Best Aviation Schools
Go to Home Page
Advertise on BestAviation.net Advertise Contact Us Contact Us







JAA ATPL Groundschool

[Schools in Europe] [Schools in United Kingdom]
ATPL is short for Airline Transport Pilot License and is the highest license a pilot can obtain. This is the certificate that allows you to be the pilot in command (PIC), or captain if you like, of large transport aircrafts. As all airlines hire first officers with the outlook of one day turning them into captains, there is really no way about an airline career without the ATPL qualification.

In practical terms this is obtained by sitting the 14 ATPL written exams and completing a commercial pilot license (CPL) practical skill test. This will give you an ATPL "frozen" certificate you can later unlock with the required flying experience. Most pilots gain this experience by working as a first officer for an airline, and the transition from CPL with ATPL "frozen" to full ATPL is normally obtained a few years after you become a professional pilot.

14 written exams for the JAA ATPL
Though there are many ways of acquiring the knowledge needed everybody who wants to obtain a JAA ATPL has to sit the 14 written exams. There are a few exceptions, mainly military pilots and pilots with several thousand hours PIC time on heavy jet, but we are not going to cover that here.

The 14 exams consist of human performance and limitations, radio navigation, flight planning, mass & balance, aircraft systems & power-plant, air law, operational procedures, general navigation, meteorology, performance, principles of flight, instruments, VFR communications and IFR communications.

Sitting the exams is only possible by first completing a JAA approved training program. This can be done as distance learning (min. 35% classroom), classroom training (ground school) or as part of an ab-initio or "fast-track" program.

How long does it take?
As everything else, it really depends on your own motivation, economy and time to spend. If you can't study full time for the ATPL exams it may be an idea to join a distant learning program and study at your own phase. Be aware that some programs may give you a maximum time limit on how late after you sign up you can sit the exams. Further - ones you sit the first round of exams at a testing center you have 18 months to sit, and pass, all 14 exams.

If you choose to sign up with an ATPL ground school the length of training range from 6 months to 2 years. Though the length of training may vary the amount of knowledge you need to acquire remains the same, just be aware that if you chose to do a 6 month ATPL ground school (which seems to be the norm) the progression curve required to get ready for the exams is very steep. As all JAA ground schools are required to hold in-house testing before they sign you up for the exams you may find the amount of knowledge and the short time given overwhelming to complete such a course.

How easy is it?
There is no one answer to this questions as we all learn differently, however I can tell you right now that it's not a walk in the park. If you do a 6 months course you may find that it is much tougher then most college programs due to the huge amount of knowledge in a very limited time. On the other hand - a six month course is just that; 6 months - and ones you've done it (and passed the exams) you are done for life. Do calculate at least 8 months from course start date until you sit the last exam as schools usually have a self study period between course end and the exam sitting.

Pre-qualifications
You need to hold at least an ICAO Private Pilot License (PPL) before you attend a JAA ATPL ground school. A good understanding of math and physics will also be of great help as some of the topics require math and physics at a medium to advanced level.

Focus areas should be trigonometry, algebra, understanding of equations, being able to read formulas, aerodynamics, how forces work and (of course) the basic multiplication, subtraction, etc.

Where do I sign up!?
All major schools offer ATPL ground schools. If you're not sure if flying is for you and don't have previous experience taking a trial lesson or obtaining the private pilot license with your local flying club is strongly advised.

Find a flight school to train with today.

Good luck!

FEATURED AVIATION SCHOOLS









Regional Pages: Australia | United Kingdom

DO YOU RUN AN AVIATION SCHOOL?


Do you run an aviation school? Do you want more students to attend your aviation school? We receive emails everyday from people all over the world looking for a school. More than 100,000 prospective students visit us each month

Submit a New Aviation School

FIND A COLLEGE PROGRAM

Enter your zip code
Featured Aviation Colleges Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Redstone College Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology Academy College

FEATURED AVIATION SCHOOLS


Cactus Aviation
Henderson, Nevada, United States


Aero Squad
Compton, California, United States


Airline Careers, Cypress College
Cypress, California, United States


Central Oregon Community College
Bend, Oregon, United States


Want to See Your School Here?
Advertise your business here!

LAST 20 UPDATED AVIATION JOBS

Air Canada Jazz / Jazz Air (11/7/2009)
Air Mauritius (11/6/2009)
Air Malta (11/6/2009)
Air France (11/6/2009)
Air Malawi (11/5/2009)
Air Madagascar (11/5/2009)
Air Hong Kong (11/5/2009)
Ryanair (11/5/2009)
Air Tindi (11/5/2009)
Scenic Airlines (11/5/2009)
Grand Canyon Airlines (11/5/2009)
Northwest Airlines (11/5/2009)
Delta Air Lines (11/5/2009)
PSA Airlines (11/5/2009)
Alkan Air (11/5/2009)
Air Cargo Carriers (11/5/2009)
Arctic Sunwest Charters (11/5/2009)
Bearskin Airlines (11/5/2009)
Bar XH Air (11/5/2009)
Air Algerie (11/4/2009)

View All Aviation Job Profiles

RECENTLY LISTED AVIATION SCHOOLS

Flight Training Center (11/4/2009)
North Central Institute (11/4/2009)
University of Nebraska Omaha (11/4/2009)
Aviation Flight Training, LLC (11/3/2009)
Sunrise Aviation (11/3/2009)
Advanced Helicopter Concepts - Fixed Wing (11/2/2009)
Advanced Helicopter Concepts (11/2/2009)
SouthWind Aviation Center (10/31/2009)
CAVOK Cabin Crew Training (10/30/2009)
Aero-Heli Helicopter Services (10/29/2009)
Wings Air, LLC - LaGrangeville (10/28/2009)
Orion Flight Services, Inc. (10/28/2009)
ATP - Airline Transport Professionals (10/28/2009)
Enchantment Helicopters (10/28/2009)
Zone Aviation (10/28/2009)

Complete List of Aviation Schools

TRAINING ARTICLES

Pilot Sample Cover Letter
Pilot Sample Resume
How to Become a Pilot (USA)
How to Become a Pilot (Europe/UK)
JAA Conversion
JAA ATPL Groundschool
Airplane Ferry Pilot
The Kids Today and the impact (..)
Becoming A Test Pilot...Once Every Year
Are We Losing The ”Pure Pilot?”
What Makes an Airplane Fly?
Mistakes - Experience With High Time Pilots
Ramp Check: Some DOs and DON’Ts
Limits: Pilots & The Aircraft We Fly
Safety and Recurrency go Hand in Hand
Graduating from college? Sky is the limit
Caution: Celebrity Onboard
A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant
10 Reasons to be a Flight Attendant
| Avitop.com | AvCanada Topsites | Flight Schools and Pilot Training | Com Pilots | Aviation Career Guide | Flight School Database |
Best Aviation is your number one source for information on flight school training, helicopter schools, flight attendant careers, and aircraft maintenance and aviation college programs. Copyright © 2003 - 2008 | About Best Aviation | Privacy Policy |
I’m Looking For . . .
Flight School Training
Helicopter School Training
Flight Attendant Training
Type Rating Courses
F/O Programs / Hour Building
Aircraft Maintenance School
Aviation College Programs
Other College Programs
Ultralight / Microlight Schools
Browse Schools By Region
Other Stuff . . .
Submit a New Aviation School
Edit an Already Listed School
Link Back to Best Aviation
Best Aviation Sites
Other Resources
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Phoenix East Aviation
National Aviation Academy

ARIZONA

Sawyer Aviation LLC

Alliance Flight Schools

CALIFORNIA

San Diego Flight Training International

Mazzei Flying Service

Orion Aviation, Inc

Ballard Aviation

FLORIDA

Delta Connection Academy

Phoenix East Aviation

Sunrise Aviation

Epic Aviation Flight Academy

Tailwheels etc, Inc

Gulfstream Training Academy

NEVADA

Monarch Sky / Diamond Flight Center

OKLAHOMA

Spartan College of Aeronautics

VIRGINIA

Horizon Flight Center

547 Users Online Now
Avitop.com AvCanada Topsites List ComPilots Top 100 Aviation Websites counter.relmaxtop.com
Bookmark and Share