Distance learning in United Kingdom with Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training

Course modular helicopter specific self-study program by Caledonian Advanced Pilot Traing for the JAA ATPL(H), in three modules covering thirteen subjects, geared for 650 hours of home study, with a 1-week consolidation for each one at the Caledonian Advanced Pilot Traing CAPT offices. The material itself is not difficult to master, but there is a lot of it, so you should allow about 6 months for the whole process, including taking the exams, based on 6 hours a day, Monday to Friday, but this could be longer or (slightly) shorter, depending on your aptitude, finances, weather, family commitments, etc. (we base it on 20 study hours per week).

JAA stands for Joint Aviation Authorities, which works on the premise that aviation is the same in most civilised countries, and can therefore be standardised to a certain extent. Essentially, back in 1970, certain European countries agreed upon common procedures to help with importing and exporting aircraft, and type certification and maintenance, based on existing European regulations and FARs (from the FAA in the USA), where acceptable. In fact, the maintenance side of JAR, 145, is directly drawn from FAR Parts 43 and 145, and the bottom line was making it easier to use foreign aircraft. Now, the process involves licensing and other documentation, which means that once you have a JAA pilot licence, you can use it in any JAA country, which effectively means all over Europe. Visas, of course, are another story!

The major oil & gas companies have been pushing toward the JAA standard for quite a few years, using ICAO Annex 6 as a standard.

To start the course, you must hold an ICAO PPL(H), and have enough knowledge of maths and physics to understand the course content, but much of what you need is included. Although not required to start our course, we recommend that you also obtain a Class 1 medical, because all the studying in the world is no use unless you pass it!

You will initially receive the course notes and reference material for the first module, plus a course CD. Progress tests (below) should be completed and submitted every week (by post, fax, or email), and you must gain a pass mark of 75%. We are obliged to keep a close eye on your progress, and there is an 18-month window in which to complete your studies, from the date of your first exam. For the support service, we are available on telephone, fax, skype and email, and if we can't give you an immediate answer, we aim to produce a solution within 24 hours.

For those with long distances to travel, the consolidation weeks can be combined, so you only get involved with one set of travel tickets. The consolidation takes place at Bicester, near Oxford, England and, by arrangement with Bristow Academy in Florida. Consolidation weeks take place in the last 2 weeks of every month.