Russian authorities have decided that civil aviation pilots do not need a profound education and have cut their apprenticeship two times, Izvestiya reports. 

Although the full cancellation of higher education is not discussed now, every future pilot will decide whether to study using accelerated program or to undergo a profound training, the periodical notes.

According to the representative of the Ministry of Transport, the pilots are studying for too long at the moment and it costs the state a lot of money. That is why the officials have taken a decision to approve the implementation of MPL program in Russia (Multi-Crew Pilot License — the training of pilots as a part of numerous crew), developed by the ICAO’s specialists. Consequently, the training of a pilot may be completed in 18 months, and he would be able to use the specific aircraft type. This program will be implemented in Russia since September, the Ministry of Transport assures.

The Ministry of Transport treats this initiative carefully, thus only students, who have been studying in a technical university for at least two years, will be allowed to train in accordance with MPL program.

By all appearances, the final decision on the destiny of pilots’ higher education will be taken after the first results of training using MPL program.