Integrated Pilot Training (LEAP)
Alhama, Murcia, Southern Spain
Comprehensive. Cohesive. Confident.
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our full integrated fATPL LEAP training courses, landing in Alhama, southern Spain! You can start your pilot journey with Leading Edge Aviation, basking in the sunny skies of Alhama.
Take control of your future with the flexibility to choose between EASA, UK CAA, or Dual Licences. With courses set to start from 2026, we are looking forward to welcoming aspiring pilots eager to kickstart their aviation careers.
Our Leading Edge Airline Preparation (LEAP) course in Alhama offers the same high standard and comprehensive training that Leading Edge Aviation is known for, minus the degree component.
LEAP in. It’s all included.
Training Components
Theoretical Knowledge Training
Initial Flight Training
Advanced Flight Training
Advanced Upset Prevention Recovery Training
APS MCC (based in the UK)
Course Equipment
Training materials & flight bag
PadPilot ATPL eBooks
Uniform
iPad
Question bank access
Support Services
Graduate employment services
Wellbeing services
Training guarantee
ATPL (A) qualifying exam fees
Flight test fees
Whole Pilot® training framework
Graduation Ceremony
Location and Facilities
Base in Alhama, Spain and Oxford, UK
Accommodation in Alhama and Oxford
Return flight to Oxford for UPRT and APS MCC
Course Entry Requirements
The UK
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- 5 GCSEs at 4+ or equivalent (e.g., National 5. Level 2 Vocational) including Maths, English and a Science (preferably Physics).
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
Ireland
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- Five subjects passed at:
- Ordinary Level: Grade O4 or better (O1, O2, O3, O4)
- Higher Level: Grade H6 or better (H1-H6)
- Note: A mix of Ordinary and Higher level subjects is acceptable, and subjects at Higher Level are generally accepted as a pass.
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
Spain
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- 5 ESO grades at 5+ including Maths, English and a Science (preferably Physics).
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
Portugal
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- 4 CPES exam results at 14+ including Maths, English and a Science (preferably Physics).
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
France
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- Passed Le Brevet at during the last year of collège (3e: troisième)
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
Italy
Requirements to join the course are, as a minimum:
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
- Should have the right to study in the EU
- For Dual Licence you will need EASA Class 1 and UK CAA medical certificate. For single EASA or UK licensing path will only need to obtain the Class 1 medical for your chosen path.
- At a score of at least 60 in the Diploma di Esame di Stato
- ICAO 5 or above in spoken English
- Successfully complete our robust Skills Assessment
Course breakdown
Pass a Skills Assessment
1 Day, Oxford Campus
To enrol, you’ll need to pass a Leading Edge Aviation Skills Assessment. This process assesses your potential for success and ensures we select the best pilots for the airlines. If you meet the standard, you’ll be invited to enrol with a Training Guarantee.
The Skills Assessment will include:
- A Computer based assessment
- An Interview
- A Group Exercise
- A Debrief
Ground School Training
Approx. 28 Training weeks, Alhama Campus
Our LEAP Integrated course starts with an education in the ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge that will form the academic foundation of your future career.
We are very proud to be leading the way and are delivering the most up to date academic syllabus (e.g. ECQB2020) for the Regulatory Authorities to our students.
Students also study KSA100 (Knowledge, Skills & Attitude) which helps to develop the softer skills that are a critical part of their future career.
Need to know:
- 3 modules
- 750 training hours (minimum)
- 26 progress checks
- 13 (or 26 for dual licence) qualifying exams
Graduate Employment Services
3-Day Course & Ongoing Support, Alhama Campus
Our LEAP Integrated course includes comprehensive Graduate Employment Services to prepare and support you in landing that all important First Officer role.
The course is taught by a team who have a wealth of experience in pilot recruitment and held at our academy in Alhama. Our instructors will walk you through the assessment process, tailoring the workshop to your experience and ensuring you are ready for your first airline interview.
The 3-day course will cover:
- Airline applications
- Maximising your first impression
- Personal development plans
- CV workshops
- Cover letter creation
- Interview techniques & mock interviews
- Group exercise training
Foundation Flight Training / Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
Approx. 26 Training weeks, Alhama Campus
With ATPL ground school and graduate services complete, you’ll work towards achieving your Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). Our Foundation Flight Training is conducted from our Alhama Campus, where highly experienced instructors will take you through the early exercises up to your first solo and then onwards to your CPL in a Multi-Engine (ME) aircraft.
Need to know:
- 130.3 training hours
- Commercial Pilot Licence Skills Test
- Aircraft: Elixir, DA40, DA42
- Sim: DA42
Advanced Flight Training
Approx. 13 Training weeks, Alhama Campus
You’ll continue onto your Advanced Flight Training where you will experience the more challenging flying conditions prior to undertaking your Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) along with Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (A-UPRT) which are the final live flying elements of the course before progressing to the next stage.
MEIR
53.5 training hours
Including Instrument Rating Skills Test
Need to know:
- Aircraft time: 27.5 hours
- Sim time: 30.5 hours
- Aircraft: DA42
- Sim: DA42
AUPRT
4 flight training hours in our Slingsby Firefly (+5 training hours ground school)
APS MCC
3 Training weeks, Oxford Campus
Complete your pilot training with our Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) Course, designed to prepare you for airline operations. Conducted in our state-of-the-art MPS Airbus A320 FTD-1 Simulator, you’ll gain hands-on experience flying in Commercial Air Transport (CAT) scenarios, using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in a multi-crew environment.
Need to know:
- 25 hours (minimum) Theoretical Knowledge Instruction, including Airline Oriented Training
- 20 hours of briefing and de-briefing before and after simulator training sessions
- 40 hours of type-specific flight simulator training, with a final assessment
- Online access to all training materials and manuals
- Use of self-study material, including an XR virtual cockpit and immersive 360 degree bite-size training videos
FEES
Single Licence LEAP
including accommodation & Training Guarantee
Deposit
non-refundable
Initial Payment
30 days prior to course start date
2nd Payment
4 months after course start date
3rd Payment
8 months after course start date
4th Payment
10 months after course start date
5th Payment
12 months after course start date
Dual Licence LEAP
including accommodation & Training Guarantee
Deposit
non-refundable
Initial Payment
30 days prior to course start date
2nd Payment
4 months after course start date
3rd Payment
8 months after course start date
4th Payment
10 months after course start date
5th Payment
12 months after course start date
Why choosefor your pilot training?
FAQ’s
I’ve got settled status in the UK, can I sit my skills assessment and do my Integrated training in Spain?
Unfortunately, at this time, our Integrated LEAP Alhama course is only available to those who have EU settled status or the right to live and work in Europe. If you have dual citizenship, you are eligible to join either our Integrated LEAP course in Oxford or Alhama.
Can you advise me on how to finance my pilot training?
Unfortunately, we are not financial advisors and cannot legally give financial advice. If you are struggling to finance the course, you may wish to seek help from an independent financial advisor.
Can I come and visit Leading Edge Aviation before I attend a Skills Assessment?
Yes. We offer 1-1 Academy tours at our Alhama campus. If you would like to arrange a visit, be sure to get in touch with our dedicated team of Training Advisors here.
What are my next steps in securing my place on a course?
The next step in securing your place on our Integrated LEAP Alhama course is to sit your Leading Edge skills assessment. Our skills assessment is a day-long assessment that usually takes place at our Oxford Academy but can also be taken virtually in the comfort of your own home.
Prior to your assessment day, you will be asked to do several online aptitude tests. Following this, on your assessment day, you will do a formal interview and a group exercise. Experts in each of these fields will score you against set criteria, then at the end of the day you’ll be given feedback on how you’ve done.
If you are successful, you’ll be offered a place on the course with a training guarantee. One of our training advisors will then issue you with a training agreement with your desired start date, which you will need to review and sign, in your own time. Once you have returned your training agreement and paid your deposit, your place on our course is confirmed!
If not successful on the day of your assessment, please do not worry. We give detailed feedback on the day of what we think you need to work on and a cool down period which will give you time to go away and effectively work on the areas of improvement, for you to come back and be successful the next time.
How many students do you have in a class?
At Leading Edge we keep our class sizes smaller than a typical flight school may have. We have a maximum of 20 students in a class because we believe that by keeping the courses small, it benefits learning, allows a collaborative environment but at the same time allows the students and instructors to receive individual, focused teaching and overall is of a greater training benefit.
Are we allowed to take holiday during the course?
Time off is generally not permitted during training however scheduled leave is built into the programme in between phases to offer you a chance to relax and prepare for your next phase.
Once you have completed Ground School and go into the flying stage, you will be allowed to book time off, but this will need to be approved as it will come down to if your instructors believe that this won’t negatively impact your progress.
Mental and Physical Wellbeing for our Students and Staff is extremely important to us. Throughout your time with us, our Customer Experience team will work closely with you to support your progress and give you any extra support you might need.
Do I need to have a PPL to join your Integrated LEAP course?
No, you do not need a PPL to join either of our Integrated LEAP courses as our programme is designed to take you all the way from zero flying hours to fully qualified commercial pilot.
If you do have a PPL, you are still eligible to join our Integrated LEAP course and we may even be able to credit you for some of your flying hours.
Where is your Accommodation?
We have one accommodation site in Alhama, Southern Spain:
- El Condado – Students will stay here during their foundation flying stage.
There are two places where you might be staying during your APS MCC and AUPRT:
- The Arc, Kidlington
- Tree View, Kidlington
Am I guaranteed a job at the end of my training?
Whilst we don’t guarantee you a job at the end of your training, we do provide you with all the skills and support you need to be successful at Airline interviews. Currently, 99% of our graduates are securing their first airline roles within 3 months of course completion.
Our Airline Employment Services include Simulator training through our APS MCC and our three day Airline Preparation Workshop.
What do I need to bring to my accommodation?
Your accommodation will be fully equipped with all the essentials that you will need throughout your training, including kitchenware, furniture, duvets and pillows. You will need to bring personal belongings (to make your new home yours), toiletries, bedding and anything else you think you may need.
Once you have enrolled onto a course, our Customer Experience team will be in touch letting you know exactly what is included.
What additional support is provided during my training?
As part of our commitment to our students, we offer a variety of support services throughout training:
The Whole Pilot ® Training Programme: We want our pilots to be the highest in demand across the industry. To do this, our goal is to create a training environment that is conducive to the successful growth of our students, providing them with the tools they need to develop, and progress into a commander’s role.
Area 100 KSA: Our Ground School Instructor’s continually support our students with our industry leading Area 100 KSA programme, equipping our students with a base understanding of the core pilot competencies. This is something our students are consistently assessed on throughout their training with us. This results in our instructors being able to support our students individually on their strengths and weaknesses.
Graduate services: The graduate employment services course is taught by a team who have a wealth of experience in pilot recruitment and is held at our academy in Oxford. Our instructors will walk you through the assessment process, tailoring the workshop to your experience and ensuring you are ready for your first airline interview.
The 3-day course will cover:
- Airline applications
- Maximising your first impression
- Personal development plans
- CV workshops
- Cover letter creation
- Interview techniques & mock interviews
- Group exercise training
Training guarantee: Covers any additional training fees should you fail any elements of the course for reasons of aptitude rather than attitude.
Additional wellbeing support: We have several mental health first aiders situated at both of our campuses. They are trained to support you with your mental health and help you navigate through anything that you may be experiencing, positive or negative.
Will I need to pay utility bills for my accommodation?
No, all utility bills such as gas, electricity, wifi and water are already covered in your course fees.
Is food included during my training?
No, food is not included in your course fees, so you will need to budget for this separately.
When do I need to get my class 1 medical?
You will need to have your Class 1 medical in place at least 3 months prior to your course start date, to account for any possible referrals. Failure to have your class 1 medical in place may result in your course start date being postponed. Please note that if postponed, you will be placed on the next available start date and not just the next month’s course.
Does Leading Edge pay for my Class 1 medical or do I?
Your medical is your responsibility. You need to pay for this yourself as it is something you will need throughout your whole career. However, once you join an airline, they will reimburse you for each yearly renewal.
