The MPL is an ICAO-compliant licence and is therefore valid worldwide within the framework of the ICAO guidelines. It is a "licence for commercial pilots in multi-person flight crews". In principle, it is similar to the ATPL and is a third type of commercial pilot licence alongside the ATPL and the CPL. The major difference is the restriction to the exclusive operation of aircraft with co-pilots.
The legal framework for the licence was created by the ICAO in 2016 and the first MPL training courses have been available in Germany since 2020. The training may only be offered by flight schools that belong to a commercial airline. The licence was created precisely for these airlines, as it is intended to enable the rapid training of future airline pilots.
Requirements
The minimum age for starting the training is 17 years and for issuing the licence 18 years. The requirements are otherwise the same as for the CPL and ATPL (e.g. Medical Class 1).
Training programme
The theoretical MPL training corresponds completely to the ATPL theory and therefore has a scope of 750 hours, as well as an MCC training of 25 hours. An MPL is only offered "ab initio" and not modular, so it is explicitly aimed at applicants who want to become a pilot in a commercial aircraft from scratch.
The practical training for the MPL consists of 240 hours of flight experience as pilot and co-pilot ("Pilot Flying" and "Pilot not Flying" as the usual term for the division of responsibility in a multi-person cockpit). The training directly includes a type rating for a specific aircraft type. Although this looks like more hours than the ATPL training, the 240 hours include both flight time as a pilot and as a co-pilot. In addition, almost all hours can be completed in a flight simulator.
After the type rating, a "line training" takes place immediately at the specific airline where the training takes place. The specifics of the airline are trained there. MPL training is therefore always focussed on a specific airline.
Recognition of experience
The MPL training is exclusively intended for applicants without flying experience and is therefore only offered "ab initio". Previous experience therefore plays no role here.
Rights as a pilot
As an MPL pilot, you may only fly aircraft that require a co-pilot. If you want to obtain a licence that allows you to operate single-pilot aircraft - e.g. PPL or CPL - you must obtain these ratings through additional training and examinations. As the theory has the same scope as the ATPL theory, no additional theoretical training is required here. For the practical part, the respective elements from the PPL or CPL practical training must then be completed. In any case, an additional test flight must also be carried out in accordance with the PPL or CPL requirements. The same applies to the instrument rating. With the MPL you obtain an IR, which is restricted to aircraft with co-pilots. If you also want to fly single-pilot aircraft according to instrument flight rules, you will need the appropriate training and examination.
However, a transfer to an ATPL is possible without any problems as soon as the required 1500 hours of flight experience - see article on ATPL training - have been completed and an ATPL test flight has been successfully passed. However, the issued ATPL licence is then still restricted to aircraft with a multi-person crew.
Commercial flights and all flights with passengers on board as pilot or co-pilot may only be performed if the pilot has performed at least 3 take-offs and landings in an aircraft of the same type (or in a corresponding simulator) in the last 90 days. The 3 take-offs and landings must be carried out as a single pilot or in a multi-pilot crew, depending on the licence.
As a "cruise-relief co-pilot" you may only fly commercially or with passengers on board if either (a) the above-mentioned 3 take-offs and landings have been completed, or (b) the pilot has flown on at least 3 sectors as a cruise-relief pilot in the last 90 days, or (c) has completed a "Refresher Flying Skill Training" in a flight simulator in the last 90 days.
Only for commercial flights can the period be increased from 90 days to 120 under certain conditions. Likewise, only for commercial flights may a pilot aged 60-64 only be active in multi-pilot crews. From the age of 65, commercial flights on aeroplanes are no longer permitted.
Extension and expansions
The MPL licence itself is also valid for life. However, the class or type rating must be renewed each time. The same requirements apply here as for the ATPL.
Summary
The MPL licence entitles the holder to fly commercial aircraft that must be flown with a co-pilot. The training may only be offered by ATOs that are part of a commercial airline and the training is specifically designed for this purpose.
The theoretical training corresponds to the ATPL. The practical training is specific to multi-pilot aircraft and can usually be completed more quickly than an ATPL.
A transfer to an ATPL can take place after appropriate experience, whereby the restriction to multi-pilot aircraft then continues to apply. If you want to obtain a licence that allows you to operate single-pilot aircraft - e.g. PPL or CPL - these ratings must be obtained through additional training and examinations.
The licence itself is valid for life, but the corresponding class or type ratings must be renewed regularly.
Source references:
EASA FCL