Start your journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot today with our EASA and UK CAA approved MEP CPL & IR training.

Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Training with MEP & IR

Our Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating (MEP) & Instrument Rating (IR) with Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training is the next step to launching your career as a commercial airline pilot.  

A Multi-Engine Piston (MEP) Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is designed to increase the proficiency of your practical flying skills and theoretical knowledge to a commercial standard. So you are equipped with advanced flight training skills to propel you onto your intermediate training. 

The Multi-Engine piston class (MEP) rating allows you to fly a twin-engined aircraft and fly the aircraft solely with reference to the in-cockpit instrumentation allowing you to fly in conditions with reduced visibility such as in the clouds.  

You will complete your MEP IR CPL training at our flight schools in Cranfield or Bournemouth in the UK, or Ponte de Sor in Portugal. Our UK-based flight schools are approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) whilst our Portugal flight school is approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). All of our flight schools provide cadets with access to state-of-the-art facilities such as training aircraft, flight simulators and flight training devices as well as receive world-class tuition from experienced instructors. 

Cadets will need to hold a Private Pilot's License (PPL) with 150 flying hours and have completed their Theoretical Knowledge training before they can begin their MEP IR CPL training. If you do not hold a PPL and/or have 150 flying hours logged, our PPL training course and our hour’s building programme can get you there. For more information on how to become a private pilot and obtain your PPL, click here.

On successful completion of the course, you will graduate with a Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating (MEP) Commercial Pilot License (CPL) & Instrument Rating (IR) . After successful completion of the MEP CPL & IR, you will need to complete Instrument Rating (IR) skills test, Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) and APS Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) training.  

A MEP CPL & IR can be completed as part of our Modular ATPL course which offers cadets greater flexibility to pay and train for their frozen ATPL qualification in bite-size chunks.  

Details
Location
Cranfield, UK / Bournemouth, UK / Ponte de Sor, Portugal
Cost
£39,500

Certification

UK CAA / EASA

Type

MEP CPL & IR

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Download route guide
CPL training course details
  • Duration: 23 weeks (subject to scheduling)
  • Type: MEP CPL & IR
  • Required Experience: PPL, Theoretical Knowledge and a minimum of 150 hours flight time (100 hours must be pilot-in-command)
  • Training Aircraft: Multi-Engine piston aircraft and Simulators
  • Location: Cranfield (UK), Bournemouth (UK) or Ponte de Sor (Portugal)
Successful graduation from this course will provide you with:
  • Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating (MEP)
  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
  • Instrument Rating (IR)
Entry criteria

To be accepted on our MEP CPL IR training you must hold a PPL and have completed a minimum of 150 flying hours. You must also meet our entry criteria. Read our pilot qualifications and requirements guide for more information.

Age and height

Be at least 17 to submit an application.

Be at least 18 to commence training.

Minimum height 5 ft. 2 in. (157cm), maximum height 6 ft. 3 in. (191cm).

Education and English language

Students must possess a sound basic knowledge of Mathematics and be competent in the use of the English language.

Non-native English speakers must achieve at least level 5.5 in all sections of the International English Language Training System (IELTS).

Medical

Be able to obtain:

  1. EASA Class 1 Medical without restrictions if you are training towards an EASA license; or
  2. UK CAA Class 1 Medical without restrictions if you are training towards a UK CAA license
Visas
  1. Have the unrestricted right to live, study and work in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland; or
  2. Meet the United Kingdom Visa & Immigration Service (UKVI) requirements to qualify for a study visa. (if the course is less than 26 weeks).
Background and selection

Produce a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate before training can commence.

Pass L3Harris’ selection process.

Selection process onto the CPL MEP pilot training course
Overview
Overview

Selection is mandatory. *You will not be required to sit the technical elements of selection (subject to PPL logbook review by our selection team). You will still be required to attend a Zoom interview.

1. Application screening
1. Application screening

Your application will be screened by our selection team who will contact you if you pass our screening.

2. Selection day
2. Selection day

Providing your application passes our screening process you will then be invited to your selection day which will consist of an Interview conducted via Zoom.

CPL MEP Training Programme

  • DURATION

    DURATION

    23

    WEEKS
  • BRIEFING

    BRIEFING

    31.5

    HOURS
  • FLYING AND SIM

    FLYING AND SIM

    88.1

    HOURS
Flight Training
  • Multi-Engine piston class (MEP) Rating - 7hrs briefing / 7.5 hrs flying and SIM
  • Basic Instrument Flying Module (BIFM) - 5hrs briefing / 10.6 hrs flying and SIM
  • Commercial Pilot License (CPL) - 10hrs briefing / 25hrs flying and SIM
  • Procedural Instrument Flight Module (PIFM) - 9.5hrs briefing / 45hrs flying and SIM
CPL MEP Course Cost

Cost of MEP CPL IR: £39,500 (inc VAT)

Fee structure:

  • Initial deposit of £7,900
  • 4x instalment of £7,900
  • Payment schedule will be confirmed at time of booking

What is included in the price?

  • Airport fees
  • Air travel to allocated training locations (if applicable)
  • Return transfer to and from airport to training location (if application)
  • License issue
  • Uniform

Additional costs to consider:

  • Accommodation (if required)
  • Flight training equipment
  • Selection fee: Free of charge until July 2021
  • English language (IELTS) test (if applicable)
  • Class 1 Medical
  • CAA Flight Test and License Application Fees
  • Daily transport cost from accommodation to training location (if application)
  • Personal travel
  • Insurances

For more information, please read our guide on how much it costs to become a pilot.

Why complete your CPL MEP training with L3Harris?
  • Cadets will learn from the best in the industry; our instructors are renowned for providing world-class tuition to help you become a successful commercial pilot.
  • Throughout your MEP CPL & IR training, you will meet like-minded people, build life-long friendships and make connections across Europe.
  • From day one, you’ll have access to state-of-art-facilities to help you reach your goal of becoming a pilot.
The Aircraft Fleet

Cadets training towards their MEP CPL & IR have access to L3Harris’ impressive fleet and the very latest training systems.

With one of the largest fleets in the industry, over 191 aircraft to be specific, cadets will learn on a variety of modern training aircraft, including:

  • Single-engine Diamond DA40
  • Multi-engine Diamond DA42
  • Piper Archer PA28
  • Multi-engine DA42 with glass cockpits
  • Garmin G1000 Electronic Flight Instruments (EFIS)
About L3Harris Airline Academy
40+ years heritage in pilot training
40+ years heritage in pilot training

95% first time pass rate on Ground School exams
95% first time pass rate on Ground School exams

5 global Academy locations
5 global Academy locations

Dedicated graduate placement team to assist finding your pilot role
Dedicated graduate placement team to assist finding your pilot role

    CPL Training Frequently Asked Questions

  • What country is best for commercial pilot training?

      There are a variety of countries where you can complete your commercial pilot training. Bear in mind that if you are training in Europe it is recommended that your course is approved by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) or the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to be recognised by global airlines.

      • Countries with reputable MEP CPL & IR training programmes include:
      • United Kingdom
      • Greece
      • Spain
      • Netherlands
      • Portugal
      • USA
  • How many hours do you need for a Commercial Pilots License?

      To apply for a commercial pilots license with MEP & IR you need 150 flying hours logged.

  • What is better ATPL or CPL?

      ATPL is an Airline Transport Pilot License and is the highest level of pilot certification to embark on a career as a First Officer.

      CPL is a Commercial Pilot License and enables you to act a pilot in command of a small piston engine for commercial purposes.

  • What jobs can I get with a MEP CPL & IR?

      Once you have successfully completed your Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating (MEP) Commercial Pilot License (CPL) & Instrument Rating (IR) these combined make up a ‘frozen ATPL’. With a ‘frozen ATPL’, you’ll be able to apply for roles as a first officer or co-pilot.

      We recommend you go on to complete your UPRT and APS MCC training which will place you in a much better position to secure your first role with a UK and European airline.

  • What is Instrument Rating (IR) in Aviation?

      Instrument Rating (IR) in Aviation is a ‘Type Rating’ which enables pilots to fly under instrument flight rules. IR training goes beyond what is required for PPL and CPL and includes rules and procedures specific to instrument flying.

  • How long does it take to get Instrument Rating?

      How long it takes to get your Instrument Rating (IR) will depend on how often you are able to fly. For example, it can take anywhere between 30 to 90 days to complete your IR training.

      Our Basic Instrument Flying Module (BFIM) comprises of 5 hours briefing and 10.6 hours flying and simulator training. Whilst our Procedural Instrument Flight Module (PIFM) comprises of 9.5-hour briefing and 47 hours flying and simulator training.

  • What is a multi-engine instrument rating?

      Multi-engine instrument rating teaches cadets to fly in both challenging and poor weather conditions as well as Class A airspace.

  • How long will it take to pass MEP CPL & IR training?

      On average, your MEP CPL & IR training programme will take 23 weeks for completion subject to handling. During this time you will complete your:

      1. Multi-engine piston (MEP) class rating
      2. Commercial pilot license (CPL)
      3. Basic instrument flying module (BIFM)
      4. Procedural instrument flight module (PIFM)
  • How much is a CPL MEP IR?

      A Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating (MEP) Commercial Pilot License (CPL) & Instrument Rating (IR) License costs £39,500 (inc VAT).

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Your right to privacy is important to us. The personal information that you submit in this form will be used to provide you with information relating to L3Harris Commercial Aviation that may be of interest to you. Please visit https://www.l3commercialaviation.com/privacy-policy/ to read our Privacy Policy and learn more about how we collect and use information about you so that you can make an informed choice about using our website.