional and cockpit videos about your aircraft as this will provide different perspectives and also some very useful motivation!
- Remember that your instructors WANT YOU TO PASS and see you succeed in gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to go out, secure employment and fly!
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing aircraft limitations well enough.
- Lacking knowledge and discipline in checklists, responses and procedures.
- Underestimating the jump up from Piston Aircraft to Jet Aircraft.
- Underestimating the jump up from Single Pilot operations to Multi-Pilot operations.
- Not being assertive enough or showing indecision.
- Not knowing the ‘scan flows’ off by heart.
- Over controlling and not anticipating manoeuvres i.e, level offs and turns.
- On a jet, keep in mind the pitch & power couple, especially during stall recovery practice.
- Not knowing the Flight Mode Annunciations or control/auto-pilot modes.
- Not stabilising the aircraft early enough, thus playing catchup, especially along the final approach segment.
Next Steps
- A-UPRT (If not done prior to APS/MCC)
- Type Rating & Base Training
- Line Training (as part of your airline employment)
Our full list of MCC/JOC providers can be found here
Our full list of APS providers can be found here
