Duel: ATPL integrated vs Modular

Everyone who is interested in aviation and seeks to pursue a career as a pilot working for airlines knows that the best way to make the dream come true is to choose the Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) course. However, after launching the search for the most suitable study programme, one can be puzzled by the two frequently appearing keywords – ‘integrated’ and ‘modular’. What is the difference between these two programmes? After all, the choice can determine the price, length or even success of the future profession. Hereunder Baltic Aviation Academy will weigh the pros and cons of each study programme and provide the facts which will certainly help the still undecided ones to make up their minds before placing their first step into the world of aviation.

The main point at which these two programmes collide is the widely known saying ‘time is money’. One of the key advantages of the ATPL Integrated is its length – the programme is structured in the way that a student can gain all the required knowledge and skills in about two years. During the course of training the student of an ATPL Integrated has to study intensively, without any brakes. Although this ‘fast track’ programme allows the student to gain his ATPL (A) license quicker, it requires investing about twenty per cent more compared to the Modular programme.

In the meantime, the Modular course, that lasts approx. 2.5 -3 years or as long as a particular person needs, offers the opportunity to divide the program into modules. It is the best option for those who wish to combine work with the aviation studies. For instance, if a person has the money to pay for the Private Pilot License course only, after passing the license exam, he can suspend his further studies for the period of time needed to raise the funds for continuing the ATPL (A) theory and flight programme.

In the online forums of aviation enthusiasts where they gather to discuss the issue, one can sometimes encounter the myth that the ATPL Integrated programme is only for the children of rich parents and the Modular course – for those, who have to work hard to achieve their goals. According to Indre Sveistryte, the Director of the Flight Training Organization, this assumption is absolutely bogus. The fact is that the ATPL Integrated costs more but is faster, and the money invested can be made up for straight after gaining the license. Meanwhile, the Modular programme, which is cheaper, lasts longer; therefore the time when a pilot can start earning money pushes off.

The interesting fact is that some airlines, when selecting new pilots, prefer the graduates of integrated programmes. But the truth is that choosing the right study programme depends only on individual circumstances and needs.

About Baltic Aviation Academy