APS MCC training is career-critical but often misunderstood
Despite being fundamental to a commercial pilot’s chances of airline employment and career progression, multi-crew training is often misunderstood.
Many aspiring airline pilots are unaware of the specifics involved in multi-crew training and the importance of the Pilot Competencies it aims to develop.
Another key area of multi-crew training that’s often misunderstood is the introduction to using airline Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - with pre-course study of these SOPs being vital for success.
As a result, some trainees approach their APS MCC course merely as a 'box-ticking' regulatory exercise and fail to prepare for it adequately.
In reality, APS MCC is a demanding course that will transform you as a pilot in a very short period. It equips you with essential knowledge and skills that you will go on to use during every flight throughout your airline career.
Understanding the true nature of APS MCC training, what it entails, and the need for thorough preparation allows pilots to gain the maximum benefit from their investment, ensuring they complete the course genuinely prepared to succeed as airline pilots.
“The APS MCC course is demanding, and it’s the first training course you will undertake having recently obtained your MEIR. I believe it is also the most important professional flying course of your career as it provides you with the essential multi-crew competencies which are so vital for a successful airline career. Pilots who achieve strong passes at APS MCC are quickly identified by airlines during their selection processes and frequently progress rapidly from junior First Officer to Captain.”
Why is APS MCC so different to earlier stages of pilot training?
Airline Pilot Standard Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) training is markedly different from earlier stages of pilot training due to its advanced focus on the real-world demands of airline operations.
Unlike initial flight training, which typically centres on developing fundamental flying skills and solo pilot operations, APS MCC emphasises the complexities of working within a multi-crew environment. It includes advanced scenarios that simulate the high-pressure, high-stakes conditions of commercial aviation, requiring trainees to demonstrate proficiency in communication, teamwork, and decision-making in conjunction with technical flying skills.
The APS MCC course is designed to bridge the gap between basic flight training and the operational realities of airline flying, providing trainees with the practical experience and competencies necessary to function effectively in a professional airline setting. This shift from individual to team-based training reflects the collaborative nature of modern commercial aviation and ensures that pilots are fully prepared for the operational, safety, and regulatory standards expected by airlines.
At VA, for example, we ensure that our APS MCC training gets as close as possible to real-world airline operations through the use of type-specific Airbus and Boeing simulators (not generic devices), SOPs that are closely aligned to Airbus and Boeing SOPs and major airlines’ SOPs, and a focus on competency-based training delivered by current airline Training Captains.
The importance of specialist multi-crew training for an airline pilot’s career
Multi-crew pilot competencies are crucial for a trainee airline pilot's career as they form the foundation for effective and safe operation within a complex, dynamic aviation environment. These competencies include teamwork, communication, situational awareness, and decision-making skills, all of which are essential for managing the multifaceted responsibilities of modern commercial aviation.
By mastering these skills, trainee pilots ensure they can work seamlessly within a team, respond adeptly to rapidly changing scenarios, and uphold the highest safety standards. This not only enhances their performance and reliability as pilots but also significantly improves their career prospects in an industry where teamwork and precision are paramount.
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Hear from past trainees how the development of competencies helped them
In our Success Stories series of interviews with VA graduates, one of the questions we ask is:
”How did the competencies you developed during your APS MCC help you afterwards?”
Here we have compiled some of the individual responses to this question:
The competencies I learned during my APS MCC helped in every stage of flying I have done since. Many people consider these to only apply to multi-crew operations, but I found them to be applicable everywhere in flying: be it my simulator sessions, my classroom lessons as a TKI, my flight lessons as a flight instructor or my type rating. Communication, workload management, situational awareness, teamwork, and knowledge are particularly important!
Shujaa Imran
The competencies I learned at VA are now etched into my brain as they are the bedrock of safe aviation in the UK. Whilst I had used these competencies throughout my military career and daily as an Air Traffic Controller, it was great to see them broken down and start to understand the opportunities for developing them. I have used them to help me with airline assessments and every day on my Type Rating, they are invaluable.
Nathan Rilstone
The APS MCC at VA provided the perfect introduction to the airline world, laying a substantial foundation for understanding the 737NG and preparing me for the true extent of multi-crew cooperation required during type-rating. The core competencies, which are fundamental to multi-pilot operations, were emphasised and developed during this training. This preparation enabled me to pass the airline assessment on the first attempt with confidence and conviction in my ability in a calm and collected manner. Moreover, these competencies have greatly aided me with the type rating at Ryanair, where they are consistently mirrored and assessed every time I step into an aircraft or simulator.
James Harrison
The APS MCC set the foundations up nicely for the multi-crew aspect of my role flying the ERJ145. The course used real-world SOPs which are the bread and butter of every flight you do working as an airline pilot. The instructors all made sure we understood why we do things each way and what it prevents commonly known as Threat and Error management. The emphasis on good briefings and keeping your colleague informed is great practice for the real world where you will fly with different people to different places all the time.
Andrew Baillie
The core competencies are the foundation of the introduction to multi-pilot operations. VA emphasised this and trained us to develop them during training. This has helped hugely with the type rating as the competencies are mirrored at Ryanair and I was (and still am) assessed on these every time I step into an aircraft or simulator.
Tom Davis
Learning about the core competencies that airlines expect and developing these on the APS MCC is second to none. I found myself relating to these a lot during the ATR type rating. Having already put these into practice, these helped me to perform better and develop them further within a multi-crew environment. These are key things that you will use for the whole of your career as an airline pilot.
James Stevenson
The briefings and de-briefs at VA are based around nine core competencies which mirrors how it's done during your career as a pilot in the airlines for simulators sessions (LPC/OPC checks etc). Not only are these traits highly developed during your APS MCC course, but they will also help later with your assessments, Type Rating and line checks. The most important thing is your ability to self-critique based on these competencies and get comfortable doing so.
Duo Zhang
I liked how the core pilot competencies were emphasised throughout my APS MCC, as this gave me a very good understanding of each one. This went on to be critical when preparing for airline interviews and into the Type Rating as each competency is tested in the simulator sessions - and as I’d got a good base knowledge it made the multi-crew environment and workload much easier to deal with, even in the most testing scenarios.
Sam Tyler
The core competencies of the APS MCC helped me greatly during the assessment and also during the line training. Although flying on the line is very different from the simulator, with many new real-world situations happening around you, the competencies still apply. Workload management is an important skill to master during line flying operations, where there are a lot of tasks to be completed in a short time. Also, Situational Awareness is a big one that I make my priority, being able to anticipate what happens next, and what can I do now to lower my workload later makes flying more enjoyable and less stressful.
Leandro Di Vincenzo
The APS MCC helped tremendously to prepare for airline assessments. Being able to walk into a simulator of a commercial airliner and know (more or less) where everything is and what is expected of you boosts your confidence and of course, your ability. It also gives a good insight as to what to expect during a type-rating, not just in terms of expanding one’s knowledge base but also upping the quantity and pace of learning and execution of tasks appropriate for commercial airline operations, not forgetting being at ease in a multi-crew environment - something most candidates have not experienced until starting the APS MCC.
Danielle Jackson
The APS MCC course is specifically designed to facilitate the transition from single pilot operations in the general aviation realm to the dynamic environment of multi-crew airline operations. It will assist pilots in developing the core competencies that the airline industry actively seeks during job assessments and interviews. As a result, taking this course significantly boosted my chances of landing an airline job and equipped me with the vital skills needed to thrive in the industry.
Stefano Sparacio
It’s something I’ve told so many people about. I definitely found the type rating less daunting and overwhelming having a core understanding of the 737, from its layout to how it performs and behaves. I definitely feel myself and my sim partner had a cutting edge over those who hadn’t done a 737 APS MCC before their type rating for sure. That confidence and reassurance was definitely something that helped me through the type rating, and I’m not sure those skills would’ve been as polished if weren’t for the APS MCC course at VA.
Thomas Owens
All of the competencies which we used and developed during the APS MCC were really helpful. The instructors at VA always emphasised using them in every single simulator session. This was really helpful for me during my Type Rating and Line Training with Ryanair, especially in managing workload, and communicating effectively with the rest of the crew. Other competencies were also useful such as applying the correct knowledge and SOPs.
Jeancarl Cardona
The best part about VA is that the APS MCC course is built around the core competencies required from pilots for any airline. By already being aware of and having these key competencies established during my training, my life was made significantly easier during the recruitment process as they were the exact same competencies that the recruiters were looking for! This gave me the confidence I needed to go through the airline assessments process, and come out feeling positive!
Fareeha Ahmed