What happened
EAS Barcelona (European Aviation School), an EASA-approved flight training organisation, has welcomed 72 new student pilots in its October 2026 intake, AFM reported on 13 October 2026. The group is made up of 60 Integrated ATPL students and 12 Modular PPL students.
What the two groups will do
The two groups are starting very different courses:
- Integrated ATPL students follow a full airline pilot course combining theory, flight training, multi-engine operations, Advanced Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) and Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC).
- Modular PPL students start with the Private Pilot Licence, which can then be a foundation for further professional qualifications.
What this means if you're training
This intake neatly shows the two main routes. Integrated means one continuous, full-time course from zero to a frozen ATPL. Modular means taking the licence step by step, starting with a PPL, often at your own pace and alongside work.
Neither is automatically better. Integrated is structured and quicker; modular spreads the cost and lets you check you enjoy flying before committing to the full professional route. Ask schools for a written breakdown of what each route includes.
Sources
AFM, "Spain's EAS Barcelona Welcomes 72 New Pilot Students in October 2026 Intake", 13 October 2026: https://afm.aero/spains-eas-barcelona-welcomes-72-new-pilot-students-in-october-2026-intake