Airline Transport Pilot's Licence training?

Question

Curious to know - is anyone else studying the ATPL syllabus in Australia at the moment?

Or for that matter anywhere else?

In other countries - do you have the 7 exam system (7 subjects) we have? Or just one exam combining all?

Do you self study or go to a class?

Anyone had trouble so far with the theory?

For that matter are there any airlines elsewhere that allow you to work as a first officer WITHOUT the ATPLs and study them before you progress (because legally, they're only required for a captain - and I think they'd be a lot easier with jet F/O experience)

Thanks!

Answer 1

In the US its quite a bit easier.  We pass a written test (yes...1) for which all the questions and answers are published and available at the local flight school.  Then we pass an oral exam based on knowledge of the FARs and whatever aircraft we are taking our checkride in (I took mine in a Piper Seminole).  And then we pass a practical flight test.  Mine consisted of doing a couple approaches, holds, approaches to stalls, and steep turns to ATP standards (nearly identical to instrument standards) in that Seminole I just mentioned.

The whole process can be completed in a weekend.