Multi-Engine Training – (MEL)
Fly Faster, Further, and Higher
Earning a Multi-Engine Land (MEL) rating allows a pilot to operate as pilot-in-command (PIC) of an aircraft with more than one engine. Pilots who obtain their MEL will experience a remarkable improvement in aircraft performance along with increased speed, power, and climb rate. Handling the complexity and workload of a multi-engine aircraft can be exhilarating yet rewarding.
The multi-engine land rating is an “add-on” to an existing single-engine land private, commercial, or ATP certificate. This rating will emphasize both VFR and IFR operations. There are no minimum time requirements for the MEL rating, however, students need an instructor endorsement for both flight and ground training prior taking the check ride. While there isn’t a written exam, there will be a required oral exam and practical check ride.
What should you know?
While there aren’t any specific hour requirements for the MEL rating, most pilots require about 10 hours of flight training in order to reach the proficiency required to pass the practical test. Just like all flight training, preparing for a MEL rating requires both ground and flight training.
The FAA requires training in the following specific areas:
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Preflight preparation
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Preflight procedures
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Airport operations
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Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
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Performance maneuvers
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Navigation
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Slow flight and stalls
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Emergency operations
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Multi-engine operations
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High-altitude operations
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Post flight procedures